Today's Daf Yomi
April 4, 2021 | כ״ב בניסן תשפ״א
Masechet Shekalim is sponsored by Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber in memory of their parents, “who taught us the value of learning and of being part of the Jewish community.”
This month's shiurim are sponsored by Bill Futornick in memory of Rabbi David Teitelbaum Z"L, who led Congregation Beth Jacob in Redwood City, CA for 38 years. He was an extraordinary leader, teacher, moral exemplar and family man who truly fought for equality and deeply embraced ahavat tzion.
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This month’s learning is sponsored by Jon and Yael Cohen in memory of Dr. Robert Van Amerongen. May his memory be blessed.
Shekalim 14
Today’s Daf is dedicated by Yechiel Berkowicz in honor of his mother’s yahrzeit and in loving memory of Sara F. Berkowicz. Sara was a survivor of the Holocaust and valued Jewish education.
Nechunia was a well digger to make sure there was water for those coming to the Temple. His son died of thirst. How could this be? The gemara explains that God is very exacting with the more righteous. A similar story is told of a pious person whose daughter but the ending was different as she was saved. Does the word “gever” mean rooster or man? Can it be proven from our mishna? The family Garmu and the family Avtinas – each kept their specialty a secret – how to prepare the showbread and the incense. The rabbis were not pleased with them and tried to fire them and hire others to do it. However, they were unsuccessful and had to rehire them for double the wages. Did they pass on the secret even after the destruction? Even though the rabbis weren’t pleased with them, there was something for which they were both mentioned positively – that they made sure not to arouse suspicion about using what they learned regarding the Temple for the own personal use. What was the hierarchy in the Temple regarding handling money to ensure that there was no misappropriation of funds? How would one purchase libations in the Temple? What was done to prevent deceit?
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נְחוּנְייָה חוֹפֵר שִׁיחִין. שֶׁהָיָה חוֹפֵר שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. וַהֲוָה יְדַע [דף יד.] הֵיי דֵין כֵּיף מְקוֹרֵר מַיָא וְהֵײ דֵין כֵּיף אִית בֵּיהּ שַׁרְבְּרוּבֵי וְעַד מַטֵּי הֵן שַׁרְבְּרוּבִיתֵיהּ מַטָייָה. אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא. וּמֵת [בְּנוֹ] בַצָּמָא.
The mishna states that Neḥunya was the well digger. The Gemara explains that he would dig wells and caves, where rainwater would collect, for pilgrims to use on their way to Jerusalem for the Festivals. And he knew [14a] which rock contains water, and which rock contains fissures in which water may be found, and how far those fissures extend. This would enable him to calculate how deep he had to dig to reach water. Rabbi Eliezer said: And his son died of thirst.
אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנִינָה. מָאן דְּאָמַר דְּרַחֲמָנָא ווַתְרָן יִתְווַתְרוּן בְּנֵי מָעוֹי. אֶלָּא מַעֲרִיךְ רוּחֵיהּ וְגָבֵי דִידֵיהּ. Since the previous passage mentioned God’s rigorously exacting attitude toward righteous people like Neḥunya, the Gemara discusses how God relates to sinners. Rabbi Ḥanina said: Whoever says that the Merciful One overlooks the punishment due to sinners, his intestines will be overlooked, i.e., cease functioning. The reason sinners often appear to go unpunished is rather that God extends His patience with evildoers to give them a chance to repent, but eventually He collects His due and punishes the wicked.
אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא כְּתִיב וּ֝סְבִיבָ֗יו נִשְֽׂעֲרָ֥ה מְאֹֽד. מְדַקְדֵּק עִמָּהֶן כְּחוּט הַשְּׂעָרָה.
The Gemara explains the harsh judgment inflicted on the righteous Neḥunya. Rabbi Aḥa said that it is written: “Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and His surroundings storm [nis’ara] mightily” (Psalms 50:3). The Hebrew spelling of the word nis’ara is very similar to the word sa’ara, hair. This hints that God is exacting with the righteous, who are close to Him and can be called His surroundings, up to a hairsbreadth. Even slight deviations from the proper path can elicit punishment.
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵה. לֹא מִטַּעַם זֶה. אֶלָּא מִן מַה דִכְתִיב וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א [הוּא] עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו. מוֹרָאוֹ עַל הַקְּרוֹבִים יוֹתֵר מִן הָֽרְחוֹקִים.
Rabbi Yosei said: This idea is derived not through that source, but rather from that which is written about God: “And dreadful is He upon all of His surroundings” (Psalms 89:8), which indicates that His dread is upon those close to Him, i.e., the righteous, more than upon those distant from Him, i.e., the sinful.
רִבִּי הַגַּיי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן. מַעֲשֶׂה בְחָסִיד אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה חוֹפֵר בּוֹרוֹת שֵׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת לָעוֹבְרִים וְלַשָּׁבִים. פַּעַם אַחַת הָֽיְתָה בִתּוֹ עוֹבֶרֶת לְהִינָּשֵׂא וּשְׁטָפָהּ נָהָר. וַהֲווֹן כָּל־עַמָּא עָֽלְלִין לְגַבֵּיהּ בְּעַייָן מְנַחַמְתֵּיהּ וְלָא קִיבֵּל עֲלוֹי מִתְנַחֲמָה.
The Gemara cites a related story. Rabbi Ḥaggai said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: There was an incident involving a certain pious man who would dig pits, wells, and caves to collect water for passersby. Once his daughter was passing over a river for the purpose of marriage, and the river washed her away. And all the people came to console him, but he refused to accept their condolences.
עָאַל רִבִּי פִינְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר לְגַבֵּיהּ בָּעֵי מְנַחַמְתֵּיהּ וְלָא קִבֵּל עֲלוֹי מִתְנַחֲמָה. אֲמַר לוֹן. דֵּין הִינּוֹ חָסִידֵיכוֹן. אָֽמְרִין לֵיהּ. רִבִּי. כָּךְ וְכָךְ הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה וְכָךְ וְכָךְ אִירַע.
Rabbi Pineḥas ben Yair came to visit him to console him, but he refused to accept condolences even from Rabbi Pineḥas. Rabbi Pineḥas said to the people of that community: Is this your righteous man, who will not be consoled and accept God’s judgment? They said to him: Rabbi, he would perform such and such acts of righteousness, by supplying water, and yet such and such tragedy, the drowning of his daughter, occurred to him.
אָמַר. אֵיפְשַׁר שֶׁהָיָה מְכַבֵּד אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ בַמַּיִם וְהוּא מְקַפְּחוֹ בַמַּיִם. מִיַּד נָֽפְלָה הֲבָרָה בָעִיר. בָּאָת בִּתּוֹ שֶׁלְאוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ. אִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. בְּשׁוּכְתָּא אִיתְעֲרִײַת. וְאִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. מַלְאַךְ יָרַד כִּדְמוּת רִבִּי פִינְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר וְהִצִּילָהּ.
Rabbi Pineḥas said: Is it possible that he honors his Creator with water, and yet his Creator strikes him with water? Immediately thereafter, a report spread throughout the city: The daughter of that righteous man has arrived, as she did not actually drown. Some say she grasped a branch and pulled herself out of the river, and some say an angel in the form of Rabbi Pineḥas ben Yair descended from heaven and rescued her.
גְּבִינֵי כָרוֹז. שֶׁהָיָה מַכְרִיז בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. מֶה הָיָה אוֹמֵר. הַכֹּהֲנִים לָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַלְּוִיִּם לְדוּכָן וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעֲמָד. אַגְרִיפַּס הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁמַע קוֹלוֹ עַד שְׁמוֹנֶה פַרְסָאוֹת וְנָתַן לוֹ מַתָּנוֹת הַרְבֶּה.
§ The mishna states that Gevini was the Temple crier. The Gemara cites a baraita that states that Gevini would issue an announcement every morning in the Temple. What would he say in his announcement? Arise, priests, to service; and Levites to their platform to sing; and Israelites, i.e., the group of Israelites who represented the entire community at the sacrifice, to their watch. Gevini’s voice was so powerful that King Agrippa once heard his voice as far away as eight parasangs, and Agrippa gave him many gifts as a sign of his appreciation.
בֶּן גֶּבֶר עַל נְעִילַת שְׁעָרִים. תִּירְגֵּם רַב קוֹמֵי דְבֵית רִבִּי שִׁילָה. קָרָא גַבְרָא. אַכְרִיז כָּרוֹזָא.
The mishna states that ben Gever was responsible for locking the Temple gates in the evening and opening them in the morning. The Gemara cites an incident involving ben Gever. It is taught in a mishna (Yoma 20a): On each day, the ashes are removed from the altar at the calling of the gever or near this time. The Sages dispute whether the term gever in this context means man or rooster. The Gemara relates that when Rav went to visit Rabbi Sheila, he would serve as his interpreter, explaining his lectures to the public. On one occasion, after Rabbi Sheila had explicitly stated that gever means a rooster, Rav nevertheless interpreted in the study hall of Rabbi Sheila that the phrase: Gever cried out, means: The crier announced.
אָֽמְרוּן לֵיהּ. קָרָא תַרְנְגוֹלָא. אֲמַר לוֹן. וְהָתַנִּינָן בֶּן גֶּבֶר. אִית לָךְ מֵימַר בַּר תַּרְנְגוֹלָא.
Rabbi Sheila said to him: Say that this expression means: The rooster cried out. Rav said to him: But we learned in a mishna above (13a) that there is a man called ben Gever. Could you possibly say that his name means son of a rooster? In this context, gever must mean man, not rooster. Therefore, in Yoma as well it must indicate that a man issued an announcement.
בֶּן בֵּבָי עַל הַפָּקִיעַ. שֶׁהָיָה מְזַווֵיג אֶת הַפְּתִילוֹת. רִבִּי יוֹסֵה עָאַל לְכוּפְרָה. בְּעָא מַמְנִייָא עֲלֵיהוֹן פַּרְנָסִין וְלָא קִבְּלוּן מִינֵּיהּ.
The mishna states that ben Bevai was responsible for the shreds of garments. The Gemara explains that he would braid shreds together to prepare wicks for the candelabrum that were of the appropriate thickness, so that they would burn the entire night during each period of the year. The Gemara relates that Rabbi Yosei came to the town of Kufra and wanted to appoint community leaders for them to care for the needs of the community and the provisions of the poor. However, those who were selected would not accept the appointment from them, i.e., from Rabbi Yosei, because they deemed this job beneath their dignity.
עָאַל וְאָמַר קוֹמֵיהוֹן. בֶּן בֵּבָי עַל הַפָּקִיעַ. וּמַה אִם זֶה שֶׁנִּתְמַנֶּה עַל הַפְּתִילֹות זָכָה לְהִימָּנוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר. אַתֶּם שֶׁאַתֶּם מִתְמַנִּין עַל חַיֵּי נְפָשׁוֹת לֹא כָל־שֶׁכֵּן.
Rabbi Yosei came and said to them: Ben Bevai, was responsible for the lowly function of the shreds of garments, and if this man, who was appointed to deal with the wicks, merited to be listed with the greatest of that generation, you, who are appointed for life-sustaining matters, all the more so are you not honored by the position? You should therefore accept the request without hesitation.
בֶּן אַרְזָה עַל הַצִּלְצָל. כַּהִיא דְתַנִּינָן תַּמָּן. הֵנִיף הַסְּגָן בַּסּוּדָרִין וְהִקִּישׁ בֶּן אַרְזָא בַּצִּלְצָל
The mishna further taught that ben Arza was responsible for the cymbal. The Gemara explains that this is referring to that which we learned in a mishna there (Tamid 33b): When the High Priest bent over to pour the wine libation, the deputy High Priest waved the scarves as a signal and ben Arza beat upon the cymbal.
הוּגְדַּס בֶּן לִֵוי עַל הַשִּׁיר. אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא. נְעִימָה יְתֵירָה הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ. וְאָֽמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל הוּגְדַּס בֶּן לֵוִי שֶׁהָיָה מַנְעִים אֶת קוֹלוֹ בַזֶּמֶר. וּכְשֶׁהָיָה נוֹעֵץ גּוֹדְלוֹ לְתוֹךְ פִּיו הָיָה מוֹצִיא כַמָּה מִינֵי זֶמֶר והָיוּ אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים נִזְקָרִין לוֹ בַת רֹאשׁ.
The mishna states that Hugras ben Levi was responsible for the song. Rabbi Aḥa said: He knew an extraordinary manner of singing. And they said of Hugras ben Levi that he would make his voice pleasant in song, and when he would stick his thumb into his mouth he could produce several types of music simultaneously, and all of his fellow priests would lurch toward him all at once, from the intensity and the charm of the sound.
בֵּית גַּרְמוּ עַל מַעֲשֵׂה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים בֵּית גַּרְמוּ הָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְּמַעֲשֶׁה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וּבְרִדִּייָתוֹ וְלֹא רָצוּ לְלַמֵּד.
§ The mishna mentioned that the house of Garmu was responsible for the preparation of the shewbread, which is the bread baked each week in a special form and displayed for a week on the designated table in the Sanctuary. The Gemara relates a story from a baraita about the house of Garmu and their talent in baking. The house of Garmu was proficient in the preparation of the shewbread and in its removal from the oven without ruining it, but they did not want to teach these skills to others.
שָֽׁלְחוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָנִים מֵאַלֶכְּסַנְדְרִיאָה וְהָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְּמַעֲשֶׁה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. וּבְרִדִּייָתוֹ לֹא הָיוּ בְקִיאִין.
Therefore, the Sages sent messengers and brought in craftsmen from Alexandria, who were also proficient in the preparation of the shewbread, in an attempt to replace the house of Garmu. However, they were not as proficient as the house of Garmu in its removal from the oven. The complex form of the shewbread rendered it very difficult to remove from the oven without its breaking.
בֵּית גַּרְמוּ הָיוּ מַסִּיקִין מִבִּפְנִים וְרוֹדִין מִבַּחוּץ. וְלֹא הָֽיְתָה מִתְעַפֶּשֶׁת. וְאֵילּוּ הָיו מַסִּיקִין מִבִּפְנִים וְרוֹדִין מִבִּפְנִים. וְהָֽיְתָה מִתְעַפֶּשֶׁת.
The Gemara clarifies the difference between the two manners of preparation. The house of Garmu would ignite the fire within the oven, bake the shewbread in a mold, and remove the bread from the mold only outside the oven, after it was fully baked. And, as they would remove it from the mold at this late stage, it would not spoil. Whereas these Egyptian craftsmen would ignite the fire within the oven and bake the shewbread in the mold, but, out of fear that it would break when removed from the mold, they would remove it from the mold inside the oven before it was fully baked. And the result was that the bread would spoil.
כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּֽדְעוּ חֲכָמִים בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה אָֽמְרוּ. כָּל־מַה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ בָּרָא. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֖י לַֽמַּֽעֲנֵ֑הוּ.
Once the Sages realized this matter, that their replacement shewbread was flawed, they said: Everything that the Holy One, Blessed be He, created, He created for His glory, as it is stated: “The Lord has made everything for His own purpose” (Proverbs 16:4). Since spoiled shewbread does not promote the glory of God, we must forgo our honor and request the services of the house of Garmu once again.
שָֽׁלְחוּ אַחֲרֵיהֵם וְלֹא רָצוּ לָבוֹא עַד שֶׁכָּֽפְלוּ לָהֶן שְׂכָרָן. שְׁנֵים עַשָׂר מְנָה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר. עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה.
Therefore, the Sages sent for the house of Garmu, but they did not want to come back to bake until the Sages doubled their compensation. They had been receiving twelve maneh, and now they gave them twenty-four. Rabbi Yehuda says: They had been receiving twenty-four maneh, and now they gave them forty-eight.
אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מִפְּנֵי מַה אֵין אַתֶּם רוֹצִין לְלַמֵּד. אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מְסוֹרֶת הִיא בְיָדֵינוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהַבַּיִת הַזֶּה עָתִיד לִיחָרֵב. שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמְדוּ אֲחֵרִים וְיִהְיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶן. בִּדְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ מַזְכִּירִין אוֹתָן לִשְׁבָח. שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא מִיַּד בְּנֵיהֶם פַּת נְקִייָה מֵעוֹלָם. שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ אוֹמְרִים. מִמַּעֲשֶׂה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים הֵן אוֹכְלִין.
The Sages said to them: For what reason don’t you want to teach the art of shewbread baking to others? The house of Garmu said to them: We have a tradition from our fathers that this House, the Temple, will be destroyed. We do not want to teach our method, so that others should not learn this art and unscrupulously perform it for their idolatry. Although their reason for refraining from teaching their method to others was not accepted, on this other matter the Sages did mention them with praise: That refined bread was never found in their children’s possession at all, so that people should not say that they feast upon their shewbread labor.
בֵּית אַבְטִינָס עַל מַעֲשֵׂה הַקְּטוֹרֶת. שֶׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס הָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְפִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת וּבְמַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן וְלֹא רָצוּ לְלַמֵּד.
The mishna states that the house of Avtinas was responsible for the preparation of the incense. The Gemara relates a similar story from a baraita concerning the house of Avtinas and their knowledge of the incense preparation: The house of Avtinas was proficient in the preparations of the incense mixture, which included grinding the incense herbs and blending them together. And they were also expert in identifying the so-called smoke raiser, a plant that caused the incense smoke to rise upward in a straight line to the ceiling, but they did not want to teach these skills to others.
שָֽׁלְחוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָנִים מֵאַלֶכְּסַנְדְרִיאָה וְהָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְפִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת. וּבְמַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן לֹא הָיוּ בְקִיאִין. שֶׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס הָֽיְתָה מְתַמֶּרֶת וְעוֹלָה וּפּוֹסָה וְיוֹרֶדֶת. וְשֶׁלְאֵילוּ הָֽיְתָה פוֹסָה מִיַּד.
Therefore, the Sages sent out messengers and brought in craftsmen from Alexandria in Egypt. And these craftsmen were proficient in the incense mixture, but they were not proficient in identifying the smoke raiser. The incense smoke of the house of Avtinas would rise straight up like a staff to the ceiling, and from there it would spread out and descend, whereas the incense smoke of these Egyptian craftsmen would not rise but would simply spread out immediately.
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיָּֽדְעוּ חֲכָמִים בַּדָּבָר אָֽמְרוּ. כָּל־מַה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ בָּרָא. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כֹּ֚ל הַנִּקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֔י וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י בְּרָאתִ֑יו וגו׳. שָֽׁלְחוּ אַחֲרֵיהֵם וְלֹא רָצוּ לָבוֹא עַד שֶׁכָּֽפְלוּ לָהֶן שְׂכָרָן. שְׁנֵים עַשָׂר מְנָה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר. עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה.
Once the Sages realized this matter, that this incense smoke was flawed, they said: Everything that the Holy One, Blessed be He, created, He created for His glory, as it is stated: “Everything that is called by My name, and I have created for My glory, I have formed it and even made it” (Isaiah 43:7). Since incense smoke that rises straight up is superior, we must forgo our honor and request the services of the house of Avtinas once again. The Sages sent for them, but they did not want to come back until they doubled their compensation. They had been receiving twelve maneh, and now they gave them twenty-four. Rabbi Yehuda says: They had been receiving twenty-four maneh, and now they gave them forty-eight.
אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מִפְּנֵי מַה אֵין אַתֶּם רוֹצִין לְלַמֵּד. אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מְסוֹרֶת בְּיָדֵינוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהַבַּיִת הַזֶּה עָתִיד לִיחָרֵב. שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמְדוּ אֲחֵרִים וְיִהְיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶן.
The Sages said to them: For what reason don’t you want to teach the art of incense preparation to others? The house of Avtinas said to them: We have a tradition from our fathers that this House, the Temple, will be destroyed. We do not want to teach our method, so that others should not learn these skills and prepare this incense for their idolatry.
בִּדְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ מַזְכִּירִין אוֹתָן לִשְׁבָח. שֶׁלֹּא יָצָאת אִשָּׁה שֶׁלְאֶחָד מֵהֶן מְנוּשֶׂמֶת מֵעוֹלָם. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא כְשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן נוֹשֵׂא אִשָּׁה מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר הָיָה פוֹסֵק עִמָּהּ עַל מְנָת שֶׁלֹּא תִתְבַּשֵּׂם. [שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ אוֹמְרִים. מִמַּעֲשֶׂה פִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת הֵן מִתְבַּשְּׂמוֹת. לְקַייֵם מַה שֶׁנֶּאֲמַר. וִֽהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ם מֵֽיי וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל.]
Although their reason for refraining from teaching their method to others was not accepted, on these other matters the Sages did mention them with praise: That never did the wife of any one of them leave her house perfumed; and not only that, but when one of them would marry a woman from elsewhere, he would stipulate with her that the marriage was on condition that she may not perfume herself, so that people should not say that they perfume themselves from the preparation of the incense mixture. They did so to fulfill that which is stated: “Then you shall be clear before the Lord and before Israel” (Numbers 32:22).
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵה. מָצָאתִי תִינּוֹק אֶחָד מִבֵּית אַבְטִינָס. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. מֵאֵי זֶה מִשְׁפָּחָה אַתְּ. אָמַר לִי. מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת פְּלוֹנִית. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. אֲבוֹתֶיךְ שֶׁנִּתְכַּווְנוּ לְרַבּוֹת כְּבוֹדָן וּלְמָעֵט כְּבוֹד שָׁמַיִם לְפִיכָךְ כְּבוֹדָם נִתְמָעֵט וּכְבוֹד שָׁמַיִם נִתְרַבָּה.
Rabbi Yosei said: Once I was standing in Jerusalem, and I found a certain child from the house of Avtinas. I said to him: My son, from which family are you? He said to me: I am from a particular family, i.e., the house of Avtinas. I said to him: My son, I will say this about your forefathers: Since they intended to increase their own glory by ensuring that none were as proficient as they at preparing incense and by demanding double their previous wages, and they sought to reduce of the glory of Heaven by taking money from the Temple coffers, therefore they were punished and ultimately their glory was diminished, as after the destruction of the Temple they lost their importance. But the glory of Heaven increased, for God’s honor is not dependent upon the existence of the Temple.
אָמַר רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה. סָח לִי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לוּגה. מְלַקֵּט הָיִיתִי עֲשָׂבִים אֲנִי וְתִינּוֹק אֶחָד מִבֵּית אַבְטִינָס. וְרָאִיתִי אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבָּכָה וְרָאִיתִי אוֹתוֹ שֶׁשָּׂחַק. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. לָמָּה בָכִיתָה. אָמַר לִי. עַל כְּבוֹד בֵּית אַבָּא שֶׁנִּתְמָעֵט. וְלָמָּה שָׂחַקְתָּה. אָמַר לִי. עַל הַכָּבוֹד הַמְתוּקָּן לַצַּדִּיקִים לְעָתִיד לְבוֹא.
Rabbi Akiva said: Shimon ben Loga told me: Once I and a certain child from the house of Avtinas were collecting herbs, and I saw him crying, and later I saw him laughing. I said to him: My son, why did you cry? He said to me: I cried for the glory of my father’s house, which has been diminished after the destruction of the Temple. I subsequently asked him: And why did you laugh? He said to me: I laughed with joy over the glory prepared for the righteous in the future, when my family will have its role restored to them in the rebuilt Temple.
[וּמָה רָאִיתָ.] הֲרֵי מַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן לְנֶגְדִּי. נוֹמֵיתִי לוֹ. בְּנִי. הַרְאֵהוּ לִי. אָמַר לִי. מְסוֹרֶת בְּיָדִי מֵאֲבוֹתַײ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַרְאוֹתוֹ לְבִירְייָה.
Shimon ben Loga added that he asked that child further: And what did you see that brought these things to mind? He replied: I saw the smoke raiser before me, among the herbs we were collecting. I said to him: My son, show it to me, and I will keep its identity secret so that no one will be able to use it for idolatry. He said to me: Rabbi, I have a tradition from my forefathers not to show it to a soul.
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן נוּרִי. פָּגַע בִּי זָקֵן [אֶחָד] מִשֶּׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס [וּמְגִילַּת סַמָּנִים בְיָדוֹ.] אָמַר לִי. רִבִּי. לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ בֵית אַבָּא צְנוּעִין וְהָיוּ [דף יד:] מוֹסְרִין אֶת הַמְגִילָּה הַזֹּאת אֵילּוּ לָאֵילּוּ. וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֵינָן נֶאֱמָנִין הֵילָךְ אֶת הַמְגִילָּה והִיזָּהֵר בָּהּ.
Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Nuri said: Once I and a certain elderly man were collecting herbs. I encountered a certain elderly man from the house of Avtinas with a scroll in his hand with instructions on how to identify herbs for the Temple incense and how to prepare it. That elderly man said to me: Rabbi, in the past the members of my father’s house were discreet [tzenu’in] and cautious. And they would [14b] transfer this scroll only to one another, so that it would not come into the possession of anyone who might misuse its information. And now that the members of my father’s house are not reliable, I am concerned that they might pass the scroll to the wrong person. I will not give it to one of them but only to someone whom I judge to be completely trustworthy. Therefore, here it is for you, as I can trust you to take the scroll and be careful with it, so that it will not reach anyone who might misuse its information.
וּכְשֶׁבָּאתִי וְהִרְצֵאתִי אֶת הַדְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה זָֽלְגוּ דְמָעָיו וְאָמַר. מֵעַתָּה אֵין אָנוּ צְרִיכִין לְהַזְכִּירָן לִגְנַאי.
Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Nuri continued: And when I came and recounted these matters to Rabbi Akiva, his eyes shed tears, and he said: From now on, we should not mention the members of the house of Avtinas unfavorably, as it is evident that the only reason they did not teach their skills to others was due to the fear that someone might misuse them for idolatrous purposes.
אֶלְעָזָר עַל הַפָּרוֹכוֹת. שֶׁהָיָה מְמוּנֶּה עַל אוֹרְגֵי פְרָכוֹת. פִּנְחָס הַמַּלְבִּישׁ. שֶׁהָיָה מַלְבִּישׁ בִּגְדֵי כְהוּנָה גְּדוֹלָה. מַכֲשֶׂה בְכֹהֵן אֶחָד שֶׁהִלְבִּישׁ לְאִיסְטְרַטְיוֹט אֶחָד וְנָתָן לוֹ שְׁמוֹנָה זְהוּבִין. וְאִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. תְּרֵי עָשָׂר יְהִיב לֵיהּ.
The mishna states that Elazar was responsible for the Temple curtains. The Gemara explains that this means he was the supervisor of the Temple curtain weavers. The mishna further teaches that Pineḥas was the valet. The Gemara states that he would dress the High Priest in the High Priestly vestments. The expertise of those appointed to this position was so great that there was an incident involving a certain valet priest who dressed a certain Roman army officer [isteratiyot], and the officer was so impressed with the manner in which he dressed him that he gave him eight gold coins. And some say he gave him twelve gold coins.
משנה אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשִּׁבְעָה מַרְכּוֹלִין וּשְׁלשָׁה גִּיזְבָּרִין. וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין שְׂרָרָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר בְּמָמוֹן פָּחוּת מִשְּׁנַיִם. חוּץ מִבֶּן אֲחִיָּה שֶׁעַל חוֹלֵי מֵעַיִם וְאֶלְעָזָר שֶׁעַל הַפָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁאוֹתָן קִיבְּלוּ הַצִּיבּוּר עֲלֵיהֶן׃
Halakha 2 · MISHNA There must be no fewer than seven trustees [amarkolin] and three treasurers appointed over the Temple administration. And we do not appoint an authority over the public comprised of fewer than two people, except for ben Aḥiyya, who was responsible for healing priests who suffered from intestinal disease, and Elazar, who was responsible for the weaving of the Temple curtains. The reason for these exceptions is that the majority of the public accepted these men upon themselves as officials who served without the assistance of even a single partner.
הלכה אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה גִּזְבָּרִין וִֵּמִשִּׁבְעָה מַרְכּוֹלִין. תַּנֵּי. מִשְּׁנֵי קַתֹלִיקִין.
GEMARA: The mishna states that there must be no fewer three treasurers and seven trustees. The Gemara states that it was likewise taught in a baraita that there must be no fewer than two executive supervisors [katalikin].
הָדָא הִיא דִכְתִיב יחִיאֵ֡ל וְעוזִיָּהו וּמַחַת גִּזְבְּרִין. וַֽעֲשָׂאֵל וִֽירִימ֤וֹת וְיֽוֹזָבָד֙ וֶֽאֱלִיאֵ֣ל וּסְמַכְיָהוּ וּמַ֖חַת וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ מַרְכּוֹלִין. פְּקִידִ֗ים מִיַּ֤ד כָּונַנְיָ֨הוּ֙ וְשִׁמְעִ֣י אָחִ֔יו קַתיֹלִיקִין. בְּמִפְקַד֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽעֲזַרְיָה֖וּ נְגִ֥יד בֵּֽית־הָֽאֱלֹהִֽים. הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל.
This is as it is written in the verse that lists the men who supervised the receipt of teruma and tithes from the public and their distribution to the priests and the Levites, as well as the receipt of items dedicated to the Temple: “And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath,” these were the treasurers; “and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah,” these were the trustees; “overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother,” these were executive supervisors; “by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the House of God,” they were the king and the High Priest, the most senior officials (II Chronicles 31:13).
כְּשֶׁהוּא חוֹתֵם הַגִּיזְבָּר חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לָאֲמַרְכָּל. מַרְכָּל חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְקַתֹילִיקוֹס. קַתֹילִיקוֹן חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לַמֶּלֶךְ.
These officials participated in the supervision of the Temple assets, according to the level and status of their positions. When he would seal an item to store in the treasury until it would be needed, the treasurer would first seal it with his own seal; and subsequently give it to a trustee; the trustee would seal it and give it to an executive supervisor; the executive supervisor would seal it and give it to the High Priest; and the High Priest would seal it and give it to the king, who would place the final seal.
וּכְשֶׁהוּא מַתִּיר הַמֶּלֶךְ רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. קַתֹילִיקָיס רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. מַרְכָּל רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. גִּזְבָּר רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר.
And when a treasurer wanted to release an item for usage, the reverse order was followed: First the king would examine his seal and release the restriction on the item; the High Priest would examine his seal and release it; the executive supervisor would examine his seal and release it; the trustee would examine his seal and release it; and finally the treasurer would examine his seal and release it.
אֵין עוֹשִׂין שְׂרָרָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר בְּמָמוֹן פָּחוּת מִשְּׁנַיִם. רִבִּי נַחְמָן בְשֵׁם רִבִּי מָנָא. עַל שֵׁם וְהֵם֙ יִקְח֣וּ אֶת־הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֶֽת־הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת וְאֶת־הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֑ן.
The mishna states that we do not appoint an authority over the public, in monetary matters, comprised of fewer than two appointees. Rav Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Mana: This principle is derived on the basis of a verse that is referring to those engaged in building the Tabernacle and weaving the priestly vestments, who received the community’s donations: “And they shall take the gold, and the sky blue wool, and the purple wool” (Exodus 28:5). The plural “they” indicates that this authority must consist of at least two people.
אָמַר רִבִּי חָמָא בֵּירִבִּי חֲנִינָה. מִפְּסוֹלֶת הַלּוּחוֹת הֶעֱשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה. הָדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב פְּסָל־לְךָ֛ שְׁנֵֽי־לוּחוֹת אֲבָנִי֭ם. פְּסָל־לְךָ֛ שֶׁתְּהֵא הַפְּסוֹלֶת שֶׁלָּךָ. אָמַר רִבִּי חָנִין. מַחְצֵב שֶׁלְאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיוֹת בָּרָא לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשּׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתּוֹךְ אֳהָלוֹ וּמִמֶּנּוּ הֶעֱשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה.
Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: Although Moses supervised the building of the Tabernacle, he took nothing for himself from the community donations, as Moses grew wealthy only from the shavings that broke off during the chiseling process of the second tablets. This is as it is written: “Hew for yourself two tablets of stone” (Exodus 34:1). “Hew [pesol] for yourself” indicates that the shavings [pesolet] shall be yours. Rabbi Ḥanin said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, created a quarry of precious stones and pearls for Moses inside his tent, and Moses grew wealthy from that source.
כְּתִיב וְהִבִּ֨יטוּ֙ אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ הָאֹֽהֱלָה: תְּרֵין אֲמוֹרִין. חַד אָמַר לִגְנַאי. וְחַד אָמַר לִשְׁבָח.
It is written: “And it came to pass when Moses went out to the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the Tent” (Exodus 33:8). Two amora’im interpreted this verse with regard to Moses’ wealth, but in opposite ways. One said: The people looked at Moses unfavorably; while the other said: The people looked at Moses favorably.
מָאן דָּאָמַר לִגְנַאי. חֲמוּן שֻׁקִּין חֲמוּן כָּרְעִין חֲמוּן קּוּפְדָּן. אֲכִיל מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי וְשָׁתִי מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי. כָּל־מִדְּלֵיהּ מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי. וּמָאן דָּאָמַר לִשְׁבָח. מֵחְמֵי צַדִּיָקָא וּמַזְכִּי [טוֹבִיָּא דִּזְכָת לְמֵחְמֵי יָתֵיהּ.]
He who said that the people looked at Moses unfavorably maintains that they said: Look at his legs, look at his feet, look at his flesh. See how healthy they are. All that he eats comes from us Jews, all that he drinks comes from us Jews, and all of his assets are taken from us Jews. And the one who said that they looked at Moses favorably maintains that the people were not responding to Moses’ wealth but simply wanted to see the righteous man, saying: We desire to view the righteous, and one who merits to view Moses earns great rewards.
משנה אַרְבָּעָה חוֹתָמוֹת הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וְכָתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן עֵגֶל זָכָר גְּדִי וְחוֹטֵא. בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר חֲמִשָּׁה הָיוּ וַאֲרָמִית כָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן עֵגֶל דָכָר גְּדִי חוֹטֵא דַּל וְחוֹטֵא עָשִׁיר.
Halakha 3 · MISHNA This mishna provides details of the functions performed by Yoḥanan ben Pineḥas and Aḥiyya, the officials mentioned in the first mishna of this chapter, which concerns the seals and libations. There were four seals in the Temple that confirmed that the bearer had paid for the libations that accompanied his offering. And one of the following inscriptions was written on them: Calf; male, i.e., a ram; kid; and sinner, i.e., a leper, as leprosy is a punishment for one of seven sins (see Arakhin 16a). Conversely, ben Azzai says: There were five seals, and the following was written upon them in Aramaic, not Hebrew: Calf, male, kid, poor sinner, and rich sinner.
עֵגֶל מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִסְכֵּי בָּקָר גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. גְּדִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי צֹאן גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵיבוֹת חוּץ מִשֶּׁל אֵילִים. אַיִל מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי אֵילִים בִּלְבָד. חוֹטֵא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי שָׁלֹשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע:
The mishna explains the significance of each of the four aforementioned seals. The calf seal serves as a payment receipt for libations of cattle offerings, whether they are large or small, male or female, as all offerings from the cow family are accompanied by the same libation. The kid seal serves for libations of sheep or goat offerings, whether large or small, male or female, except for those of rams aged thirteen months and older. The ram seal, which was earlier called the male seal, serves exclusively for ram libations. The sinner seal serves for libations of the three animal offerings of a leper, for the completion of his purification.
מִי שֶׁהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ נְסָכִים הוֹלֵךְ לוֹ אֵצֶל יוֹחָנָן שֶׁהוּא מְמוּנֶּה עַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת נוֹתֵן לוֹ מָעוֹת וּמְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ חוֹתָם. בָּא לוֹ אֵצֶל אֲחִייָה שֶׁהוּא מְמוּנֶּה עַל הַנְּסָכִים וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ חוֹתָם וּמְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ נְסָכִים.
One who seeks libations for his offering goes to Yoḥanan, the official who was responsible for the seals, and gives him the appropriate sum of money and receives a seal from him. With that seal he subsequently comes to Aḥiyya, who was responsible for the libations, and gives him Yoḥanan’s seal and receives his libations from him.
וְלָעֶרֶב בָּאִין זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה וַאֲחִייָה מוֹצִיא אֶת הַחוֹתָמוֹת וּמְקַבֵּל כְּנֶגְדָּן מָעוֹת. אִם פָּחֲתוּ פָחֲתוֹ לוֹ וִישַׁלֵּם יוֹחָנָן מִבֵּיתוֹ. וְאִם הוֹתִירוּ הוֹתִירוּ לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ שֶׁיַּד הֶקְדֵּשׁ לָעֶלְיוֹנָה׃
In the evening, Yoḥanan and Aḥiyya would get together to reconcile their accounts, and Aḥiyya would take out the seals he had received and accept the money Yoḥanan had received in exchange for them. If the money was less than the value of the seals, they were less to him, i.e., Yoḥanan would bear the loss, and Yoḥanan would have to pay the difference to the Temple treasury from his own property. And if there was some money left over, i.e., the total money was greater than the value of the seals, they were left over to the benefit of the Temple treasury of consecrated property, as the Temple treasury always has the upper hand.
מִי שֶׁאָבַד חוֹתָמוֹ מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ עַד הָעֶרֶב. אִם מָֽצְאוּ לוֹ כְּדֵי חוֹתָמוֹ נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. וְאִם לָאו לֹא הָיוּ נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. וְשֵׁם הַיּוֹם כָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן מִפְּנֵי הָרַמָּאִין׃
With regard to one who lost his seal that he purchased from Yoḥanan, Yoḥanan and Aḥiyya would wait to resolve his problem until the evening. And when they added their accounts in the evening, if they found for him a surplus of money equivalent to the value of his seal, they would give him the corresponding libations. And if not, they would not give him libations. And the name of the day of the week was written upon the seals because of the cheats. They might try to use old seals that had been lost by the Temple officials or by someone who had brought an offering at an earlier date, so as to receive libations in a deceitful manner.
הלכה וּכְבֶן עַזַּאי חוֹטֵא [דָּל] לָמָּה. הָיָה מֵבִיא לוּגוֹ עִמּוֹ. בְּרַם כְּרַבָּנִן מֵבִיא גְדִי.
GEMARA: The Gemara asks: And according to the opinion of ben Azzai, why was it necessary to have a seal labeled poor sinner? The Gemara answers: Ben Azzai maintains that a poor leper would have to bring his log of oil with him. This is referring to the additional oil required for the leper’s purification (Leviticus 14:15–18), some of which is sprinkled on the altar while the rest is applied to the leper’s ear, thumb, big toe, and head. According to ben Azzai, a leper would purchase this additional oil from Aḥiyya, and therefore he required a separate seal for each log of oil. However, according to the opinion of the Rabbis, a poor leper brings only the kid seal purchased from Yoḥanan, by which he receives the oil for his meal offering, and he must use his own private oil for the additional log.
נִיסְכֵי רָחֵל מַה. מִן מַה דְתַנִּינָן. גְּדִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ נִיסְכֵּי צֹאן גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. הָדָא אָֽמְרָה. נִיסְכֵּי רָחֵל כְנִיסְכֵּי גְדִי. כְּתִיב כָּ֣כָה יֵּֽעָשֶׂ֗ה לַשּׁוֹר֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד א֖וֹ לָאַ֣יִל הָֽאֶחָ֑ד אֽוֹ־לַשֶּׂ֥ה בַכְּבָשִׂ֖ים א֥וֹ בָֽעִזִּֽים:
The mishna mentions only the libations for kids, referring to both sheep and goats that are less than one year old, and for rams, which are adult male sheep. The Gemara asks: What amounts are brought for the libations of a lamb, i.e., a female sheep in its second year? Are they the same as those of a kid or a ram? The Gemara answers that this halakha may be inferred from that which we learned in the mishna, that the kid seal serves for libations of sheep offerings, whether large or small, male or female. That ruling says, i.e., indicates, that the libations of a lamb are like the libations of a kid. The Gemara adds that this is derived from a verse that equates the two libations, as it is written: “Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the lambs, or of the kids” (Numbers 15:11).
מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא חִילֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר. שֶׁהָיָה בְדִין. בֶּן הַצֹּאן טָעוּן נְסָכִים [וּ]בֶן הַבָּקָר טָעוּן נְסָכִים. אִם מָצָאנוּ שֶׁחִלֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי כֶּבֶשׂ לְנִיסְכֵּי אַיִל [דף טו.] לְכָךְ נַחֲלוֹק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כָּ֣כָה יֵּֽעָשֶׂ֗ה לַשּׁוֹר֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד. מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא חִילֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר.
The Gemara inquires further: Why is it stated: For each bull? The verse teaches that The Torah does not differentiate between the libations of a calf, which is less than a year old, and the libations of a bull, which is at least one year old. The Gemara explains: This is because it was fitting to differentiate between them, in light of the fact that both the offspring of a sheep requires libations and the offspring of a cow requires libations. If we find that the Torah differentiates between the libations of a sheep in its first year, whose meal offering is one isaron of fine flour, and the libations of a ram, a male sheep thirteen months old and older, whose meal-offering is two isaron, [15a] then we should likewise differentiate between the libations of a calf and the libations of a bull. In order to indicate that this is not the case, the aforementioned verse states: “Thus shall it be done for each bull,” which teaches that the Torah does not differentiate between the libations of a calf and the libations of a bull.
Masechet Shekalim is sponsored by Sarene Shanus and Harold Treiber in memory of their parents, “who taught us the value of learning and of being part of the Jewish community.”
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Shekalim 14
The William Davidson Talmud | Powered by Sefaria
נְחוּנְייָה חוֹפֵר שִׁיחִין. שֶׁהָיָה חוֹפֵר שִׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת. וַהֲוָה יְדַע [דף יד.] הֵיי דֵין כֵּיף מְקוֹרֵר מַיָא וְהֵײ דֵין כֵּיף אִית בֵּיהּ שַׁרְבְּרוּבֵי וְעַד מַטֵּי הֵן שַׁרְבְּרוּבִיתֵיהּ מַטָייָה. אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא. וּמֵת [בְּנוֹ] בַצָּמָא.
The mishna states that Neḥunya was the well digger. The Gemara explains that he would dig wells and caves, where rainwater would collect, for pilgrims to use on their way to Jerusalem for the Festivals. And he knew [14a] which rock contains water, and which rock contains fissures in which water may be found, and how far those fissures extend. This would enable him to calculate how deep he had to dig to reach water. Rabbi Eliezer said: And his son died of thirst.
אָמַר רִבִּי חֲנִינָה. מָאן דְּאָמַר דְּרַחֲמָנָא ווַתְרָן יִתְווַתְרוּן בְּנֵי מָעוֹי. אֶלָּא מַעֲרִיךְ רוּחֵיהּ וְגָבֵי דִידֵיהּ. Since the previous passage mentioned God’s rigorously exacting attitude toward righteous people like Neḥunya, the Gemara discusses how God relates to sinners. Rabbi Ḥanina said: Whoever says that the Merciful One overlooks the punishment due to sinners, his intestines will be overlooked, i.e., cease functioning. The reason sinners often appear to go unpunished is rather that God extends His patience with evildoers to give them a chance to repent, but eventually He collects His due and punishes the wicked.
אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא כְּתִיב וּ֝סְבִיבָ֗יו נִשְֽׂעֲרָ֥ה מְאֹֽד. מְדַקְדֵּק עִמָּהֶן כְּחוּט הַשְּׂעָרָה.
The Gemara explains the harsh judgment inflicted on the righteous Neḥunya. Rabbi Aḥa said that it is written: “Our God comes and does not keep silence; a fire devours before Him, and His surroundings storm [nis’ara] mightily” (Psalms 50:3). The Hebrew spelling of the word nis’ara is very similar to the word sa’ara, hair. This hints that God is exacting with the righteous, who are close to Him and can be called His surroundings, up to a hairsbreadth. Even slight deviations from the proper path can elicit punishment.
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵה. לֹא מִטַּעַם זֶה. אֶלָּא מִן מַה דִכְתִיב וְ֝נוֹרָ֗א [הוּא] עַל־כָּל־סְבִיבָֽיו. מוֹרָאוֹ עַל הַקְּרוֹבִים יוֹתֵר מִן הָֽרְחוֹקִים.
Rabbi Yosei said: This idea is derived not through that source, but rather from that which is written about God: “And dreadful is He upon all of His surroundings” (Psalms 89:8), which indicates that His dread is upon those close to Him, i.e., the righteous, more than upon those distant from Him, i.e., the sinful.
רִבִּי הַגַּיי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן. מַעֲשֶׂה בְחָסִיד אֶחָד שֶׁהָיָה חוֹפֵר בּוֹרוֹת שֵׁיחִין וּמְעָרוֹת לָעוֹבְרִים וְלַשָּׁבִים. פַּעַם אַחַת הָֽיְתָה בִתּוֹ עוֹבֶרֶת לְהִינָּשֵׂא וּשְׁטָפָהּ נָהָר. וַהֲווֹן כָּל־עַמָּא עָֽלְלִין לְגַבֵּיהּ בְּעַייָן מְנַחַמְתֵּיהּ וְלָא קִיבֵּל עֲלוֹי מִתְנַחֲמָה.
The Gemara cites a related story. Rabbi Ḥaggai said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: There was an incident involving a certain pious man who would dig pits, wells, and caves to collect water for passersby. Once his daughter was passing over a river for the purpose of marriage, and the river washed her away. And all the people came to console him, but he refused to accept their condolences.
עָאַל רִבִּי פִינְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר לְגַבֵּיהּ בָּעֵי מְנַחַמְתֵּיהּ וְלָא קִבֵּל עֲלוֹי מִתְנַחֲמָה. אֲמַר לוֹן. דֵּין הִינּוֹ חָסִידֵיכוֹן. אָֽמְרִין לֵיהּ. רִבִּי. כָּךְ וְכָךְ הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה וְכָךְ וְכָךְ אִירַע.
Rabbi Pineḥas ben Yair came to visit him to console him, but he refused to accept condolences even from Rabbi Pineḥas. Rabbi Pineḥas said to the people of that community: Is this your righteous man, who will not be consoled and accept God’s judgment? They said to him: Rabbi, he would perform such and such acts of righteousness, by supplying water, and yet such and such tragedy, the drowning of his daughter, occurred to him.
אָמַר. אֵיפְשַׁר שֶׁהָיָה מְכַבֵּד אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ בַמַּיִם וְהוּא מְקַפְּחוֹ בַמַּיִם. מִיַּד נָֽפְלָה הֲבָרָה בָעִיר. בָּאָת בִּתּוֹ שֶׁלְאוֹתוֹ הָאִישׁ. אִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. בְּשׁוּכְתָּא אִיתְעֲרִײַת. וְאִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. מַלְאַךְ יָרַד כִּדְמוּת רִבִּי פִינְחָס בֶּן יָאִיר וְהִצִּילָהּ.
Rabbi Pineḥas said: Is it possible that he honors his Creator with water, and yet his Creator strikes him with water? Immediately thereafter, a report spread throughout the city: The daughter of that righteous man has arrived, as she did not actually drown. Some say she grasped a branch and pulled herself out of the river, and some say an angel in the form of Rabbi Pineḥas ben Yair descended from heaven and rescued her.
גְּבִינֵי כָרוֹז. שֶׁהָיָה מַכְרִיז בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. מֶה הָיָה אוֹמֵר. הַכֹּהֲנִים לָעֲבוֹדָה וְהַלְּוִיִּם לְדוּכָן וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לְמַעֲמָד. אַגְרִיפַּס הַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁמַע קוֹלוֹ עַד שְׁמוֹנֶה פַרְסָאוֹת וְנָתַן לוֹ מַתָּנוֹת הַרְבֶּה.
§ The mishna states that Gevini was the Temple crier. The Gemara cites a baraita that states that Gevini would issue an announcement every morning in the Temple. What would he say in his announcement? Arise, priests, to service; and Levites to their platform to sing; and Israelites, i.e., the group of Israelites who represented the entire community at the sacrifice, to their watch. Gevini’s voice was so powerful that King Agrippa once heard his voice as far away as eight parasangs, and Agrippa gave him many gifts as a sign of his appreciation.
בֶּן גֶּבֶר עַל נְעִילַת שְׁעָרִים. תִּירְגֵּם רַב קוֹמֵי דְבֵית רִבִּי שִׁילָה. קָרָא גַבְרָא. אַכְרִיז כָּרוֹזָא.
The mishna states that ben Gever was responsible for locking the Temple gates in the evening and opening them in the morning. The Gemara cites an incident involving ben Gever. It is taught in a mishna (Yoma 20a): On each day, the ashes are removed from the altar at the calling of the gever or near this time. The Sages dispute whether the term gever in this context means man or rooster. The Gemara relates that when Rav went to visit Rabbi Sheila, he would serve as his interpreter, explaining his lectures to the public. On one occasion, after Rabbi Sheila had explicitly stated that gever means a rooster, Rav nevertheless interpreted in the study hall of Rabbi Sheila that the phrase: Gever cried out, means: The crier announced.
אָֽמְרוּן לֵיהּ. קָרָא תַרְנְגוֹלָא. אֲמַר לוֹן. וְהָתַנִּינָן בֶּן גֶּבֶר. אִית לָךְ מֵימַר בַּר תַּרְנְגוֹלָא.
Rabbi Sheila said to him: Say that this expression means: The rooster cried out. Rav said to him: But we learned in a mishna above (13a) that there is a man called ben Gever. Could you possibly say that his name means son of a rooster? In this context, gever must mean man, not rooster. Therefore, in Yoma as well it must indicate that a man issued an announcement.
בֶּן בֵּבָי עַל הַפָּקִיעַ. שֶׁהָיָה מְזַווֵיג אֶת הַפְּתִילוֹת. רִבִּי יוֹסֵה עָאַל לְכוּפְרָה. בְּעָא מַמְנִייָא עֲלֵיהוֹן פַּרְנָסִין וְלָא קִבְּלוּן מִינֵּיהּ.
The mishna states that ben Bevai was responsible for the shreds of garments. The Gemara explains that he would braid shreds together to prepare wicks for the candelabrum that were of the appropriate thickness, so that they would burn the entire night during each period of the year. The Gemara relates that Rabbi Yosei came to the town of Kufra and wanted to appoint community leaders for them to care for the needs of the community and the provisions of the poor. However, those who were selected would not accept the appointment from them, i.e., from Rabbi Yosei, because they deemed this job beneath their dignity.
עָאַל וְאָמַר קוֹמֵיהוֹן. בֶּן בֵּבָי עַל הַפָּקִיעַ. וּמַה אִם זֶה שֶׁנִּתְמַנֶּה עַל הַפְּתִילֹות זָכָה לְהִימָּנוֹת עִם גְּדוֹלֵי הַדּוֹר. אַתֶּם שֶׁאַתֶּם מִתְמַנִּין עַל חַיֵּי נְפָשׁוֹת לֹא כָל־שֶׁכֵּן.
Rabbi Yosei came and said to them: Ben Bevai, was responsible for the lowly function of the shreds of garments, and if this man, who was appointed to deal with the wicks, merited to be listed with the greatest of that generation, you, who are appointed for life-sustaining matters, all the more so are you not honored by the position? You should therefore accept the request without hesitation.
בֶּן אַרְזָה עַל הַצִּלְצָל. כַּהִיא דְתַנִּינָן תַּמָּן. הֵנִיף הַסְּגָן בַּסּוּדָרִין וְהִקִּישׁ בֶּן אַרְזָא בַּצִּלְצָל
The mishna further taught that ben Arza was responsible for the cymbal. The Gemara explains that this is referring to that which we learned in a mishna there (Tamid 33b): When the High Priest bent over to pour the wine libation, the deputy High Priest waved the scarves as a signal and ben Arza beat upon the cymbal.
הוּגְדַּס בֶּן לִֵוי עַל הַשִּׁיר. אָמַר רִבִּי אָחָא. נְעִימָה יְתֵירָה הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ. וְאָֽמְרוּ עָלָיו עַל הוּגְדַּס בֶּן לֵוִי שֶׁהָיָה מַנְעִים אֶת קוֹלוֹ בַזֶּמֶר. וּכְשֶׁהָיָה נוֹעֵץ גּוֹדְלוֹ לְתוֹךְ פִּיו הָיָה מוֹצִיא כַמָּה מִינֵי זֶמֶר והָיוּ אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים נִזְקָרִין לוֹ בַת רֹאשׁ.
The mishna states that Hugras ben Levi was responsible for the song. Rabbi Aḥa said: He knew an extraordinary manner of singing. And they said of Hugras ben Levi that he would make his voice pleasant in song, and when he would stick his thumb into his mouth he could produce several types of music simultaneously, and all of his fellow priests would lurch toward him all at once, from the intensity and the charm of the sound.
בֵּית גַּרְמוּ עַל מַעֲשֵׂה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים בֵּית גַּרְמוּ הָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְּמַעֲשֶׁה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וּבְרִדִּייָתוֹ וְלֹא רָצוּ לְלַמֵּד.
§ The mishna mentioned that the house of Garmu was responsible for the preparation of the shewbread, which is the bread baked each week in a special form and displayed for a week on the designated table in the Sanctuary. The Gemara relates a story from a baraita about the house of Garmu and their talent in baking. The house of Garmu was proficient in the preparation of the shewbread and in its removal from the oven without ruining it, but they did not want to teach these skills to others.
שָֽׁלְחוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָנִים מֵאַלֶכְּסַנְדְרִיאָה וְהָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְּמַעֲשֶׁה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים. וּבְרִדִּייָתוֹ לֹא הָיוּ בְקִיאִין.
Therefore, the Sages sent messengers and brought in craftsmen from Alexandria, who were also proficient in the preparation of the shewbread, in an attempt to replace the house of Garmu. However, they were not as proficient as the house of Garmu in its removal from the oven. The complex form of the shewbread rendered it very difficult to remove from the oven without its breaking.
בֵּית גַּרְמוּ הָיוּ מַסִּיקִין מִבִּפְנִים וְרוֹדִין מִבַּחוּץ. וְלֹא הָֽיְתָה מִתְעַפֶּשֶׁת. וְאֵילּוּ הָיו מַסִּיקִין מִבִּפְנִים וְרוֹדִין מִבִּפְנִים. וְהָֽיְתָה מִתְעַפֶּשֶׁת.
The Gemara clarifies the difference between the two manners of preparation. The house of Garmu would ignite the fire within the oven, bake the shewbread in a mold, and remove the bread from the mold only outside the oven, after it was fully baked. And, as they would remove it from the mold at this late stage, it would not spoil. Whereas these Egyptian craftsmen would ignite the fire within the oven and bake the shewbread in the mold, but, out of fear that it would break when removed from the mold, they would remove it from the mold inside the oven before it was fully baked. And the result was that the bread would spoil.
כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּֽדְעוּ חֲכָמִים בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה אָֽמְרוּ. כָּל־מַה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ בָּרָא. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כֹּ֤ל פָּעַ֣ל יְ֖י לַֽמַּֽעֲנֵ֑הוּ.
Once the Sages realized this matter, that their replacement shewbread was flawed, they said: Everything that the Holy One, Blessed be He, created, He created for His glory, as it is stated: “The Lord has made everything for His own purpose” (Proverbs 16:4). Since spoiled shewbread does not promote the glory of God, we must forgo our honor and request the services of the house of Garmu once again.
שָֽׁלְחוּ אַחֲרֵיהֵם וְלֹא רָצוּ לָבוֹא עַד שֶׁכָּֽפְלוּ לָהֶן שְׂכָרָן. שְׁנֵים עַשָׂר מְנָה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר. עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה.
Therefore, the Sages sent for the house of Garmu, but they did not want to come back to bake until the Sages doubled their compensation. They had been receiving twelve maneh, and now they gave them twenty-four. Rabbi Yehuda says: They had been receiving twenty-four maneh, and now they gave them forty-eight.
אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מִפְּנֵי מַה אֵין אַתֶּם רוֹצִין לְלַמֵּד. אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מְסוֹרֶת הִיא בְיָדֵינוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהַבַּיִת הַזֶּה עָתִיד לִיחָרֵב. שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמְדוּ אֲחֵרִים וְיִהְיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶן. בִּדְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ מַזְכִּירִין אוֹתָן לִשְׁבָח. שֶׁלֹּא יָצָא מִיַּד בְּנֵיהֶם פַּת נְקִייָה מֵעוֹלָם. שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ אוֹמְרִים. מִמַּעֲשֶׂה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים הֵן אוֹכְלִין.
The Sages said to them: For what reason don’t you want to teach the art of shewbread baking to others? The house of Garmu said to them: We have a tradition from our fathers that this House, the Temple, will be destroyed. We do not want to teach our method, so that others should not learn this art and unscrupulously perform it for their idolatry. Although their reason for refraining from teaching their method to others was not accepted, on this other matter the Sages did mention them with praise: That refined bread was never found in their children’s possession at all, so that people should not say that they feast upon their shewbread labor.
בֵּית אַבְטִינָס עַל מַעֲשֵׂה הַקְּטוֹרֶת. שֶׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס הָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְפִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת וּבְמַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן וְלֹא רָצוּ לְלַמֵּד.
The mishna states that the house of Avtinas was responsible for the preparation of the incense. The Gemara relates a similar story from a baraita concerning the house of Avtinas and their knowledge of the incense preparation: The house of Avtinas was proficient in the preparations of the incense mixture, which included grinding the incense herbs and blending them together. And they were also expert in identifying the so-called smoke raiser, a plant that caused the incense smoke to rise upward in a straight line to the ceiling, but they did not want to teach these skills to others.
שָֽׁלְחוּ וְהֵבִיאוּ אוּמָנִים מֵאַלֶכְּסַנְדְרִיאָה וְהָיוּ בְקִיאִין בְפִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת. וּבְמַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן לֹא הָיוּ בְקִיאִין. שֶׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס הָֽיְתָה מְתַמֶּרֶת וְעוֹלָה וּפּוֹסָה וְיוֹרֶדֶת. וְשֶׁלְאֵילוּ הָֽיְתָה פוֹסָה מִיַּד.
Therefore, the Sages sent out messengers and brought in craftsmen from Alexandria in Egypt. And these craftsmen were proficient in the incense mixture, but they were not proficient in identifying the smoke raiser. The incense smoke of the house of Avtinas would rise straight up like a staff to the ceiling, and from there it would spread out and descend, whereas the incense smoke of these Egyptian craftsmen would not rise but would simply spread out immediately.
וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיָּֽדְעוּ חֲכָמִים בַּדָּבָר אָֽמְרוּ. כָּל־מַה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִכְבוֹדוֹ בָּרָא. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כֹּ֚ל הַנִּקְרָ֣א בִשְׁמִ֔י וְלִכְבוֹדִ֖י בְּרָאתִ֑יו וגו׳. שָֽׁלְחוּ אַחֲרֵיהֵם וְלֹא רָצוּ לָבוֹא עַד שֶׁכָּֽפְלוּ לָהֶן שְׂכָרָן. שְׁנֵים עַשָׂר מְנָה הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע. רִבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר. עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבַּע הָיוּ נוֹטְלִין וְנָֽתְנוּ לָהֶן אַרְבָּעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה.
Once the Sages realized this matter, that this incense smoke was flawed, they said: Everything that the Holy One, Blessed be He, created, He created for His glory, as it is stated: “Everything that is called by My name, and I have created for My glory, I have formed it and even made it” (Isaiah 43:7). Since incense smoke that rises straight up is superior, we must forgo our honor and request the services of the house of Avtinas once again. The Sages sent for them, but they did not want to come back until they doubled their compensation. They had been receiving twelve maneh, and now they gave them twenty-four. Rabbi Yehuda says: They had been receiving twenty-four maneh, and now they gave them forty-eight.
אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מִפְּנֵי מַה אֵין אַתֶּם רוֹצִין לְלַמֵּד. אָֽמְרוּ לָהֶן. מְסוֹרֶת בְּיָדֵינוּ מֵאֲבוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהַבַּיִת הַזֶּה עָתִיד לִיחָרֵב. שֶׁלֹּא יִלְמְדוּ אֲחֵרִים וְיִהְיוּ עוֹשִׂין כֵּן לִפְנֵי עֲבוֹדָה זָרָה שֶׁלָּהֶן.
The Sages said to them: For what reason don’t you want to teach the art of incense preparation to others? The house of Avtinas said to them: We have a tradition from our fathers that this House, the Temple, will be destroyed. We do not want to teach our method, so that others should not learn these skills and prepare this incense for their idolatry.
בִּדְבָרִים הַלָּלוּ מַזְכִּירִין אוֹתָן לִשְׁבָח. שֶׁלֹּא יָצָאת אִשָּׁה שֶׁלְאֶחָד מֵהֶן מְנוּשֶׂמֶת מֵעוֹלָם. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא כְשֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶן נוֹשֵׂא אִשָּׁה מִמָּקוֹם אַחֵר הָיָה פוֹסֵק עִמָּהּ עַל מְנָת שֶׁלֹּא תִתְבַּשֵּׂם. [שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ אוֹמְרִים. מִמַּעֲשֶׂה פִיטּוּם הַקְּטוֹרֶת הֵן מִתְבַּשְּׂמוֹת. לְקַייֵם מַה שֶׁנֶּאֲמַר. וִֽהְיִיתֶ֧ם נְקִיִּ֛ם מֵֽיי וּמִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל.]
Although their reason for refraining from teaching their method to others was not accepted, on these other matters the Sages did mention them with praise: That never did the wife of any one of them leave her house perfumed; and not only that, but when one of them would marry a woman from elsewhere, he would stipulate with her that the marriage was on condition that she may not perfume herself, so that people should not say that they perfume themselves from the preparation of the incense mixture. They did so to fulfill that which is stated: “Then you shall be clear before the Lord and before Israel” (Numbers 32:22).
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹסֵה. מָצָאתִי תִינּוֹק אֶחָד מִבֵּית אַבְטִינָס. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. מֵאֵי זֶה מִשְׁפָּחָה אַתְּ. אָמַר לִי. מִמִּשְׁפַּחַת פְּלוֹנִית. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. אֲבוֹתֶיךְ שֶׁנִּתְכַּווְנוּ לְרַבּוֹת כְּבוֹדָן וּלְמָעֵט כְּבוֹד שָׁמַיִם לְפִיכָךְ כְּבוֹדָם נִתְמָעֵט וּכְבוֹד שָׁמַיִם נִתְרַבָּה.
Rabbi Yosei said: Once I was standing in Jerusalem, and I found a certain child from the house of Avtinas. I said to him: My son, from which family are you? He said to me: I am from a particular family, i.e., the house of Avtinas. I said to him: My son, I will say this about your forefathers: Since they intended to increase their own glory by ensuring that none were as proficient as they at preparing incense and by demanding double their previous wages, and they sought to reduce of the glory of Heaven by taking money from the Temple coffers, therefore they were punished and ultimately their glory was diminished, as after the destruction of the Temple they lost their importance. But the glory of Heaven increased, for God’s honor is not dependent upon the existence of the Temple.
אָמַר רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה. סָח לִי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לוּגה. מְלַקֵּט הָיִיתִי עֲשָׂבִים אֲנִי וְתִינּוֹק אֶחָד מִבֵּית אַבְטִינָס. וְרָאִיתִי אוֹתוֹ שֶׁבָּכָה וְרָאִיתִי אוֹתוֹ שֶׁשָּׂחַק. אָמַרְתִּי לוֹ. בְּנִי. לָמָּה בָכִיתָה. אָמַר לִי. עַל כְּבוֹד בֵּית אַבָּא שֶׁנִּתְמָעֵט. וְלָמָּה שָׂחַקְתָּה. אָמַר לִי. עַל הַכָּבוֹד הַמְתוּקָּן לַצַּדִּיקִים לְעָתִיד לְבוֹא.
Rabbi Akiva said: Shimon ben Loga told me: Once I and a certain child from the house of Avtinas were collecting herbs, and I saw him crying, and later I saw him laughing. I said to him: My son, why did you cry? He said to me: I cried for the glory of my father’s house, which has been diminished after the destruction of the Temple. I subsequently asked him: And why did you laugh? He said to me: I laughed with joy over the glory prepared for the righteous in the future, when my family will have its role restored to them in the rebuilt Temple.
[וּמָה רָאִיתָ.] הֲרֵי מַעֲלֶה עָשָׁן לְנֶגְדִּי. נוֹמֵיתִי לוֹ. בְּנִי. הַרְאֵהוּ לִי. אָמַר לִי. מְסוֹרֶת בְּיָדִי מֵאֲבוֹתַײ שֶׁלֹּא לְהַרְאוֹתוֹ לְבִירְייָה.
Shimon ben Loga added that he asked that child further: And what did you see that brought these things to mind? He replied: I saw the smoke raiser before me, among the herbs we were collecting. I said to him: My son, show it to me, and I will keep its identity secret so that no one will be able to use it for idolatry. He said to me: Rabbi, I have a tradition from my forefathers not to show it to a soul.
אָמַר רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן נוּרִי. פָּגַע בִּי זָקֵן [אֶחָד] מִשֶּׁלְבֵּית אַבְטִינָס [וּמְגִילַּת סַמָּנִים בְיָדוֹ.] אָמַר לִי. רִבִּי. לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיוּ בֵית אַבָּא צְנוּעִין וְהָיוּ [דף יד:] מוֹסְרִין אֶת הַמְגִילָּה הַזֹּאת אֵילּוּ לָאֵילּוּ. וְעַכְשָׁיו שֶׁאֵינָן נֶאֱמָנִין הֵילָךְ אֶת הַמְגִילָּה והִיזָּהֵר בָּהּ.
Similarly, Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Nuri said: Once I and a certain elderly man were collecting herbs. I encountered a certain elderly man from the house of Avtinas with a scroll in his hand with instructions on how to identify herbs for the Temple incense and how to prepare it. That elderly man said to me: Rabbi, in the past the members of my father’s house were discreet [tzenu’in] and cautious. And they would [14b] transfer this scroll only to one another, so that it would not come into the possession of anyone who might misuse its information. And now that the members of my father’s house are not reliable, I am concerned that they might pass the scroll to the wrong person. I will not give it to one of them but only to someone whom I judge to be completely trustworthy. Therefore, here it is for you, as I can trust you to take the scroll and be careful with it, so that it will not reach anyone who might misuse its information.
וּכְשֶׁבָּאתִי וְהִרְצֵאתִי אֶת הַדְּבָרִים לִפְנֵי רִבִּי עֲקִיבָה זָֽלְגוּ דְמָעָיו וְאָמַר. מֵעַתָּה אֵין אָנוּ צְרִיכִין לְהַזְכִּירָן לִגְנַאי.
Rabbi Yoḥanan ben Nuri continued: And when I came and recounted these matters to Rabbi Akiva, his eyes shed tears, and he said: From now on, we should not mention the members of the house of Avtinas unfavorably, as it is evident that the only reason they did not teach their skills to others was due to the fear that someone might misuse them for idolatrous purposes.
אֶלְעָזָר עַל הַפָּרוֹכוֹת. שֶׁהָיָה מְמוּנֶּה עַל אוֹרְגֵי פְרָכוֹת. פִּנְחָס הַמַּלְבִּישׁ. שֶׁהָיָה מַלְבִּישׁ בִּגְדֵי כְהוּנָה גְּדוֹלָה. מַכֲשֶׂה בְכֹהֵן אֶחָד שֶׁהִלְבִּישׁ לְאִיסְטְרַטְיוֹט אֶחָד וְנָתָן לוֹ שְׁמוֹנָה זְהוּבִין. וְאִית דְּאָֽמְרִין. תְּרֵי עָשָׂר יְהִיב לֵיהּ.
The mishna states that Elazar was responsible for the Temple curtains. The Gemara explains that this means he was the supervisor of the Temple curtain weavers. The mishna further teaches that Pineḥas was the valet. The Gemara states that he would dress the High Priest in the High Priestly vestments. The expertise of those appointed to this position was so great that there was an incident involving a certain valet priest who dressed a certain Roman army officer [isteratiyot], and the officer was so impressed with the manner in which he dressed him that he gave him eight gold coins. And some say he gave him twelve gold coins.
משנה אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשִּׁבְעָה מַרְכּוֹלִין וּשְׁלשָׁה גִּיזְבָּרִין. וְאֵין עוֹשִׂין שְׂרָרָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר בְּמָמוֹן פָּחוּת מִשְּׁנַיִם. חוּץ מִבֶּן אֲחִיָּה שֶׁעַל חוֹלֵי מֵעַיִם וְאֶלְעָזָר שֶׁעַל הַפָּרוֹכוֹת שֶׁאוֹתָן קִיבְּלוּ הַצִּיבּוּר עֲלֵיהֶן׃
Halakha 2 · MISHNA There must be no fewer than seven trustees [amarkolin] and three treasurers appointed over the Temple administration. And we do not appoint an authority over the public comprised of fewer than two people, except for ben Aḥiyya, who was responsible for healing priests who suffered from intestinal disease, and Elazar, who was responsible for the weaving of the Temple curtains. The reason for these exceptions is that the majority of the public accepted these men upon themselves as officials who served without the assistance of even a single partner.
הלכה אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשְּׁלֹשָׁה גִּזְבָּרִין וִֵּמִשִּׁבְעָה מַרְכּוֹלִין. תַּנֵּי. מִשְּׁנֵי קַתֹלִיקִין.
GEMARA: The mishna states that there must be no fewer three treasurers and seven trustees. The Gemara states that it was likewise taught in a baraita that there must be no fewer than two executive supervisors [katalikin].
הָדָא הִיא דִכְתִיב יחִיאֵ֡ל וְעוזִיָּהו וּמַחַת גִּזְבְּרִין. וַֽעֲשָׂאֵל וִֽירִימ֤וֹת וְיֽוֹזָבָד֙ וֶֽאֱלִיאֵ֣ל וּסְמַכְיָהוּ וּמַ֖חַת וּבְנָיָ֑הוּ מַרְכּוֹלִין. פְּקִידִ֗ים מִיַּ֤ד כָּונַנְיָ֨הוּ֙ וְשִׁמְעִ֣י אָחִ֔יו קַתיֹלִיקִין. בְּמִפְקַד֙ יְחִזְקִיָּ֣הוּ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וַֽעֲזַרְיָה֖וּ נְגִ֥יד בֵּֽית־הָֽאֱלֹהִֽים. הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל.
This is as it is written in the verse that lists the men who supervised the receipt of teruma and tithes from the public and their distribution to the priests and the Levites, as well as the receipt of items dedicated to the Temple: “And Jehiel, and Azaziah, and Nahath,” these were the treasurers; “and Asahel, and Jerimoth, and Jozabad, and Eliel, and Ismachiah, and Mahath, and Benaiah,” these were the trustees; “overseers under the hand of Conaniah and Shimei his brother,” these were executive supervisors; “by the appointment of Hezekiah the king and Azariah the ruler of the House of God,” they were the king and the High Priest, the most senior officials (II Chronicles 31:13).
כְּשֶׁהוּא חוֹתֵם הַגִּיזְבָּר חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לָאֲמַרְכָּל. מַרְכָּל חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְקַתֹילִיקוֹס. קַתֹילִיקוֹן חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל. כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל חוֹתֵם וְנוֹתְנוֹ לַמֶּלֶךְ.
These officials participated in the supervision of the Temple assets, according to the level and status of their positions. When he would seal an item to store in the treasury until it would be needed, the treasurer would first seal it with his own seal; and subsequently give it to a trustee; the trustee would seal it and give it to an executive supervisor; the executive supervisor would seal it and give it to the High Priest; and the High Priest would seal it and give it to the king, who would place the final seal.
וּכְשֶׁהוּא מַתִּיר הַמֶּלֶךְ רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. קַתֹילִיקָיס רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. מַרְכָּל רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר. גִּזְבָּר רוֹאֶה חוֹתָמוֹ וּמַתִּיר.
And when a treasurer wanted to release an item for usage, the reverse order was followed: First the king would examine his seal and release the restriction on the item; the High Priest would examine his seal and release it; the executive supervisor would examine his seal and release it; the trustee would examine his seal and release it; and finally the treasurer would examine his seal and release it.
אֵין עוֹשִׂין שְׂרָרָה עַל הַצִּבּוּר בְּמָמוֹן פָּחוּת מִשְּׁנַיִם. רִבִּי נַחְמָן בְשֵׁם רִבִּי מָנָא. עַל שֵׁם וְהֵם֙ יִקְח֣וּ אֶת־הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֶֽת־הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת וְאֶת־הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֑ן.
The mishna states that we do not appoint an authority over the public, in monetary matters, comprised of fewer than two appointees. Rav Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Mana: This principle is derived on the basis of a verse that is referring to those engaged in building the Tabernacle and weaving the priestly vestments, who received the community’s donations: “And they shall take the gold, and the sky blue wool, and the purple wool” (Exodus 28:5). The plural “they” indicates that this authority must consist of at least two people.
אָמַר רִבִּי חָמָא בֵּירִבִּי חֲנִינָה. מִפְּסוֹלֶת הַלּוּחוֹת הֶעֱשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה. הָדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב פְּסָל־לְךָ֛ שְׁנֵֽי־לוּחוֹת אֲבָנִי֭ם. פְּסָל־לְךָ֛ שֶׁתְּהֵא הַפְּסוֹלֶת שֶׁלָּךָ. אָמַר רִבִּי חָנִין. מַחְצֵב שֶׁלְאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיוֹת בָּרָא לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשּׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִתּוֹךְ אֳהָלוֹ וּמִמֶּנּוּ הֶעֱשִׁיר מֹשֶׁה.
Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: Although Moses supervised the building of the Tabernacle, he took nothing for himself from the community donations, as Moses grew wealthy only from the shavings that broke off during the chiseling process of the second tablets. This is as it is written: “Hew for yourself two tablets of stone” (Exodus 34:1). “Hew [pesol] for yourself” indicates that the shavings [pesolet] shall be yours. Rabbi Ḥanin said: The Holy One, Blessed be He, created a quarry of precious stones and pearls for Moses inside his tent, and Moses grew wealthy from that source.
כְּתִיב וְהִבִּ֨יטוּ֙ אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מֹשֶׁ֔ה עַד־בֹּא֖וֹ הָאֹֽהֱלָה: תְּרֵין אֲמוֹרִין. חַד אָמַר לִגְנַאי. וְחַד אָמַר לִשְׁבָח.
It is written: “And it came to pass when Moses went out to the Tent, that all the people rose up, and stood, every man at his tent door, and looked after Moses, until he had gone into the Tent” (Exodus 33:8). Two amora’im interpreted this verse with regard to Moses’ wealth, but in opposite ways. One said: The people looked at Moses unfavorably; while the other said: The people looked at Moses favorably.
מָאן דָּאָמַר לִגְנַאי. חֲמוּן שֻׁקִּין חֲמוּן כָּרְעִין חֲמוּן קּוּפְדָּן. אֲכִיל מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי וְשָׁתִי מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי. כָּל־מִדְּלֵיהּ מִן דִּיהוּדָאֵי. וּמָאן דָּאָמַר לִשְׁבָח. מֵחְמֵי צַדִּיָקָא וּמַזְכִּי [טוֹבִיָּא דִּזְכָת לְמֵחְמֵי יָתֵיהּ.]
He who said that the people looked at Moses unfavorably maintains that they said: Look at his legs, look at his feet, look at his flesh. See how healthy they are. All that he eats comes from us Jews, all that he drinks comes from us Jews, and all of his assets are taken from us Jews. And the one who said that they looked at Moses favorably maintains that the people were not responding to Moses’ wealth but simply wanted to see the righteous man, saying: We desire to view the righteous, and one who merits to view Moses earns great rewards.
משנה אַרְבָּעָה חוֹתָמוֹת הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וְכָתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן עֵגֶל זָכָר גְּדִי וְחוֹטֵא. בֶּן עַזַּאי אוֹמֵר חֲמִשָּׁה הָיוּ וַאֲרָמִית כָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן עֵגֶל דָכָר גְּדִי חוֹטֵא דַּל וְחוֹטֵא עָשִׁיר.
Halakha 3 · MISHNA This mishna provides details of the functions performed by Yoḥanan ben Pineḥas and Aḥiyya, the officials mentioned in the first mishna of this chapter, which concerns the seals and libations. There were four seals in the Temple that confirmed that the bearer had paid for the libations that accompanied his offering. And one of the following inscriptions was written on them: Calf; male, i.e., a ram; kid; and sinner, i.e., a leper, as leprosy is a punishment for one of seven sins (see Arakhin 16a). Conversely, ben Azzai says: There were five seals, and the following was written upon them in Aramaic, not Hebrew: Calf, male, kid, poor sinner, and rich sinner.
עֵגֶל מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִסְכֵּי בָּקָר גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. גְּדִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי צֹאן גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵיבוֹת חוּץ מִשֶּׁל אֵילִים. אַיִל מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי אֵילִים בִּלְבָד. חוֹטֵא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ עִם נִיסְכֵּי שָׁלֹשׁ בְּהֵמוֹת שֶׁל מְצוֹרָע:
The mishna explains the significance of each of the four aforementioned seals. The calf seal serves as a payment receipt for libations of cattle offerings, whether they are large or small, male or female, as all offerings from the cow family are accompanied by the same libation. The kid seal serves for libations of sheep or goat offerings, whether large or small, male or female, except for those of rams aged thirteen months and older. The ram seal, which was earlier called the male seal, serves exclusively for ram libations. The sinner seal serves for libations of the three animal offerings of a leper, for the completion of his purification.
מִי שֶׁהוּא מְבַקֵּשׁ נְסָכִים הוֹלֵךְ לוֹ אֵצֶל יוֹחָנָן שֶׁהוּא מְמוּנֶּה עַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת נוֹתֵן לוֹ מָעוֹת וּמְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ חוֹתָם. בָּא לוֹ אֵצֶל אֲחִייָה שֶׁהוּא מְמוּנֶּה עַל הַנְּסָכִים וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ חוֹתָם וּמְקַבֵּל מִמֶּנּוּ נְסָכִים.
One who seeks libations for his offering goes to Yoḥanan, the official who was responsible for the seals, and gives him the appropriate sum of money and receives a seal from him. With that seal he subsequently comes to Aḥiyya, who was responsible for the libations, and gives him Yoḥanan’s seal and receives his libations from him.
וְלָעֶרֶב בָּאִין זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה וַאֲחִייָה מוֹצִיא אֶת הַחוֹתָמוֹת וּמְקַבֵּל כְּנֶגְדָּן מָעוֹת. אִם פָּחֲתוּ פָחֲתוֹ לוֹ וִישַׁלֵּם יוֹחָנָן מִבֵּיתוֹ. וְאִם הוֹתִירוּ הוֹתִירוּ לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ שֶׁיַּד הֶקְדֵּשׁ לָעֶלְיוֹנָה׃
In the evening, Yoḥanan and Aḥiyya would get together to reconcile their accounts, and Aḥiyya would take out the seals he had received and accept the money Yoḥanan had received in exchange for them. If the money was less than the value of the seals, they were less to him, i.e., Yoḥanan would bear the loss, and Yoḥanan would have to pay the difference to the Temple treasury from his own property. And if there was some money left over, i.e., the total money was greater than the value of the seals, they were left over to the benefit of the Temple treasury of consecrated property, as the Temple treasury always has the upper hand.
מִי שֶׁאָבַד חוֹתָמוֹ מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ עַד הָעֶרֶב. אִם מָֽצְאוּ לוֹ כְּדֵי חוֹתָמוֹ נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. וְאִם לָאו לֹא הָיוּ נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. וְשֵׁם הַיּוֹם כָּתוּב עֲלֵיהֶן מִפְּנֵי הָרַמָּאִין׃
With regard to one who lost his seal that he purchased from Yoḥanan, Yoḥanan and Aḥiyya would wait to resolve his problem until the evening. And when they added their accounts in the evening, if they found for him a surplus of money equivalent to the value of his seal, they would give him the corresponding libations. And if not, they would not give him libations. And the name of the day of the week was written upon the seals because of the cheats. They might try to use old seals that had been lost by the Temple officials or by someone who had brought an offering at an earlier date, so as to receive libations in a deceitful manner.
הלכה וּכְבֶן עַזַּאי חוֹטֵא [דָּל] לָמָּה. הָיָה מֵבִיא לוּגוֹ עִמּוֹ. בְּרַם כְּרַבָּנִן מֵבִיא גְדִי.
GEMARA: The Gemara asks: And according to the opinion of ben Azzai, why was it necessary to have a seal labeled poor sinner? The Gemara answers: Ben Azzai maintains that a poor leper would have to bring his log of oil with him. This is referring to the additional oil required for the leper’s purification (Leviticus 14:15–18), some of which is sprinkled on the altar while the rest is applied to the leper’s ear, thumb, big toe, and head. According to ben Azzai, a leper would purchase this additional oil from Aḥiyya, and therefore he required a separate seal for each log of oil. However, according to the opinion of the Rabbis, a poor leper brings only the kid seal purchased from Yoḥanan, by which he receives the oil for his meal offering, and he must use his own private oil for the additional log.
נִיסְכֵי רָחֵל מַה. מִן מַה דְתַנִּינָן. גְּדִי מְשַׁמֵּשׁ נִיסְכֵּי צֹאן גְּדוֹלִים וּקְטַנִּים זְכָרִים וּנְקֵבוֹת. הָדָא אָֽמְרָה. נִיסְכֵּי רָחֵל כְנִיסְכֵּי גְדִי. כְּתִיב כָּ֣כָה יֵּֽעָשֶׂ֗ה לַשּׁוֹר֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד א֖וֹ לָאַ֣יִל הָֽאֶחָ֑ד אֽוֹ־לַשֶּׂ֥ה בַכְּבָשִׂ֖ים א֥וֹ בָֽעִזִּֽים:
The mishna mentions only the libations for kids, referring to both sheep and goats that are less than one year old, and for rams, which are adult male sheep. The Gemara asks: What amounts are brought for the libations of a lamb, i.e., a female sheep in its second year? Are they the same as those of a kid or a ram? The Gemara answers that this halakha may be inferred from that which we learned in the mishna, that the kid seal serves for libations of sheep offerings, whether large or small, male or female. That ruling says, i.e., indicates, that the libations of a lamb are like the libations of a kid. The Gemara adds that this is derived from a verse that equates the two libations, as it is written: “Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the lambs, or of the kids” (Numbers 15:11).
מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא חִילֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר. שֶׁהָיָה בְדִין. בֶּן הַצֹּאן טָעוּן נְסָכִים [וּ]בֶן הַבָּקָר טָעוּן נְסָכִים. אִם מָצָאנוּ שֶׁחִלֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי כֶּבֶשׂ לְנִיסְכֵּי אַיִל [דף טו.] לְכָךְ נַחֲלוֹק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר כָּ֣כָה יֵּֽעָשֶׂ֗ה לַשּׁוֹר֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד. מַגִּיד שֶׁלֹּא חִילֵּק בֵּין נִיסְכֵּי עֵגֶל לְנִיסְכֵּי שׁוֹר.
The Gemara inquires further: Why is it stated: For each bull? The verse teaches that The Torah does not differentiate between the libations of a calf, which is less than a year old, and the libations of a bull, which is at least one year old. The Gemara explains: This is because it was fitting to differentiate between them, in light of the fact that both the offspring of a sheep requires libations and the offspring of a cow requires libations. If we find that the Torah differentiates between the libations of a sheep in its first year, whose meal offering is one isaron of fine flour, and the libations of a ram, a male sheep thirteen months old and older, whose meal-offering is two isaron, [15a] then we should likewise differentiate between the libations of a calf and the libations of a bull. In order to indicate that this is not the case, the aforementioned verse states: “Thus shall it be done for each bull,” which teaches that the Torah does not differentiate between the libations of a calf and the libations of a bull.
