Siman - Yoma Daf 26
- Offering the ketores brings wealth
The next Mishnah states, הפייס השלישי חדשים לקטרת באו והפיסו – Before the thirdפייס , the following announcement is made in the azarah, “Those Kohanim who are new to the avodah of offering the ketores, come and cast lots.” The Gemara brings a Baraisa that teaches, מעולם לא שנה אדם בה – A person never repeated it, meaning that no one ever offered the ketores more than once. Rebbe Chanina said the reason is מפני שמעשרת – Because it brings prosperity to those who perform it. Rashi explains, that because it made someone wealthy, they did not allow one to do it twice.
Rav Pappa asked why it is asserted that the ketores brings prosperity? If you say that it is based on that which is written regarding the berachah Moshe gave to Shevet Levi, "ישימו קטורה באפך" – they shall place incense in your presence, and after that it is written, "ברך ה' חילו" – Bless, O Hashem, his resources, then the bringing the olah should also result in prosperity, as it which is mentioned in the same passuk as the ketores? Abaye answered Rav Pappa and said, הא שכיחא והא לא שכיחא – This, referring to the olah, is frequent, whereas this, referring to the ketores, is infrequent. Rashi explains that it is logical that when the passuk speaks of an avodah making a Kohen wealthy,wealth it would beis referring to an infrequent avodah, for otherwise all Kohanim would be rich.
- Machlokes regarding who carries the limbs from the ramp up onto the mizbayach
The Mishnah stated, הרביעי חדשים עם ישנים מי מעלה אברים מן הכבש למזבח – The fourth פייס is for new Kohanim together with old ones and determines who brings the limbs up from the ramp to the mizbayach. The Gemara notes that our Mishnah is not going with the opinion of Rebbe Eliezer ben Yaakov, for it was taught in a Mishnah in Tamid that Rebbe Eliezer ben Yaakov says, המעלה איברים לכבש הוא מעלה אותן למזבח – The one who brings the limbs up onto the ramp, is the one who brings them up onto the mizbayach.
The Gemara explains that our Tanna maintains it is preferable to have a larger number of Kohanim participating, because it is stated, ברב עם הדרת מלך – With a multitude of people is the glory of the king. Rebbe Eliezer ben Yaakov holds that the Kohanim who carry the limbs to the ramp should finish the job by taking them to the mizbayach, because מקום שכינה לאו אורח ארעא – because in the place of the Shechinah it is not proper conduct to give the impression that a job is too troublesome to finish.
- Two Kohanim bring the שני גזירי עצים for the afternoon tamid
It was taught in a Baraisa, Rebbe Shimon bar Yochai says, מנין לתמיד של בין הערבים שטעון שני גזירי עצים בשני כהנים – From where do I know regarding the afternoon tamid that it requires two blocks of wood carried by two Kohanim to the pyre on the mizbayach? The Torah states, וערכו עצים – The sons of Aharon HaKohen shall place the fire on the mizbayach, and they shall arrange woods on the fire. Since this phrase has no application to the morning tamid, for it is already written, ובער עליה הכהן עצים בבקר בבקר וערך עליה – And the Kohen shall kindle woods upon the fire every morning, and he shall arrange upon it the olah offering, then apply it to the afternoon tamid. Since the passuk is written in plural, we derive that two Kohanim are required.
