Pisqa’ 1691
1
“Then he shall serve . . . like all his levitical brothers
who stand there before HASHEM” (Dt.18:7)—
that is, barefoot and directly upon the stone floor.
On this basis you teach:
a Priest who is uncircumsized, unclean, or seated,
standing on utensils or on an animal,
or standing on top of the feet of a brother Priest—
is disqualified from serving.2
2
On what basis do you teach that
all Watches have equal claims
to the sacrificial limbs of the Pilgrimage-festivals,
and to the weekly distribution of the Bread of the Presence.3
The Teaching states:
“Equivalent portions shall they eat” (Dt.18:8)—
one share [to each Watch] to eat
and one share to serve,
[with] the share for eating
equal to the share for service.
3
Is it possible to say that
all Watches have equal claims
to [offer] the [optional sacrifices of the] Pilgrimage-festivals
that are not due on those Festivals
[e.g., Voluntary-offerings4 and Vow-offerings]?5
The Teaching states:
“Excluding what has been sold-off of the patrimony of their ancestors”6 (Dt.18:8)—
What did their ancestors sell to each other?
[They would barter the weeks of their Watches, saying:]
You’ll take your week’s [share in addition to mine, ]
and I’ll take my week’s [share in addition to yours]!
- H:198-199;JN2:44
- =M. Zev.2:1.
- //M. Suk.5:7. These twelve unleavened loaves remain in the Sanctuary from the beginning of one Sabbath to the end of the next, when they are distributed among the Priests of that week’s Watch, and replaced by fresh loaves (Lv.24:8-9).
- Described at Lv.2:1ff.
- Described at Lv.7:16-18.
- Heb: ha’avot; literally: “fathers.”