Menachot

and the eighteen of the [six] branches make twenty-two. It is also clear that there were eleven knops, for the knops thereof implies two, and six of the [six] branches and the knop [from which the first pair of branches rose], and the knop [from which the second pair rose], and the knop [from which the third pair rose], thus making a total of eleven. But how do we arrive at nine flowers? Its own two and the six of the [six] branches make only eight? — R. Salmon said, It is written, Unto the base thereof, and unto the flowers thereof, it was beaten work.1 Rab said, The height of the candlestick was nine handbreadths. Thereupon R. Shimi b. Hiyya raised the following objection to Rab. We have learnt:2 There was a stone before the candlestick in which were three steps; on this the priest stood to trim the lamps.3 He answered, You, Shimi!4 I meant only from the point where the branches begin [to rise] and upwards.5 It is written, And the flowers, and the lamps and the tongs, of gold, of finished gold.6 What is meant by ‘finished gold’? R. Ammi said, They finished up all Solomon's fine gold.7 For Rab Judah said in Rab's name, Solomon had made ten candlesticks, and for each one he had used one thousand talents of gold; each had been cast in the furnace one thousand times so that it was reduced to one talent.8 But surely it is not so, for it is written, And all King Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver; it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon!9 — We said Solomon's fine gold [was finished up]. And would it lose so much?10 Surely it has been taught: R. Jose b. Judah said, It once happened that the candlestick which was used in the Temple was found to be larger than that made by Moses by a Gordian11 golden denar; thereupon it was cast eighty times into the furnace so that it was brought down to a talent! — Since it had been made long ago it would remain in that condition. 12 R. Samuel b. Nahmani said in the name of R. Jonathan, What is the meaning of the expression, ‘Upon the pure candlestick’?13 It signifies that its pattern came down from the place of purity.14 Will you then say that the expression ‘Upon the pure table’15 also signifies that its pattern came down from the place of purity? One would rather say that ‘pure’ [in the latter case] implies that it can contract uncleanness; then [in the former case] too ‘pure’ implies that it can contract uncleanness? — [This does not follow at all,] for it is right to say so there [in regard to the table] because of Resh Lakish's exposition. For Resh Lakish said, What is the meaning of the expression ‘upon the pure table’? It signifies that it can contract uncleanness. But is not [the table] an article of wood made to rest, and an article of wood made to rest cannot contract uncleanness? This proves that they used to lift it up and exhibit the Shewbread on it to those who came up for the festivals, saying to them, Behold, God's love for you!16 (Wherein is seen ‘God's love for you’? — It is as R. Joshua b. Levi had stated. For R. Joshua b. Levi had stated, A great miracle was wrought in regard to the Shewbread, for at its removal it was as [fresh as when] it was set,17 as it is written, To put hot bread in the day that it was taken away.)18 But in this case [of the candlestick], to say that the term ‘pure’ implies that it can contract uncleanness is too obvious [and unnecessary], for it is a metal vessel and metal vessels certainly contract uncleanness! We must therefore say that its pattern came down from the place of purity. It was taught: R. Jose b. Judah says, An ark of fire and a table of fire and a candlestick of fire came down from heaven; and these Moses saw and reproduced, as it is written, And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount.19 Will you then say the same [of the tabernacle], for it is written, And thou shalt rear up the tabernacle according to the fashion thereof which hath been shown thee in the mount!20 — Here it is written ‘according to the fashion thereof’, whilst there ‘after their pattern’. 21 R. Hiyya b. Abba said in the name of R. Johanan, The angel Gabriel had girded himself with a kind of belt22 and demonstrated unto Moses the work of the candlestick, for it is written, And this was the work of the candlestick.23 A Tanna of the school of R. Ishmael stated, Three things presented difficulties to Moses, until the Holy One, blessed be He, showed Moses with His finger, and these are they: the candlestick, the new moon,24 and the creeping things.25 The candlestick, as it is written, And this was the work of the candlestick. The new moon, as it is written, This month shall be unto you the beginning of months.26 The creeping things, as it is written, And these are they which are unclean.27 Others add, Also the rules for slaughtering [beasts], as it is written, Now this is that which thou shalt offer upon the altar.28 OF THE TWO PORTIONS OF SCRIPTURE IN THE MEZUZAH THE [ABSENCE OF] ONE INVALIDATES THE OTHER; INDEED EVEN ONE [IMPERFECT] LETTER CAN INVALIDATE THE WHOLE. Is not this obvious?29 — Rab Judah answered in the name of Rab, The law had to be taught in respect of the tittle of the letter yod.30 And is not this, too, obvious?31 — It had to be taught in regard to the other statement of Rab Judah in the name of Rab. For Rab Judah said in the name of Rab, Any letter that is not surrounded on all four sides by a margin of parchment is invalid.32 Ashian b. Nidbak said in the name of Rab Judah, If the inner [leg] of the letter he33 was perforated, it is still valid; if the [right] leg was perforated it is invalid. R. Zera said, This was explained to me by R. Huna — and R. Jacob said, This too was explained to me by Rab Judah — as follows: If the inner [leg] of the he was perforated, it is still valid; if the [right] leg was perforated and there still remained thereof the size of a small letter, 34 it is valid; otherwise it is invalid. It once happened to Agra, the father-in-law of R. Abba, XXV, 31ff; hence there were nine. This extra flower was placed at the foot of the candlestick close to the pedestal. steps to reach it. from this point to the base; so that Rab's view is entirely in accord with Samuel's supra. in the Gemara. the furnace it would not then have lost very much. uncleanness. It is right therefore that the term ‘pure’ in connection with the table should mean free from uncleanness. when it was placed thereon. was still fresh and hot. signifies merely that the tabernacle was to be constructed in accordance with the instructions and directions received by Moses. not to be hampered in their work. given. demonstration unto Moses of the rules and regulations of slaughtering. tefillin, and mezuzah. blank margin of the parchment. middle of the letter. Aliter: the inner space of the letter. reduced in size.