Sifra
Acharei Mot, Chapter 3
Acharei Mot, Chapter 3
1) (Vayikra 16:12) ("And he shall take a full coal-pan of coals of fire from off the altar before the L–rd and his full handfuls of spices ground small, and he shall bring them within the curtain."): "and he shall slaughter the bullock of the sin-offering which is his. And he shall take a full coal-pan, etc.": He gives it to another (Cohein) to stir its blood on the fourth level of the sanctuary, so that it does not congeal.
2) Every day he would scoop out (the coals) with a silver (shovel) and empty them into one of gold, and on this day (Yom Kippur) he would scoop them out with a gold one and with it would bring them (to the inner altar). Every day he would scoop them out with (a shovel of) four kabim and empty them into (one of) three kabim. On this day he would scoop them out with one of three kabim and with it would bring them (to the inner altar).
4) "coals": I might think dying coals; it is, therefore, written "fire." If "fire," I might think a flame. It is, therefore, written "coals of fire." How is this effected? (He brings) glowing coals. And whence is it derived that the fire is secondary to the coals? From "coals of fire."
5) "from off the altar": I might think (from) all of it; it is, therefore, written "before the L–rd." How is this effected? (He takes the coals from that part of the altar) which is close to the west, (before the entrance to the sanctuary).
6) R. Yossi said: This is the sign (i.e., the rule): Anything (e.g., coals) which is taken from the outside (of the sanctuary) to be placed within, is taken from (the side of the altar) which is close to the (entrance of) the sanctuary.
7) And anything which leaves the sanctuary to be placed outside it is placed on what is near it (the entrance) outside.
8) "and his full handfuls of incense of spices ground small": the taller (high-priest) relative to his size, and the shorter, relative to his (i.e., there is no absolute measure for the handful.) And this (an exact handful) was its size. "incense": to be (supplied) from communal funds. "spices": (all of the eleven) spices (enumerated in Shemoth, Ki Tissa) to be contained therein. "ground small": What is the intent of this? Is it not already written (Shemoth 30:26) "And you shall crush it fine? Why, then, "ground small"? That it be ground extra fine.
9) How was this effected? He would separate three varieties on the eve of Yom Kippur in order to fill his palms and then he would return them to the mortar to satisfy "extra fine."
10) (Vayikra 16:12-13) "and he shall bring them within the curtain and he shall put the incense upon the fire before the L–rd, and the cloud of incense shall cover the ark cover which is upon the Testimony and he shall not die"): "and he shall bring them within the curtain, and he shall put the incense on the fire before the L–rd.": that he not prepare it first on the outside and then enter — as opposed to the view of the Sadducees, who said that it should be prepared on the outside and then brought in, (saying) if it is done so before flesh and blood, how much more so before the Holy One Blessed be He! And it is written (Vayikra 16:2): "for in a cloud I shall appear upon the ark cover" — to which the sages responded: But is it not already written "And he shall put the incense on the fire before the L–rd," (i.e.,) he does so only in the holy of holies (and not outside it). What, then, is the intent of "for in a cloud I shall appear upon the ark cover"? That he would put therein a "smoke-raiser." And whence is it derived that he did so? From "and the cloud of incense shall cover the ark cover which is upon the Testimony, and he shall not die" — whence it is seen that if he did not put therein a "smoke-raiser," or if he left out one of its spices, he was liable to death.
11) (Vayikra 16:14) ("And he shall take the blood of the bullock, and he shall sprinkle with his finger on the face of the kaporeth (the ark cover) to the east; and before the kaporeth shall he sprinkle seven times of the blood with his finger.") "And he shall take the blood of the bullock": He takes it from the one who was stirring it. "and he shall sprinkle": and not let it drip (from his finger). "and he shall sprinkle": and not fling. "his finger": "his finger" is written here and elsewhere (Vayikra 14:16) in respect to a leper). Just as "his finger" there is the most dexterous, i.e., the index finger of the right hand, so, "his finger" here.
12) "upon the face of the ark cover to the east": This is the archetype (binyan av) for "face" always connoting "east."
13) A variant: "on the face of the ark cover to the east": He did not aim at sprinkling above or below, but made a whip-swing motion.
14) "before the ark cover shall he sprinkle seven times": not seven drops. "seven times": he counts seven times — one (above) and seven (below).