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חגיגה 26:2
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
THAT YE TOUCH NOT THE TABLE [AND THUS RENDER IT UNCLEAN]’. ALL THE VESSELS THAT WERE IN THE TEMPLE HAD SECOND AND THIRD SETS, SO THAT IF THE FIRST WERE RENDERED UNCLEAN, THEY MIGHT BRING A SECOND SET IN ITS PLACE. ALL THE VESSELS THAT WERE IN THE TEMPLE REQUIRED IMMERSION, EXCEPT THE ALTAR OF GOLD AND THE ALTAR OF BRONZE, FOR THEY WERE ACCOUNTED AS THE GROUND: THIS IS THE VIEW OF R. ELIEZER. BUT THE SAGES SAY: BECAUSE THEY WERE OVERLAID [WITH METAL]. GEMARA. A Tanna taught: ‘Take heed lest ye touch the Table or the Candlestick’. — Why does not our Tanna mention the Candlestick? — In connection with the Table, there is written [the word] ‘Tamid’ [perpetual]; in connection with the Candlestick, there is not written [the word] ‘Tamid’. And the other [Tanna]? — Since it is written: And the Candlestick over against the Table, it is as though [the word] ‘Tamid’ were written in connection there-with. And the other [Tanna]? -That [verse] comes merely to fix its place. But I can, [on the contrary,] deduce it from the fact that [the Table] is a wooden utensil made for resting [things on it], and any wooden utensil made for resting [things on it] is not subject to uncleanness! — What is the reason? — We require it to be like a sack: Just as a sack is movable both fun and empty, so everything that is movable both full and empty [is susceptible to uncleanness]. This, too, is movable both fun and empty. As Resh Lakish [said]: for Resh Lakish said: What is the meaning of the verse, Upon the clean, table? , The inference is that it is susceptible to uncleanness. But why? It is a wooden utensil made for resting [things on it], and cannot, therefore, contract unclean ness! It teaches, therefore, that they used to lift it and show thereon to the Festival pilgrims the showbread, and to say to them: Behold the love in which you are held by the Omnipresent; it is taken away as [fresh as] it is set down. For R. Joshua b. Levi said: A great miracle was Performed in regard to the showbread: As [fresh as] It was when set down, so was it taken away. For it is said: To put hot bread it the day when it was taken away. But I can deduce this from the fact that it is overlaid! For behold we have learnt: If a table or a side-table was damaged, or was overlaid with marble, but room was left for setting cups thereon,it remains susceptible to uncleanness. R. Judah said: There must be room [also] for Setting Portions [of food thereon]. And should you say, Acacia wood is valuable and is not nullified [by the plating], this would be quite right according to Resh Lakish, who said: They taught this only of utensils of common wood, which come from overseas, but utensils of polished wood are not nullified But what can one say according to R. Johanan, who said: Even vessels of polished wood become nullified [by the plating]? And should you say: The one [Mishnah] refers to a fixed covering, the other to a covering that is not fixed, behold Resh Lakish asked R. Johanan: [Does it apply only] to a fixed covering, or [also] to a covering that is not fixed? [Only] to overlaid rims, or [also] if the rims are not overlaid? And he answered him: It makes no difference whether the covering is fixed or the covering is not fixed; whether the rims are overlaid or the rims are not overlaid! Rather, [must you say], the Table is different
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