מנחות 88 — Soncino English Talmud

¹What then can I put in its place? But there was an additional measure there of a log and a half, by which one used to measure [the oil] for the griddle-cakes of the High Priest, a log and a half in the morning and a log and a half towards evening. They said to him, But there was there the half-log measure, and one could therefore measure it with the half-log measure! He replied, In that case, even according to your view, there was no need for the half-log measure, for since there was there the quarter-log measure it was possible to measure it with the quarter-log! But the following rule was established in the Temple: The vessel that served for one measure did not serve for another measure. R. Eliezer b. R. Zadok says, There were markings in the hin measure [indicating] thus far for a bullock, thus far for a ram, and thus far for a lamb. What is the difference between R. Meir and R. Judah? — R. Johanan said, There is a difference between them as regards the overflow of the measures. He who counts the measures from below upwards is of the opinion that the overflow of the measures was also holy; for the All-Merciful gave unto Moses a quarter-log measure and instructed him to calculate [the larger measures] by including the overflow [of the smaller measure]. But he who counts the measures from the top downwards is of the opinion that the overflow of the measures was not holy; for the All-Merciful gave unto Moses a hin measure and instructed him to calculate [the smaller measures] by excluding the overflow [of the larger measure]. Abaye said, All [may be of the opinion] that the overflow of the measures was either holy or not holy, but they differ as to the meaning of the word ‘full’. He who counts the measures from the top downwards maintains that the word ‘full’ implies that it may be neither less [than the prescribed measure] nor more. But he who counts the measures from below upwards maintains that the word ‘full’ implies that it may not be less [than the prescribed measure], but if it is more it is still regarded as ‘full’. The Master said, ‘R. Simeon says, There was no hin measure there at all’. R. Simeon is surely quite right in his argument with the Rabbis. What can the Rabbis reply? — There was the hin measure used by Moses in the preparation of the anointing oil, as it is written, And of olive oil a hin. Now one is of the opinion that since it was not necessary for later generations, it was only made for that occasion and thereafter hidden away, but the other is of the opinion that once it was put to a use it remained as a measure. The Master said, ‘What then can I put in its place?’ But is it absolutely essential to substitute another? As Rabina said elsewhere: There is a tradition that among the offerings of the congregation only two require the laying on of hands; similarly here there is a tradition that there were seven liquid-measures in the Temple. R. ELIEZER SON OF R. ZADOK SAYS, THERE WERE MARKINGS IN THE HIN MEASURE. Does he not then accept the tradition of seven liquid-measures? — He does not. Alternatively I can say, By seven measures he understood seven measurings. MISHNAH. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID THE QUARTER-LOG SERVE? [TO MEASURE] A QUARTER-LOG OF WATER FOR THE LEPER AND A QUARTER-LOG OF OIL FOR THE NAZIRITE. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID THE HALF-LOG SERVE? [TO MEASURE] A HALF-LOG OF WATER FOR THE SUSPECTED WOMAN AND A HALF-LOG OF OIL FOR THE THANK-OFFERING. WITH THE LOG ONE MEASURED [THE OIL] FOR ALL THE MEAL-OFFERINGS. EVEN A MEAL-OFFERING OF SIXTY TENTHS REQUIRED SIXTY LOGS [OF OIL]. R. ELIEZER B. JACOB SAYS, EVEN A MEAL-OFFERING OF SIXTY TENTHS REQUIRED ONLY ONE LOG [OF OIL], FOR IT IS WRITTEN, FOR A MEAL-OFFERING, AND A LOG OF OIL. SIX [LOGS] WERE REQUIRED FOR A BULLOCK. FOUR FOR A RAM, AND THREE FOR A LAMB; THREE LOGS AND A HALF FOR THE CANDLESTICK, A HALF-LOG FOR EACH LAMP. GEMARA. Rabbi was sitting and raised this difficulty: Wherefore was the quarter-log measure anointed? If [it was in order to hallow the quarter-log of water] of the leper,^ᵃ^ᵇ^ᶜ^ᵈ^ᵉ^ᶠ^ᵍ^ʰ^ⁱ^ʲ^ᵏ^ˡ^ᵐ^ⁿ^ᵒ^ᵖ^ᵠ^ʳ^ˢ^ᵗ^ᵘ^ᵛ^ʷ

^ᵃnote:To make up the seven liquid-measures.
^ᵇnote:The log and a half of oil.
^ᶜnote:It was thus not permissible to measure a half-log by filling twice the quarter-log measure, similarly to measure a log and a half by filling the half-log measure three times.
^ᵈnote:This is the continuation of the Baraitha, and not the quotation from our Mishnah, v. Rashi.
^ᵉnote:Sc. R. Judah, who enumerates the measures beginning from the smallest, the quarter-log.
^ᶠnote:For when the smaller measuring vessel is filled to overflowing and is quickly poured out into ‘the larger vessel the latter vessel will take in also the overflow of the former. Accordingly the half-log measure was a little more than two full quarter-logs since it held the two quarter-logs plus the overflow of each. And so also with the larger measures.
^ᵍnote:Sc. R. Meir, who enumerates the measures beginning with the largest, the hin.
^ʰnote:For when pouring from a larger vessel which is filled to overflowing into two smaller vessels, by the time the smaller vessels are filled the overflow of the larger will have run off. Hence the several measures were exact measures without the overflow.
^ⁱnote:Stated in Num. VII, 13 in regard to the measures.
^ʲnote:Accordingly all the measures had to be determined with accuracy, and this could only be done by filling the largest measure, the hin, to the brim and carefully dividing it into halves and into quarters etc. Conversely, to fill the smaller vessel several times and pour it into the larger vessel would not give an accurate measure, for two full half-measures when poured into a larger vessel are more than one whole measure (Rashi MS.).
^ᵏnote:Since the measures were calculated from the smallest they were a little more than the measure they represented; thus the half-log was a little more than two exact quarter-logs, for when pouring two quarter-logs into a large vessel there would be therein more than a half-log by reason of the froth that is formed (Rashi MS.). Tosaf. s.v. itnu suggest the following interesting interpretation: It is agreed that the term ‘full’ precludes what is less than the prescribed measure, but as to what is more, he who maintains that the largest measure was given to Moses and was divided up into smaller measures, takes this as a symbol to exclude anything that is more than the measure, but he who maintains that the smallest measure was given to Moses and by increasing it the other measures were arrived at, takes it as a symbol that even what is more than the measure is still regarded as the full measure.
^ˡnote:Ex. XXX, 24.
^ᵐnote:Supra 62b.
^ⁿnote:I.e., seven markings in the hin measure.
^ᵒnote:Cf. Lev. XIV, 5. One of the birds used in the purification rites of the leper was to be killed over running water in an earthen vessel. The quantity of water was determined by the Rabbis at one quarter-log, for in this quantity the blood of the bird would still be recognizable. V. Sot. 16b.
^ᵖnote:For his cakes and wafers; v. Num. VI, 15.
^ᵠnote:In the preparation of the bitter waters; cf. ibid. V, 17 and Sot. 15b.
^ʳnote:This was the maximum quantity of flour that might be brought as a meal-offering in a single vessel. Infra 103b.
^ˢnote:Lev. XIV, 21. Thus no matter how large the meal-offering was only one log of oil was necessary.
^ᵗnote:Of oil and of wine, measured by the half-hin measure. The hin comprised twelve logs.
^ᵘnote:Measured by the third-hin measure.
^ᵛnote:Measured by the quarter-hin measure.
^ʷnote:All the Temple measures were anointed with the anointing oil and thereby consecrated, so that they could hallow whatever was put in them.

²but that was outside [the camp]; and if [to hallow the quarter-log of oil] of the Nazirite, but the bread-offering of the Nazirite was hallowed only by the slaughtering of the ram! — Said to him R. Hiyya. By it one measured the oil for the griddle-cakes of the High Priest, a quarter-log of oil for each cake. Rabbi then applied to him the verse, The man of my counsel from a far country. FOR WHAT PURPOSE DID THE HALF-LOG SERVE? Rabbi was sitting and raised this difficulty: Wherefore was the half-log measure anointed? If [it was in order to hallow the water used] in the case of a suspected woman, but was it unconsecrated [water that was used]? Is it not written, Holy water? And if [to hallow the half-log of oil] of the thank-offering, but the bread of the thank-offering was hallowed only by the slaughtering of the thank-offering! Said to him R. Simeon, Rabbi's son, By it [the priest] divided the oil for the Candlestick, a half-log for each lamp. Rabbi then exclaimed, O Lamp of Israel, it was so indeed. R. Johanan said in the name of Rabbi, If a lamp had gone out, both the oil and the wick have become unfit. What must he do? He must clean it out, put in it fresh oil [and a fresh wick], and relight it. R. Zerika was sitting and asked the following question, When he puts in fresh oil does he put in the same quantity of oil as at first, or only the quantity needed [for the remainder of the night]? — It is obvious, said R. Jeremiah. that he puts in as much oil as at first, for should you say only the quantity needed [for the remainder of the night, the question will be asked]. How do we know how much is needed? But should you say that it can be measured, then there must have been not only seven measures but numerous measures? [R. Zerika] thereupon applied [to R. Jeremiah] the verse, And in thy majesty prosper, ride on, on behalf of truth and meekness and righteousness. And so it has been stated: R. Abbahu said in the name of R. Johanan-others say, R. Abba said it in the name of R. Hanina who said it in the name of Rabbi — If a lamp had gone out, both the oil and the wick have become unfit. What must he do? He must clean it out, put in fresh oil as much as at first, [put in a fresh wick] and relight it. R. Huna the son of Rab Judah said in the name of R. Shesheth: The lamp [at the top of each branch of the Candlestick] in the Temple was flexible. He is of the opinion that the expressions ‘a talent’ and ‘beaten work’ apply to the Candlestick and also to the lamps; and since the latter had to be cleaned out, were they not flexible, they could not very well be cleaned out. An objection was raised: How did he do it? He removed [the lamps from the Candlestick] and put them in a cleansing mixture. He then dried them with a sponge, put oil in them, and lit them! — He agrees with the following Tanna, for it was taught: The Sages say, They did not move it [the lamp] from its place at all. Does this mean to imply that it could be moved if one wanted to do so? — Say rather, They could not move it from its place at all. Who are ‘The Sages’? — R. Eleazar son of R. Zadok is meant. For it was taught: R. Eleazar son of R. Zadok says, There was a kind of thin plate of gold over [each lamp]; when cleaning out [the lamp the priest] used to press it down towards the mouth of the lamp, and when putting oil in it he used to press it down towards the back of the lamp. And this matter is the subject of dispute between the following Tannaim. For it was taught: The Candlestick and the lamps were made out of the talent, but the tongs and the snuff dishes were not made out of the talent. R. Nehemiah said, The Candlestick [only] was made out of the talent, but neither the lamps nor the tongs nor the snuff dishes were made out of the talent. Wherein do they differ? — In the exposition of the following verse. For it was taught: Of a talent of pure gold shall it be made; we thus learn that the Candlestick was made out of the talent, but whence do I know that it included the lamps too? Because Scripture says, With all these vessels. Then I might think that it included even the tongs and the snuff dishes; the text therefore states, It. This is the opinion of R. Nehemiah. (But is there not here a contradiction between the two statements of R. Nehemiah? — Two Tannaim differ as to R. Nehemiah's view.) R. Joshua b. Korha says, The Candlestick was made out of the talent, but neither the lamps nor the tongs nor the snuff dishes were made out of the talent. How then do I interpret the words ‘with all these vessels’? That the vessels were of gold. But that they were of gold is expressly stated in the verses, And thou shalt make the lamps thereof seven; and they shall light the lamps thereof, to give light over against it. And the tongs thereof and the snuff dishes thereof, shall be of pure gold! — [The former verse] was stated only for the sake of the mouth of the lamp. For I might have thought that since the mouth of the lamp becomes black the Torah has consideration for the money of Israel,^ˣ^ʸ^ᶻ^ᵃᵃ^ᵃᵇ^ᵃᶜ^ᵃᵈ^ᵃᵉ^ᵃᶠ^ᵃᵍ^ᵃʰ^ᵃⁱ^ᵃʲ^ᵃᵏ^ᵃˡ^ᵃᵐ^ᵃⁿ^ᵃᵒ^ᵃᵖ^ᵃᵠ^ᵃʳ^ᵃˢ^ᵃᵗ^ᵃᵘ^ᵃᵛ

^ˣnote:The water did not need to be hallowed for that purpose.
^ʸnote:I.e., the measuring vessel should hallow the oil and the oil when mixed with the bread should hallow the bread.
^ᶻnote:But not before by the oil.
^ᵃᵃnote:For the six cakes that were offered in the morning one log and a half of oil was used, that is, a quarter-log for each cake. Similarly for the six cakes offered in the evening.
^ᵃᵇnote:Isa. XLVI, 11. R. Hiyya had come from Babylon to Palestine.
^ᵃᶜnote:Num. V, 17. As the water used was already consecrated, being taken from the laver, there was no need for a consecrated measuring vessel to hallow the water (Rashi MS. and Tosaf.).
^ᵃᵈnote:Each lamp was filled every evening with a half-log of oil which was estimated to burn through the night until the morning. In this case the lamp had accidentally gone out in the night.
^ᵃᵉnote:Lit., ‘have become ashes’.
^ᵃᶠnote:That is the amount of oil left unburnt which was thrown out.
^ᵃᵍnote:The oil is placed in a measure before it is thrown out.
^ᵃʰnote:Ps. XLV, 5. Cf. Shab. 63a where lrsvu ‘thy majesty’ is interpreted as lssju ‘thy sharpness, thy acumen’.
^ᵃⁱnote:Lit., separate parts’. The meaning is that although the whole Candlestick, including the lamps, was beaten (vaen) out of one piece of gold, the ends of the branches which supported the lamps were made quite thin and flexible so that the whole lamp could be turned in any direction and thus be cleaned out well.
^ᵃʲnote:Ex. XXV, 39. This word is omitted in MS.M.
^ᵃᵏnote:Ibid, 31, 36.
^ᵃˡnote:I.e., how did the priest clean the lamps?
^ᵃᵐnote:Heb. kvut, a mineral substance used for cleansing (Jast.). ‘Among aloes’ (Goldschmidt). According to Rashi: ‘in the tent’, i.e., in the Temple.
^ᵃⁿnote:It is evident from this Baraitha that the lamps could be removed from the Candlestick, which is contrary to R. Shesheth.
^ᵃᵒnote:R. Shesheth.
^ᵃᵖnote:Thus ejecting all burnt-out matter.
^ᵃᵠnote:Thus making a wide opening to receive the oil.
^ᵃʳnote:The talent of pure gold used in the making of the Candlestick; cf. Ex. XXV, 39
^ᵃˢnote:Ex. ibid.
^ᵃᵗnote:For above it was taught that according to R. Nehemiah the lamps were not made out of the talent.
^ᵃᵘnote:Ex. XXV, 37, 38.
^ᵃᵛnote:Where the flame is.