Tamid 2:1-2
משנה תמיד ב:א-ב
Seder: Kodashim | Tractate: Tamid | Chapter: 2
📖 Mishna
Mishna 2:1
משנה ב:א
Hebrew:
רָאוּהוּ אֶחָיו שֶׁיָּרַד, וְהֵם רָצוּ וּבָאוּ. מִהֲרוּ וְקִדְּשׁוּ יְדֵיהֶן וְרַגְלֵיהֶן מִן הַכִּיּוֹר, נָטְלוּ אֶת הַמַּגְרֵפוֹת וְאֶת הַצִּנּוֹרוֹת וְעָלוּ לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. הָאֵבָרִין וְהַפְּדָרִין שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ מִבָּעֶרֶב, סוֹנְקִין אוֹתָם לִצְדָדֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. אִם אֵין הַצְּדָדִין מַחֲזִיקִין, סוֹדְרִין אוֹתָם בַּסּוֹבֵב עַל הַכָּבֶשׁ:
English:
The previous mishna described the performance of the removal of the ashes by the priest who was selected to perform this task. This mishna continues: The brethren of the priest who removed the ashes, i.e., the other members of the patrilineal family, saw that he had descended from the altar with the coal pan, and they would run and come to the Basin. They made haste and sanctified their hands and their feet with the water in the Basin, and then they took the shovels and the forks and ascended with them to the top of the altar. The shovels were for shoveling the ashes to the center of the altar, while the forks were required to remove from the altar those limbs that had not been consumed. With regard to the limbs of burnt offerings and the fats of other offerings that had not been consumed and burned to ashes during the time from the previous evening, the priests would clear them to the sides of the altar. If the remaining limbs and fats were so abundant that the sides of the altar were unable to hold them, the priests would arrange them on the ramp, opposite the surrounding ledge of the altar.
קלאוד על המשנה:
Once the lone priest descended from the altar with the coal pan, the rest of the priestly family sprang into action. The scene is one of coordinated urgency: the priests ran to the Basin, sanctified their hands and feet, grabbed shovels and forks, and ascended the altar together. Their task was twofold: clear the ashes to the center and deal with any offering portions that had not fully burned during the night.
The distinction between shovels (magrefot) and forks (tzinorot) reflects the two types of material on the altar. Ashes could be swept, but intact limbs and fats needed to be lifted and repositioned. The fact that leftover portions were moved to the sides of the altar — or even arranged on the ramp if the sides were full — shows that the volume of sacrifices could be substantial. The altar was a working surface that needed daily maintenance to function properly.
This mishna captures the transition from the solitary act of ash-removal to the communal work of preparing the altar for a new day of service. The contrast between the lone priest walking in firelight and the group of priests rushing together underscores the dual nature of Temple service: some tasks required focused individual devotion, while others demanded teamwork and coordination.
Key Terms:
- מַגְרֵפוֹת (Magrefot) = Shovels used to sweep ashes toward the center of the altar
- צִנּוֹרוֹת (Tzinorot) = Forks used to move unburned limbs and fats on the altar
- פְּדָרִין (Pedarim) = Fats of offerings placed on the altar to be burned
- סוֹבֵב (Sovev) = The surrounding ledge that ran around the altar at its midpoint
Mishna 2:2
משנה ב:ב
Hebrew:
הֵחֵלּוּ מַעֲלִין בָּאֵפֶר עַל גַּבֵּי הַתַּפּוּחַ. וְתַפּוּחַ הָיָה בְאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, פְּעָמִים עָלָיו כִּשְׁלשׁ מֵאוֹת כּוֹר. וּבָרְגָלִים לֹא הָיוּ מְדַשְּׁנִין אוֹתוֹ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נוֹי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ. מִיָּמָיו לֹא נִתְעַצֵּל הַכֹּהֵן מִלְּהוֹצִיא אֶת הַדָּשֶׁן:
English:
The priests then began raising the ashes onto the circular heap upon which the ashes were piled. The circular heap was in the middle of the altar. Sometimes there was as much as three hundred kor of ashes upon it. When the heap of ashes became excessively large, the priests would remove the ashes and pour them outside the city. But during the Festivals they would not remove the ashes from the altar, as the ashes were considered an adornment to the altar, since they were a sign of the great number of offerings that were sacrificed on it. In all the days of the altar, even when there was an abundance of ashes upon it, the priest tasked with removing the ashes from the circular heap was never indolent in removing the ashes.
קלאוד על המשנה:
The tapuach — the great circular ash heap at the center of the altar — was one of the most distinctive features of the outer altar. The Mishna’s note that it sometimes held as much as three hundred kor (a massive volume) testifies to the sheer scale of Temple sacrifices. Yet during the Festivals, this enormous pile was left untouched because it served as a visible testament to the people’s devotion. The ashes themselves became an ornament.
The final statement — that no priest was ever lazy about removing the ashes — is both a historical observation and an implicit compliment to the priesthood. Despite the early hour, the physical labor, and the repetitive nature of the task, the priests approached ash-removal with consistent diligence. This reflects the Talmudic principle that even seemingly minor Temple duties carried profound sanctity. The willingness to maintain the altar day after day, without complaint, exemplified the priestly commitment to divine service.
Key Terms:
- תַּפּוּחַ (Tapuach) = The large circular heap of ashes piled in the center of the altar
- כּוֹר (Kor) = A large unit of dry measure, approximately 220 liters; three hundred kor would be an enormous quantity
- דִּשּׁוּן (Dishun) = The removal of ashes, a fundamental maintenance task of the altar service
- רְגָלִים (Regalim) = The three pilgrimage Festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot) when the ash heap was left as an adornment