Shekalim 6:5-6

Shekalim 6:5

The 13 shofar-shaped chests in the Table were marked “new shekels,” “old shekels,” “nests,” “birds for burnt offerings,” “wood,” “frankincense” and “gold for the kapores” (i.e., the interior of the Holy of Holies). The last six chests were designated for donation offerings. “New shekels” was where the incoming shekels of each year went. “Old shekels” was for those making up missed shekel donations of previous years. “Nests” means doves and “birds for burnt offerings” means pigeons; all of these were used for burnt offerings. This was the opinion of Rabbi Yehuda; the Sages said that “nests” included one bird for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering while “birds for burnt offerings” were used exclusively for burnt offerings.

Shekalim 6:6

If someone commits to provide an unspecified amount of wood for the altar, he must give at least two logs. If someone commits an unspecified amount of frankincense, he must give at least a handful; of gold, at least a dinar. As far as the six chests for donation offerings, the money was used to pay for burnt offerings, whose flesh was burned and whose hides went to the kohanim. This was derived by Yehodiah the High Priest. Leviticus 5:19 says, “It is a guilt offering [like every other, which is eaten] because he is guilty before God [implying that it’s a burnt offering].” The general rule Yehodiah derived is that any money left over from buying a sin- or guilt-offering must be used to purchase burnt offerings, whose flesh is burned and whose hides go to the kohanim. This reconciles the two conflicting implications. Also, II Kings 12:17 says “The money from guilt offerings and sin offerings doesn’t go to the Temple; it is for the kohanim” [i.e., not for the upkeep of the Temple but for a sacrifice in which the kohanim have a benefit].