Shevuot

for the sins of uncleanness in connection with the Temple and holy food thereof. 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, in order to include also his house; and that they should not obtain atonement with the goat offered within [the veil], which was not released from its implication. And if you desire to say anything, [I may add another argument, for] Scripture says: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord, etc. What [is meant by]: If you desire to say anything?1 You might say, it is written: [He shall atone for himself and for] his house,2 [therefore I add the argument that] all [priests] are called his house, for it is said: O house of Aaron, bless ye the Lord . . . ye that fear the Lord, bless ye the Lord. Now, as to the phrase, that is for the people,3 does it come for this purpose?4 Surely it is required [to deduce] that the Divine Law means it should be from the people's [funds]!5 — This we may deduce from: And from the congregation of the Children of Israel [he shall take two goats].6 Now, as to the phrase, which is for himself,7 does it come for this purpose?8 Surely it is required [to deduce] that which was taught: From his own [funds] he brings [the bullock], and he does not bring it from public funds. I might think that he does not bring it from public funds, because the congregation do not obtain atonement with it, but he may bring it from [funds subscribed by] his brother priests, for his brother priests obtain atonement with it, therefore Scripture says: which is for himself.9 I might think that he should not bring it [from priestly subscriptions], but if he did, it is still valid,10 therefore Scripture says once more: which is for himself;11 the verse repeats it in order to make [this condition] indispensable!12 — The Tanna meant thus in his argument: Why do they [the priests] not obtain atonement with [the goat of] the people? — Because they spend no money on it, for it is written: that is for the people;13 [then we should say, that since] on Aaron's [bullock] they also spend no money,14 [they should not obtain atonement with it,]15 therefore he says, they are all called his house.16 It is right according to R. Simeon17 that Scripture mentions two confessions18 and the blood of the bullock:19 one instead of the goat offered within [the veil],20 one instead of the goat offered outside,21 and one instead of the scapegoat.22 But according to R. Judah,23 why do we require two confessions and the blood of the bullock? One confession and the blood should suffice!24 — One for himself and one for his household;25 as it was taught in the Academy of R. Ishmael:26 Thus the nature of justice is practiced:27 it is better that the innocent should come and atone for the guilty, and not that the guilty should come and atone for the guilty. MISHNAH. THE LAWS CONCERNING THE DISCOVERY OF HAVING UNCONSCIOUSLY SINNED THROUGH UNCLEANNESS ARE TWO, SUBDIVIDED INTO FOUR;28 [IF] HE BECAME UNCLEAN AND WAS AWARE OF IT,29 THEN THE UNCLEANNESS BECAME HIDDEN FROM HIM, THOUGH HE REMEMBERED THE HOLY FOOD;30 [IF THE FACT THAT IT WAS] HOLY FOOD WAS HIDDEN FROM HIM, THOUGH HE REMEMBERED THE UNCLEANNESS; [IF] BOTH WERE HIDDEN FROM HIM; AND HE ATE HOLY FOOD, AND WAS NOT AWARE,31 AND WHEN HE HAD EATEN, BECAME AWARE: — IN THESE CASES HE BRINGS A SLIDING SCALE SACRIFICE. [IF] HE BECAME UNCLEAN AND WAS AWARE OF IT, THEN THE UNCLEANNESS BECAME HIDDEN FROM HIM, THOUGH HE REMEMBERED THE TEMPLE;32 [IF THE FACT THAT IT WAS] THE TEMPLE WAS HIDDEN FROM HIM, THOUGH HE REMEMBERED THE UNCLEANNESS; [IF] BOTH WERE HIDDEN FROM HIM; AND HE ENTERED THE TEMPLE, AND WAS NOT AWARE,33 AND WHEN HE HAD GONE OUT, BECAME AWARE: — IN THESE CASES HE BRINGS A SLIDING SCALE SACRIFICE. IT IS THE SAME WHETHER ONE ENTERS THE TEMPLE COURT OR THE ADDITION TO THE TEMPLE COURT,34 FOR ADDITIONS ARE NOT MADE TO THE CITY [OF JERUSALEM], OR TO THE TEMPLE COMPARTMENTS EXCEPT BY KING, PROPHET, URIM AND TUMMIN,35 SANHEDRIN OF SEVENTY ONE,36 TWO [LOAVES] OF THANKSGIVING,37 AND SONG;38 AND THE BETH DIN WALKING IN PROCESSION, THE TWO [LOAVES] OF THANKSGIVING [BEING BORNE] AFTER THEM, AND ALL ISRAEL [FOLLOWING] BEHIND THEM. a distinction being drawn between vkj,fk (before the act) and scghs (after the act). of the High Priest's bullock from public funds; the second, in verse 11, prohibits its purchase from priestly funds; and the third, in verse 11, is cfgk, to emphasize that it must be bought from his own funds, and that even if it had already been bought from priestly funds it is invalid. come to limit the atonement by the bullock to the High Priest, and exclude other priests, were it not for the further arguments adduced to include them? More accurately, this deduction was made from the phrase: from the congregation of the Children of Israel; v. supra, and Tosaf. the atonement of the bullock, meant that, because from this phrase we deduced that other priests must not subscribe to it, we would, for that very reason, exclude them from the atonement. permitted to subscribe towards its cost. other sins, with the scapegoat. killed (Yoma 36b). not at the end. goats, the priests obtain atonement with the two confessions and the blood sprinkling of the bullock. uncleanness (in connection with eating holy food), forgetfulness of holy food, forgetfulness of uncleanness (in connection with entering the Temple), forgetfulness of Temple, v. infra 14b. entering the additional portion must, therefore, also bring a sacrifice. The whole of the Temple court was 187 cubits long and 135 cubits wide; and was divided into a number of compartments (Mid. V.). An unclean person was prohibited from entering anywhere within the court. deciding monetary questions, and of 23 members, for deciding questions of life and death; v. Sanh. 2a.