Tamid

OR HEARD A SOUND FROM HIM UNTIL THEY HEARD THE NOISE OF THE WOODEN MACHINE WHICH BEN KATIN MADE FOR HAULING UP THE LAVER,1 WHEN THEY SAID, THE TIME HAS COME. HE WASHED HIS HANDS AND FEET FROM THE LAVER, THEN TOOK THE SILVER FIREPAN AND WENT UP TO THE TOP OF THE ALTAR AND CLEARED AWAY THE CINDERS2 ON EITHER SIDE AND SCOOPED UP THE ASHES3 IN THE CENTRE. HE THEN DESCENDED AND WHEN HE REACHED THE PAVEMENT4 HE TURNED HIS FACE TO THE NORTH5 AND WENT ALONG THE EAST SIDE OF THE ASCENT FOR ABOUT TEN CUBITS, AND HE THEN MADE A HEAP OF THE Clnders ON THE PAVEMENT THREE HANDBREADTHS AWAY FROM THE ASCENT, IN THE PLACE WHERE THEY USED TO PUT THE CROP OF THE BIRDS6 AND THE ASHES FROM THE INNER ALTAR7 AND THE ASH FROM THE CANDLESTICK. GEMARA. But were there porticoes in the Azarah? Has it not been taught: R. Eliezer b. Jacob says: Whence do we learn that porticoes [of wood] are not made in the Azarah? Because it says: Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah or any kind of tree beside the altar of the Lord thy God,8 the meaning of which is this: Thou shalt not plant thee an Asherah; nor shalt thou plant thee any kind of tree beside the altar of the Lord thy God?-R. Hisda replied: [It is permitted] with porticoes of stone.9 THEY WENT ALONG INSPECTING. . . . TO MAKE GRIDDLE CAKES. This would imply that the griddle cakes were the first thing offered. But it has been taught: Whence do we know that nothing preceded the regular morning offering? It says: And he shall lay the burnt-offering in order upon it,10 and Rabbah said, ‘the burnt-offering’ [implies that] it goes up first?11 Rab Judah replied: He is appointed to prepare hot water for the soaking.12 MISHNAH. WHEN HIS BRETHREN SAW THAT HE HAD DESCENDED [FROM THE ASCENT]. THEY CAME RUNNING AND HASTENED TO WASH THEIR HANDS AND FEET IN THE LAVER. THEY THEN TO OK THE SHOVELS AND THE FORKS13 AND WENT UP TO THE TOP OF THE ALTAR. SUCH LIMBS AND PIECES OF FAT AS HAD NOT BEEN CONSUMED SINCE THE EVENING THEY REMOVED TO THE SIDES OF THE ALTAR.14 IF THERE WAS NOT ROOM ON THE SIDES THEY ARRANGED THEM ON THE SURROUND15 AND ON THE ASCENT.16 THEY THEN BEGAN TO THROW THE ASHES ON TO THE HEAP.17 THIS HEAP WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ALTAR, AND SOMETIMES THERE WAS AS MUCH AS THREE HUNDRED KOR ON IT. ON FESTIVALS THEY DID NOT USE TO CLEAR AWAY THE ASH BECAUSE IT WAS RECKONED AN ORNAMENT TO THE ALTAR.18 IT NEVER HAPPENED THAT throughout the night, but it was hauled up by a pulley. square. V. Mid. III, 1. been permitted to replace them, since they were reckoned as nothar. Var. lec. ‘or on the Ascent’.