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מעילה 14:2
Soncino English Talmud · Berean Standard Bible
An objection was raised: What was done with the surplus of the frankincense? Money equivalent to the craftsmen's but if the twigs are from elsewhere there is no ground for such an assumption. wages was set aside [from the Temple Treasury], [the surplus was] then exchanged against this money of the craftsmen, handed over to the craftsmen and then purchased from them with money of the new levy. Now why was [this procedure necessary]? Why not exchange the surplus against a building? — [We deal with a case where] there was no building. But does it not speak of ‘the craftsmen's wages’? — There was no building equivalent to the value of the surplus. But does not Samuel hold: ‘If consecrated property of the value of a maneh has even exchanged against a perutah, the exchange is valid’. — [He sanctions such a transaction] after it has been done, but not at the outset. R. Papa says, This is the reason why the building has to be built with secular [money]: The Torah has not been given to ministering angels; he [the craftsman] might wish to lie down and would lie down on them, and if it was built by consecrated [money] he would as a result be guilty of sacrilege. We have learnt: IF THE TREASURERS [OF THE TEMPLE] BOUGHT TREES, THE TIMBER IS SUBJECT TO THE LAW OF SACRILEGE BUT NOT THE CHIPS AND THE FOLIAGE. But why should one trespass the law of Sacrilege? Let this too be prepared in a secular state lest one might wish to lie down on them, and would as a result be guilty of sacrilege! — Said R. Papa: If the wood is to be used at a later date it would be indeed so; our Mishnah refers to wood which is to be used on the same day. [
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