Menachot 195

Chapter 195

אלאLשנאShnהכיHkhyולאVlשנאShnהכיHkhy
1it is immaterial whether the one or the other [cubit was used].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., whether the cubit was of five or of six handbreadths. Since the rebatement or width of the ledge of the base was measured by a cubit of six handbreadths and that of the middle ledge or sobeb by a cubit of five handbreadths, the altar space left by the horns would be twenty-six cubits and two handbreadths (or four handbreadths, according as one takes each side of the horn as one cubit of six handbreadths or of five respectively) ; and these extra handbreadths are not taken into account by the Tanna of the MISHNAH:');"><sup>1</sup></span> Accordingly the height of the altar was fifty-eight handbreadths,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the height of the several parts of the altar, with the exception of the one cubit the height of the base and the one cubit the height of the horns, was described by cubits of six handbreadths.');"><sup>2</sup></span>
במזבחMzvkhכמהKhmhהויHvyחמשיןKhmshynותמניאVtmnyפלגיהFlgyhדמזבחDmzvkhכמהKhmhהויHvyעשריןShrynותשעהVtshhמקרנותMkrnvtועדVdסובבSvvvכמהKhmhהווHvvעשריןShrynותלתאVtlt
2and the half thereof was twenty-nine handbreadths. [The distance] from the [top of the] horns down to the sobeb was twenty-three handbreadths, that is, six handbreadths less than half the height of the altar.
גכמהKhmhבצירVtsyrלפלגיהLflgyhדמזבחDmzvkhשיתאShytותנןVtnnאםMעשאהShhלמטהLmthמרגליוMrglyvאפילוFylvאמהMhאחתKhtכשירהKhshyrh
3And therefore we have learnt: 'If he did it even one cubit's distance below his feet, it wa valid'. This may be proved too, for it is written, The bottom shall be a cubit, and a cubit the breadth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezek. XLIII, 13. The structure of this verse is significant; in the opening part 'cubit' follows the article mentioned whereas in the latter part 'cubit' precedes it. The significance thereof is that in each case 'cubit' refers to a different dimension, in the former case to the height and in the latter to the width.');"><sup>3</sup></span>
דדיקאDykנמיNmyדכתיבDkhtyvחיקKhykהאמהHmhואמהVmhרוחבRvkhvשמעShmמינהMynh
4This is conclusive. How much is a cubit of medium size? - R'Johanan said, Six handbreadths.
הוכמהVkhmhאמהMhבינוניתVynvnytאמרMrר'R'יוחנןYvkhnnששהShshhטפחיםTfkhymאמרMrרביRvyיוסיYvsyברVrאביןVynאףFאנןNnנמיNmyתנינאTnynרביRvyמאירMyrאומרVmrהשלחןHshlkhnארכוRkhvשניםShnymעשרShrורחבוVrkhvvששהShshh
5R'Jose B'Abin said, We have also learnt the same [in our Mishnah]: R'MEIR SAYS, THE TABLE WAS TWELVE HANDBREADTHS LONG AND SIX WIDE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And the table is described in the Torah (Ex. XXV, 23) as being two cubits long and one cubit wide. Now since R. Meir has taught supra p. 593 that all cubit measurements in the Temple were according to a cubit of medium size, it follows that the cubit of six handbreadths was the medium sized one.');"><sup>4</sup></span> It follows that there was a cubit larger than this!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For the cubit of six handbreadths was only the medium sized one. Where do we find a larger, cubit in use?');"><sup>5</sup></span>
ומכללMkhllדהויאDhvyאמהMhדנפישאDnfyshמינהMynhאיןYnוהאVhתנןTnnשתיShtyאמותMvtהיוHyvבשושןVshvshnהבירהHvyrhאחתKhtעלLקרןKrnמזרחיתMzrkhytצפוניתTsfvnytואחתVkhtעלLקרןKrnמזרחיתMzrkhytדרומיתDrvmytשעלShlקרןKrnמזרחיתMzrkhytצפוניתTsfvnytיתירהYtyrhעלLשלShlמשהMshhחציKhtsyאצבעTsvשעלShlקרןKrnמזרחיתMzrkhytדרומיתDrvmytהיתהHythיתירהYtyrhעליהLyhחציKhtsyאצבעTsvנמצאתNmtstיתירהYtyrhעלLשלShlמשהMshhאצבעTsv
6- There was, as we have learnt:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Kel. XVII, 9.');"><sup>6</sup></span> There were two cubits<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Two cubit sticks were deposited there as standards.');"><sup>7</sup></span>
זולמהVlmhאמרוMrvאחתKhtגדולהGdvlhואחתVkhtקטנהKtnhכדיKhdyשיהוShyhvהאומניןHvmnynנוטליןNvtlynבקטנהVktnhומחזיריןVmkhzyrynבגדולהVgdvlhכדיKhdyשלאShlיבואוYvvvלידיLydyמעילהMylh
7in the Palace of Shushan,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A chamber built above the eastern gate of the Temple; v. infra and Mid. I, 3.');"><sup>8</sup></span> one at the north-eastern corner and the other at the south-eastern corner.
חותרתיVtrtyלמהLmhליLyחדאKhdלכספאLkhsfודהבאVdhvוחדאVkhdלבניינאLvnyyn
8That at the north-eastern corner was longer than the cubit of Moses<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which was six handbreadths.');"><sup>9</sup></span> by half a fingerbreadth, and that at the south-eastern corner was longer than the other by half a fingerbreadth; thus it was one fingerbreadth longer than the cubit of Moses.
טתנןTnnהתםHtmשערShrהמזרחHmzrkhעליוLyvשושןShvshnהבירהHvyrhצורהTsvrhמאיMyטעמאTm
9And why did they set up a large cubit<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the two cubits deposited in the Palace of Shushan.');"><sup>10</sup></span> and a small one?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the cubit of Moses. Why did they not adopt the cubit of Moses as the standard cubit for all purposes?');"><sup>11</sup></span>
ירבRvחסדאKhsdורבVrvיצחקYtskhkברVrאבדימיVdymyחדKhdאמרMrכדיKhdyשידעוShydvמהיכןMhykhnבאוVvוחדVkhdאמרMrכדיKhdyשתהאShthאימתYmtמלכותMlkhvtעליהןLyhn
10So that the workmen might receive [contracts of work] according to the measure of the smaller cubit and deliver [the work] according to the measure of the larger cubit, thereby avoiding any possible guilt of sacrilege.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., benefiting from that which belongs to the Temple; cf. Lev. V, 15. By returning the completed work according to a larger measure than that which they had contracted to do they precluded the possibility of profiting from the Temple.');"><sup>12</sup></span> And why two?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why have two measures each larger than the cubit of Moses?');"><sup>13</sup></span>
יאאמרMrר'R'ינאיYnyלעולםLvlmתהאThאימתYmtמלכותMlkhvtעליךLykhשנאמרShnmr(שמות(shmvtיא,Y,ח)Kh)וירדוVyrdvכלKhlעבדיךVdykhאלהLhאליLyוהשתחווVhshtkhvvליLyלאמרLmrואילוVylvלדידיהLdydyhלאLקאמרKmrליהLyh
11- One was for [work in] gold and silver<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' As this work was costly it was unfair to increase the standard cubit by more than half a fingerbreadth.');"><sup>14</sup></span> and the other was for building.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' For building work the standard cubit was increased by one whole fingerbreadth.');"><sup>15</sup></span>
יבר'R'יוחנןYvkhnnאמרMrמהכאMhkhשנאמרShnmr(מלכים(mlkhymאיח,Ykh,מו)Mv)וידVydה'H'היתהHythאלLאליהוLyhvוישנסVyshnsמתניוMtnyvוירץVyrtsלפניLfnyאחאבKhvעדDבאכהVkhhיזרעאלה:Yzrlh:
12We have learnt elsewhere: The eastern gate on which was portrayed the palace of Shushan.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Mid. I, 3.');"><sup>16</sup></span> What was the reason for this? - R'Hisda and R'Isaac B'Abdimi [offered different opinions].
יג(יחזקאל(ykhzklמז,Mz,יב)Yv)ועלהוVlhvלתרופהLtrvfhרבRvחסדאKhsdורבVrvיצחקYtskhkברVrאבדימיVdymy
13One said, So that they be ever mindful whence they came;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From the exile in Persia, and so would offer thanks to God at all times for their deliverance.');"><sup>17</sup></span> the other said, So that the fear of the dominant power be ever before them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It served to them as a constant reminder that they were still under Persian rule.');"><sup>18</sup></span>
ידחדKhdאמרMrלהתירLhtyrפהFhשלמעלהShlmlhוחדVkhdאמרMrלהתירLhtyrפהFhשלמטהShlmthאיתמרYtmrחזקיהKhzkyhאמרMrלהתירLhtyrפהFhאלמיםLmymברVrקפראKfrאמרMrלהתירLhtyrפהFhעקרותKrvt
14R'Jannai said, The fear of the dominant power<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'kingship'.');"><sup>19</sup></span> should ever be before you, as it is written, And all these thy servants shall come down unto me, and bow dawn unto me saying;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XI, 8.');"><sup>20</sup></span>
טותנוTnvרבנןRvnnאילוYlvנאמרNmr(ויקרא(vykrכד,Khd,ה)H)ולקחתVlkkhtסלתSltואפיתVfytאותהVthשתיםShtymעשרהShrhחלותKhlvtושמתVshmtאותםVtmשתיםShtymמערכותMrkhvtולאVlנאמרNmrששShshהייתיHyytyאומרVmrאחתKhtשלShlארבעRvואחתVkhtשלShlשמונהShmvnhלכךLkhkhנאמרNmrששShsh
15but he did not say so of [the king] himself.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Moses out of respect for the king did not say to him, 'Thou shalt come unto me and bow down to me', although he knew that that would eventually be the case.');"><sup>21</sup></span> R'Johanan derives it from the following verse: And the hand of the Lord was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Kings XVIII, 46. Out of respect for royalty the prophet Elijah acted as the king's runner and accompanied him on his journey.');"><sup>22</sup></span>
טזואילוVylvנאמרNmrשתיםShtymמערכותMrkhvtששShshהמערכתHmrkhtולאVlנאמרNmrשתיםShtymעשרהShrhהייתיHyytyאומרVmrשלשShlshשלShlששShshששShshלכךLkhkhנאמרNmrשתיםShtymעשרהShrh
16And the leaf thereof for healing.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ezek. XLVII, 12. vpur,k vp rh,vk');"><sup>23</sup></span> R'Hisda and R'Isaac B'Abdimi [each interpreted this verse].
יזואילוVylvנאמרNmrשתיםShtymעשרהShrhחלותKhlvtומערכותVmrkhvtולאVlנאמרNmrשתיםShtymוששVshshהייתיHyytyאומרVmrשלשהShlshhשלShlארבעRvארבעRvלכךLkhkhנאמרNmrשתיםShtymוששVshshהאHעדDשלאShlיאמרוYmrvשלושהShlvshhמקראותMkrvtהללוHllvלאLלמדנוLmdnv
17One said, To loosen the mouth above;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., to make the dumb speak. The interpretation is a play upon the word , 'for healing', which is taken as a compound of 'for loosening the mouth'.');"><sup>24</sup></span> the other said, To loosen the mouth below.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A euphemism for the womb.');"><sup>25</sup></span>
יחהאHכיצדKhytsdנותןNvtnשתיםShtymמערכותMrkhvtשלShlששShshששShshואםVmנתןNtnאחתKhtשלShlארבעRvואחתVkhtשלShlשמונהShmvnhלאLיצאYtsשתיםShtymשלShlשבעShvשבעShvרביRvyאומרVmrרואיןRvynאתTהעליונהHlyvnhכאילוKhylvאינהYnhוהאVhבעינןVynn(ויקרא(vykrכד,Khd,ז)Z)ונתתVnttעלL
18It has been [likewise] reported: Hezekiah said, To loosen the mouth of the dumb; Bar Kappara said, To loosen the mouth of barren women. Our Rabbis taught: Had [Scripture] said, And thou shalt take fine flour and bake twelve cakes thereof.
יטאמרMrליהLyhרבRvחסדאKhsdלרבLrvהמנונאHmnvnואמריVmryלהLhרבRvהמנונאHmnvnלרבLrvחסדאKhsdרביRvyלטעמיהLtmyhדאמרDmrעלLבסמוךVsmvkhדתניאDtnyרביRvyאומרVmrונתתVnttעלLהמערכתHmrkhtלבונהLvvnhזכהZkhhעלLבסמוךVsmvkhאתהThאומרVmrעלLבסמוךVsmvkhאוVאינוYnvאלאLעלLממשMmshכשהואKhshhvאומרVmr(שמות(shmvtמ,M,ג)G)וסכותVskhvtעלLהארוןHrvnאתTהפרוכתHfrvkhtהויHvyאומרVmrעלLבסמוך:Vsmvkh:
19And thou shalt set them in two rows,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 5, 6.');"><sup>26</sup></span> and not added, Six [in a row],<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 5, 6.');"><sup>26</sup></span>
ככלKhlהכליםHkhlymשבמקדשShvmkdshוכו':Vkhv':תנוTnvרבנןRvnnכלKhlהכליםHkhlymשבמקדשShvmkdshארכןRkhnלארכוLrkhvשלShlביתVytחוץKhvtsמארוןMrvnשארכוShrkhvלרחבוLrkhvvשלShlביתVytוכךVkhkhהיהHyhמונחMvnkhוכךVkhkhהיהHyhבדיוVdyvמונחיןMvnkhyn
20I would have said that one row may consist of four cakes and the other of eight; [Scripture] therefore said, Six [in a row]. Furthermore, had [Scripture] said, 'In two rows, six in a row', and it had not stated, 'Twelve', I would have said that there wer to be three rows each of six cakes;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The expression 'six in a row', following immediately after the two rows already stated, would be interpreted as referring to a third row of six cakes. There is a variant text found in MS.M., also given by Rashi, which reads: There was to be a third row of three cakes; i.e., only the two rows shall be of six cakes each, but other additional rows may be of less than six cakes. kg');"><sup>27</sup></span>
כאמאיMyקאמרKmrהכיHkhyקאמרKmrכךKhkhהיהHyhמונחMvnkhמדבדיוMdvdyvכךKhkhהיהHyhמונחיןMvnkhyn
21[Scripture] therefore said, 'Twelve'. And further, had [Scripture] said, 'Twelve', and also, 'In rows', but not, 'In two rows', nor, 'Six in a row', I would have said that there were to be three rows each of four cakes; [Scripture] therefore said, 'In two rows' and 'Six in a row'.
כבובדיוVvdyvמנלןMnlnדתניאDtny(מלכים(mlkhymאח,Kh,ח)Kh)ויאריכוVyrykhvהבדיםHvdymיכולYkhvlלאLהיוHyvנוגעיןNvgynבפרוכתVfrvkhtתלמודTlmvdלומרLvmrויראוVyrvאיYויראוVyrvיכולYkhvlיהוYhvמקרעיןMkrynבפרוכתVfrvkhtויוצאיןVyvtsynתלמודTlmvdלומרLvmr(מלכים(mlkhymאח,Kh,ח)Kh)לאLיראוYrvהחוצהHkhvtshהאHכיצדKhytsd
22Hence without these three expressions we should not have known [the proper practice]. And what was it? [The priest] used to set them in two rows each of six cakes. If he set one row of four and another of eight, he has not fulfilled the obligation. If he set two rows each of seven cakes, the top cake [of each row], says Rabbi, is regarded as though it was not. But does not the verse say, And thou shalt put upon ['al] each row pure frankincense?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 7. The preposition translated 'upon', implies that the dish of frankincense must actually be upon the row of six cakes, i.e., nothing shall intervene between the dish of frankincense and the row proper. kg');"><sup>28</sup></span> - R'Hisda said to R'Hamnuna (others say, R'Hamnuna said to R'Hisda) : Rabbi consistently holds the view that 'al means 'by the side of'. As has been taught: Rabbi says, In the verse, And thou shalt put 'al each row pure frankincense, the preposition 'al has the sense of 'by the side of'. You say it has the sense of 'by th side of', but perhaps it is not so but rather it means actually upon it! When it says, And thou shalt place the veil as a screen 'al the ark,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XL, 3. The veil was clearly put up as a screen before the ark, accordingly cannot have the meaning of 'upon'. From this verse Rabbi establishes his view that 'al generally means 'by the side of'.');"><sup>29</sup></span> you may learn from it that 'al [generally] has the sense of 'by the side of'. EVERY ARTICLE THAT STOOD IN THE TEMPLE etc. Our Rabbis taught: Every article that stood in the Temple was placed with its length parallel with the length of the house, excepting the ark whose length was parallel with the breadth of the house.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., north to south.');"><sup>30</sup></span> So was it placed and so were its staves placed. What can this mean?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The staves actually pointed in the directions of east and west.');"><sup>31</sup></span> - It means as follows: So was it placed for so were its staves placed.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the staves pointed eastward and westward and protruded at right angles to the length of the ark, it follows that the ark stood lengthwise from north to south.');"><sup>32</sup></span> And whence do we know this<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The staves actually pointed in the directions of east and west.');"><sup>31</sup></span> of the staves? - From the following [Baraitha] which was taught: And the staves were so long,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Kings VIII, 8.');"><sup>33</sup></span> I might have thought that they did not reach the curtain;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. the curtain that hung over the entrance to the Holy of Holies which was on the east side.');"><sup>34</sup></span> the text therefore further states, [That the ends of the staves] were seen [from the holy place].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Kings VIII, 8.');"><sup>33</sup></span> But if I had the verse, [That the ends of the staves] were seen, only to go by I might have assumed that they tore through the curtain and protruded outside; the text therefore states, But they could not be seen without.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I Kings VIII, 8.');"><sup>33</sup></span> How then [are we to understand the verse]?