“Eizehu Mekoman” – the chapter on sacrifices

“Eizehu Mekoman” – the chapter on sacrifices

Gaon Rabbi Yeshayahu Pinto, in the “Mi-Yom Le-Yom” study schedule appended to Sefer Devarim, includes the chapter on sacrifices, “Eizehu Mekoman”, on Yom Revi'i (Wednesday). We read the chapter “Eizehu Mekoman”—“Where were the sacrifices offered?”—the only chapter in all six orders of the Talmud containing no disputes among the Sages. Reading this chapter possesses special power: if, Heaven forbid, Midat Ha-Din (the attribute of judgment) brings an accuser or strife against a person in Heaven or on earth, this chapter cancels it and instead sweetens the judgment, bringing great influence from Above.

“Eizehu Mekoman”

Mishnah 1 אֵיזֶהוּ מְקוֹמָן שֶׁל זְבָחִים, קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפוֹן. פָּר וְשָׂעִיר שֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִבּוּל דָּמָן בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָן טָעוּן הַזָּיָה עַל בֵּין הַבַּדִּים, וְעַל הַפָּרֹכֶת, וְעַל מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב. מַתָּנָה אַחַת מֵהֶן מְעַכָּבֶת. שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן, אִם לֹא נָתַן לֹא עִכֵּב: Eizehu Mekoman shel Zevachim? Kodshei Kodashim shechitatam ba-tzafon. Par u-se'ir shel Yom Ha-Kippurim—shechitatam ba-tzafon, ve-kibbul damam bi-khlei sharet ba-tzafon, ve-damam ta'un hazayah al bein ha-badim, ve-al ha-parochet, ve-al mizbe'ach ha-zahav; matanah achat me-hem me'akevet. Shiyarei ha-dam hayah shofekh al yesod ma'aravi shel mizbe'ach ha-chitzon, im lo natan lo ikev. Where were the sacrifices offered? The “most holy” sacrifices were slaughtered north of the altar. The bull and goat of Yom Kippur were slaughtered north of the altar, and their blood was collected in a sacred vessel there. Their blood was sprinkled on the Ark cover, between the two poles, as well as on the curtain concealing the entrance to the Holy of Holies and on the Golden Altar. If even one of these sprinklings was omitted, the sacrifice was invalid. The remaining blood was poured at the base of the western side of the outer altar; however, if this was not done, the sacrifice was nevertheless valid.   Mishnah 2 פָּרִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים וּשְׂעִירִים הַנִּשְׂרָפִים שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִבּוּל דָּמָן בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָן טָעוּן הַזָּיָה עַל הַפָּרֹכֶת, וְעַל מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב. מַתָּנָה אַחַת מֵהֶן מְעַכָּבֶת, שִׁירֵי הַדָּם, הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד מַעֲרָבִי שֶׁל מִזְבַּחַ הַחִיצוֹן, אִם לֹא נָתַן לֹא עִכֵּב, אֵלּוּ וָאֵלּוּ נִשְׂרָפִין בְּבֵית הַדָּשֶׁן: Parim ha-nisrafim u-se'irim ha-nisrafim—shechitatam ba-tzafon, ve-kibbul damam bi-khlei sharet ba-tzafon, ve-damam ta'un hazayah al ha-parochet ve-al mizbe'ach ha-zahav; matanah achat me-hem me'akevet. Shiyarei ha-dam hayah shofekh al yesod ma'aravi shel mizbe'ach ha-chitzon, im lo natan lo ikev. Eilu va-eilu nisrafin be-beit ha-deshen. The bulls and goats that were burned were slaughtered north of the altar, and their blood was collected in a sacred vessel there. Their blood was sprinkled on the curtain and on the Golden Altar. If even one of these sprinklings was omitted, the sacrifice was invalid. The remaining blood was poured at the base of the western side of the outer altar; however, if this was not done, the sacrifice was nevertheless valid. All these sacrifices were burned at the place where the ashes from the altar were taken. Mishnah 3 חַטֹּאת הַצִּבּוּר וְהַיָּחִיד, אֵלּוּ הֵן חַטֹּאת הַצִּבּוּר: שְׂעִירֵי רָאשֵׁי חֳדָשִׁים וְשֶׁל מוֹעֲדוֹת, שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִבּוּל דָּמָן בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָן טָעוּן אַרְבַּע מַתָּנוֹת עַל אַרְבַּע קְרָנוֹת, כֵּיצַד: עָלָה בַכֶּבֶשׁ וּפָנָה לַסּוֹבֵב, וּבָא לוֹ לְקֶרֶן דְּרוֹמִית מִזְרָחִית, מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית, צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית, מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית. שְׁיָרֵי הַדָּם הָיָה שׁוֹפֵךְ עַל יְסוֹד דְּרוֹמִי, וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים לְזִכְרֵי כְהֻנָּה בְּכָל מַאֲכָל, לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצוֹת: Chatat ha-tzibbur ve-ha-yachid—eilu hen chatot ha-tzibbur: se'irei Rashei Chodashim ve-shel Mo'adot—shechitatam ba-tzafon, ve-kibbul damam bi-khlei sharet ba-tzafon, ve-damam ta'un arba matanot al arba keranot. Keitzad? Alah ba-kevesh u-fanah la-sovev, u-va lo le-keren deromit mizrachit, mizrachit tzefonit, tzefonit ma'aravit, ma'aravit deromit. Shiyarei ha-dam hayah shofekh al yesod ha-dromi, ve-ne'ekhalin lifnim min ha-kela'im, le-zikhrei kehunah, be-khol ma'akhal, le-yom va-laylah ad chatzot. Sin offerings brought by the community or by an individual were slaughtered north of the altar, and their blood was collected in a sacred vessel there. The blood was applied to the altar four times, once to each of its four corner projections. This was done as follows: The kohen ascended the ramp leading to the altar and turned onto the surrounding ledge. He first approached the southeastern corner, then the northeastern, the northwestern, and finally the southwestern corner. He poured the remaining blood at the southern base of the altar. The meat of these sacrifices could be eaten only by kohanim within the Temple courtyard, prepared in any manner, on that day until midnight.   Mishnah 4 הָעוֹלָה, קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים, שְׁחִיטָתָהּ בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִבּוּל דָּמָהּ בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָהּ טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וּטְעוּנָה הֶפְשֵׁט וְנִתּוּחַ, וְכָלִיל לָאִשִּׁים: Ha-olah—Kodesh Kodashim, shechitatah ba-tzafon, ve-kibbul damah bi-khlei sharet ba-tzafon, ve-damah ta'un shtei matanot she-hen arba, u-te'unah hefShet ve-nituach, ve-khalil la-ishim. Burnt offerings are considered “most holy” sacrifices. They were slaughtered north of the altar, and their blood was collected in a sacred vessel there. The blood was applied twice to the altar, in a manner that covered all four walls. The animal was then flayed, its body dismembered, and the entire sacrifice burned on the fire.   Mishnah 5 זִבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵי צִבּוּר וַאֲשָׁמוֹת, אֵלּוּ הֵן אֲשָׁמוֹת: אֲשַׁם גְּזֵלוֹת, אֲשַׁם מְעִילוֹת, אֲשַׁם שִׁפְחָה חֲרוּפָה, אֲשַׁם נָזִיר, אֲשַׁם מְצוֹרָע, אָשָׁם תָּלוּי. שְׁחִיטָתָן בַּצָּפוֹן, וְקִבּוּל דָּמָן בִּכְלִי שָׁרֵת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְדָמָן טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וְנֶאֱכָלִין לִפְנִים מִן הַקְּלָעִים לְזִכְרֵי כְהֻנָּה, בְּכָל מַאֲכָל, לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצוֹת: Zivchei shalmei tzibbur va-ashamot, eilu hen ashamot: asham gezelot, asham me'ilot, asham shifchah charufah, asham nazir, asham metzora, asham talui—shechitatam ba-tzafon, ve-kibbul damam bi-khlei sharet ba-tzafon, ve-damam ta'un shtei matanot she-hen arba, ve-ne'ekhalin lifnim min ha-kela'im, le-zikhrei kehunah, be-khol ma'akhal, le-yom va-laylah ad chatzot. Communal shelamim and guilt offerings: guilt offerings for theft, misuse of sacred property, relations with a maidservant designated for a Jewish slave, a nazirite's guilt offering, a metzora's guilt offering, and a provisional guilt offering brought when it is uncertain whether a sin was committed. These were slaughtered north of the altar, and their blood was collected in a sacred vessel there. The blood was applied twice to the altar, in a manner covering all four walls. Their meat could be eaten only by kohanim in the Temple courtyard, prepared in any manner, on that day until midnight. Mishnah 6 הַתּוֹדָה וְאֵיל נָזִיר, קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים, שְׁחִיטָתָן בְּכָל מָקוֹם בָּעֲזָרָה, וְדָמָן טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וְנֶאֱכָלִין בְּכָל הָעִיר, לְכָל אָדָם, בְּכָל מַאֲכָל, לְיוֹם וָלַיְלָה עַד חֲצוֹת. הַמּוּרָם מֵהֶם כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם, אֶלָּא, שֶׁהַמּוּרָם נֶאֱכָל לַכֹּהֲנִים לִנְשֵׁיהֶם וְלִבְנֵיהֶם וּלְעַבְדֵיהֶם: Ha-todah ve-eyl nazir—kodashim kalim, shechitatam be-khol makom ba-Azarah, ve-damam ta'un shtei matanot she-hen arba, ve-ne'ekhalin be-khol ha-ir, le-khol adam, be-khol ma'akhal, le-yom va-laylah ad chatzot. Ha-muram me-hem ka-yotzei va-hem, ela she-ha-muram ne'ekhal la-kohanim, li-nsheihem ve-li-vneihem, u-le-avdeihem. The thanksgiving offering and the nazirite's ram are “lesser holy” sacrifices. They could be slaughtered anywhere in the Azarah, and their blood was applied twice to the altar, covering all four walls. Their meat could be eaten by anyone, anywhere in Jerusalem, prepared in any manner, on that day until midnight. The same law applies to the portions of these sacrifices given to the kohanim, except that those portions could be eaten only by the kohanim, their wives, children, and slaves.   Mishnah 7 שְׁלָמִים, קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים, שְׁחִיטָתָן בְּכָל מָקוֹם בָּעֲזָרָה, וְדָמָן טָעוּן שְׁתֵּי מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁהֵן אַרְבַּע, וְנֶאֱכָלִין בְּכָל הָעִיר, לְכָל אָדָם, בְּכָל מַאֲכָל, לִשְׁנֵי יָמִים וְלַיְלָה אֶחָד. הַמּוּרָם מֵהֶם, כַּיּוֹצֵא בָהֶם, אֶלָּא, שֶׁהַמּוּרָם נֶאֱכָל לַכֹּהֲנִים לִנְשֵׁיהֶם וְלִבְנֵיהֶם וּלְעַבְדֵיהֶם: Shelamim—kodashim kalim, shechitatam be-khol makom ba-Azarah, ve-damam ta'un shtei matanot she-hen arba, ve-ne'ekhalin be-khol ha-ir, le-khol adam, be-khol ma'akhal, li-shnei yamim ve-laylah echad. Ha-muram me-hem ka-yotzei va-hem, ela she-ha-muram ne'ekhal la-kohanim, li-nsheihem ve-li-vneihem, u-le-avdeihem. Peace offerings are “lesser holy” sacrifices. They could be slaughtered anywhere in the Azarah, and their blood was applied twice to the altar, covering all four walls. Their meat could be eaten by anyone, anywhere in Jerusalem, prepared in any manner, on that day and the following day until midnight. The same law applies to the portions of these sacrifices given to the kohanim, except that those portions could be eaten only by the kohanim, their wives, children, and slaves.   Mishnah 8 הַבְּכוֹר וְהַמַּעֲשֵׂר וְהַפֶּסַח, קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים, שְׁחִיטָתָן בְּכָל מָקוֹם בָּעֲזָרָה, וְדָמָן טָעוּן מַתָּנָה אֶחָת, וּבִלְבָד שֶׁיִּתֵּן כְּנֶגֶד הַיְסוֹד. שִׁנָּה בַאֲכִילָתָן, הַבְּכוֹר נֶאֱכָל לַכֹּהֲנִים, וְהַמַּעֲשֵׂר לְכָל אָדָם, וְנֶאֱכָלִין בְּכָל הָעִיר, בְּכָל מַאֲכָל, לִשְׁנֵי יָמִים וְלַיְלָה אֶחָד. הַפֶּסַח אֵינוֹ נֶאֱכָל אֶלָּא בַלַּיְלָה, וְאֵינוֹ נֶאֱכָל אֶלָּא עַד חֲצוֹת, וְאֵינוֹ נֶאֱכָל אֶלָּא לִמְנוּיָו, וְאֵינוֹ נֶאֱכָל אֶלָּא צָלִי: Ha-bechor ve-ha-ma'aser ve-ha-Pesach—kodashim kalim, shechitatam be-khol makom ba-Azarah, ve-damam ta'un matanah achat, u-vilvad she-yiten keneged ha-yesod. Shinah ba-achilatan: ha-bechor—ne'ekhal la-kohanim; ve-ha-ma'aser—le-khol adam, ve-ne'ekhalin be-khol ha-ir, be-khol ma'akhal, li-shnei yamim ve-laylah echad. Ha-Pesach—eino ne'ekhal ela ba-laylah, ve-eino ne'ekhal ela ad chatzot, ve-eino ne'ekhal ela limnuyav, ve-eino ne'ekhal ela tzali. The firstborn, the animal tithe, and the Paschal offering are “lesser holy” sacrifices. They could be slaughtered anywhere in the Azarah, and their blood was applied once at the base of the altar. Their laws differed with regard to eating them: the firstborn could be eaten only by kohanim, while the animal tithe could be eaten by anyone. These sacrifices could be eaten anywhere in Jerusalem, prepared in any manner, on that day and the following day until midnight. The Paschal offering could be eaten only at night, until midnight, only by those registered for it, and only roasted.