3,901. A Measure That Wasn't Used

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 1:18

Since nothing in the Temple was measured with a hin, why was such a measure even there? It was a vestigial utensil, dating back to the time of Moshe, who used it to measure the oil for the anointing oil. The half-log measure in the Temple was used to measure the water for the Sotah ceremony and the oil for the thanksgiving offerings. The quarter-log (reviis) was used to measure the oil for a nazir’s loaves and the purification water for a metzora (popularly a “leper,” but not really). These measures weren’t sanctified through these actions; rather, they are only sanctified through the Temple service as discussed in the previous halacha.

Hilchos Klei HaMikdash 1:19

All of the aforementioned measures are holy and considered service vessels, but the liquid measures were anointed both inside and out, while the dry measures were only anointed on the inside. The result is that liquids that overflow their measures are sanctified, but dry things that overflow their measures aren’t.