Yoma

MISHNAH. ORIGINALLY WHOSOEVER1 DESIRED TO REMOVE [THE ASHES FROM] THE ALTAR DID SO. IF THEY WERE MANY, THEY WOULD RUN AND MOUNT THE RAMP2 [OF THE ALTAR] AND HE THAT CAME FIRST WITHIN FOUR CUBITS3 OBTAINED THE PRIVILEGE. IF TWO WERE EVEN, THE OFFICER4 WOULD SAY TO THEM [ALL:]5 RAISE THE FINGER!6 AND HOW MANY DID THEY PUT FORTH? ONE OR7 TWO BUT ONE DID NOT PUT FORTH THE THUMB IN THE TEMPLE.8 IT ONCE HAPPENED THAT TWO WERE EVEN AS THEY RAN TO MOUNT THE RAMP. ONE OF THEM PUSHED HIS FELLOW WHO FELL AND BROKE HIS LEG. WHEN THE COURT SAW THAT THEY INCURRED DANGER, THEY ORDAINED THAT THE ALTAR BE CLEARED ONLY BY COUNT. THERE WERE FOUR COUNTS. THIS IS THE FIRST COUNT. GEMARA. But why did our Rabbis not establish the count for this service from the beginning? They thought, Since it was a night service, it would not be considered so precious and they [many priests] would not come. But when they saw that [many] were coming and incurred danger,9 they arranged the count. But the burning on the altar of the limbs and fat-pieces is also a night service, and yet our Rabbis arranged a count for it? — It is rather the end of the service of the day.10 But the other11 too is the beginning of the service of the day, for R. Johanan said: If he sanctified his hands [by washing]12 for clearing the ashes off the altar he need not in the morning sanctify them again,13 because he has sanctified them already from the beginning of the service?14 — Say: Because he has from the beginning15 sanctified his hands for the service. Some say:16 First they [the Rabbis] believed that since [many of them] are overcome by sleep, they would not come [to this night service], but when they saw they were coming and incurring danger, our Rabbis arranged for the count. But with the burning of the limbs and fat-pieces, [taking also place at a time when] they are also overcome by sleep and yet our Rabbis arranged for a count? There is a difference between going to sleep and rising from sleep.17 But was the arrangement due to that consideration, was it not rather due to another consideration, for it has been taught:18 He who obtained the task of clearing the altar of the ashes thereby also obtained the ordering of the pile of wood on the altar and of the two pieces of wood?19 — R. Ashi said: There were two arrangements. First they [the Rabbis] opined that they would not come [at night], but when they saw that the priests did come and incurred danger, they arranged for the count. When the count had been arranged, they did not come, for they said: ‘Who can tell whether the lot will fall on me’ [therefore] they [the Rabbis] arranged that he who had obtained the task of clearing the ashes off the altar, should thereby also obtain the task of arranging the piles of wood and the two pieces of wood, in order that they might come and submit to the count. IF THEY WERE MANY etc.: R. Papa said: It is obvious to me [that within four cubits does] not [refer to] the four cubits on the floor,20 because we learnt: THEY WOULD RUN AND MOUNT THE RAMP; neither does it mean the first21 [four cubits], because we learnt: THEY WOULD RUN AND MOUNT THE RAMP, and after that: HE THAT CAME FIRST WITHIN FOUR CUBITS; neither does it mean [four cubits] in the middle because this is not clearly indicated; hence it is self-evident that it means [four cubits] off the altar. But R. Papa asked: Do these four cubits, of which we have spoken, include the one cubit of the [projecting] base and the one cubit of the gallery,22 nine families (Bate Aboth). Every week another division did service in the Sanctuary, being relieved on the Sabbath. During the week they distributed the service among the families. (V. Tosef. Ta'an. II.) Any one among the family (Beth-Ab, v. Glos.) whose turn came on that day, could originally, if he so desired, remove the ashes from the altar. count; v. Shek. V, 1. off one of them, and after having named a number, would start counting from that man by the fingers put forth. The priest with whom the number was reached, secured the task. aloft until the count was over. Whenever one such handicapped priest was present, the officer would require all to put forth two fingers, which is less of an effort. that the officer would count his two fingers as belonging to two people, with the result that the count would be wrong and designed to serve the trickster's end. of clearing the altar of the ashes). service would require a count.