Vessels of the Sanctuary and Those Who Serve Therein Chapter 8

בִגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה שְׁלֹשָׁה מִינִים. בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט. וּבִגְדֵי זָהָב. וּבִגְדֵי לָבָן. בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט הֵם אַרְבָּעָה כֵּלִים כֻּתֹּנֶת וּמִכְנָסָיִם וּמִגְבָּעוֹת וְאַבְנֵט. וְאַרְבָּעָתָן שֶׁל פִּשְׁתָּן לְבָנִים וְחוּטָן כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה. וְהָאַבְנֵט לְבַדּוֹ רָקוּם בְּצֶמֶר:

There are three types of priestly garments. 1) the garments of an ordinary priest, 2) [the High Priest's] golden garments and 3) [the High Priest's] white garments. The garments of an ordinary priest are four: 1) a tunic, 2) leggings, 3) a hat, and 4) a sash. These four types [of garments] are all made from white linen and are sewn with six-fold threads. The sash alone was embroidered with wool.

בִּגְדֵי זָהָב הֵן בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וְהֵם שְׁמֹנָה כֵּלִים. הָאַרְבָּעָה שֶׁל כָּל כֹּהֵן. וּמְעִיל וְאֵפוֹד וְחשֶׁן וְצִיץ. וְאַבְנֵטוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מַעֲשֶׂה רֹקֵם הוּא וְהוּא דּוֹמֶה בְּמַעֲשָׂיו לְאַבְנֵט כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט. וּמִצְנֶפֶת הָאֲמוּרָה בְּאַהֲרֹן הִיא הַמִּגְבַּעַת הָאֲמוּרָה בְּבָנָיו. אֶלָּא שֶׁכֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל צוֹנֵף בָּהּ כְּמִי שֶׁלּוֹפֵף עַל הַשֶּׁבֶר. וּבָנָיו צוֹנְפִין בָּהּ כְּכוֹבַע וּלְפִיכָךְ נִקְרֵאת מִגְבַּעַת:

The golden garments are the garments of the High Priest, and they are eight garments: The four of an ordinary priest, 5) the cloak, 6) the ephod, 7) the breastplate, and 8) the forehead plate. The sash of the High Priest was embroidered and was made in a similar manner as that of the ordinary priest. [Similarly,] the hat [that the Torah mentions] with regard to Aaron corresponds to the hat mentioned with regard to his sons. [The difference is that] the hat of the High Priest is worn like fabric swathed around a hernia (turban), and the hat of an ordinary priest is worn like an ordinary hat. Therefore, it is called 'migba'at.'

בִּגְדֵי לָבָן הֵם אַרְבָּעָה כֵּלִים שֶׁמְּשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. כֻּתֹּנֶת. וּמִכְנָסָיִם. וְאַבְנֵט. וּמִצְנֶפֶת. וְאַרְבָּעָתָן לְבָנִים וְחוּטָן כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה וּמִן הַפִּשְׁתָּן לְבַדּוֹ הֵם. וּשְׁתֵּי כֻּתָּנוֹת אֲחֵרוֹת הָיוּ לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים. אַחַת לֹבְשָׁהּ בַּשַּׁחַר וְאַחַת בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם. וּשְׁתֵּיהֶם בִּשְׁלֹשִׁים מָנֶה מִשֶּׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ. וְאִם רָצָה לְהוֹסִיף מוֹסִיף מִשֶּׁלּוֹ וּמַקְדִּישׁ הַתּוֹסֶפֶת וְאַחַר כָּךְ עוֹשֶׂה בָּהּ הַכֻּתֹּנֶת:

The white garments are the four garments that the High Priests would wear on Yom Kippur. They are: a tunic, leggings, a sash, and a turban. They are all white, their threads are six-fold, and they are made from linen alone. The High Priests had two other tunics for Yom Kippur: one he would wear in the morning and one he would wear in the evening. Both of them cost 30 maneh. They were purchased with communal funds. If he wished to add to their value, he must add from his own funds. He would consecrate the additional money and then use it to have the tunic made.

בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה מִצְוָתָן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ חֲדָשִׁים נָאִים וּמְשֻׁלְּשָׁלִים כְּדֶרֶךְ בִּגְדֵי הַגְּדוֹלִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כח ב) (שמות כח מ) "לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת". הָיוּ מְטֻשְׁטָּשִׁין אוֹ מְקֹרָעִין אוֹ אֲרֻכִּין יֶתֶר עַל מִדָּתוֹ אוֹ קְצָרִים פָּחוֹת מִמִּדָּתוֹ אוֹ שֶׁסִּלְקָּן בָּאַבְנֵט וְעָבַד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ פְּסוּלָה. הָיוּ מְשֹׁחָקִין אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ אֲרֻכִּים וְסִלְקָּן בָּאַבְנֵט עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ כְּמִדָּתוֹ וְעָבַד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה:

It is a mitzvah for the priestly garments to be new, attractive, and to hang low like the garments of the men of stature, as [implied by Exodus 28:2 which states that they must be made]: "for honor and for beauty." If they were soiled, torn, longer than his appropriate measure, shorter than his appropriate measure, hoisted up by the sash, and a priest performed service while wearing them, his service is invalid. If they were worn-out or they were too long and he hoisted them with the sash so that they would be appropriate to his measure, his service is valid.

כָּל בֶּגֶד מִבִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ צוֹאִין אֵין מְלַבְּנִין אוֹתָן וְאֵין מְכַבְּסִין אוֹתָן אֶלָּא מַנִּיחָן לִפְתִילוֹת וְלוֹבֵשׁ חֲדָשִׁים. וּבִגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁבָּלוּ גּוֹנְזִין אוֹתָן. וּבִגְדֵי לָבָן שֶׁעוֹבֵד בָּהֶם בְּיוֹם הַצּוֹם אֵינוֹ עוֹבֵד בָּהֶם פַּעַם שְׁנִיָּה לְעוֹלָם אֶלָּא נִגְנָּזִין בַּמָּקוֹם שֶׁיִּפְשֹׁט אוֹתָם שָׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא טז כג) "וְהִנִּיחָם שָׁם" וְהֵם אֲסוּרִין בַּהֲנָאָה:

Whenever any of the priestly garments become soiled, they are not bleached or laundered. Instead, they are left to be used for wicks and he should wear new ones. When the garments of the High Priest become worn out, they should be entombed. The white garments which the High Priest wears on the day of the fast should not be worn a second time at all. Instead, they are entombed in the place where he removes them, as [Leviticus 16:23] states: "And he shall leave them there." It is forbidden to benefit from them.

מִכְנְסֵי כֹּהֲנִים הֶדְיוֹטִים שֶׁבָּלוּ וְאַבְנֵטֵיהֶם הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין מֵהֶן פְּתִילוֹת וּמַדְלִיקִין בָּהֶן בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ בְּשִׂמְחַת בֵּית הַשּׁוֹאֵבָה. וְכֻתְּנוֹת כֹּהֲנִים הֶדְיוֹטִים שֶׁבָּלוּ הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין מֵהֶן פְּתִילוֹת לִמְנוֹרַת תָּמִיד:

They would make wicks from the leggings and the sashes of the ordinary priests that wore out. They were used to kindle lamps in the Temple for the rejoicing that accompanied the water libation. The tunics of the ordinary priests that wore out were used to make wicks for the Menorah which lit continually.

כָּל בִּגְדֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים אֵינָן בָּאִים אֶלָּא מִשֶּׁל צִבּוּר. וְיָחִיד שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב בֶּגֶד מִבִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה מוֹסְרוֹ לַצִּבּוּר וּמֻתָּר. וְכֵן כָּל כְּלֵי הַשָּׁרֵת וַעֲצֵי הַמַּעֲרָכָה שֶׁמְּסָרָן יָחִיד לַצִּבּוּר הֲרֵי הֵן כְּשֵׁרִין. אַף כָּל קָרְבְּנוֹת הַצִּבּוּר שֶׁהִתְנַדֵּב אוֹתָן יָחִיד מִשֶּׁלּוֹ כְּשֵׁרִים וּבִלְבָד שֶׁיִּמְסְרֵם לַצִּבּוּר:

All of the priestly garments come from communal funds. When one individual donates one of the priestly garments, he may donate it to the community and then it is permitted to be used. Similarly, the sacrificial vessels and the wood for the altar arrangement that an individual donated to the community are acceptable. Even all the communal sacrifices which an individual donates from his own resources to the community are acceptable, provided he gives them to the community.

בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֲנִים הֶדְיוֹטִים הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין מֵהֶן מַחֲלָצוֹת רַבּוֹת. וְשִׁשָּׁה וְתִשְׁעִים חַלּוֹן הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ לְהָנִיחַ בָּהֶן הַבְּגָדִים אַרְבָּעָה חַלּוֹנוֹת לְכָל מִשְׁמָר. וְשֵׁם כָּל מִשְׁמָר כָּתוּב עַל חַלּוֹנוֹתָיו. וְכֻלָּן סְתוּמוֹת. וּכְשֶׁיִּכָּנְסוּ אַנְשֵׁי מִשְׁמָר לַעֲבוֹדָה בַּשַּׁבָּת שֶׁלָּהֶן פּוֹתְחִין חַלּוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן כָּל יְמֵי שַׁבָּתָן וְנוֹטְלִין הַכֵּלִים. וּכְשֶׁיֵּצְאוּ מַחֲזִירִין הַבְּגָדִים לְחַלּוֹנוֹתֵיהֶן וְסוֹתְמִין:

They would make many sets of clothes for ordinary priests. There were 96 lockers in the Temple in which to place the clothes, four lockers for each watch. The name of each watch was written on the lockers and they were all closed. When the men of the watch began their priestly service on the Sabbath, they would open their lockers throughout their week and take their garments. When they departed, they would return the clothes to their lockers and close them.

וְלָמָּה עָשׂוּ אַרְבָּעָה חַלּוֹנוֹת לְכָל מִשְׁמָר. לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ הַכֵּלִים מְעֹרָבִין. אֶלָּא כָּל הַמִּכְנָסָיִם בְּחַלּוֹן אֶחָד וְכָתוּב עָלָיו מִכְנְסַיִם. וְכל הָאַבְנֵטִים בְּחַלּוֹן אֶחָד וְכָתוּב עָלָיו אַבְנֵט. וְכֵן הַמִּצְנָפוֹת כֻּלָּן בְּחַלּוֹן אֶחָד. וְהַכֻּתָּנוֹת כֻּלָּן בְּחַלּוֹן אֶחָד:

Why did they make four lockers for each watch? So that the garments would not be intermingled. Instead, all of the leggings were [stored] in one locker on which was written: Leggings. Similarly, the sashes were [stored] in one locker on which was written: Sash. Similarly, the hats and the tunics each had their own locker.

כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל מַנִּיחַ בִּגְדֵי זָהָב בַּלִּשְׁכָּה שֶׁלּוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה אוֹ בְּעֵת שֶׁיֵּצֵא מִן הַמִּקְדָּשׁ:

The High Priest would leave his golden garments in his chamber at night or when he left the Temple.

בִּגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה מֻתָּר לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶן. לְפִיכָךְ לֹבְשָׁם בְּיוֹם עֲבוֹדָתוֹ וַאֲפִלּוּ שֶׁלֹּא בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה חוּץ מִן הָאַבְנֵט מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא שַׁעַטְנֵז:

It is permitted to derive benefit from the priestly garments. Therefore [the priests] wear them on the day of their Temple service even when they are not performing service with the exception of the sash, because it is shaatnez.

אָסוּר לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט לְלֹבְשׁוֹ אֶלָּא בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה. אֵין הַכֹּהֲנִים לוֹבְשִׁין לַעֲבוֹדָה אֶלָּא צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים בִּלְבָד:

It is, however, forbidden for an ordinary priest to wear it except during his service. The [clothes] the priests wear for their service are of wool and linen alone.

וְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה שֵׁשׁ אוֹ בַּד הוּא הַפִּשְׁתִּים וְהוּא הַבּוּץ. וּתְכֵלֶת הָאֲמוּרָה בְּכָל מָקוֹם הִיא הַצֶּמֶר הַצָּבוּעַ כְּעֶצֶם שָׁמַיִם שֶׁהוּא פָּתוּךְ מִן הַכֹּחַל. הָאַרְגָּמָן הוּא הַצֶּמֶר הַצָּבוּעַ אָדוֹם. וְתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי הוּא הַצֶּמֶר הַצָּבוּעַ בְּתוֹלַעַת:

Whenever the Torah uses the word sheish or bad, it is referring to flax, i.e., linen. Whenever the term techeilet is used, it refers to wool which is dyed sky-blue, i.e., lighter than dark blue. The term argaman refers to wool that is dyed red. And tola'at sheni refers to wool dyed with a gnat.

כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה שֵׁשׁ אוֹ שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה הַחוּט כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּד אִם הָיָה חוּט אֶחָד לְבַדּוֹ כָּשֵׁר. וּמִצְוָה מִן הַמֻּבְחָר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה. וּמָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בּוֹ מָשְׁזָר בִּלְבָד צָרִיךְ שֶׁיִּהְיֶה חוּטָן כָּפוּל שְׁמֹנֶה:

Whenever the Torah uses the term sheish or "spun sheish," it is necessary that the strand be sixfold. Where the term bad is used, it is valid, if one strand alone is used. [Even in such situations,] the most desirable manner of performing the mitzvah is that it be sixfold. Whenever the term meshizar is used alone, the intent is a thread that is eightfold.

כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה מַעֲשֶׂה רֹקֵם הוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶינָה הַצּוּרוֹת הַנַּעֲשׂוֹת בַּאֲרִיגָה נִרְאוֹת מִצַּד אֶחָד בִּפְנֵי הָאָרִיג. וּמַעֲשֶׂה חשֵׁב הוּא שֶׁתִּהְיֶה הַצּוּרָה נִרְאֵית מִשְּׁנֵי צְדָדִין פָּנִים וְאָחוֹר:

Whenever the Torah uses the term "a work of embroidery," the intent is that the design which is woven will be seen on one side of the fabric. When it uses the term "a work of craft," the intent is that the design will be seen on both sides of the fabric, front and back.

וְכֵיצַד מַעֲשֶׂה הַבְּגָדִים. הַכֻּתֹּנֶת בֵּין שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בֵּין שֶׁל כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט מִשְׁבְּצֹת הָיְתָה שֶׁהִיא בָּתִּים בָּתִּים בַּאֲרִיגָתָהּ כְּמוֹ בֵּית הַכּוֹסוֹת כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין הָאוֹרְגִין בַּבְּגָדִים הַקָּשִׁים. וּבֵית יָד שֶׁלָהּ נֶאֱרָג בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ וּמְחַבְּרִין אוֹתוֹ עִם גּוּף הַכֻּתֹּנֶת בִּתְפִירָה:

How are the clothes made? The tunic - whether of the High Priest or an ordinary priest - was made with a boxlike knit. The knit had sequences of squares as is the structure of an animal's maw, in the manner which weavers make firm garments. Its sleeve was woven separately and then sown to the body of the tunic.

אֹרֶךָ הַכֻּתֹּנֶת עַד לְמַעְלָה מִן הֶעָקֵב. וְאֹרֶךְ בֵּית יָד שֶׁלָהּ עַד פַּס יָדוֹ. וְרָחְבּוֹ כְּרֹחַב הַיָּד:

The length of the tunic extended until slightly above the heel. The length of the sleeve extended until his wrist and its width was the width of his hand.

הַמִּכְנָסָיִם בֵּין שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל בֵּין שֶׁל כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט הֵם מִמָּתְנַיִם עַד יְרֵכַיִם שֶׁהוּא לְמַעְלָה מִן הַטִּבּוּר קָרוֹב מִן הַלֵּב עַד סוֹף הַיָּרֵךְ שֶׁהוּא הָאַרְכּוּבָה. וּשְׁנָצִים יֵשׁ לָהֶם. וְאֵין לָהֶם לֹא בֵּית הַנֶּקֶב וְלֹא בֵּית הָעֶרְוָה אֶלָּא מֻקָּפִין כְּמִין כִּיס:

The leggings - whether of the High Priest or an ordinary priest - extend from the loins until the thighs, i.e., from above the navel, close to the heart, until the end of the thigh, i.e., until the knee. They had straps. They did not have a special feature for the anus, nor for the male organ. Instead, they would surround the body like a pouch.

הַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אוֹ הֶדְיוֹט אָרְכּוֹ שֵׁשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה אַמּוֹת. וְהָאַבְנֵט רָחְבּוֹ כְּמוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת וְאָרְכּוֹ שְׁנַיִם וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אַמָּה. מַקִּיפוֹ וּמַחֲזִירוֹ כֶּרֶךְ עַל גַּבֵּי כֶּרֶךְ. וּבִגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה כֻּלָּן אֵין עוֹשִׂין אוֹתָן מַעֲשֶׂה מַחַט אֶלָּא מַעֲשֶׂה אוֹרֵג שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כח לב) (שמות לט כב) (שמות לט כז) "מַעֲשֶׂה אוֹרֵג":

The turban - whether of an ordinary priest or a High Priest - was sixteen cubits long. The sash was about three fingerbreadths wide and 32 cubits long. [The priest would] wrap it around himself, winding after winding. The priestly garments were not sown, rather they woven, as [Exodus 39:22] states: "weavers' craft."