Menachot

from this that in a mixture of things which are offered up one element cannot neutralize the other.1 R. Judah, however, concludes from this that in a mixture of like kinds neutralization does not take place. ‘The Rabbis conclude from this that in a mixture of things which are offered up one element cannot neutralize the other’. But perhaps the reason [why one does not neutralize the other] is because here is a mixture of like kinds!2 — Had this3 been merely a mixture of like kinds and not of things which are offered up, it would be as you say; but since it is here a mixture of things which are offered up,it is clear that the reason is that it is a mixture of things which are offered up, perhaps then [we can conclude from this that] only in a mixture of like kinds of things which are offered up [one element cannot neutralize the other]! — This is a difficulty. ‘R. Judah concludes from this that in a mixture of like kinds neutralization does not take place’. But perhaps the reason [why one does not neutralize the other] is because here is a mixture of things which are offered up! — Had this been merely a mixture of unlike kinds of things which are offered up, it would be as you say; but since it is a mixture of like kinds, it is clear that the reason is that here it is a mixture of like kinds. Perhaps then [we can conclude from this that] only in a mixture of like kinds of things offered up [one element cannot neutralize the other]! — This is a difficulty. [An objection was raised.] We have learnt: R. JUDAH SAYS, IF [IT WAS MIXED] WITH THE MEAL-OFFERING OF THE ANOINTED [HIGH] PRIEST OR WITH THE MEAL-OFFERING OFFERED WITH THE DRINK-OFFERINGS, IT IS INVALID, FOR SINCE THE CONSISTENCY OF THE ONE IS THICK AND THE CONSISTENCY OF THE OTHER IS THIN, EACH ABSORBS FROM THE OTHER. But what does it matter if one does absorb from the other? The mixture here is of like kinds!4 — that of an unconsecrated animal or with water or wine, one would neutralize the other, according to the quantities of each. the latter is not neutralized in the mixture; and therefore the handful cannot be reckoned to have had any addition in oil.