Pesachim

Shall we say that there are three Tannaim [in dispute]? — No: there are [only] two Tannaim [in dispute], the first Tanna opposed to1 R. Simeon being R. Jose, while the first Tanna opposed to R. Jose is R. Simeon. And what does ‘too’ mean? It refers to the first mentioned.2 Our Rabbis taught: The son of Bohayon3 gave pe'ah from vegetables, and his father came and found the poor laden with vegetables and standing at the entrance to the kitchen garden. Said he to them, ‘My sons, cast it from you, and I will give you twice as much of tithed [produce]; not because I begrudge it to you, but because the Sages said, You must not give pe'ah from vegetables.’ Why had he to say to them, ‘Not because I begrudge it to you?’ So that they should not say, ‘He is merely putting us off.’ Our Rabbis taught: At first they used to place the skins of sacrifices in the chamber of Beth Ha-Parwah.4 In the evening they used to divide them among the men of the paternal division,5 but men of violence6 used to seize [more than their due share] by force. So they enacted that they should divide them every Sabbath eve, so that all the ‘wards’ came and received their portions together.7 Yet the chief priests still seized [them] by force; thereupon the owners8 arose and consecrated them to Heaven.9 It was related: It did not take long before they covered the whole Temple with gold plaques a cubit square of the thickness of a gold denar. And on festivals they used to lay them together10 and place them on a high eminence on the Temple Mount, so that the Festival pilgrims might see that their workmanship was beautiful,11 and that there was no imperfection in them. It was taught, Abba Saul said: There were sycamore treetrunks in Jericho, and the men of violence seized them by force, [whereupon] the owners arose and consecrated them to Heaven. And it was of these and of such as these that Abba Saul b. Bothnith said in the name of Abba Joseph b. Hanin: ‘Woe is me because of the house of Boethus; woe is me because of their staves!12 Woe is me because of the house of Hanin, woe is me because of their whisperings!13 Woe is me because of the house of Kathros,14 woe is me because of their pens!15 Woe is me because of the house of Ishmael the son of Phabi,16 woe is me because of their fists! For they are High Priests17 and their sons are [Temple] treasurers and their sons-in-law are trustees and their servants beat the people with staves.’18 Our Rabbis taught: Four cries did the Temple Court cry out. The first: ‘Depart hence, ye children of Eli,’ for they defiled the Temple of the Lord. And another cry: ‘Depart hence, Issachar of Kefar Barkai, who honours himself while desecrating the sacred sacrifices of Heaven’; for he used to wrap his hands with silks and perform the [sacrificial] service.19 The Temple Court also cried out: ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and let Ishmael the son of Phabi, Phineas's disciple,20 enter and serve in the [office of the] High Priesthood.’ The Temple Court also cried out: ‘Lift up your heads, O ye gates, and let Johanan the son of Narbai,21 the disciple of Pinkai,22 enter and fill his stomach with the Divine sacrifices. It was said of Johanan b. Narbai that he ate three hundred calves and drank three hundred barrels of wine and ate forty se'ah of young birds as a desert for his meal.23 It was said: As long as Johanan the son of Narbai lived,24 nothar25 was never found in the Temple. What was the fate of26 Issachar of Kefar Barkai? It was related: The king and queen27 were sitting: the king said, ‘Goat's [flesh] is better,’ while the queen said, ‘Lamb is better’. Said they, Who shall decide?28 The High Priest, who offers up sacrifices every day. So he came, for cabbages; similarly R. Simeon in the second Baraitha. (Jast.). further subdivided into paternal divisions (beth ab), of which each officiated one day in the week. correct, and if our reading is retained it must also be understood in the same sense. — The larger number present would act as a check. understood as translated. did not restrain his sons from lawlessness; in the passage of Josephus too, already cited, reference is only made to his children. retained much of his power, and perhaps his title too, even if he was deposed; hence there were often several High Priests at the same time; v. Halevi, Doroth, I, 3, p. 445, n. 30; pp. 633f; 718. gourmand. numerous general name for kings of the Hasmonean dynasty.]