Vessels of the Sanctuary and Those Who Serve Therein Chapter 5

כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה גָּדוֹל מִכָּל אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּנוֹי בְּכֹחַ בְּעשֶׁר בְּחָכְמָה וּבְמַרְאֶה. אֵין לוֹ מָמוֹן כָּל הַכֹּהֲנִים נוֹתְנִין לוֹ מִשֶּׁלָּהֶן כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי עָשְׁרוֹ עַד שֶׁיַּעֲשִׁיר יוֹתֵר מֵעָשִׁיר שֶׁבְּכֻלָּן:

The High Priest must surpass all of his priestly brethren in beauty, power, wealth, wisdom, and appearance. If he does not have wealth of his own, all of his priestly brethren should give him according to their financial capacity until he is wealthier than all of them.

וְאֵין אֶחָד מִכָּל אֵלּוּ מְעַכֵּב אֶלָּא כָּל זֶה לְמִצְוָה אֲבָל אִם נִתְרַבָּה מִכָּל מָקוֹם נִתְרַבָּה:

None of the above is an absolute requirement; instead, all of this is merely [the optimum way of fulfilling] the mitzvah. If he was, nonetheless, initiated, his initiation is valid.

וְחַיָּב כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל לִנְהֹג כָּבוֹד בְּעַצְמוֹ. וְלֹא יָקֵל בְּעַצְמוֹ עִם שְׁאָר הָעָם וְלֹא יִרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ עָרוּם לֹא בְּבֵית הַמֶּרְחָץ וְלֹא בְּבֵית הַכִּסֵּא וְלֹא כְּשֶׁמִּסְתַּפֵּר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כא י) "הַכֹּהֵן הַגָּדוֹל מֵאֶחָיו" מְלַמֵּד שֶׁנּוֹהֲגִין בּוֹ גְּדֻלָּה יְתֵרָה. רָצָה הוּא שֶׁיִּרְחֲצוּ אֲחֵרִים עִמּוֹ הָרְשׁוּת בְּיָדוֹ:

The High Priest must conduct himself with dignity. He should not act frivolously with the people at large. They should not see him naked, nor in the bathhouse, nor in the toilet, nor while he is having his hair cut, as [Leviticus 21:6] states: "the priest greater than his brethren." This teaches that he is regarded with great honor. [Nevertheless,] if he desires that others bathe with him, he may [allow them to do so].

לֹא יִכָּנֵס לְבֵית הַמִּשְׁתֶּה וְלֹא לִסְעֻדָּה שֶׁל רַבִּים אֲפִלּוּ הֵם שֶׁל מִצְוָה. אֲבָל הוֹלֵךְ הוּא אִם רָצָה לְבֵית הָאָבֵל. וּכְשֶׁהוּא הוֹלֵךְ אֵינוֹ הוֹלֵךְ בְּעִרְבּוּבְיָא עִם שְׁאָר הַכֹּהֲנִים. אֶלָּא מְסַבְּבִין אוֹתוֹ הַכֹּהֲנִים וְחוֹלְקִין לוֹ כָּבוֹד. וְהַסְּגָן מְמַצְּעוֹ בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין הָעָם. וְהַסְּגָן וּמָשׁוּחַ שֶׁעָבַר מִימִינוֹ. וְרֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב וְהָאֲבֵלִים וְכָל הָעָם מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ. וְאוֹמֵר לַאֲבֵלִים תְּנֻחֲמוּ. וְהֵן מְכַבְּדִין אוֹתוֹ כְּפִי כֹּחָן:

He should not enter a celebration or a public feast even if they are associated with a mitzvah. If he desires, however, he may go to a house of mourning. If he goes, he does not go walking together with the other priests. Instead, the priests surround him and display honor to him and the segen arranges the contact between him and the people. The segen and an anointed priest who was removed from his position stand at his right and the head of the clan [serving in the Temple], the mourners, and all others are to his left. He tells the mourners: "Be comforted" and they honor him according to their capacity.

מֵת לוֹ מֵת אֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא אַחֲרָיו. וְאֵינוֹ יוֹצֵא מִפֶּתַח בֵּיתוֹ אוֹ מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְכָל הָעָם בָּאִים לְנַחֲמוֹ לְבֵיתוֹ. וְהוּא עוֹמֵד בְּשׁוּרָה וּסְגָן מִימִינוֹ וְרֹאשׁ בֵּית אָב וְכָל הָעָם מִשְּׂמֹאלוֹ. וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ אָנוּ כַּפָּרָתְךָ וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לָהֶם תִּתְבָּרְכוּ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם:

If one [of the relatives for whom he must mourn] dies, he does not go out to the funeral procession, nor does he depart from the entrance of his home or the Temple. All of the nation come to his home to comfort him. He stands for the line of comforters with the segen at his right and the head of the clan to his left. [The people tell him]: "We are atonement for you" and he tells them: "May you be blessed from heaven."

וּכְשֶׁמַּבְרִין אוֹתוֹ כָּל הָעָם מְסֻבִּין עַל הָאָרֶץ וְהוּא מֵסֵב עַל הַסַּפְסָל. וְאֵינוֹ קוֹרֵעַ עַל מֵתוֹ כִּשְׁאָר הַכֹּהֲנִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כא י) "וּבְגָדָיו לֹא יִפְרֹם". וְאִם קָרַע לוֹקֶה. אֲבָל קוֹרֵעַ הוּא מִלְּמַטָּה כְּנֶגֶד רַגְלָיו. וְאֵינוֹ מַרְבֶּה פֶּרַע לְעוֹלָם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא כא י) "אֶת רֹאשׁוֹ לֹא יִפְרָע" וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּעֵת שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנֵס לַמִּקְדָּשׁ. אֶלָּא מְסַפֵּר מֵעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת לְעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. וְאֵינוֹ מְסַפֵּר בְּתַעַר אֶלָּא בְּזוּג רֹאשׁ שַׂעֲרָה זוֹ בְּעִקָּר זוֹ עַד שֶׁיֵּרָאֶה כְּאִלּוּ הוּא צָמַח כְּאַחַת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל מד כ) "רֹאשָׁם לֹא יְגַלֵּחוּ וּפֶרַע לֹא יְשַׁלֵּחוּ כָּסוֹם יִכְסְמוּ אֶת רָאשֵׁיהֶן":

When the meal of comfort is served to him, all of the people sit on the ground and he sits on a low bench. He does not rend his garments over his dead, as do the other priests, as [Leviticus 21:10] states: "He shall not rend his garments." If he rends them, he is liable for lashes. He may, however, tear them from below towards his feet. He may never let his hair grow long, as [ibid.] states: "He shall not allow [the hair of] his head to grow long." [This applies] even at times when he does not enter the Sanctuary. Instead, he should have his hair cut every Friday. He should not have his hair cut with a razor, rather with scissors. [He should have] the top of one hair [cut] when it reaches the base of the hair above it so that it appears that they grew as one, as [indicated by Ezekiel 44:20]: "They shall not shave their heads, nor should they let their hair grow long. [Instead,] they shall keep their heads trimmed."

וּבַיִת יִהְיֶה לוֹ מוּכָן בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא לִשְׁכַּת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל. וְתִפְאַרְתּוֹ וּכְבוֹדוֹ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה יוֹשֵׁב בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ כָּל הַיּוֹם. וְלֹא יֵצֵא אֶלָּא לְבֵיתוֹ בִּלְבַד בַּלַּיְלָה אוֹ שָׁעָה אוֹ שְׁתַּיִם בַּיּוֹם. וְיִהְיֶה בֵּיתוֹ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְאֵינוֹ זָז מִשָּׁם:

There was a chamber prepared for him in the Sanctuary which was called: "The Chamber of the High Priest." The glory and the honor of [the High Priest] would be to remain in the Sanctuary the entire day and to go to his private home only at night or for an hour or two during the day. His home should be in Jerusalem and he should never depart from there.

כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל דָּן וְדָנִין אוֹתוֹ וּמְעִידִין עָלָיו. וְאֵין דָּנִין אוֹתוֹ דִּינֵי נְפָשׁוֹת אֶלָּא בְּבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל בִּלְבַד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יח כב) "כָּל הַדָּבָר הַגָּדל יָבִיאוּ אֵלֶיךָ":

A High Priest may act as a judge and he is judged. Testimony may be delivered against him. Capital cases against him are judged in the High Court alone, as [implied by Exodus 18:22]: "Any great matter (hadavar hagadol) will be brought to you."

הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ עֵדוּת אֵינוֹ חַיָּב לְהָעִיד וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל שֶׁזֶּה אֵינוֹ כָּבוֹד לוֹ שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ וְיָעִיד. וְאִם הָיְתָה עֵדוּת לְמֶלֶךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל הֲרֵי זֶה הוֹלֵךְ בְּבֵית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל וּמֵעִיד לוֹ:

If he knows testimony, he is not obligated to deliver it, even in the High Court. For going to testify does not enhance his honor. If it was testimony involving a King of the Jewish people, he should go to the High Court and testify concerning him.

וּכְבָר בֵּאַרְנוּ בְּסֵפֶר קְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁהוּא אָסוּר בְּאַלְמָנָה וּמְצֻוֶּה עַל הַבְּתוּלָה. וְאֵינוֹ נוֹשֵׂא שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים וְאִם נָשָׂא שְׁתַּיִם אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לַעֲבֹד בְּיוֹם הַצּוֹם עַד שֶׁיְּגָרֵשׁ לְאַחַת. וְחוֹלֵץ וְחוֹלְצִים לְאִשְׁתּוֹ. וּמְיַבְּמִין אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ. וְאִם גֵּרֵשׁ אִשָּׁה מֻתֶּרֶת לְהִנָּשֵׂא לִשְׁאָר הָעָם:

We already explained in the fifth book that [the High Priest] is forbidden [to marry] a widow and commanded to marry a virgin. He may not have two wives. If he marries two, he may not carry out the service on the fast [of Yom Kippur] until he divorces one. He may perform chalitzah and [either] chalitzah or yibbum are performed with his wife. If he divorces a women, she is permitted to marry another person.

בִּזְמַן שֶׁכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל נִכְנַס לַהֵיכָל לְהִשְׁתַּחֲווֹת שְׁלֹשָׁה אוֹחֲזִין בּוֹ. אֶחָד בִּימִינוֹ וְאֶחָד בִּשְׂמֹאלוֹ וְאֶחָד בַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת שֶׁבָּאֵפוֹד מֵאֲחוֹרָיו. וְיִכָּנֵס לַהֵיכָל וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיִּשְׁמַע הַסְּגָן קוֹל רַגְלָיו שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁהוּא יוֹצֵא מַגְבִּיהַּ לוֹ אֶת הַפָּרֹכֶת. וְאַחַר שֶׁיֵּצֵא יִכָּנְסוּ אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ וְיֵצְאוּ:

When the High Priest enters the Sanctuary to prostrate himself, three support him: one on his right side, one on his left side, and one [holding] the jewels on the hind side of the ephod. He enters the Sanctuary and prostrates himself. When the segen hears the sound of the feet of the High Priest as he departs, he lifts up the curtain. After he departs, his priestly brethren enter, prostrate themselves, and depart.

בְּכָל יוֹם שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לְהַקְטִיר הַקְּטֹרֶת מַקְטִיר וְנוֹטֵל חֵלֶק בָּרֹאשׁ בְּקָדְשֵׁי הַמִּקְדָּשׁ כֻּלָּן. כֵּיצַד. כְּשֶׁיִּרְצֶה אוֹמֵר זוֹ הַחַטָּאת שֶׁלִּי וְזֶה הָאָשָׁם שֶׁלִּי. וְאֵינוֹ עוֹבֵד בְּפַיִס. אֶלָּא כָּל עֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה לְהַקְרִיב מַקְרִיב כָּל מַה שֶּׁיִּרְצֶה. וַהֲרֵי הוּא בְּקָדְשֵׁי הַגְּבוּל כִּשְׁאָר הַכֹּהֲנִים:

On any day he desires, he may offer the incense offering. He receives the first portion of any sacrifice offered in the Temple. What is implied? If he desires, he may say: "This sin offering is mine" or "This guilt offering is mine." He does not seek to be chosen for service by lot. Instead, whenever he desires to offer a sacrifice, he may offer [any sacrifice] he desires. With regard to consecrated [produce] from Eretz Yisrael, he is like all other priests.

בִּזְמַן שֶׁרוֹצֶה כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל לְהַקְרִיב הָיָה עוֹלֶה בַּכֶּבֶשׁ וְהַסְּגָן מִימִינוֹ. הִגִּיעַ לְמַחֲצִית הַכֶּבֶשׁ אָחַז הַסְּגָן בִּימִינוֹ וְהֶעֱלָהוּ. וְהוֹשִׁיט לוֹ הַכֹּהֵן שֶׁהוּא מוֹלִיךְ אֶת רֹאשׁ הָעוֹלָה הָאֵיבָרִים שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ וְסוֹמֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶן וְזוֹרְקָן לָאֵשׁ:

When the High Priest desired to offer a sacrifice, he would ascend the ramp with the segen on his right. When he reached the midpoint of the ramp, the segen would hold him by the right hand and help him up. The priest who would carry the head of the burnt offering would extend the limbs [he is carrying] to [the High Priest] and [the High Priest] would lean upon them and then toss them to the fire.

וְכָךְ הָיוּ מוֹשִׁיטִין לוֹ שְׁאָר הָאֵיבָרִים. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד נוֹתֵן הָאֵיבָרִים שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ לָרִאשׁוֹן. וְהָרִאשׁוֹן נוֹתֵן לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל וְהוּא סוֹמֵךְ וְזוֹרֵק לָאֵשׁ. וְאִם רָצָה לִסְמֹךְ בִּלְבַד וְיִהְיֶה [כֹּהֵן] אַחֵר זוֹרֵק לָאֵשׁ עוֹשֶׂה. וְאֵין שָׁם סְמִיכָה עַל הָאֵיבָרִים אֶלָּא לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל בִּלְבַד מִפְּנֵי כְּבוֹדוֹ. אֲבָל כָּל הַסְּמִיכוֹת עַל בַּעֲלֵי חַיִּים הֵם:

Similarly, all of the other limbs would be extended to him. All of those carrying the limbs would give the limbs they were carrying to the first priest and he would give them to the High Priest. He would lean upon them and toss them to the fire. If he desired to merely lean upon them and have another priest toss them to the fire, he may. There is no concept of leaning on individual limbs except when the High Priest [offers a sacrifice]. [This is an expression of] honor to him. All of the [other] leanings, by contrast, are performed on living animals.

כְּשֶׁיִּגְדַּל הַכֹּהֵן וְיֵעָשֶׂה אִישׁ הֲרֵי הוּא כָּשֵׁר לַעֲבוֹדָה. אֲבָל אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים לֹא הָיוּ מְנִיחִין אוֹתוֹ לַעֲבֹד בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה בֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה. וְאֵינוֹ נִכְנָס לָעֲזָרָה לַעֲבוֹדָה תְּחִלָּה אֶלָּא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁהַלְוִיִּם אוֹמְרִים שִׁירָה:

As soon as a priest matures and attains majority, he is fit to serve in the Temple. Nevertheless, his priestly brethren would not allow him to serve in the Temple until he reached the age of 20. He should not enter the Temple Courtyard to perform service for the first time except during a time when the Levites are chanting songs.

אֵין הַכֹּהֵן עוֹבֵד תְּחִלָּה וְכֵן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אֵינוֹ עוֹבֵד תְּחִלָּה עַד שֶׁיָּבִיא עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וְעוֹבֵד בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו יג) "זֶה קָרְבַּן אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ לַה' בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֹתוֹ". וְאִם עָבַד קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּבִיא עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה וְכֵן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁעָבַד בִּכְהֻנָּה גְּדוֹלָה קֹדֶם שֶׁיָּבִיא עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה עֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה:

A priest does not perform Temple service - nor does a High Priest perform Temple service - until he brings [a meal offering of] a tenth of an ephah from his own possessions and offer it himself, as [Leviticus 6:13] states: "This is the sacrifice of Aaron and his descendants which they will offer to G-d on the day that he will be anointed." If one performs any of the Temple service before he brings [this meal offering] or if a High Priest serves as a High Priest before he brings [this meal offering], his service is acceptable.

כֹּהֵן שֶׁלֹּא עָבַד עֲדַיִן מִיָּמָיו שֶׁמִּנּוּהוּ כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל הֲרֵי זֶה מֵבִיא עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה וְעוֹבְדָהּ בְּיָדוֹ בַּתְּחִלָּה כִּשְׁאָר חִנּוּךְ כָּל כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַקְרִיב עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁהִיא חִנּוּךְ כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל. וְאַחַר כָּךְ מַקְרִיב עֲשִׂירִית הָאֵיפָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁהִיא חֲבִיתֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁמַּקְרִיב בְּכָל יוֹם כְּמוֹ שֶׁיִּתְבָּאֵר וּמַעֲשֵׂה שְׁלָשְׁתָּן שָׁוֶה הוּא:

If a priest who had never performed Temple service before is appointed as the High Priest, he should bring [a meal offering of] a tenth of an ephah and offer it himself as is the training for every ordinary priest at the outset. Afterwards, he offers a second [such meal offering] as the training of a High Priest. And then he offers a third [such meal offering] which is the chavitin offering of the High Priest which he offers every day, as will be explained. The manner in which all three are offered is identical.