Zevachim 173

חצות שני עוכלתן רב חסדא אמר עמוד השחר עוכלתן

The second midnight consumes them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They will not be assumed to reach the stage of hardness (v. supra 86b) until the following midnight; unless, of course, they are reduced to ashes before then.');">¹</span> R'Hisda said: The dawn consumes them.

אמרי בי רב מאי טעמא דרב חסדא ומה חצות שאין עושה לינה עושה עיכול עמוד השחר שעושה לינה אינו דין שעושה עיכול

The scholars of the Academy said: What is R'Hisda's reason? If midnight, which does not establish linah,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The status of flesh that is kept overnight. Midnight does not confer that status, and flesh that falls off after midnight is replaced on the altar.');">²</span>

פירשו קודם חצות והחזירן לאחר עמוד השחר רבה אמר חצות שני עוכלתן רב חסדא אמר אין בהן עיכול לעולם

establishes 'ikul;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit. 'burning,' 'consumption'. If the flesh is hard by midnight (v. supra ');">³</span> then dawn, which establishes linah, surely establishes 'ikul.

מתקיף לה רב יוסף ומאן לימא לן דחצות בראש המזבח משויא להו עיכול דילמא כל היכא דמשכחא להו משויא להו עיכול שלחו מתם הלכתא כרב יוסף

If they sprang off before midnight and he replaced them after dawn, - Rabbah said: The second midnight consumes them; R'Hisda said: They never reach 'ikul.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whenever they spring off, until they are actually ashes, they must be replaced, and involve trespass.');">⁴</span> To this R'Joseph demurred: And who is to tell us that midnight establishes 'ikul [only when they are] on the top of the altar; perhaps it establishes 'ikul wherever they are?

איתמר נמי א"ר חייא בר אבא פירשו קודם חצות והחזירן אחר חצות לא נהנין ולא מועלין וכן תנא בר קפרא פירשו קודם חצות והחזירן לאחר חצות יוצאין מידי מעילה

They sent from thence:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. from Palestine - The reference is to R. Eleazar (v. Sanh. 17b) .');">⁵</span> The law agrees with R'Joseph.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' His argument is correct. - Actually they did not give a ruling (Tosaf) .');">⁶</span>

א"ל רב פפא לאביי וכי מאחר דשלחו מתם הילכתא כרב יוסף וא"ר חייא בר אבא וכן תני בר קפרא רבה ורב חסדא במאי פליגי אמר ליה בשמנים

It was stated likewise: R'Hiyya B'Abba said: If they sprang off before midnight and were replaced after midnight, you may not use them, nor do you commit trespass on their account.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They need not have been replaced, as they no longer belong to the altar. Hence they do not involve trespass; nevertheless, benefit from them is interdicted by Rabbinical law.');">⁷</span> Bar Kappara taught likewise: If they sprang off before midnight and were replaced after midnight, they are not subject to trespass.

בעא מיניה רבא מרבה לינה מועלת בראשו של מזבח או אינה מועלת בראשו של מזבח היכי דמי אילימא דלא ירדו השתא לנו בעזרה אמרת דלא ירדו בראשו של מזבח מיבעיא

R'Papa asked Abaye: Now, since they sent from there [that] the law agrees with R'Joseph, and R'Hiyya B'Abba said [the same], and Bar Kappara taught likewise, wherein do Rabbah and R'Hisda disagree? - In the case of fat [limbs], he answered him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Even when they harden they are not regarded as consumed ('ikul) , because their fat keeps them from becoming ashes. Only then do Rabbah and R. Hisda disagree as to their status. But in the case of ordinary flesh they agree that midnight establishes 'ikul.');">⁸</span> Raba asked Rabbah: Is linah effective [when the limbs are] on the top of the altar, or is it not effective o top of the altar? - What are the circumstances: if we say that they [the limbs] did not descend,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But remained on the altar, away from the fresh wood pile for the new sacrifices.');">⁹</span>

ואלא דירדו לשלחן מדמינן לה דתנן אפילו הן על השלחן ימים רבים אין בכך כלום או דילמא לקרקע מדמינן

surely since you say that even if they were kept overnight in the Temple court they do not descend,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' If placed on the altar after the night passed.');">¹⁰</span> can there be a question [when they are kept on] the top of the altar?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Surely they do not descend.');">¹¹</span>

א"ל אין לינה בראשו של מזבח קיבלה מיניה או לא ת"ש דאיתמר איברים שלנו בעזרה מקטר והולך כל הלילה לן בראשו של מזבח מקטר והולך לעולם

Rather [the question is] where they descended. Do we liken it to the Table, for we learnt: Even if they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The loaves of the Shewbread.');">¹²</span>

ירדו רבה אמר יעלו רבא אמר לא יעלו ש"מ לא קיבלה מיניה ש"מ:

are on the Table many days, it does not matter? Or perhaps we liken it to the pavement of the Temple court?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence it becomes unfit.');">¹³</span>

כשם שהמזבח מקדש כו': תנו רבנן (שמות כט, לז) הנוגע במזבח אין לי אלא מזבח כבש מנין ת"ל את המזבח כלי שרת מניין ת"ל (שמות ל, כט) כל הנוגע בהם יקדש

- Said he to him: Linah is not [effective when the flesh is] on the top of the altar. Did he accept [this ruling] from him or did he not accept it from him? - Come and hear.

בעא מיניה ר"ל מר"י כלי שרת מהו שיקדשו את הפסולין א"ל תניתוה כשם שהמזבח והכבש מקדשין את הראוי להן כך כלים מקדשין

For it was stated: Limbs which spent the night in the Temple court, [the priest] can go on burning them all night;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' But not after, for linah disqualifies them.');">¹⁴</span> if they were kept overnight on the top of the altar, he can always go on burning them.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They are never disqualified as long as they are there.');">¹⁵</span>

א"ל לכתחילה ליקרב קמיבעי לי הא נמי תנינא

If they descended: Rabbah said: They re-ascend; Raba said: They do not re-ascend.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because linah disqualifies them, and so like all disqualified limbs they do not re-ascend once they descended.');">¹⁶</span> This proves that he did not accept [the ruling] from him. This proves it. JUST AS THE ALTAR SANCTIFIES etc. Our Rabbis taught: Whatsoever touches the altar [shall be holy]:<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ex. XXIX, 37.');">¹⁷</span> I know it only of the altar; how do I know [it of] the ascent? Because it says, the [eth] altar.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reference is probably either to XXIX, 44: And I will sanctify the tent of meeting, and the altar; or to XXX, 26-28: And thou shalt anoint therewith . . the altar of burnt-offering. In either case the preceding eth (which denotes the acc.) is regarded as an extension, thus including the ascent.');">¹⁸</span> How do we know [it of] service vessels? Because it says: Whatsoever toucheth them shall be holy.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ibid. XXX, 29. 'Them' refers (among other things) to service vessels, which are spoken of in the preceding verses.');">¹⁹</span> Resh Lakish asked R'Johanan: Do the service vessels sanctify the disqualified? - We have learnt it, he replied: JUST AS THE ALTAR AND THE ASCENT SANCTIFY WHATEVER IS ELIGIBLE FOR THEM, SO DO VESSELS SANCTIFY!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The reference being to disqualified sacrificial parts. V. Mishnah notes.');">²⁰</span> Said he, My question is whether they can be offered in the first place. But that too we have learnt: