Yoma

CHAPTERV MISHNAH. THEY BROUGHT OUT TO HIM THE LADLE AND THE PAN. [FROM THE LATTER] HE TOOK HIS TWO HANDS FULL [OF INCENSE] AND PUT IT INTO THE LADLE, A TALL [HIGH PRIEST] ACCORDING TO HIS SIZE, A SHORT ONE ACCORDING TO HIS SIZE AND THUS WAS ITS MEASURE. HE TOOK THE PAN1 IN HIS RIGHT [HAND] AND THE LADLE IN HIS LEFT [HAND]. GEMARA. THE PAN? But was it not taught:2 He took the pan and went up to the top of the altar, took out the burning coals, and went down? — There the reference is to the pan of burning coals, here to the pan of the incense. For it was taught:3 One brought out for him the empty ladle from the Cell of Vessels, and the heaped pan of incense from the Cell of the House of Abtinas.4 HE TOOK HIS TWO HANDS FULL AND PUT IT INTO THE LADLE, A TALL [HIGH PRIEST] ACCORDING TO HIS SIZE, A SHORT ONE ACCORDING TO HIS SIZE AND THUS WAS ITS MEASURE: For what purpose was the ladle on the Day of Atonement necessary? Surely the Divine Law said: [And he shall take] his hands full and bring it5 — Because [otherwise] it is impossible.6 For how shall he do it? Shall he bring in [the pan of burning coals] and then again bring in [the incense]?7 The Divine Law refers to one ‘bringing in’, not to two ‘bringings in’. — Shall he take the incense in his handfuls and place the pan8 [of burning coals] on top of it, entering thus? Then when he comes [within the veil] how shall he act? Shall he take it between his teeth and set the pan [of burning coals] down? Now, if such procedure is unseemly in the presence of a mortal king, how much less seemly is it before the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He? — Thus it is impossible and since it is impossible, we do it as we find it in connection with the [offerings of the] princes.9 He took the pan10 in his right hand and the censer into his left hand.11 ‘The native below and the alien in the heavens above’?This one [the ladle] is small, the other [coal-pan] large,12 and even where both are alike, as with R. Ishmael b. Kimhith, the one is hot and the other cold. It was reported about R. Ishmael b. Kimhith that he was able to take four kabs in his two handfuls, saying: All women are valiant but the valour of my mother exceeded them all.13 Some interpret it14 as referring to the crumb-dough,15 in accord with Rabbah b. Jonathan who said in the name of R. Yehiel that crumb-dough is very helpful to a sick person. Others say it refers to the [healthy] semen [she received], in accordance with what R. Abbuha asked. For he raised a contradiction: It is written: For thou hast sifted16 me with strength unto the battle17 but it is also written, Who has girded me with valour [for the battle]18 [to interpret the divergence thus]: David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Lord of the Universe, Thou hast [first] ‘carefully sifted’ and then strengthened me. It was told of R. Ishmael b. Kimhith19 that one day he talked in the street to an Arab, and spittle from his mouth flew on his garments,20 whereupon his brother Jeshebab entered and ministered in his stead. Thus their mother saw21 two high priests on one day. Furthermore, it is told of R. Ishmael b. Kimhith that he went out and talked with a certain lord22 in the street, and spittle from his mouth squirted on his garments, whereupon Joseph his brother entered and ministered in his stead so that their mother saw two high priests21 on one day. The Sages said unto her: What hast thou done to merit such [glory]? She said: Throughout the days of my life the beams of my house have not seen the plaits of my hair.23 They said to her: There were many who did likewise and yet did not succeed.24 Our Rabbis taught: with his fists25 , that means that he must not make a measure for his fistful.26 The question was: How about making a measure for his handfuls? Is it only there25 since it is written, ‘With his fist’,27 whereas here28 where it is not written ‘With his handfuls’ but ‘his hand full of fine incense,’ [it matters] not,29 or does he derive [the meaning of] ‘full’ from [the word], full’ [occurring in connection with] his fist?30 — Come and hear: AND THUS WAS ITS MEASURE’. Would you not say that it means: If he wishes to make a measure he may do so?31 — No, this is what it means: In the same manner would he take the hands full within the Holy of Holies.32 May not you then conclude from this that he takes the handfuls [outside] and repeats it inside again! — [No], perhaps it means that if he wants to have a measure made, he may do so;33 or, that he must take neither less nor more.34 Our Rabbis taught: His fistfull.35 One might have assumed that it may come forth on both sides, therefore Scripture says: ‘With his fist’.36 From ‘With his fist’ I might have inferred that he should just take some with his finger-tips hence Scripture says: His fistful’, i.e., in the manner in which people take a fistful. How so? He bends three of his fingers37 up to his wrist and takes a fistful. Prov. XXXI, 29. ;rd may be interpreted as valour (Jast.); as vine (Aruch) or bundles of green (R. Han.) i.e., children. a definite idea underlying each. ‘Sifted’ is an ad hoc interpretation. The words ‘for the battle’ are not found in Ps. XVIII, 33. from officiating. this high priest with Simeon (Ishmael) the son of Kamithos who was appointed by Gratus in the year 17-18.] The sight of a married woman's hair is an impropriety. Git. 90a. of phrase the same may be assumed to apply here. priest's size of hand. from the ladle into his hands and then put it over the burning coals in the pan.