Meilah

An objection was raised: What was done with the surplus of the frankincense?1 Money equivalent to the craftsmen's but if the twigs are from elsewhere there is no ground for such an assumption. wages2 was set aside [from the Temple Treasury],3 [the surplus was] then exchanged against this money of the craftsmen, handed over to the craftsmen4 and then purchased from them with money of the new levy.5 Now why was [this procedure necessary]? Why not exchange the surplus against a building?6 — [We deal with a case where] there was no building.7 But does it not speak of ‘the craftsmen's wages’?8 — There was no building equivalent to the value of the surplus. But does not Samuel hold:9 ‘If consecrated property of the value of a maneh10 has even exchanged against a perutah,10 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;11 he [the craftsman] might wish to lie down and would lie down on them,12 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 state13 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;14 our Mishnah refers to wood which is to be used on the same day.15 [ The surplus of the past year was not allowed to be used in the new year. The device mentioned here provides a method of using this surplus by repurchasing it with the money of the new levy. declared holy for a special purpose. then becomes secular property and may be re-purchased for the Temple to be used during the coming year. bought, v. Shek. IV, 5. re.purchase it with the money of the new levy?