Commentary for Horayot 1:5
הוֹרוּ בֵית דִּין, וְעָשׂוּ כָל הַקָּהָל אוֹ רֻבָּן עַל פִּיהֶם, מְבִיאִין פָּר. וּבַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, מְבִיאִין פַּר וְשָׂעִיר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים מְבִיאִין שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר פָּרִים, וּבַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, מְבִיאִין שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר פָּרִים וּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׂעִירִים. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר פָּרִים, וּבַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר פָּרִים וּשְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר שְׂעִירִים, פַּר וְשָׂעִיר לְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט, פַּר וְשָׂעִיר לְבֵית דִּין. הוֹרוּ בֵית דִּין, וְעָשׂוּ שִׁבְעָה שְׁבָטִים אוֹ רֻבָּן עַל פִּיהֶם, מְבִיאִים פָּר, וּבַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה מְבִיאִין פַּר וְשָׂעִיר, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, שִׁבְעָה שְׁבָטִים שֶׁחָטְאוּ, מְבִיאִים שִׁבְעָה פָרִים, וּשְׁאָר שְׁבָטִים שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ, מְבִיאִין עַל יְדֵיהֶן פַּר, שֶׁאַף אֵלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא חָטְאוּ, מְבִיאִין עַל יְדֵי הַחוֹטְאִים. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר, שְׁמֹנָה פָרִים. וּבַעֲבוֹדָה זָרָה, שְׁמֹנָה פָרִים וּשְׁמֹנָה שְׂעִירִים, פַּר וְשָׂעִיר לְכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט, וּפַר וְשָׂעִיר לְבֵית דִּין. הוֹרוּ בֵית דִּין שֶׁל אֶחָד מִן הַשְּׁבָטִים וְעָשָׂה אוֹתוֹ הַשֵּׁבֶט עַל פִּיהֶם, אוֹתוֹ הַשֵּׁבֶט הוּא חַיָּב, וּשְׁאָר כָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים פְּטוּרִים, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, אֵין חַיָּבִים אֶלָּא עַל הוֹרָיַת בֵּית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל בִּלְבַד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ד) וְאִם כָּל עֲדַת יִשְׂרָאֵל יִשְׁגּוּ, וְלֹא עֲדַת אוֹתוֹ הַשֵּׁבֶט:
If beth-din ruled and all or most of the congregation transgressed by their ruling, they [beth-din] bring a bullock, [viz. (Leviticus 4:14): "If the sin became known wherein they sinned, then the congregation shall offer a bullock"], and for idolatry they bring a bullock and a he-goat, [viz. (Numbers 15:22): "And if you err and not do all of these mitzvoth" — a mitzvah (i.e., a transgression) which is tantamount to all of these mitzvoth — idolatry. And it is written there (Ibid. 24): "And it shall be, if by the eyes of the congregation (the Sanhedrin) it were done in error, then all the congregation shall offer one young bullock… and one kid of goats as a sin-offering."] These are the words of R. Meir, [R. Meir holding that Leviticus 4:19 refers to unwittingness in respect to the other transgressions, and here (Numbers 15:22), to unwittingness in respect to idolatry. The "congregation" that ruled alone [i.e., the Great Sanhedrin] brings them.] R. Yehudah says: Twelve tribes bring twelve bullocks, [R. Yehudah holding that each tribe is called a "congregation," viz. (II Chronicles 20:5): "And Yehoshafat stood in the congregation of Judah"], and for idolatry they bring twelve bullocks and twelve he-goats. R. Shimon says: Thirteen bullocks, and for idolatry, thirteen he-goats, a bullock and a he-goat for each tribe, and a bullock and a he-goat for beth-din, [R. Shimon holding that a beth-din that erred in its ruling is not atoned for by the bullocks and he-goats of the tribes, but must bring a bullock and a he-goat for themselves.] If beth-din ruled (wrongly) and seven tribes transgressed by their ruling [(seven being the majority of the tribes)] or the majority [of Israel, even if they come from the minority of the tribes, even if one tribe transgressed and they be the majority of Israel], they [all of the other tribes, who did not transgress along with these,] bring a bullock; and, for idolatry, a bullock and a he-goat. These are the words of R. Meir. R. Yehudah says: Seven tribes who sinned bring seven bullocks and the other tribes, who did not sin bring a bullock (each) because of them. For these who did not sin bring because of those who did. R. Shimon says: "Eight bullocks, and, for idolatry, eight bullocks and eight he-goats, a bullock and a he-goat for each tribe and a bullock and a he-goat for beth-din, [R. Shimon holding that those who did not sin do not bring because of those who did. The halachah is in accordance with R. Yehudah.] If the beth-din of one of the tribes ruled (wrongly) and that tribe [itself, the majority of Israel,] transgressed by their ruling, that tribe is liable and all of the other tribes are exempt. The sages say: There is no liability except by the ruling of the Great Sanhedrin alone, it being written (Leviticus 4:13): "And if the whole congregation of Israel err" — and not the congregation of that tribe. [The halachah is in accordance with the sages.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Horayot
English Explanation of Mishnah Horayot
Bartenura on Mishnah Horayot
English Explanation of Mishnah Horayot
And in the case of idolatry twelve bulls and twelve goats. R. Shimon says: thirteen bullocks;
And in the case of idolatry, thirteen bulls and thirteen goats: a bull and a goat for each tribe, and a bull and a goat for the court. If the court ruled [in error] and seven tribes or a majority of them acted accordingly, they bring a bull; And in the case of idolatry, they bring a bull and a goat; these are the words of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Judah said: the seven tribes who sinned must bring seven bulls and the rest of the tribes who did not sin must bring bulls on their behalf because even those who did not sin must bring on behalf of the ones who sinned. Rabbi Shimon said: eight bulls;
And in the case of idolatry, eight bulls and eight goats, a bull and a goat for every tribe and a bull and a goat for the court. If the court of one of the tribes ruled [in error], and that tribe acted accordingly, that tribe is liable, but all the other tribes are exempt; these are the words of Rabbi Judah. But the Sages say: there is no liability except as a result of the rulings of the highest court; for it says, “And if the whole congregation of Israel shall err”, but not the congregation of one particular tribe. In this section we read three opinions as to who the congregation is that brings sin-offerings if all or most of the nation sins according to the courts errant ruling. According to Rabbi Meir in all sins except idol worship the court brings a bull and if the sin was idol worship they bring a bull and a goat. Rabbi Meir understands that the court is the “congregation” referred to in the verse who brings the offering. Rabbi Judah understands “congregation” to refer to the people of Israel themselves, namely all twelve tribes. Therefore each tribe brings its own bull or bull and goat. Rabbi Shimon agrees in essence with both Rabbi Judah and Rabbi Meir: each tribe brings its own bull (or bull and goat) and the court brings one as well, bringing the total to thirteen.