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Cauthon
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In Pitum HaKetoret, the "למה" is the "regular" "למה", meaning "why". However, according to R' Ovadia from Bartenura, the "ולמה" in Orla means "ובמה", i.e. "in which case" (and not "and why"). Therefore, to explain how R' Ovadia's reading sits well with the text, the Tosfot Yom Tov explains that the "ולמה" isn't the "regular" "למה" (with a kamatz under the lamed), it's a "lamed shimushit", i.e. "ל-מה", meaning "for what purpose", or in our case, "in which case".

To clarify - both your suggestions would fit the text in Pitum HaKetoret (just like asking "why" vs "for what purpose"), but as mentioned above, that's not the distinction made by the Tosfot Yom Tov in Orla.

In Pitum HaKetoret, the "למה" is the "regular" "למה", meaning "why". However, according to R' Ovadia from Bartenura, the "ולמה" in Orla means "ובמה", i.e. "in which case" (and not "and why"). Therefore, to explain how R' Ovadia's reading sits well with the text, the Tosfot Yom Tov explains that the "ולמה" isn't the "regular" "למה" (with a kamatz under the lamed), it's a "lamed shimushit", i.e. "ל-מה", meaning "for what purpose", or in our case, "in which case".

In Pitum HaKetoret, the "למה" is the "regular" "למה", meaning "why". However, according to R' Ovadia from Bartenura, the "ולמה" in Orla means "ובמה", i.e. "in which case" (and not "and why"). Therefore, to explain how R' Ovadia's reading sits well with the text, the Tosfot Yom Tov explains that the "ולמה" isn't the "regular" "למה" (with a kamatz under the lamed), it's a "lamed shimushit", i.e. "ל-מה", meaning "for what purpose", or in our case, "in which case".

To clarify - both your suggestions would fit the text in Pitum HaKetoret (just like asking "why" vs "for what purpose"), but as mentioned above, that's not the distinction made by the Tosfot Yom Tov in Orla.

Source Link
Cauthon
  • 3.9k
  • 1
  • 13
  • 18

In Pitum HaKetoret, the "למה" is the "regular" "למה", meaning "why". However, according to R' Ovadia from Bartenura, the "ולמה" in Orla means "ובמה", i.e. "in which case" (and not "and why"). Therefore, to explain how R' Ovadia's reading sits well with the text, the Tosfot Yom Tov explains that the "ולמה" isn't the "regular" "למה" (with a kamatz under the lamed), it's a "lamed shimushit", i.e. "ל-מה", meaning "for what purpose", or in our case, "in which case".