Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 4, scan section 10

among the possessions, there were objects adapted for the altar, they should be devoted to the altar; if, however, these were female cattle, which could not be brought as a whole-offering, nor, by reason of the absence of the owner, even as a peace-offering, such cattle should be sold and the proceeds applied to the purchase of whole-offerings. 'R. Aqiba holds with R. Eliezer, because, in his opinion, a man who devotes all his possessions does so with but a single intention; and this is what he terms an even procedure. ' R. Papeos said, that if the man devoted all his possessions to the honor of the Lord, R. Jehoshua would be correct, for his posses- sions can be used in honor of the Lord in various ways; but if he explicitly stated that he devoted his possessions for the maintenance of the Temple, R. Eliezer's opinion is proper. TRACT SHEKALIM. 19 {h) If one devote his possessions, and there are among them things fit for the altar, such as wines, oils, and birds, says R. Eliezer, the latter things should be sold to such as need offerings of these kinds, and the proceeds used for the sacrific- ing of whole-offerings ; the balance of the possessions goes toward the maintenance of the Temple.* {i) Every thirty days the prices paid by the treasury are determined. If one contract to furnish flour at the rate of four Saah (for one Sela), and the price is raised to three, he must nevertheless furnish the same at four Saah (for one Sela).^ If he contract at the rate of three and the price fall to four, he must in that case furnish four, for the Sanctuary always has that pre- rogative. If the flour become wormy, it is the loss of the con- tractor; and if the wine become sour it is also his loss, and he does not receive the money for his wares until the purchased wares have been favorably accepted as sacrifices at the altar.'' MiSHNA k. * The reason that R. Eliezer decrees that wines, oils, and birds should be sold, and whole-offerings brought in their stead, is because the articles mentioned cannot be redeemed with money. MiSHNA /, * Every month, bids were received from contractors for the furnishing of the necessaries for the Temple and altar for one month. The lowest bidder received the contract, and it was dis- tinctly understood that, even if prices were raised during the month, his prices were to remain as originally contracted for. ' The Palestinian Talmud states, that the money due the contrac- tors was paid them by the priests immediately upon the latter receiv. ing the wares, for the priests were very careful, and never allowed flour to become wormy or wine to spoil. CHAPTER V. MISHNA: {a) The following were the heads of offices* in the Sanctuary: Johanan, son of Pinchas, keeper of the seals"; A'hia, (superintendent) of drink-offerings; Mathia, son of Samuel, (superintendent) of the casting of lots^; Petha'hia, (superinten- dent) of bird-offerings.* Petha'hia is Mordecai, but why do they call him Petha'hia ? Because he used to expound and interpret scriptures, and was master of seventy languages. Ben A'hia was (superintendent) of the cures of priests suffering with abdominal diseases.^ Ne'huniah was master of the well.* CHAPTER V. MiSHNA a. ' The list of officers enumerated by the Mishna were not all officers at the same time, but served at different periods, and the Mishna merely names the most important and pious among them. ' See Mishna d, same chapter. ^ Lots were cast for thef determination of the turn of the priests for each particular service. The superintendent would keep a record of such as were eligible for duty, and then cast lots for the priest who was to serve. * Petha'hia was superintendent-in-chief of all those who had charge of the bird-offerings; these bird-offerings were brought by women who had recently been confined; and there were so many of them that a record had to be kept, who came first, whose time was nearly expired, and how much was to be charged for the offerings. Besides this, it often happened that the birds became mixed and required great wisdom to separate them and recognize to whom every bird belonged, as the changing of the birds would make the offering invalid. (See commentary of Israel Lipshuetz.) " Such diseases among priests were of very frequent occurrence and inevitable; for they were dressed during services very lightly, being allowed to wear only four articles of apparel; viz., a linen shirt, linen pantaloons, a linen cap, and a girdle. Besides, they had to walk barefoot on the marble floor, and were constantly eating meat of the sacrifices, which had to be eaten during a specified time. Hence 20 TRACT SHEKALIM. 21 Gebini was herald.' Ben Gabhar was turnkey of the gates.^ Ben Bebai was master of the temple-guard.^ Ben Arzah was mas- ter of the kettledrums (which were beaten as a signal for the Levites to commence their chant). Higros, son of Levi, was (leader) of the singing. The family of Garmo (superintended) the making of the showbreads.'° The family of Abtinos (super- intended) the preparing of the incense." Elazar (superintended) the making of the curtains.^ Pinchas superintended the vest- ments.^^ they needed many attendants, in order that, as soon as one priest took sick, a substitute was brought in his place and he was removed to the sick ward. Ben A'hia was the superintendent-in-chief of these matters. "On account of the immense influx of people into Jerusalem three times a year, the wells for the supply of water, both on the roads and in the city, had to be looked after, and Ne'huniah had charge of this. ' The commencement of all services had to be heralded, and many heralds were employed. Gebini was herald-in-chief, and his duty was mainly to call out in the morning: " Priests, to your duties! Levites, to your chants! Israelites, to your places!" He had so powerful a voice that it could be heard eight miles. * He had charge of the keys of the gates and of the men who stood at the gates. ' The gates of the Temple had to be guarded day and night, even in times of peace. To properly care for the guard and to punish all negligence in guarding the gates was the duty of Ben Babai. '" For showbreads, twelve loaves had to be made every week, and had to be made so that they would keep fresh the entire week. For further details, see Tract Tamid. The family of Garmo had charge of this work for generations. " The incense, which was used twice a day, had to be prepared with especial skill from many different spices, and in proper propor- tions. Further details are also to be found in Tract Tamid. The family Abtinos had charge of this branch for many generations. " The curtains, which were frequently changed, had to be inspected as to workmanship, cleanliness, etc., and this duty devolved upon Elazar. " The vestments of the priests had to be carefully examined as to