Yoma

How does he do it?1 He takes hold of the dish2 with his finger-tips according to some with his teeth — and pulls it with his thumb until it reaches his elbows, then he turns it over in his hands and heaps up the incense in order that its smoke may come up slowly; some say he scatters it in order that its smoke may come up fast; and this is the most difficult ministration in the Sanctuary. This alone? None other? But is there not the pinching of the bird's head? And the taking of [an exact] fistful of the incense? — Rather [say] this is one of the more difficult ministrations in the Sanctuary.3 [At any rate] infer from here that he had to perform the hafinah twice. — The inference is right. The question was raised: If the priest slew [the animal] and died, may someone else enter with its blood? Do we say ‘With a bullock’ [includes] even ‘with the blood of the bullock’, or ‘With a bullock’ only but not with its blood?4 — R. Hanina said: ‘With a bullock’, but not with its blood. R. Lakish said: ‘With a bullock’, and even with its blood. R. Ammi said: ‘With a bullock’, but not with the blood of the bullock. R. Isaac the Smith said: ‘With a bullock’ and even with its blood. R. Ammi raised the following objection: One5 may be counted in6 for the paschal lamb, or one may withdraw from being counted in it until it be slaughtered. Now, if that view were correct,7 this should read: Until he sprinkles [the blood]. — There [is a special situation], because It is written: miheyoth misseh, i.e., as long as the lamb is alive.8 Mar Zutra raised the following objection: One must not redeem9 with a calf or with a beast of chase, or with what had been slaughtered or with a cross-bred, or with a koy,10 only with a lamb?11 There is a different case, because [the meaning of] lamb [here] is inferred from ‘lamb’12 [mentioned in connection] with the paschal lamb. Then just as that must be male, without blemish, and one year old,13 this too ought to be male, without blemish, and one year old? — [To prevent such interpretation], Scripture states: Thou shalt redeem . . . thou shalt redeem,14 to include both. If [repetition of] ‘Thou shalt redeem’ means to include, then all ought to be included? — What value would the word ‘lamb’ have in that case! ,uhvn i.e., as long as the animal is whole, before it is slaughtered, as long as it is alive. appears justified, that a slaughtered lamb is no more considered to be a lamb. Hence a refutation of the view that blood can be considered as of equal ritual value with the animal itself.