Babylonian Talmud

Rodkinson 1918 — source 20, scan section 46

MiSHNA e treats of: The voluntary payment of Shekalim from women, slaves, and minors being accepted, but not from the heathens or Samaritans. I5ird-offerings not accepted from persons affected with venereal diseases or from women after confinement. Sin and vow offerings, however, were accepted from the Samaritans. The vow-offerings were also accepted from heathens. The general rule concerning this. MiSHNA f deals with : The premium one had to pay in addition to the half-shekel. Who was obliged to do so? The different opinions of the sages and R. Meir. How much one had to pay if given one Selah and taking a shekel in exchange. * See introduction to synopsis in Tract Sabbath, Vol. I., p. xxix. This tract has no Gemara. The synopsis contains the Mishnas, with their commentaries. xiii xiv SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS. MlSHNA^ treats of: The law concerning one who pays for a poor man, for a neighbor, and for a countryman. Law concerning brothers and part- ners paying together; also, law regarding cattle-tithe. How much was the premium. CHAPTER II. MiSHNA a. One may put together the Shekalim and exchange them for a gold coin called Darkon. Concerning the chests which were given to the collectors in the country and at Jerusalem. What is the law if money were stolen or lost by the messengers of a city, when a portion of the Shekalim was already expended ; what is the law if not expended. MiSHNA b. Concerning the law when one gives his shekels to another to pay his head-taxes for him ; if he pays his shekels from the money of the second tithes or from the money of the fruit of the Sabbatical year. Con- cerning how he shall replace it and use it for the same purpose. MiSHNA c. The law concerning one who gathered single coins little by little and said : "With this money I shall pay my shekels." The different opinions of the schools of Hillel and Shamai in tliis matter. Concerning the same case when one gathers money for sin-offerings. What shall be done with the eventual remains of such money. MiSHNA d. Concerning the explanauon of R. Simeon of the teachings of the school of Hillel. The discussion of the former with R. Jehudah. The claims of the latter that the coins of the Shekalim were also changed in times and places. The rejoinder of R. Simeon to this. MiSHNA e. The law concerning the remainder of money intended for Shekalim when considered to be ordinary. Regarding the remainder of the tenth part of an ephah, bird-offerings, and guilt-offerings : what shall be done with it. A rule concerning this matter. Also, regulations concerning the remainder of Passover sacrifices, Nazarite offerings, the remainder of moneys for the poor in general and individuals, of money for prisoners, for burial of the dead, and R. Meir and R. Nathan's opinions regarding this matter, CHAPTER III. MiSHNA a. Regarding the appointed periods of the year when the money was drawn from the treasury. The dififerent opinions, concerning this matter, of R. Aqiba b. Asai, R. Eliezer, and R. Simeon. The same time appointed for cattle-tithes. MiSHNA b. Concerning the ceremony of drawing the money at all periods of the year. The law regarding measures of the boxes in which tlie coins of the Shekalim were filled, and the numbers of the chests in which the money was drawn from the boxes for the expenses of the Temple. Which box must be opened first, and which last. What garments the person drawing the money must wear. How a man must stand unblemished before his fellow-man and before his God. MiSHNA c. Concerning the custom of the house of Rabban Gamaliel, when the members of the house had paid their Shekalim. The law regarding SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS. xv one who drew money did not commence until he had said to the bystanders, " I will now draw," and they answered, " Draw, draw, draw," three times. MiSHNA d. Concerning the covering of tlie boxes after drawing the money. For which countries the drawings were performed in the first period, the second, and the third. CHAPTER IV. MiSHNA a. What was done with the money drawn ? Concerning the watchmen that were sent out to guard the after-growth of the Sabbatical year, of which the Omer and two loaves were taken for sacrifice. The opinion of R. Jose in this matter, and what the rabbis answered. MiSHNA b. Concerning the red heifer, the goat that was to be sent away, the strip of scarlet, the bridge for the cow, the bridge for the goat, the canal, the city wall, the towers, and other necessities of the city : all were paid for out of the Shekalim money. What Abba Saul said. MiSHNA c. What was done with the balance of the money left over in the treasury. The discussion of R. Ishmael and R. Aqiba in this matter. Some of the many things which are enumerated in the Palestinian Talmud and which were done with this money. Among them was the hiring of teachers for priests to teach them the laws of the sacrifices. MiSHNA d. What was done with the remainder of the moneys of the chest. The different opinions of R. Ishmael, R. Aqiba, and R. Hanina, the assistant chief of the priests, concerning profit : if it might be raised from the remaining money or not, and of what money the gold plates for the decorations of the Holy of Holies were made. Also, concerning the benefit of the altar. MiSHNA e. What was done with the remainder of the incense (as the incense of the New Year must be bought with the new Shekalim money). The sanctification of the incense on hand then transferred to that money, and then redeemed with the money of the new revenue. MiSHNAy. Concerning the law when one devoted his entire possessions in honor of the Lord : what should be done with them. The discussions of R. Aqiba and Ben Asai regarding this matter. MiSHNA^. Concerning the law when one devoted his possessions, and among them were cattle, male and female, fit for the altar. The discussions of this matter between R. Eliezer and R. Jehoshua. R. Aqiba is inclined to the opinion of R. Eliezer, which seems to him to be more proper, but adds that he had heard that both opinions were right according to circumstances. MiSHNA h. If one devote his possessions, and among them are things fit for the altar, such as wines, oils, and birds, what should be done with them. R. Eliezer decreed it, and no one opposed him. MiSHNA i. Contractors, for the delivery of all things for the altar and ♦he improvements of the Temple, were appointed every month ; but if the xvi SYNOPSIS OF SUBJECTS. prices changed during the thirty days, the Sanctuary must not suffer any injury. Such was the agreement made between them. The illustration of this. CHAPTER V. MiSHNA a. Concerning some names of the offices and the heads of them in the Sanctuary during the entire period when the second Temple was in existence. What were the officers' duties, and how they officiated.