Vessels of the Sanctuary and Those Who Serve Therein Chapter 7

חֲמִשָׁה עָשָׂר מְמֻנִּין הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ וְכֵן מְמַנִּים לְעוֹלָם עַל כָּל דָּבָר מֵחֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ מְמֻנֶּה אֶחָד. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן (א) עַל הַזְּמַנִּים (ב) עַל נְעִילַת שְׁעָרִים (ג) עַל הַשּׁוֹמְרִים (ד) עַל הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים (ה) עַל הַצִּלְצָל עִם שְׁאָר כְּלֵי שִׁיר (ו) עַל הַפְּיָסוֹת (ז) עַל הַקָּנִים (ח) עַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת (ט) עַל הַנְּסָכִים (י) עַל הַחוֹלִין (יא) עַל הַמַּיִם (יב) עַל מַעֲשֵׂה לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים (יג) עַל מַעֲשֵׂה הַקְּטֹרֶת (יד) עַל מַעֲשֵׂה הַפָּרֹכֶת (טו) עַל מַעֲשֵׂה בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה:

There were fifteen officers in the Temple and similarly, an officer would always be appointed over these fifteen matters. They are [responsible for]: a) the time [for the offering of the sacrifices], b) the locking of the gates, c) the guards, d) the singers, e) the cymbals and the other musical instruments, f) the lotteries, g) the pairs [of doves], h) the seals, i) the wine libations, j) the sick, k) the water, l) the preparation of the showbread, m) the preparation of the incense offering, n) the preparation of the curtains, o) the preparation of the priestly garments.

כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִמְּמֻנִּים אֵלּוּ תַּחַת יָדוֹ אֲנָשִׁים הַרְבֵּה כְּדֵי לְהָכִין הַמְּלָאכָה שֶׁהוּא מְמֻנֶּה עָלֶיהָ. זֶה שֶׁעַל הַזְּמַנִּים הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו מְשַׁמְּרִים אֶת הַזְּמַנִּים. כֵּיוָן שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ עֵת הַקָּרְבָּן מַכְרִיז הוּא אוֹ אֶחָד מֵאֲנָשָׁיו בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ וְאוֹמֵר עִמְדוּ כֹּהֲנִים לָעֲבוֹדָה וּלְוִיִּם לַדּוּכָן וְיִשְׂרָאֵל לַמַּעֲמָד וְכֵיוָן שֶׁיִּשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ יָבוֹא כָּל אֶחָד לִמְלַאכְתּוֹ:

Each one of these officers has many men under his command in order to arrange the task over which he is appointed. The one [appointed] to supervise the times: He and his men watch the times. When the time comes for a sacrifice to be offered, he or one of the men under his charge announce: "Priests arise to the [Temple] service. Levites [go] to the platform, Israelites, to the ma'amad." When his voice was heard, everyone would proceed to his task.

זֶה שֶׁעַל נְעִילַת שְׁעָרִים עַל פִּיו נוֹעֲלִין וְעַל פִּיו פּוֹתְחִין וְאֵין הַתּוֹקְעִין תּוֹקְעִין בְּכָל יוֹם לִפְתִיחַת הַשְּׁעָרִים אֶלָּא בִּרְשׁוּתוֹ. וּבְכָל יוֹם תּוֹקְעִין בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ שָׁלֹשׁ תְּקִיעוֹת לִפְתִיחַת הַשְּׁעָרִים תְּקִיעָה תְּרוּעָה וּתְקִיעָה:

The one [appointed] to supervise the locking of the gates: At his command, the gates would be locked and opened. Those who sound [the trumpets] every day for the opening of the gates sound them only by his instruction. Every day, [the trumpets] were sounded three times at the opening of the gates [in the following manner]: a tekiah, a teruah, and a tekiah.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַשּׁוֹמְרִים הוּא אִישׁ הַר הַבַּיִת שֶׁמְּסַבֵּב עַל הַלְוִיִּם בְּכָל לַיְלָה וְכָל מִי שֶׁיָּשֵׁן עַל מִשְׁמָרוֹ מַלְקֶה אוֹתוֹ בְּמַקְלוֹ וְשׂוֹרֵף אֶת כְּסוּתוֹ:

The one [appointed] to supervise the guards: He is "the officer of the Temple Mount" who would walk around [checking] the Levites [who would guard the Temple] every night. Whenever anyone would sleep at his post, he would strike him with his staff and burn his garment.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים הוּא בּוֹרֵר בְּכָל יוֹם הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים שֶׁעוֹמְדִים עַל הַדּוּכָן לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בַּפֶּה. וְעַל פִּיו תּוֹקְעִין עַל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ מֵאַחַת וְעֶשְׂרִים תְּקִיעָה בְּכָל יוֹם. שָׁלֹשׁ לִפְתִיחַת שְׁעָרִים. וְתֵשַׁע לְתָמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר. וְתֵשַׁע לְתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. וְיוֹם שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ קָרְבַּן מוּסָף מוֹסִיפִין תֵּשַׁע עַל קָרְבַּן מוּסָף. וְאִם חָל רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אוֹ יוֹם טוֹב לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת אוֹ שֶׁחָל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ שָׁם שְׁלֹשָׁה מוּסָפִין אֵין תּוֹקְעִין לְכָל מוּסָף וּמוּסָף בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ אֶלָּא תּוֹקְעִין תֵּשַׁע בִּלְבַד לְכָל הַמּוּסָפִין:

The one [appointed] to supervise the singers: Each day, he would chose singers to stand on the duchan to sing melodies. At his command, [the trumpets] would be sounded for the sacrifices. There were never less than 21 trumpet blasts sounded each day in the Temple: three at the opening of the gates [of the Temple Courtyard], nine for the daily offering of the morning, and nine for the daily offering of the afternoon. On a day when a Musaf offering is brought, nine trumpet blasts are added for the Musaf offering. If Rosh Chodesh or a festival falls on the Sabbath or Rosh HaShanah falls on the Sabbath - in which instance three Musaf offerings are brought- we do not sound the trumpets for each Musaf offering individually. Instead, nine trumpet blasts are sounded for all the Musaf offerings.

בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת מוֹסִיפִין שֵׁשׁ. שָׁלֹשׁ לְהַבְטִיל אֶת הָעָם מִן הַמְּלָאכָה וְשָׁלֹשׁ לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין קֹדֶשׁ לְחל. וּבָרֶגֶל מוֹסִיפִין שָׁלֹשׁ לִפְתִיחַת שַׁעַר הַתַּחְתּוֹן וְהוּא שַׁעַר עֶזְרַת נָשִׁים וְשָׁלֹשׁ לִפְתִיחַת שַׁעַר הָעֶלְיוֹן הוּא שַׁעַר נִקָּנוֹר וְלָמָּה נִקְרָא שַׁעַר עֶלְיוֹן לְפִי שֶׁהוּא לְמַעְלָה מֵעֶזְרַת נָשִׁים. וְכֵן תּוֹקְעִין שָׁלֹשׁ לְמִלּוּי הַמַּיִם שֶׁמְּנַסְּכִין בֶּחָג וְאֵין תּוֹקְעִים לְמִלּוּי הַמַּיִם בְּשַׁבָּת. וְתוֹקְעִין שָׁלֹשׁ עַל גַּבֵּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁמְּנַסְּכִין הַמַּיִם. וְכָל הַתּוֹקְעִים שֶׁתּוֹקְעִים עַל הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת מִתַּחַת יַד זֶה שֶׁעַל הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים וּבִרְשׁוּתוֹ. וְכָל אֵלּוּ הַתְּקִיעוֹת בַּחֲצוֹצְרוֹת הֵן:

On Friday, six trumpet blasts are added: three to [notify] the people [when] to cease work and three to make a distinction between the holy and the mundane. On the pilgrimage festivals, three are added [to announce] the opening of the lower gate, i.e., the gate to the Women's Courtyard, and three [to announce] the opening of the upper gate, i.e., the Gate of Nicanor. Why is it called the upper gate? Because it is higher than the Women's Courtyard. On Sukkot, three trumpet blasts are added [to announce] the filling of [a vessel with] water which is used for a libation on that holiday. The trumpets are not sounded for the filling of the water on the Sabbath. Three trumpet blasts are added upon the altar while the water libation is being offered. All of these trumpet blasts were sounded under the direction of the officer in charge of the singers and at his command. All of these blasts were sounded with trumpets.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַצִּלְצָל הוּא הַמַּעֲמִיד כָּל הַמְשׁוֹרְרִים עַל פִּי כְּלֵי שִׁיר שֶׁסּוֹעֲדִין עִם הַלְוִיִּם כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ:

The one [appointed] to supervise the cymbal: He would arrange all the musicians who would help the Levites together with their instruments, as we explained.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַפְּיָסוֹת הוּא מֵפִיס בֵּין הַכֹּהֲנִים בְּכָל יוֹם עַד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּל אִישׁ וְאִישׁ עוֹשֶׂה מְלַאכְתּוֹ שֶׁזָּכָה בָּהּ בַּפַּיִס. וְאַרְבַּע פְּעָמִים הָיוּ מְפִיסִין בְּכָל יוֹם וּבְהִלְכוֹת תְּמִידִין אֲבָאֵר כֵּיצַד הָיוּ מְפִיסִין:

The one [appointed] to supervise the lotteries, he would conduct the lotteries between the priests every day until each one would perform the work that he acquired through the lotteries. There were four lotteries conducted every day. In Hilchot Temidim, I will explain how these lotteries were conducted.

הַמְמֻנֶּה שֶׁעַל הַקִּנִּים הוּא שֶׁפּוֹסְקִין עִמּוֹ שֶׁיִּמְכֹּר הַקִּנִּים לַקָּרְבָּנוֹת כָּךְ וְכָךְ בַּסֶּלַע וְכָל מִי שֶׁהוּא חַיָּב תּוֹרִים אוֹ שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי יוֹנָה יָבִיא דְּמֵיהֶם לַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְזֶה הַמְמֻנֶּה נוֹתֵן הַקִּנִּים לְבַעֲלֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת וְעוֹשֶׂה חֶשְׁבּוֹן עִם הַגִּזְבָּרִין וְנוֹתְנִין לוֹ. מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם פּוֹסְקִין עִמּוֹ הַשַּׁעַר. וְאִם הוּזְלוּ הַקִּנִּים מַסְפִּיק כְּשַׁעַר הַזּוֹל וְאִם הוּקְרוּ מַסְפִּיק כְּמוֹ שֶׁפָּסְקוּ עִמּוֹ שֶׁיַּד הֶקְדֵּשׁ עַל הָעֶלְיוֹנָה. וְכֵן קֵן שֶׁנִּמְצָא פָּסוּל אוֹ שֶׁנִּפְסַל קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּקָּרֵב נוֹתֵן אַחֵר תַּחְתָּיו:

The one [appointed] to supervise [the sale of] the pairs of doves: He is the one with whom a price is determined to sell pairs [of doves] for the sacrifices, so-and-so many doves for a sela. Everyone who was obligated to [bring] turtle doves or doves [as a sacrifice] would bring the money for them to the Temple. This officer would give the pairs [of doves] to the people bringing the sacrifices. He would make a reckoning with the treasurers and they would provide him with [the doves]. Every thirty days, a price was established with him. If the price decreases [during that month], [the Temple treasurers] supply him with them according to the lower price. If it increases, they provide them at the price established [originally], for the Temple is always given the upper hand [in business transactions]. Similarly, if a pair of doves is discovered to be unacceptable or was disqualified before it was offered, [this officer] must provide another in its place.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת הוּא שֶׁמְּקַבֵּל דְּמֵי הַנְּסָכִים מִמְּחֻיְּבֵי נְסָכִים וְנוֹתֵן לָהֶן חוֹתָמוֹת. וְזֶה שֶׁעַל הַנְּסָכִים הוּא שֶׁמּוֹכֵר הַנְּסָכִים:

The one [appointed] to supervise [the sale of] the seals: He would receive the money for the wine libations from those obligation to bring libations and give them seals. The one [appointed] to supervise the wine libations would sell the wine libations.

כֵּיצַד. אַרְבַּע חוֹתָמוֹת הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. הָאֶחָד כָּתוּב עָלָיו עֵגֶל. וְהַשֵּׁנִי כָּתוּב עָלָיו זָכָר. וְהַשְּׁלִישִׁי כָּתוּב עָלָיו גְּדִי. וְהָרְבִיעִי כָּתוּב עָלָיו חוֹטֵא:

What is implied? There where four seals in the Temple, one which had "calf" written on it, a second which had "male" written on it, a third which had "kid" written on it, and a fourth that had "sinner" written on it.

כָּל מִי שֶׁיָּבִיא קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו לַמִּקְדָּשׁ נוֹתֵן דְּמֵי הַנְּסָכִים לְזֶה הַמְמֻנֶּה עַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ חוֹתָמוֹת כְּמִנְיַן הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ. וְאִם הָיָה מְצֹרָע עָשִׁיר נוֹתֵן לוֹ חוֹתָם אֶחָד שֶׁכָּתוּב עָלָיו חוֹטֵא וְהַלָּה הוֹלֵךְ בַּחוֹתָמוֹת שֶׁבְּיָדוֹ לְזֶה הַמְמֻנֶּה עַל הַנְּסָכִים וְנוֹתֵן לוֹ נְסָכִים כְּמִנְיַן הַחוֹתָמוֹת וּכְמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב בָּהֶן וְלָעֶרֶב בָּאִים זֶה אֵצֶל זֶה מוֹצִיא אֶת הַחוֹתָמוֹת וּמְקַבֵּל כְּנֶגְדָּן מָעוֹת אִם הוֹתִירוּ הַמָּעוֹת הוֹתִירוּ לַהֶקְדֵּשׁ וְאִם פָּחֲתוּ הַמָּעוֹת יְשַׁלֵּם זֶה שֶׁעַל הַחוֹתָמוֹת מִבֵּיתוֹ. מִי שֶׁאָבַד חוֹתָמוֹ מַמְתִּינִין לוֹ עַד הָעֶרֶב אִם מָצְאוּ בַּמָּעוֹת יֶתֶר כְּדֵי חוֹתָם שֶׁטּוֹעֵן נוֹתְנִין לוֹ וְאִם לָאו אֵין נוֹתְנִין לוֹ. וְשֵׁם כָּל הַיּוֹם כָּתוּב עַל הַחוֹתָם מִפְּנֵי הָרַמָּאִים שֶׁלֹּא יַשְׁהֶא הַחוֹתָם אֶצְלוֹ עַד שֶׁיּוּקְרוּ הַנְּסָכִים:

Whoever would bring his sacrifices to the Temple would give the money for the wine libations to the officer in charge of the seals. He would give him seals according to the number of sacrifices he brought. If a person afflicted with tzara'at was wealthy, he should give him one seal with "sinner" written upon it. The recipient then takes the seals to the officer in charge of the wine libations and he gives him wine libations according to the number of seals he has and what is written upon them. In the evening, [the two officers] meet and one gives the other seals and receives money in exchange for them. If there is extra money, it is given to the Temple treasury. If there is less money, the officer in charge of the seals must pay from his own resources. When a person loses a seal, he should wait until the evening. If there is found an extra amount of money equivalent to the seal that he claims, it is given to him. If not, it is not given to him. The date of each day is written on the seal [to protect against] deceivers [to prevent] one from keeping a seal in his possession until the price of the libations increases.

מִשְּׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם לִשְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם פּוֹסְקִין שַׁעַר הַיַּיִן וְהַסּלֶת עִם הַמְמֻנֶּה עַל הַנְּסָכִים. אִם הוּקְרוּ נְסָכִים מְסַפֵּק לָהֶן כְּמוֹ שֶׁפָּסְקוּ עִמּוֹ. וְאִם הוּזְלוּ מְסַפֵּק לָהֶן כְּשַׁעַר הַזּוֹל. וְהַשָּׂכָר שֶׁמִּשְׂתַּכֵּר הַהֶקְדֵּשׁ בִּשְׁעָרִים אֵלּוּ הוּא הַנִּקְרָא מוֹתַר נְסָכִים וְלוֹקְחִין בּוֹ עוֹלוֹת לְקַיִץ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְאֵין מְקַיְּצִין אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּעוֹלוֹת עוֹף שֶׁאֵין בְּקָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר עוֹף:

Every thirty days, a price for the wine and the flour is established with the officer in charge of the wine libations. If the price of the wine libations increases, he must supply them according to the price established beforehand. If their price decreases, he must supply them according to the lower price. The profit the Temple treasury makes on these [fluctuations in] price is called "the windfall of the libations." It is used to purchase burnt offerings as "the dessert of the altar." Burnt offerings of doves are not used for this purpose, because doves are not used for communal offerings.

הַכֹּהֲנִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵן עוֹמְדִין עַל הָרִצְפָּה תָּמִיד וְאוֹכְלִין בָּשָׂר הַרְבֵּה וְאֵין עֲלֵיהֶן בְּגָדִים בִּשְׁעַת הָעֲבוֹדָה אֶלָּא חָלוּק אֶחָד הֵם חוֹלִין בִּמְעֵיהֶן. לְפִיכָךְ מַעֲמִידִין מְמֻנֶּה אֶחָד שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מְבַקֵּר אוֹתָן וּמְרַפֵּא כָּל תַּחְלוּאֵיהֶן וְעוֹסֵק בָּהֶן תָּמִיד הוּא וַאֲנָשָׁיו שֶׁתַּחַת יָדוֹ:

Since the priests stand on the floor at all times, eat much meat, and during their Temple service, they are not covered by any garments other than one cloak, they [often] suffer digestive ailments. Therefore an officer is appointed to check them and heal all their illnesses. He and the people in his charge are involved with them at all times.

וְכֵן מְמַנִּין אַחֵר לִהְיוֹת חוֹפֵר בּוֹרוֹת וְשִׁיחִין וּמְתַקֵּן הַבּוֹרוֹת שֶׁל רַבִּים כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַמַּיִם מְצוּיִין בִּירוּשָׁלָיִם לְכָל אֶחָד מִיּוֹשְׁבֶיהָ וּלְכָל עוֹלֵי הָרְגָלִים. וְאֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל כָּל אֻמָּנֵי לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וְהוּא מְתַקֵּן כָּל מְלַאכְתּוֹ. וְאֶחָד מְמֻנֶּה עַל כָּל אֻמָּנֵי הַקְּטֹרֶת וְהוּא מְתַקֵּן מְלַאכְתָּהּ:

Similarly, an officer is appointed to dig cisterns and reservoirs and fix the cisterns for people at large so that there will be water available in Jerusalem for all of its inhabitants and for all those who come on the pilgrimage festivals. And there was one appointed for all the craftsmen who prepare the showbread and he supervises all their work. And there is one appointed over the craftsmen who prepare the incense offering and he supervises all their work.

זֶה שֶׁעַל הַפָּרֹכֶת מְמֻנֶּה עַל כָּל אוֹרְגֵי הַפָּרֹכוֹת וְהַרוֹקְמִין בָּהֶן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מוּכָנוֹת לַהֵיכָל וְלַשְּׁעָרִים. וּשְׁתֵּי פָּרֹכוֹת הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין בְּכָל שָׁנָה לְהַבְדִּיל בֵּין הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְקֹדֶשׁ הַקֳדָשִׁים. וְחוּטֵי הַפָּרֹכֶת כְּפוּלִין שִׁשָּׁה שִׁשָּׁה. וְאַרְבָּעָה מִינִין הָיוּ בָּהּ שֵׁשׁ וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי. וְכָל אֶחָד מֵהֶן כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה הֲרֵי אַרְבָּעָה וְעֶשְׂרִים חוּטִין. וְטֶפַח הָיָה עָבְיָהּ וְעַל שְׁנַיִם וְשִׁבְעִים נִירִין הָיְתָה נֶאֱרֶגֶת אָרְכָּהּ אַרְבָּעִים אַמָּה וְרָחְבָּהּ עֶשְׂרִים אַמָּה:

The one [appointed] to supervise [the making of] the curtains would be in charge of all those who wove the curtains and embroidered [designs] on them so that they would be prepared for the Temple and the gates. Each year, they would make two curtains to separate between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. The strands of these curtains were all six-fold. They were of four types of fabric: linen, sky-blue dyed wool, purple dyed wool, and crimson dyed wool. Each one was six fold. Thus there were 24 strings. The curtains were a hand-breadth thick. They were woven with 72 heddles. Its length was forty cubits and its width was 20 cubits.

וּשְׁלֹשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה פָּרֹכוֹת הָיוּ בְּמִקְדַּשׁ שֵׁנִי שֶׁבַע עַל שִׁבְעָה שַׁעֲרֵי הָעֲזָרָה וְאַחַת עַל פֶּתַח הָאוּלָם וְאַחַת עַל פֶּתַח הַהֵיכָל וּשְׁתַּיִם לַדְּבִיר בֵּינוֹ וּבֵין הַקֹּדֶשׁ וּשְׁתַּיִם כְּנֶגְדָּן בַּעֲלִיָּה:

There were thirteen curtains in the Second Temple: Seven over the seven gates to the Temple Courtyard, one over the opening of the Entrance Porch, one over the entrance to the Sanctuary, two to serve as the d'vir between it and the [most] holy chamber, and two corresponding to them in the upper storey.

פָּרֹכֶת שֶׁנִּטְמֵאת בִּוְלַד הַטֻמְאָה מַטְבִּילִין אוֹתָהּ בִּפְנִים וּמַכְנִיסִין אוֹתָהּ מִיָּד לְפִי שֶׁאֵינָהּ צְרִיכָה הַעֲרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ. וְשֶׁנִּטְמֵאת בְּאַב הַטֻמְאָה מַטְבִּילִין אוֹתָהּ מִבַּחוּץ וְשׁוֹטְחִין אוֹתָהּ בַּחֵיל מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהִיא צְרִיכָה הַעֲרֵב שֶׁמֶשׁ. וְאִם הָיְתָה חֲדָשָׁה שׁוֹטְחִין אוֹתָהּ עַל גַּב הָאִצְטַבָּא כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּרְאֶה הָעָם אֶת מְלַאכְתָּהּ שֶׁהִיא נָאָה:

When a curtain becomes impure [due to contact] with a derivative of impurity, it should be immersed within [the Temple Courtyard]. It was brought into [the Temple] immediately, because there is no need to wait until the evening. If it became impure because of contact with a substance that is a source of impurity, it should be immersed [in a mikveh] outside [the Temple Courtyard] and it is spread out in the chayl, because it must wait until sunset [for its impurity] to depart. If it was new, it would be spread over the colonnade so that the people could see its embroidery for it was attractive.

וְכָל הַכֵּלִים שֶׁהָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ הָיוּ לָהֶם שְׁנִיִּים וּשְׁלִישִׁים שֶׁאִם יִטַּמְּאוּ הָרִאשׁוֹנִים יָבִיאוּ הַשְּׁנִיִּים תַּחְתֵּיהֶם:

All of the utensils in the Temple had copies and copies of the copies so that if the original contracted impurity, the second could be used in its place.

זֶה הַמְּמֻנֶּה עַל מַעֲשֶׂה בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה עוֹסֵק בַּהֲכָנַת בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֲנִים הֶדְיוֹטִים וּבִגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וּבַאֲרִיגָתָן וּמִתַּחַת יָדוֹ נַעֲשָׂה הַכּל. וְלִשְׁכָּה הָיְתָה לוֹ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ:

The one [appointed] to supervise [the making of] the priestly garments: He is occupied with the preparation of the garments of the ordinary priests and the garments of the High Priests and their being woven. Everything [necessary for them] is done under his authority. He had a chamber in the Sanctuary.