Mesorat%20hashas for Zevachim 39:17

מיתיבי ראוהו אחיו הכהנים שירד והן רצו ובאו מיהרו וקידשו ידיהם ורגליהם מן הכיור

Then let him station it [in the space] from the northern wall of the altar to the northern wall of the Temple court? What then must you answer? [that it was placed in the position indicated] on account of the High Priest's fatigue;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Owing to his heavy duties on this day we spare him as much labour as possible. Therefore the bullock was stationed near the Hekal (the inner court) , to save him carrying the blood a long way.');">¹⁹</span> so on this view too,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That it agrees with Rabbi.');">²⁰</span> it was on account of the High Priest's weakness. R'Johanan said: If [the priest] sanctified his hands and feet for the removal of the ashes,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The day's service commenced at cockcrow (before dawn) with the removal of a shovelful of ashes from the altar, which was placed at the east side of the slope leading to the altar.');">²¹</span> he need not sanctify [them again] on the morrow,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., at daybreak. the earlier period still belonging to night.');">²²</span> because he has already done so at the beginning of the service. According to whom? if according to Rabbi, surely he said that the passing of the night renders it null! if according to R'Eleazar son of R'Simeon, surely he said, He need not sanctify himself [again] even for ten days! - Said Abaye: In truth it is according to Rabbi, and [the nullifying effect of] the passing of the night is [merely] Rabbinical, and he admits that the passing of the night does not nullify from cock-crow until morning. Raba said: in truth it agrees with R'Eleazar son of R'Simeon, but R'Johanan accepted his view [only] in respect of the beginning of the service, but not in respect of the end of the service.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Here the sanctification was performed at the beginning of the day's service, in such a case R. Johanan rules as R. Eleazar b. R. Simeon. But if it is performed in the evening for the burning of the fats, which is the end of the previous day's' service, he needs fresh 'sanctification' on the morrow.');">²³</span> An objection is raised: When his brother priests saw him descend,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' With the shovelful of ash.');">²⁴</span> they quickly ran and sanctified their hands and feet at the laver.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In order to remove the ash and make room for the fresh pile of wood (the first priest removed only one shovelful) .');">²⁵</span>

Explore mesorat%20hashas for Zevachim 39:17. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.