Zevachim

only in respect of [an area] a hundred and eighty-seven cubits in length by a hundred and thirty-five in breadth. A Tanna recited before R. Nahman: The whole Temple court was a hundred and eighty-seven cubits in length by a hundred and thirty-five in breadth. Said he to him, Thus did my father say: Within such an area the priests entered, consumed the most holy and slaughtered the minor sacrifices there, and were liable for uncleanness. What does this exclude? Shall we say that it excludes the windows, doors and the thickness of the wall? Surely we learnt: The windows and the thickness of the wall are as within?1 — Rather, it is to exclude the chambers.2 But if they are built on nonsacred ground and open into sacred ground, surely we learnt: Their inside is holy? — That is by Rabbinical law [only] — And not by Scriptural law? Surely it was taught: How do we know that the priests may enter the chambers which are built on non-sacred ground and open into sacred ground, eat there the most holy sacrifices and the residue of the meal-offering?3 Because it says, In the court of the tent of meeting they shall eat it:4 Scripture permitted many courts for eating!5 — Said Raba: Eating is different.6 But are they not [holy] in respect of uncleanness? Surely it was taught: The chambers built on non-sacred ground: priests may enter therein and eat there the most holy sacrifices; you may not slaughter minor sacrifices there,7 and they involve culpability on account of uncleanness? — Did you not say, you may not slaughter?8 then learn too, and they do not involve culpability.9 [No:] as for [saying] you may not slaughter, it is well, [the reason being that] it [slaughtering] must be opposite the door, which it is not [in these chambers]. But why [should you learn] ‘and they do not involve culpability’? — Yet on your view, [consider: when you say,] you may not slaughter, are we not discussing a case where the shechitah is opposite the entrance,10 for if it is not, why is it necessary [to teach it]? Hence [you must admit that] although he would slaughter opposite the entrance, yet he teaches, ‘You may not slaughter’, because they are not sanctified. Then learn also, They do not involve culpability. Now, do we not require the consumption to be facing the entrance? Surely R. Jose son of R. Hanina taught: There were two wickets in the knives’ recess, and their elevation was eight cubits, in order to make the Temple court fit for the eating of most sacred sacrifices and the slaughtering of minor sacrifices? — Said Rabina: Delete ‘eating’ from this passage. But it is written, Boil the flesh at the door of the tent of meeting, and there eat it?11 Temporary sacrifices are different.12 R. Isaac b. Abudimi said: How do we know that the blood is invalidated by sunset?13 Because it says, It shall be eaten on the day that he offereth his slaughtering:14 on the day that you slaughter, you can offer; on the day that you do not slaughter, you cannot offer.15 But this text is needed sacred by Biblical law too. door of the test of meeting’, and yet you may not slaughter there. subject to the ordinary laws.