Shevuot

Does not Rabbi hold that there is kareth for the day [of the Day of Atonement]?1 Why not?2 It is possible in the case where he ate a piece of meat, which choked him,3 so that he died; or, he ate it almost at the setting of the sun,4 so that there was not time to atone for him.5 [THE SCAPEGOAT BRINGS ATONEMENT EQUALLY FOR] ISRAELITES, PRIESTS, AND THE ANOINTED HIGH PRIEST.6 This itself is contradictory: he states that [THE SCAPEGOAT BRINGS ATONEMENT EQUALLY FOR] ISRAELITES, PRIESTS, AND THE ANOINTED HIGH PRIEST; then he states WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISRAELITES, PRIESTS, AND THE ANOINTED HIGH PRIEST?7 Rab Judah said, thus he means: Israelites, priests, and the anointed High Priest all equally obtain atonement with the scapegoat for other sins, and there is no difference between them [in this respect]; but what is the difference between Israelites, priests, and the anointed High Priest? [This:] the bullock atones for the priests for transgression of the laws of uncleanness in connection with the Temple and holy food thereof [whereas for Israelites the inner and outer goats atone for these transgressions]. And who holds this view?8 R. Judah; for it was taught: [Scripture says:] And he shall make atonement for the most holy place,9 this means the Holy of Holies; and the tent of meeting,9 this means the Holy place; and the altar9 — in its usual sense; he shall atone,9 this means for the various compartments in the Temple court; and for the priests9 — in the usual sense; and for all the people of the assembly;9 this means the Israelites;10 he shall atone,9 this means for the Levites; they are all equated for one atonement,11 in that they obtain atonement with the scapegoat for other sins: this is the opinion of R. Judah. R. Simeon Says: Just as the blood of the goat offered within [the veil] atones for Israelites for transgression of the laws of uncleanness connected with the Temple and holy food thereof, so the blood of the bullock atones for the priests for transgression of the laws of uncleanliness connected with the Temple and holy food thereof; and just as the confession pronounced over the scapegoat atones for Israelites for other sins, so the confession pronounced over the bullock atones for the priests for other sins. 12 But according to R. Simeon [it may be asked]: Surely they have been equated!13 — In what respect are they equated? In that they all obtain atonement, but each obtains atonement with his own.14 What is R. Simeon's reason?15 — It is written: And he shall take the two goats:16 the scapegoat is equated with the goat offered within [the veil]; just as the goat offered within [the veil] does not atone for the priests for transgression of the laws of uncleanness connected with the Temple and holy food thereof, because it is written concerning it: [the goat of the sin offering] that is for the people;17 so the scapegoat does not atone for the priests for other sins. And R. Judah?18 — He may say to you: For this reason they are equated, that they should be alike in colour, height, and value. 19 Who is the Tanna who made this statement which the Rabbis taught. [viz., Scripture says:] He shall kill the goat of the sin offering that is for the people:20 [this teaches] that the priests do not obtain atonement with it; and with what do they obtain atonement? With the bullock of Aaron.21 I might think that they should not obtain atonement with the bullock of Aaron, for it has already been said: [And Aaron shall offer the bullock of the sin offering] which is for himself;22 hence they would have no atonement at all.23 But when Scripture says: And he shall make atonement for the priests,24 we find that they have atonement. With what do they obtain atonement? It is better that they should obtain atonement with the bullock of Aaron, for it was released from its implication,25 in order to include also his house;26 and that they should not obtain atonement with the goat offered within [the veil], which was not released from its implication.27 in order to include also his house. And if you desire to say anything,28 [I may add another argument, for] Scripture says: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord; O house of Levi, bless ye the Lord; ye that fear the Lord, bless ye the Lord.29 Who is the Tanna [of this Baraitha]?30 — R. Jeremiah said: It is not R. Judah, for if R. Judah, surely he says the priests obtain atonement with the scapegoat!31 Then who is it? Raba said: It is R. Simeon who holds that the priests do not obtain atonement with the scapegoat. Abaye said: You may even say that it is R. Judah, and thus he32 reasons: Hence they would have no atonement at all for transgression of the laws of uncleanness connected with the Temple and holy food thereof;33 but when Scripture says: And he shall make atonement for the priest, we find that they have atonement for other sins; and just as we find that they have atonement for other sins, so they have atonement transgressing the Day can never he put into effect; yet Scripture says: For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from his people (Lev. XXIII, 29). where kareth operates. would have atoned. necessarily follow. goat for the transgression of the laws of uncleanness in the Holy of Holies, holy place, altar, etc. If one, that is to say, became unclean in the Holy of Holies, and tarried for such time as he could prostrate himself (v. infra 16b), or if he offered incense on the golden altar while unclean, or entered other compartments of the Temple court while unclean, he has transgressed the law of uncleanness, and for this the bullock atones for priests, and the goat for Israelites. equal atonement; but this equal atonement cannot refer to the atonement for transgression of the laws of uncleanness connected with the Temple and holy food, because in this case the atonements are not equal, the bullock atoning for priests, and the inner and outer goats for Israelites and Levites. The equal atonement, consequently, refers to the scapegoat which atones for priests, Israelites, and Levites, for other sins. scapegoat for other sins. atones for more than himself; it may, therefore, atone also for the other priests. bullock, for Scripture says: And he shall make atonement for himself and for his house. all. bullock of Aaron. the High Priest for the sins of uncleanness connected with the Temple, the result would be that they would have no atonement at all for these sins; though for other sins they would still obtain atonement with the scapegoat.