Daily Offerings and Additional Offerings Chapter 2

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִהְיוֹת אֵשׁ יְקוּדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תָּמִיד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ו) "אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ". אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָאֵשׁ יָרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם מִצְוָה לְהָבִיא אֵשׁ מִן הַהֶדְיוֹט שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְנָתְנוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים אֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ":

It is a positive commandment for there to be fire continuously burning on the altar, as [Leviticus 6:6] states: "A continuous fire shall burn on the altar." Although a fire descended from heaven, it is a mitzvah to bring from ordinary fire, as [ibid. 1:7] states: "And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall place fire on the altar."

בַּבֹּקֶר עוֹרְכִין עֵצִים וְעוֹרְכִין בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁל אֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ה) "וּבִעֵר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן עֵצִים בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר". וְכֵן מִצְוָה לְהַעֲלוֹת שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים שֶׁל עֵץ עִם תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר יוֹתֵר עַל עֲצֵי הַמַּעֲרָכָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּבִעֵר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן עֵצִים בַּבֹּקֶר. וְכֵן מוֹסִיפִין שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים עִם תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְעָרְכוּ עֵצִים עַל הָאֵשׁ". מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁבְּתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:

In the morning, the wood was arranged. They would prepare a large array of fire at the top of the altar, as [ibid. 6:5] states: "And the priest shall burn on it wood each morning." Similarly, it is a mitzvah to bring two logs of wood [to the altar] together with the continuous offering of the morning, besides the wood of the arrangement. [This is also intimated by the same verse.] Similarly, two logs of wood were added together with the continuous offering of the afternoon, as [implied by ibid. 1:7]: "And they shall arrange wood on the fire." According to the Oral Tradition, it was taught that the verse is speaking about the continuous offering of the afternoon.

שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם מַעֲלִין אוֹתָן שְׁנֵי כֹּהֲנִים. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּעֵץ יְחִידִי בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְעָרְכוּ" הֲרֵי כָּאן שְׁנַיִם. אֲבָל שֶׁל שַׁחַר בְּכֹהֵן אֶחָד:

The two logs brought in the afternoon are brought up [to the altar] by two priests, each one holding one log in his hand. This is derived from the fact that the term "and they shall arrange" used by the above prooftext is plural. Those of the morning, by contrast, are brought by one priest.

שָׁלֹשׁ מַעֲרָכוֹת שֶׁל אֵשׁ עוֹשִׂין בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּכָל יוֹם. רִאשׁוֹנָה מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁעָלֶיהָ מַקְרִיבִין הַתָּמִיד עִם שְׁאָר הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. שְׁנִיָּה בְּצִדָּהּ קְטַנָּה שֶׁמִּמֶּנָּה לוֹקְחִין אֵשׁ בְּמַחְתָּה לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת בְּכָל יוֹם. שְׁלִישִׁית אֵין עָלֶיהָ כְּלוּם אֶלָּא לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת הָאֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ו) "אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד":

Three arrays of fire would be prepared on the top of the altar each day: The first was the large arrangement upon which were offered the continuous offering and the other sacrifices. The second was a small [arrangement] to its side from which fire was taken in a fire-pan to offer the incense offering each day. The third was not associated with any other purpose except to fulfill the mitzvah of burning fire, as [ibid. 6:6] states: "A continuous fire shall burn."

מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁזֶּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ב) "עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה. (ויקרא ו ב) "וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת. (ויקרא ו ה) "וְהָאֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁל קִיּוּם הָאֵשׁ. אֲבָל אֵיבָרִים וּפְדָרִים שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ מִבָּעֶרֶב נוֹתְנִין אוֹתָן בְּצִדֵּי מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה:

According to the Oral Tradition, it was derived that [ibid.:2] which states: "On the pyre, on the altar" - refers to the large arrangement. "The fire of the altar shall burn upon it" [ibid.] - refers to the second arrangement for the incense offering. And "The fire of the altar shall burn upon it" [ibid.:5] - refers to the third arrangement for the maintenance of the fire. The limbs and the fats that were not consumed during the evening are placed on the side of the large arrangement.

הַמְכַבֶּה אֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ה ו) "לֹא תִכְבֶּה". אֲפִלּוּ גַּחֶלֶת אַחַת וַאֲפִלּוּ הוֹרִידָהּ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְכִבָּה לוֹקֶה. אֲבָל אֵשׁ מַחְתָּה וְאֵשׁ מְנוֹרָה שֶׁהֱכִינָהּ בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהַדְלִיק מִמֶּנָּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכִּבָּה אוֹתָן בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ פָּטוּר שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְּקָהּ לְמִצְוָה אַחֶרֶת וְאֵין אֲנִי קוֹרֵא בָּהֶן אֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

One who extinguished the fire of the altar is liable for lashes, as [ibid.:6] states: "It shall not be extinguished." Even one coal - even if it was removed from the altar - if one extinguishes it, he is liable for lashes. If, however, one extinguishes the fire of a fire-pan or the fire designated to kindle the Menorah that was kindled on the altar, even if he extinguishes it on the top of the altar, he is exempt. [The rationale is that] this fire has been allocated for another mitzvah and it is no longer called "the fire of the altar."

כְּשֶׁמְּסַדֵּר עֲצֵי מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה מְסַדְּרָהּ בְּמִזְרַח הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְיִהְיֶה מַרְאֶה שֶׁהִתְחִיל לְסַדֵּר מִן הַמִּזְרָח. וְרֶוַח הָיָה בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים. וְרָאשֵׁי הַגְּזָרִים הַפְּנִימִיִּים הָיוּ נוֹגְעִין בַּדֶּשֶׁן שֶׁבְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא תַּפּוּחַ:

When one arrays the wood of the large arrangement, he should arrange it on the eastern portion of the altar. It should be made [in a manner that makes it apparent] that he began to arrange it from the east. There should be open space between the logs and the ends of the inner logs should touch the ashes that are in the center of the altar. It is called the ash-heap.

וְאַחַר שֶׁמְּסַדֵּר מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה חוֹזֵר וּבוֹרֵר עֲצֵי תְּאֵנָה יָפִים וּמְסַדֵּר מַעֲרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת מִכְּנֶגֶד קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית מְשׁוּכָה מִן הַקֶּרֶן כְּלַפֵּי צָפוֹן אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וּבָהּ כְּמוֹ חָמֵשׁ סְאִין גֶּחָלִים. וּבְשַׁבָּת עוֹשִׂין בָּהּ כְּמוֹ שְׁמוֹנֶה סְאִין גֶּחָלִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעָלֶיהָ מַקְטִירִין בְּכָל שַׁבָּת שְׁנֵי בְּזִיכֵי לְבוֹנָה שֶׁל לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים:

After the large arrangement is arrayed, logs of high-quality fig wood are selected and a second arrangement is made for [the fire for] the incense offering near the southwest corner, four cubits to the north of the corner. It would contain five se'ah of coals. On the Sabbath, it would contain about eight se'ah of coals, because on every Sabbath, the two bowls of frankincense from the showbread would be offered on it.

מַעֲרָכָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁל קִיּוּם הָאֵשׁ עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וּמַצִּית בָּהּ אֶת הָאֵשׁ. וְלֹא יַצִּית הָאֵשׁ לְמַטָּה וְיַעֲלֶה אוֹתָהּ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶלָּא בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ עַצְמוֹ מַצִּיתִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ב) "וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ". מִכָּאן לְהַצָּתָה שֶׁלֹּא תִּהְיֶה אֶלָּא בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ:

The third arrangement for the sake of the maintenance of the fire can be made on any place on the altar. The fire should be kindled on [the altar]. One should not kindle the fire on the ground and bring it up to the altar. Instead, it should be kindled on the altar itself, as [implied by] the verse: "The fire of the altar shall burn." This teaches that the kindling should be on the altar itself.

הֲרָמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּכָל יוֹם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהֵרִים אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן. וְהִיא עֲבוֹדָה מֵעֲבוֹדוֹת כְּהֻנָּה. וּבִגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה שֶׁתּוֹרֵם בָּהֶן הַדֶּשֶׁן יִהְיוּ פְּחוּתִין מִן הַבְּגָדִים שֶׁמְּשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בִּשְׁאָר עֲבוֹדוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ד) "וּפָשַׁט אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים וְהֵרִים אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן". אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בִּגְדֵי חֹל אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פְּחוּתִין מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁיִּמְזֹג כּוֹס לְרַבּוֹ בִּבְגָדִים שֶׁבִּשֵּׁל בָּהֶם קְדֵרָה לְרַבּוֹ:

It is a positive commandment to remove the ashes from the altar each day, as [Leviticus 6:3] states: "And he shall remove the ashes." This is one of the services performed by the priests. The priestly garments [worn] when removing the ashes should be less valuable than those [worn] when performing the other aspects of Temple service, as [ibid.] continues: "He shall remove his garments and put on other garments and remove the ashes." The term "other" does not imply ordinary garments, but rather [priestly garments] that are less valuable than the first. [The rationale is that] it is not proper conduct to serve a cup [of wine] to one's master in the same clothes as one cooked food for him.

אֵימָתַי תּוֹרְמִין הַדֶּשֶׁן בְּכָל יוֹם. מִשֶּׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר. וּבָרְגָלִים מִתְּחִלַּת שְׁלִישׁ אֶמְצָעִי שֶׁל לַיְלָה. וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מֵחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה:

When should the ashes be removed from the altar each day? At dawn. On the festivals, it should be carried out from the beginning of the middle third of the night. And on Yom Kippur, from midnight.

כֵּיצַד תּוֹרְמִין. מִי שֶׁזָּכָה לִתְרֹם טוֹבֵל וְלוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי הֲרָמָה. וּמְקַדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ הִזָּהֵר שֶׁמָּא תִּגַּע בִּכְלִי עַד שֶׁתְּקַדֵּשׁ יָדֶיךָ וְרַגְלֶיךָ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ לוֹקֵחַ הַמַּחְתָּה וְשֶׁל כֶּסֶף הָיְתָה. וְהִיא הָיְתָה נְתוּנָה בְּמִקְצוֹעַ בֵּין כֶּבֶשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּמַעֲרָבוֹ שֶׁל כֶּבֶשׁ. וְנוֹטֵל אֶת הַמַּחְתָּה וְעוֹלֶה לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּמְפַנֶּה אֶת הַגֶּחָלִים אֵילָךְ וְאֵילָךְ וְחוֹתֶה מִן הַגֶּחָלִים שֶׁנִּתְאַכְּלוּ בְּלֵב הָאֵשׁ וְיוֹרֵד לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. וְהוֹפֵךְ פָּנָיו לְצָפוֹן וּמְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ לְמִזְרַח הַכֶּבֶשׁ כְּמוֹ עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת כְּלַפֵּי הַצָּפוֹן. וְצוֹבֵר אֶת הַגֶּחָלִים שֶׁחָתָה עַל גַּבֵּי הָרִצְפָּה רָחוֹק מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים מֻרְאַת הָעוֹף וְדִשׁוּן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי וְהַמְּנוֹרָה. וַחֲתִיָּה זוֹ שֶׁחוֹתֶה בַּמַּחְתָּה וּמוֹרִיד לָרִצְפָּה אֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הִיא הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם:

How are [the ashes] removed? [The priest] who merited to remove the ashes would immerse [in the mikveh] and put on the clothes for the removal of the ashes. He would sanctify his hands and feet [from the basin]. They would tell him: "Be careful lest you touch a sacred utensil before sanctify your hands and feet." Afterwards, he would take a fire-pan - it was silver and would be placed in the corner between the ramp and the altar - to the west of the ramp. He would take the fire-pan and ascend to the top of the altar and scatter the coals, this way and that. [With the fire-pan,] he would lift up some of the coals which were consumed by the heart of the fire, and descend to the ground. He would turn his face to the north and walk on the ground at the east of the altar approximately ten cubits to the north. He would gather the coals that he lifted up [from the altar, placing them] on the floor [of the Temple Courtyard], three handbreadths away from the ramp, in the place where they would place the innards of a fowl [brought as an offering], the ashes of the inner altar and the Menorah. Picking up these coals with the fire-pan and bringing them to the floor near the altar is a commandment that must be performed each day.

אַחַר שֶׁיָּרַד זֶה שֶׁתָּרַם רָצִים אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים וּמְקַדְּשִׁין יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם בִּמְהֵרָה. וְנוֹטְלִין אֶת הַמַּגְּרֵפוֹת וְאֶת הַצִּנּוֹרוֹת וְעוֹלִין לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְכָל אֵיבְרֵי הָעוֹלוֹת וְאֵימוּרֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתָם לְצִדְדֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. אִם אֵין הַצְּדָדִין מַחֲזִיקִין סוֹדְרִים אוֹתָם בַּכֶּבֶשׁ כְּנֶגֶד הַסּוֹבֵב. וְאַחַר כָּךְ גּוֹרְפִין אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן בְּמַגְרֵפוֹת מִכָּל צִדְדֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וּמַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ עֲרֵמָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַתַּפּוּחַ. וְגוֹרְפִין אוֹתָהּ הָעֲרֵמָה בִּפְסַכְתֵּר. וְהוּא כְּלִי גָּדוֹל שֶׁמַּחְזִיק לֶתֶךְ. וּמוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ לְמַטָּה. וּבָרְגָלִים לֹא הָיוּ מוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מַנִּיחִין הָעֲרֵמָה גְּבוֹהָה בְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נוֹי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

After the person who [initially] removed ashes from the altar descended, his priestly brethren would run and sanctify their hands and feet quickly. They would take rakes and spits and ascend to the top of the altar. They would place all of the limbs of the burnt-offerings and the eimorim of the sacrifices that were not consumed [by the pyre] throughout the night, on the side of the altar. If the sides of the altar could not contain [all the limbs], they would be arranged on the ramp opposite [the altar's] surrounding ledge. Afterwards, they would use the rakes to rake the ashes from all the corners of the altar and make a pile on the ash-heap. This pile [of ashes] would be cleared away with a pasachiter. This is a large container that contains a letech. It is taken down [to the floor of the Temple Courtyard]. On the festivals, they would not bring it down, but instead would leave a high pile in the center of the altar, because this beautifies the altar.

כָּל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מִן הַכֹּהֲנִים מְמַלֵּא מִן הַדֶּשֶׁן שֶׁהוֹרִידוּ לְמַטָּה וּמוֹצִיא חוּץ לָעִיר לְשֶׁפֶךְ הַדֶּשֶׁן. וְאֵין לְהוֹצָאַת הַדֶּשֶׁן לַחוּץ פִּיּוּס אֶלָּא כָּל הָרוֹצֶה. וּמֵעוֹלָם לֹא נִתְעַצֵּל כֹּהֵן מִלְּהוֹצִיא אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן:

Any one of the priests who desired would collect the ashes that were brought down [from the altar] and take them outside the city to the ash depository. Taking the ashes outside [the Temple Mount] did not require a lottery. Instead, whoever desired [was allowed to do so]. None of the priests were ever lethargic about removing the ashes.

וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הוֹצָאָתוֹ לַחוּץ עֲבוֹדָה. אֵין בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ. וּכְשֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ לְחוּץ לָעִיר מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין הָרוּחוֹת מְנַשְּׁבוֹת בּוֹ בְּחָזְקָה. וְלֹא חֲזִירִים גּוֹרְפִים אוֹתוֹ. וְלֹא יְפַזְּרֶנּוּ שָׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ג) "וְשָׂמוֹ". שֶׁיַּנִּיחֶנּוּ בְּנַחַת. וְאָסוּר לֵהָנוֹת בּוֹ:

Although removing [the ashes] outside [the Temple Mount] is not considered as service, it should not be performed by priests with disqualifying physical blemishes. When it is removed outside the city, it is deposited in a place where the wind will not blow it powerfully, nor [rivers] would not flow into it. It should not be scattered there, as [Leviticus 6:3] states: "And you shall deposit it." [Implied is] that it should be placed down gently. It is forbidden to benefit from it.