א׳
א׳מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לְהַקְרִיב שְׁנֵי כְּבָשִׂים עוֹלוֹת בְּכָל יוֹם וְהֵם הַנִּקְרָאִים תְּמִידִין. אֶחָד בַּבֹּקֶר וְאֶחָד בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כח ג) "שְׁנַיִם לַיּוֹם עלָה תָמִיד" וְגוֹ':
1It is a positive commandment to offer two lambs as burnt-offerings every day.1Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 39) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 401) count this as one of the Torah's 613 mitzvot. The Ramban (at the conclusion to his Hosafos to the negative commandments) argues that they should be considered as two separate mitzvot. They are called the continuous offering. One [should be brought] in the morning and one in the afternoon as [Numbers 28:3] states: "Two each day, a continuous offering."
ב׳וְאֵימָתַי זְמַן שְׁחִיטָתָן. שֶׁל בֹּקֶר שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ קֹדֶם שֶׁתַּעֲלֶה הַחַמָּה מִשֶּׁיֵּאוֹר פְּנֵי כָּל מִזְרָח. ופַּעַם אַחַת דָּחֲקָה הַשָּׁעָה אֶת הַצִּבּוּר בְּבַיִת שֵׁנִי וְהִקְרִיבוּ תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר בְּאַרְבַּע שָׁעוֹת בַּיּוֹם:
2When is the time at which they should be slaughtered? The morning one should be slaughtered before sunrise,2For "the eager hurry [to perform] mitzvot" (Pesachim 4a). when the entire eastern horizon becomes illuminated.3I.e., when the rays of the sun are already visible, but the orb of the sun has not appeared. Once there was a pressing situation for the community in [the era of] the Second Temple4In his Commentary to the Mishnah (Ediot 6:1, based on the Jerusalem Talmud, Berachot 1:4), the Rambam explains that once during the Greek occupation of the Holy Land, the Temple was besieged. Each day, the priests would exchange two baskets of gold coins for two lambs. One day, however, the Greeks refused to make the exchange. The people were forlorn. Later that morning, they miraculously found two lambs in the Chamber of the Lambs and R. Yuda bar Bava ruled that the morning sacrifice could be offered if the fourth hour of the day had not passed. and they offered the daily morning sacrifice at four hours after daybreak.5The Radbaz derives two points from the Rambam's statements: a) only in a pressing situation may the offering of the sacrifice be delayed until after daybreak; b) even in a pressing situation, the sacrifice may not be offered after four hours of the day have passed.
ג׳תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ מִשֶּׁיַּאֲרִיךְ הַצֵּל וְיֵרָאֶה לַכּל שֶׁהֶאֱרִיךְ. וְהוּא מִשֵּׁשׁ וּמֶחֱצָה וָמַעְלָה עַד סוֹף הַיּוֹם. וְלֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם אֶלָּא בִּשְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁעוֹת וּמֶחֱצָה וְקָרֵב בְּתֵשַׁע וּמֶחֱצָה. וְלָמָּה מְאַחֲרִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁתֵּי שָׁעוֹת אַחַר תְּחִלַּת זְמַן שְׁחִיטָתוֹ. מִפְּנֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁל יְחִידִים אוֹ שֶׁל צִבּוּר. לְפִי שֶׁאָסוּר לְהַקְרִיב קָרְבָּן כְּלָל קֹדֶם תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר. וְלֹא שׁוֹחֲטִין קָרְבָּן אַחַר תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם חוּץ מִקָּרְבַּן פֶּסַח לְבַדּוֹ. שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיַּקְרִיבוּ כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל פִּסְחֵיהֶן בִּשְׁתֵּי שָׁעוֹת:
3[The lamb for] the continuous offering of the afternoon should be slaughtered when the shadows have been extended6At noon, the sun is directly overhead and does not cast a shadow. By 12:30, the sun will have already passed to the western portion of the sky and will thus cast a shadow to the east. and it is obvious to all that they have been extended.7I.e., the sacrifice could have been offered directly after noon. Nevertheless, since the time of noon is not obvious to everyone, it was delayed slightly. This is from six and a half hours of the day until the day's end. Every day, they would not slaughter it until eight and a half hours of the day and they would offer it at nine and a half hours.Why would they delay [its slaughter] for two hours after the beginning of the time? Because of the sacrifices of individuals and those of the community.8I.e., to allow all of the other sacrifices to be offered, as the Rambam proceeds to explain. For it is forbidden to offer any sacrifice before the continuous offering of the morning and no sacrifice is offered after the continuous sacrifice of the afternoon9The Radbaz asks: Why isn't its sacrifice delayed any longer? He responds that the Sages did not desire for there to be any time pressure at all regarding its offering. Also, they wanted - at least partially - to fulfill the charge (Pesachim 4a): "The eager hurry [to perform] mitzvot." with the exception of the Paschal sacrifice. [That leniency was granted, because] it is impossible for all of Israel to offer their Paschal sacrifices in two hours.
ד׳אֵין שׁוֹחֲטִין אֶת הַפֶּסַח אֶלָּא אַחַר תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. וְכֵן מְחֻסְּרֵי כִּפּוּרִים מַקְרִיבִין כַּפָּרָתָן אַחַר תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם בְּיוֹם אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ טְהוֹרִין לֶאֱכל פִּסְחֵיהֶן לָעֶרֶב:
4The Paschal sacrifice is slaughtered only after the continuous offering of the afternoon.10See Hilchot Korban Pesach 1:4 for more details. Similarly, those individuals requiring atonement11As stated in Hilchot Mechusrei Kapparah, ch. 1, this term refers to certain individuals - a zav, a zavah, a person afflicted with tzara'at, and a woman after childbirth - who are not permitted to partake of sacrifices until they offer certain sacrifices. may offer their atonement offerings after the continuous offering of the afternoon on the fourteenth [of Nisan] so that they will be ritually pure and [and able] to partake of their Paschal offerings in the evening.12This leniency is granted because a person who does not offer the Paschal sacrifices is liable for karet (Pesachim 59a).
ה׳עַרְבֵי פְּסָחִים בֵּין בְּחל בֵּין בְּשַׁבָּת הָיָה הַתָּמִיד נִשְׁחַט בְּשֶׁבַע וּמֶחֱצָה וְקָרֵב בִּשְׁמוֹנֶה וּמֶחֱצָה. כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם פְּנַאי לִשְׁחֹט פִּסְחֵיהֶם. וְאִם חָל עֶרֶב פֶּסַח לִהְיוֹת עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת הָיוּ שׁוֹחֲטִין אוֹתוֹ בְּשֵׁשׁ וּמֶחֱצָה בִּתְחִלַּת זְמַנּוֹ. וְקָרֵב בְּשֶׁבַע וּמֶחֱצָה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה לָהֶם רֶוַח לִצְלוֹת קֹדֶם שֶׁיִּכָּנֵס שַׁבָּת:
5When the day before Pesach falls during the week or on the Sabbath, the Afternoon Sacrifice would be slaughtered after seven and a half hours and offered after eight and a half hours so that [the people] would have time to slaughter their Paschal sacrifices.13For every member of the Jewish people would have to partake of a Paschal sacrifice. Thus there would be a multitude of animals to slaughter and have their blood offered. If the day before Pesach falls on Friday, [the Afternoon Sacrifice] would be slaughtered at six and a half hours, the beginning of the time allotted for it and offered at seven and a half hours, so that they would have ample time to roast [their sacrifices] before the commencement of the Sabath.14At all other times, the Paschal sacrifices could be roasted at night. Hence, as long as they were slaughtered before nightfall, there was no difficulty. The roasting of the Paschal sacrifices did not, however, supersede the prohibition against cooking on the Sabbath. Hence, the slaughter had to be performed earlier so that they could be roasted on time.
ו׳אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין שׁוֹחֲטִין אַחַר תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. מַקְטִירִין כָּל דָּבָר הָרָאוּי לְהַקְטָרָה כָּל הַיּוֹם. וּמַקְטִירִין אֵיבְרֵי עוֹלוֹת וְהָאֵימוּרִין עַד חֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְאֵיבָרִין וְאֵימוּרִין שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ בֵּין מִן הַתָּמִיד בֵּין מִשְּׁאָר הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת מְהַפְּכִין בָּהֶן כָּל הַלַּיְלָה עַד הַבֹּקֶר שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ב) "כָּל הַלַּיְלָה עַד הַבֹּקֶר":
6Even though [no sacrificial animals] are slaughtered after the continuous offering of the afternoon,15This represents the division of the halachot in the authentic manuscripts and early printings of the Mishneh Torah. A printing error appears to have crept into the standard published text. any entity that is fit to be offered on the altar's pyre is offered the entire day. And the limbs of the burnt-offerings and the eimorim16The fats and inner organs of the animal that are offered on the altar. may be offered until midnight, as we explained in [Hilchot] Ma'aseh HaKorbanot.17As stated in Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot 4:2, this is a Rabbinic safeguard.The limbs and the eimorim - whether from the continuous offerings or from other sacrifices - that were not consumed [by the fire], may be turned over18So that they will be consumed by the fires faster and more completely. throughout the entire night until the morning,19Although our Sages decreed that the limbs not be offered on the altar after midnight as mentioned above, if they were offered before midnight, they may be turned over the entire night. as [Leviticus 6:2] states: "The entire night until the morning."
ז׳אֵיבָרִים שֶׁל תָּמִיד דּוֹחִין אֶת הַטֻּמְאָה וְאֵין דּוֹחִין אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת. אֶלָּא בְּעֶרֶב שַׁבָּת בִּלְבַד מַקְטִירִין אֵיבְרֵי תָּמִיד שֶׁל עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת. שֶׁהַתָּמִיד תְּחִלָּתוֹ דּוֹחֶה שַׁבָּת וְסוֹפוֹ אֵינוֹ דּוֹחֶה. חֶלְבֵי שַׁבָּת קְרֵבִין בְּלֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב אִם חָל יוֹם טוֹב לִהְיוֹת בְּמוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת. אֲבָל אֵין קְרֵבִין בְּלֵילֵי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כח י) "עלַת שַׁבַּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ" וְלֹא עוֹלַת שַׁבָּת זוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת אַחֶרֶת. וְלֹא עוֹלַת חֹל בְּיוֹם טוֹב:
7[The offering of] the limbs of the continuous offering on the altar's pyre [at night] supersedes [the prohibitions of] ritual impurity,20I.e., communal sacrifices may be offered in a state of ritual impurity. If the offering itself was offered in this manner, the limbs may be offered in this manner at night. but does not supersede the Sabbath [prohibitions]. Instead, all of the limbs of the continuous offerings offered on Friday are offered on the altar's pyre on Friday alone.21I.e., during the day and not during the night. For the initial [offering] of the continuous offering supersedes the Sabbath [prohibitions],22I.e., an animal sacrificed as a communal offering may be slaughtered and offered on the altar on the Sabbath. but its concluding aspects23The offering of the limbs and fats which were not offered on the pyre on Friday. do not.24If there was no opportunity to offer the fats and the limbs on Friday, they should be brought up to the top of the altar on Friday night, but not offered on the pyre. On the top of the altar, they are not disqualified because of the passage of the night and they should be offered on Saturday night (Kessef Mishneh in the name of the Ritba). The fats of [the communal sacrifices offered on] the Sabbath are offered on a festival, at night, if the festival falls on Saturday night. [These fats] may not, however, be offered on the night of Yom Kippur [if it falls on Saturday night].25According to the fixed calendar followed at present, Yom Kippur can never fall on a Saturday night. Moreover, even when the new moon was sanctified based on the testimony of witnesses, an effort was made not to have Yom Kippur fall directly after the Sabbath (Rosh HaShanah 20a). Nevertheless, it is possible for the two holy days to follow in succession. See Hilchot Eruvin 8:10. [These concepts are derived from Numbers 28:10 which] states: "The burnt-offering of a Sabbath on its Sabbath." [This excludes the offering of] a burnt-offering of a Sabbath on another Sabbath.26And Yom Kippur is also called "a Sabbath." Nor may the burnt-offering of a weekday be offered on a festival.
ח׳אַרְבָּעָה עָשָׂר שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת. מַקְטִירִין חֶלְבֵי הַפְּסָחִים בְּלֵילֵי יוֹם טוֹב מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵם כְּחֶלְבֵי שַׁבָּת:
8When the fourteenth [of Nisan] falls on Sabbath, the fats of the Paschal sacrifice27Which is offered on the Sabbath. may be offered on the night of the festival,28I.e., on Saturday night which is the first night of the festival. for they are considered as the fats of the Sabbath.29I.e., even though they were not offered because of the Sabbath, since their blood was offered on the Sabbath, the offering of their fats supersedes the festival prohibitions (Radbaz).
ט׳אֵין פּוֹחֲתִין מִשִּׁשָּׁה טְלָאִים הַמְבֻקָּרִין בְּלִשְׁכַּת הַטְּלָאִים שֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְיִהְיוּ מוּכָנִים קֹדֶם יוֹם הַקְרָבָה בְּאַרְבָּעָה יָמִים. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָיוּ מְבַקְּרִין אוֹתוֹ מִתְּחִלָּה לֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹחֲטִין אֶת הַתָּמִיד עַד שֶׁמְּבַקְּרִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁנִיָּה קֹדֶם שְׁחִיטָה לְאוֹר הָאֲבוּקוֹת. וּמַשְׁקִין אוֹתוֹ מַיִם בְּכוֹס שֶׁל זָהָב כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה נוֹחַ לְהֶפְשֵׁט:
9There never should be less than six lambs that have been inspected30To make sure that they are free of physical blemishes [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Arachin 2:5)]. in the Chamber of the Lambs.31This was one of the sub-chambers in the Chamber of the Hearth (Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 5:10). They should be prepared four days before their sacrifice.32In his Commentary to the Mishnah (loc. cit.), the Rambam writes that the source for this practice was the Paschal sacrifice brought by the Jews in Egypt. They were commanded to take the lambs four days before they were offered. Even though they would be inspected beforehand, they would not slaughter the continuous offering until they inspect it again, before its slaughter by the light of the torches.33The torches were necessary, because the offering was slaughtered before daybreak and more light was necessary for a careful inspection. It was given water to drink from a golden cup34This was a sign of the wealth and prosperity of the Jewish people, as appropriate for the Temple [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 3:4)]. so that it would be easier to skin.35The commentaries note that the rationale the Rambam gives here is different from that which he initially gave in his Commentary to the Mishnah (Beitzah 5:6). Afterwards, he emended that text to include the rationale mentioned here (Rav Kappach's notes to that mishnah).
י׳כְּמַעֲשֵׂה תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר כָּךְ מַעֲשֵׂה תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. וְהַכּל כְּמַעֲשֵׂה הָעוֹלָה שֶׁכָּתַבְנוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. וְלֹא הָיוּ כּוֹפְתִין אֶת הַטָּלֶה שֶׁלֹּא יְחַקּוּ אֶת הַמִּינִין אֶלָּא אוֹחֲזִין יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו בִּידֵיהֶן. וְכָךְ הָיְתָה עֲקֵדָתוֹ רֹאשׁוֹ לַדָּרוֹם וּפָנָיו לַמַּעֲרָב:
10The continuous offering of the afternoon is offered in the same manner as the continuous offering of the morning. Everything follows the regimen for the offering of the burnt offering, as written in [Hilchot] Ma'aseh HaKorbanot.36Chapters 6 and 9. The lamb was not bound before its slaughter so as not to copy the practice of the heretics.37Rashi, Tamid 31b, states that this refers to pagan idolaters who would bind all four feet of their sacrifices. Instead, they would hold its forefeet and its hindfeet by hand.38Tamid 31b states that the sacrifice would be bound like the binding of Isaac the son of Abraham. Although some commentaries explain that this means that one of the animals forefeet and one of its hindfeet would be bound, the Rambam does not accept that interpretation and maintains that none of the legs were bound. the Tosafot Yom Tov (Tamid 4:1) brings support for this interpretation, noting that our Sages state that the priest who would offer the limbs on the altar would hold them during the slaughter. Thus each of the limbs was held by a different priest. It would be held in the following manner: Its head would be to the south and its face to the west.39In this way, if it defecated, its rear would not be facing the altar or the Temple Building.
י״אתָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר הָיָה נִשְׁחָט עַל קֶרֶן צְפוֹנִית מַעֲרָבִית שֶׁל בֵּית הַמִּטְבָּחַיִם עַל טַבַּעַת שְׁנִיָּה. וְשֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם עַל קֶרֶן צְפוֹנִית מִזְרָחִית מִמֶּנָּה עַל טַבַּעַת שְׁנִיָּה כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיֶה כְּנֶגֶד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ. דִּבְרֵי קַבָּלָה הֵן שֶׁיִּהְיוּ נִשְׁחָטִין כְּנֶגֶד הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ:
11The continuous offering of the morning would be slaughtered in the northwest corner of the butchering area,40The area on the northern side of the Temple Courtyard where the sacrificial animals were slaughtered and cut up. See Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 5:13-14. on the second ring,41There were rings implanted into the floor of the Temple Courtyard into which were inserted the legs of the sacrificial animals to hold them in place during the slaughter. See ibid.:14; the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 4:1). Others maintain that the animal's head was inserted into the rings. and that of the afternoon would be slaughtered in the northeast corner on the second ring. [In this way,] they would be opposite the sun.42The sun rises in the east. Hence if the sacrifice was slaughtered on the eastern corner in the morning, it is possible that the wall of the Temple Courtyard would block its rays. Conversely, since it sets in the west, the afternoon sacrifice was slaughtered in the east so that the sun's rays would not be blocked. The Received Tradition states that [these sacrificial animals] should be slaughtered opposite the sun.
י״בטָעוּ אוֹ שָׁגְגוּ אֲפִלּוּ הֵזִידוּ וְלֹא הִקְרִיבוּ תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר יַקְרִיבוּ תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּשֶׁנִּתְחַנֵּךְ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. אֲבָל הָיָה מִזְבֵּחַ חָדָשׁ שֶׁעֲדַיִן לֹא קָרֵב עָלָיו כְּלוּם לֹא יַקְרִיבוּ עָלָיו תְּחִלָּה בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם. שֶׁאֵין מְחַנְּכִין מִזְבַּח הָעוֹלָה אֶלָּא בְּתָמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר:
12If they erred and inadvertently - or even intentionally - failed to offer the continuous offering of the morning, that of the afternoon should be offered.When does the above apply? After the altar has been dedicated. If, however, it is a new altar on which no sacrifices have been offered, the continuous offering of the afternoon should not be offered on it first. For the altar for burnt-offerings should be dedicated solely by [sacrificing] the continuous offering of the morning.43Note the contrast to the Golden Altar, as stated in Chapter 3, Halachah 1.
ב׳
א׳מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לִהְיוֹת אֵשׁ יְקוּדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תָּמִיד שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ו) "אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ". אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהָאֵשׁ יָרְדָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם מִצְוָה לְהָבִיא אֵשׁ מִן הַהֶדְיוֹט שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְנָתְנוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֲנִים אֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ":
1It is a positive commandment for there to be fire continuously burning on the altar,1Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 29) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 132) count this as one of the Torah's 613 mitzvot.The Radbaz explains that this mitzvah has four components: a) to have a fire continuously burning on the altar; b) to bring ordinary fire with each sacrifice; c) to arrange the array of wood on the altar; and d) to offer two logs with the continuous offering. Although these different actions are each associated with a separate verse, since they all share one objective: to have fire burn on the altar, they are considered as one mitzvah. as [Leviticus 6:6] states: "A continuous fire shall burn on the altar."2There was a special pyre kept burning on the altar for this purpose, as stated in Halachah 4. Although a fire descended from heaven,3As Leviticus 9:24 states: "And fire emerged from before God and it... consumed the burnt-offering." This fire remained on the altar throughout the entire existence of the Sanctuary. Yoma 21b relates that in the First and Second Temples, fire also descended from heaven and burned on the altar. it is a mitzvah to bring from ordinary fire, as [ibid. 1:7] states: "And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall place fire on the altar."
ב׳בַּבֹּקֶר עוֹרְכִין עֵצִים וְעוֹרְכִין בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁל אֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ה) "וּבִעֵר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן עֵצִים בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר". וְכֵן מִצְוָה לְהַעֲלוֹת שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים שֶׁל עֵץ עִם תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר יוֹתֵר עַל עֲצֵי הַמַּעֲרָכָה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וּבִעֵר עָלֶיהָ הַכֹּהֵן עֵצִים בַּבֹּקֶר. וְכֵן מוֹסִיפִין שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים עִם תָּמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְעָרְכוּ עֵצִים עַל הָאֵשׁ". מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁבְּתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר:
2In the morning, the wood was arranged.4See Chapter 4, Halachah 5, which states that the priest who would remove the ashes from the altar would prepare the arrangement of wood and he would bring the logs together with the daily offering. They would prepare a large array of fire at the top of the altar, as [ibid. 6:5] states: "And the priest shall burn on it wood each morning."5Yoma 26b derives this concept from a different prooftext. It is questionable why the Rambam deviates from that source, since by doing so, he is forced to derive two different concepts from the same verse. Similarly, it is a mitzvah to bring two logs of wood6Hilchot Issurei Mizbeiach 7:3 states that the logs used for the offering were "a cubit long and a cubit wide. Their thickness was like that of the leveling rod for an overflowing se'ah." [to the altar] together with the continuous offering of the morning, besides the wood of the arrangement. [This is also intimated by the same verse.]Similarly, two logs of wood were added together with the continuous offering of the afternoon, as [implied by ibid. 1:7]: "And they shall arrange wood on the fire." According to the Oral Tradition,7See Sifra to the above verse; Yoma 26b. it was taught that the verse is speaking about the continuous offering of the afternoon.
ג׳שְׁנֵי גְּזָרִים שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם מַעֲלִין אוֹתָן שְׁנֵי כֹּהֲנִים. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד בְּעֵץ יְחִידִי בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא א ז) "וְעָרְכוּ" הֲרֵי כָּאן שְׁנַיִם. אֲבָל שֶׁל שַׁחַר בְּכֹהֵן אֶחָד:
3The two logs brought in the afternoon are brought up [to the altar] by two priests, each one holding one log in his hand.8The Radbaz maintains that the priest who would bring the logs in the morning (see note 4) would also bring a log in the afternoon and he would invite a friend to join him and bring the other log. This is derived from the fact that the term "and they shall arrange" used by the above prooftext is plural. Those of the morning, by contrast, are brought by one priest.9For the term used in that prooftext is singular.
ד׳שָׁלֹשׁ מַעֲרָכוֹת שֶׁל אֵשׁ עוֹשִׂין בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּכָל יוֹם. רִאשׁוֹנָה מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה שֶׁעָלֶיהָ מַקְרִיבִין הַתָּמִיד עִם שְׁאָר הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. שְׁנִיָּה בְּצִדָּהּ קְטַנָּה שֶׁמִּמֶּנָּה לוֹקְחִין אֵשׁ בְּמַחְתָּה לְהַקְטִיר קְטֹרֶת בְּכָל יוֹם. שְׁלִישִׁית אֵין עָלֶיהָ כְּלוּם אֶלָּא לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת הָאֵשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ו) "אֵשׁ תָּמִיד תּוּקַד":
4Three arrays of fire would be prepared on the top of the altar each day:10See Hilchot Avodat Yom Kippurim 4:5. The first was the large arrangement upon which were offered the continuous offering and the other sacrifices. The second was a small [arrangement] to its side from which fire was taken in a fire-pan to offer the incense offering each day.11See Chapter 3, Halachah 5. The third was not associated with any other purpose except to fulfill the mitzvah of burning fire, as [ibid. 6:6] states: "A continuous fire shall burn."12As stated in Halachah 1.
ה׳מִפִּי הַשְּׁמוּעָה לָמְדוּ שֶׁזֶּה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ב) "עַל מוֹקְדָה עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה. (ויקרא ו ב) "וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת. (ויקרא ו ה) "וְהָאֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ" זוֹ מַעֲרָכָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁל קִיּוּם הָאֵשׁ. אֲבָל אֵיבָרִים וּפְדָרִים שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ מִבָּעֶרֶב נוֹתְנִין אוֹתָן בְּצִדֵּי מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה:
5According to the Oral Tradition,13Yoma 45a. it was derived that [ibid.:2] which states: "On the pyre, on the altar" - refers to the large arrangement. "The fire of the altar shall burn upon it" [ibid.] - refers to the second arrangement for the incense offering. And "The fire of the altar shall burn upon it" [ibid.:5] - refers to the third arrangement for the maintenance of the fire. The limbs and the fats that were not consumed during the evening are placed on the side of the large arrangement.14I.e., when the altar was arranged in the morning, these limbs and fats were placed there until the large arrangement could be prepared and kindled.
ו׳הַמְכַבֶּה אֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לוֹקֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ה ו) "לֹא תִכְבֶּה". אֲפִלּוּ גַּחֶלֶת אַחַת וַאֲפִלּוּ הוֹרִידָהּ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְכִבָּה לוֹקֶה. אֲבָל אֵשׁ מַחְתָּה וְאֵשׁ מְנוֹרָה שֶׁהֱכִינָהּ בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהַדְלִיק מִמֶּנָּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכִּבָּה אוֹתָן בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ פָּטוּר שֶׁהֲרֵי נִתְּקָהּ לְמִצְוָה אַחֶרֶת וְאֵין אֲנִי קוֹרֵא בָּהֶן אֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
6One who extinguished the fire of the altar is liable for lashes,15Sefer HaMitzvot (negative commandment 81) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 133) count this prohibition as one of the Torah's 613 mitzvot. as [ibid.:6] states:16We have cited this reference because it is the one the Rambam refers to in Sefer HaMitzvot, loc. cit. Others cite Leviticus 6:5. And in his commentary on the Torah, Rashi states that there are two negative commandments involved. "It shall not be extinguished." Even one coal - even if it was removed from the altar - if one extinguishes it, he is liable for lashes.17Despite the fact that the fire of the altar as a whole continues to burn. If, however, one extinguishes the fire of a fire-pan18See Halachah 4. or the fire designated to kindle the Menorah19See Chapter 3, Halachah 13. that was kindled on the altar, even if he extinguishes it on the top of the altar, he is exempt. [The rationale is that] this fire has been allocated for another mitzvah and it is no longer called "the fire of the altar."
ז׳כְּשֶׁמְּסַדֵּר עֲצֵי מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה מְסַדְּרָהּ בְּמִזְרַח הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְיִהְיֶה מַרְאֶה שֶׁהִתְחִיל לְסַדֵּר מִן הַמִּזְרָח. וְרֶוַח הָיָה בֵּין הַגְּזָרִים. וְרָאשֵׁי הַגְּזָרִים הַפְּנִימִיִּים הָיוּ נוֹגְעִין בַּדֶּשֶׁן שֶׁבְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהוּא הַנִּקְרָא תַּפּוּחַ:
7When one arrays the wood of the large arrangement, he should arrange it on the eastern portion of the altar. It should be made [in a manner that makes it apparent]20Our translation is based on the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 2:4). that he began to arrange it from the east. There should be open space between the logs21So that there would be enough air for the fire to burn effectively (Radbaz). and the ends of the inner logs should touch the ashes that are in the center of the altar. It is called the ash-heap.22See Halachah 13. From the Rambam's statements here and in his Commentary to the Mishnah (op. cit.:2), it would appear that the top surface of the altar was flat and the name tapuach (literally, "bulging") was given because of the ash-pile made there. The Ra'avad differs and maintains that there was a bulge in the center of the surface of the altar itself. See also the Meiri in his commentary to Tamid who maintains that the term refers to a concave curve on the altar's surface. The Radbaz and the Kessef Mishneh support the Rambam's interpretation.
ח׳וְאַחַר שֶׁמְּסַדֵּר מַעֲרָכָה גְּדוֹלָה חוֹזֵר וּבוֹרֵר עֲצֵי תְּאֵנָה יָפִים וּמְסַדֵּר מַעֲרָכָה שְׁנִיָּה שֶׁל קְטֹרֶת מִכְּנֶגֶד קֶרֶן מַעֲרָבִית דְּרוֹמִית מְשׁוּכָה מִן הַקֶּרֶן כְּלַפֵּי צָפוֹן אַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת וּבָהּ כְּמוֹ חָמֵשׁ סְאִין גֶּחָלִים. וּבְשַׁבָּת עוֹשִׂין בָּהּ כְּמוֹ שְׁמוֹנֶה סְאִין גֶּחָלִים מִפְּנֵי שֶׁעָלֶיהָ מַקְטִירִין בְּכָל שַׁבָּת שְׁנֵי בְּזִיכֵי לְבוֹנָה שֶׁל לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים:
8After the large arrangement is arrayed, logs of high-quality fig wood23See Hilchot Issurei Mizbeiach 7:3. are selected and a second arrangement is made for [the fire for] the incense offering near the southwest corner,24I.e., the corner closest to both the Temple Building and the ramp. four cubits to the north of the corner.25For in this way, he will be fulfilling the directive of Leviticus 16:12: "And he shall take... flaming coals from the altar, before God." Yoma 45b explains that this refers to the outer altar which has a portion that is "before God," opposite the Holy of Holies. The second arrangement of fire was arrayed exactly in this position. Although the above verse speaks about the incense offering of Yom Kippur, our Sages also applied the concept to the incense offering brought each day. It would contain five se'ah26A se'ah is slightly more than 8 liter in contemporary measure according to Shiurei Torah. Other commentaries consider it larger. of coals. On the Sabbath, it would contain about eight se'ah of coals, because on every Sabbath, the two bowls of frankincense from the showbread27See Chapter 4, Halachah 11; Chapter 6, Halachah 11. would be offered on it.
ט׳מַעֲרָכָה שְׁלִישִׁית שֶׁל קִיּוּם הָאֵשׁ עוֹשֶׂה אוֹתָהּ בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וּמַצִּית בָּהּ אֶת הָאֵשׁ. וְלֹא יַצִּית הָאֵשׁ לְמַטָּה וְיַעֲלֶה אוֹתָהּ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶלָּא בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ עַצְמוֹ מַצִּיתִין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ב) "וְאֵשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ תּוּקַד בּוֹ". מִכָּאן לְהַצָּתָה שֶׁלֹּא תִּהְיֶה אֶלָּא בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ:
9The third arrangement for the sake of the maintenance of the fire can be made on any place on the altar.28Har HaMoriah states that this can be inferred from the fact that our Sages did not mention any specific place for this arrangement.The fire should be kindled on [the altar]. One should not kindle the fire on the ground and bring it up to the altar. Instead, it should be kindled on the altar itself, as [implied by] the verse: "The fire of the altar shall burn." This29I.e., its description as "the fire of the altar. The Radbaz notes that Yoma 45b derives this concept from a different verse and explains that this is a characteristic practice of the Rambam in the Mishneh Torah: to interpret the Torah's verses according to their simple meaning even though different interpretations are offered in prior Rabbinic sources. teaches that the kindling should be on the altar itself.
י׳הֲרָמַת הַדֶּשֶׁן מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּכָל יוֹם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְהֵרִים אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן. וְהִיא עֲבוֹדָה מֵעֲבוֹדוֹת כְּהֻנָּה. וּבִגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה שֶׁתּוֹרֵם בָּהֶן הַדֶּשֶׁן יִהְיוּ פְּחוּתִין מִן הַבְּגָדִים שֶׁמְּשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם בִּשְׁאָר עֲבוֹדוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ד) "וּפָשַׁט אֶת בְּגָדָיו וְלָבַשׁ בְּגָדִים אֲחֵרִים וְהֵרִים אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן". אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר אֲחֵרִים שֶׁיִּהְיוּ בִּגְדֵי חֹל אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ פְּחוּתִין מִן הָרִאשׁוֹנִים. לְפִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ שֶׁיִּמְזֹג כּוֹס לְרַבּוֹ בִּבְגָדִים שֶׁבִּשֵּׁל בָּהֶם קְדֵרָה לְרַבּוֹ:
10It is a positive commandment to remove the ashes from the altar each day,30Sefer HaMitzvot (positive commandment 30) and Sefer HaChinuch (mitzvah 131) count this as one of the Torah's 613 mitzvot. as [Leviticus 6:3] states: "And he shall remove the ashes." This is one of the services performed by the priests.31It may not be performed by an Israelite (see Hilchot Bi'at HaMikdash 9:8).The priestly garments32All four priestly garments, even though only two are mentioned explicitly in the Torah in this context [the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 5:3)]. [worn] when removing the ashes33In contrast to other commentaries, according to the Rambam, these clothes are worn when removing the ashes from the altar and not when taking them out of the Temple Courtyard, for, as he states in Halachah 15, taking them out of the Temple Courtyard is not considered as priestly service. should be less valuable than those [worn] when performing the other aspects of Temple service, as [ibid.] continues: "He shall remove his garments and put on other garments and remove the ashes." The term "other" does not imply ordinary34I.e., garments that have not been consecrated. garments, but rather [priestly garments] that are less valuable than the first. [The rationale is that]35In his Commentary to the Mishnah (loc. cit.), the Rambam explains that the reason they prepared clothes of lesser value is not because they did not wish to undertake the expense, because in the Temple, no such considerations were made. As our Sages state (Tamid 3:4), "Poverty is inappropriate in a place of wealth." it is not proper conduct to serve a cup [of wine] to one's master in the same clothes as one cooked food for him.36Removing the ashes is comparable to cooking food, for both are acts of preparation. Serving wine and offering sacrifices are also analogous, for both involving presenting something.
י״אאֵימָתַי תּוֹרְמִין הַדֶּשֶׁן בְּכָל יוֹם. מִשֶּׁיַּעֲלֶה עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר. וּבָרְגָלִים מִתְּחִלַּת שְׁלִישׁ אֶמְצָעִי שֶׁל לַיְלָה. וּבְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מֵחֲצוֹת הַלַּיְלָה:
11When should the ashes be removed from the altar each day? At dawn.37The time when the first rays of the sun become visible on the eastern horizon. According to the various opinions, this is between 72 minutes and two hours before sunrise. On the festivals, it should be carried out from the beginning of the middle third of the night.38Since there are many sacrifices offered during the festivals, all of the activity in the Temple is begun earlier so that there will be ample opportunity. And on Yom Kippur, from midnight.39On Yom Kippur, all of the elements of the Temple service were performed by the High Priest. Lest he become tired, the different elements of the Temple service were spaced out as far as possible. Hence, this activity was performed earlier in the night.
י״בכֵּיצַד תּוֹרְמִין. מִי שֶׁזָּכָה לִתְרֹם טוֹבֵל וְלוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי הֲרָמָה. וּמְקַדֵּשׁ יָדָיו וְרַגְלָיו וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ הִזָּהֵר שֶׁמָּא תִּגַּע בִּכְלִי עַד שֶׁתְּקַדֵּשׁ יָדֶיךָ וְרַגְלֶיךָ. וְאַחַר כָּךְ לוֹקֵחַ הַמַּחְתָּה וְשֶׁל כֶּסֶף הָיְתָה. וְהִיא הָיְתָה נְתוּנָה בְּמִקְצוֹעַ בֵּין כֶּבֶשׁ לַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּמַעֲרָבוֹ שֶׁל כֶּבֶשׁ. וְנוֹטֵל אֶת הַמַּחְתָּה וְעוֹלֶה לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּמְפַנֶּה אֶת הַגֶּחָלִים אֵילָךְ וְאֵילָךְ וְחוֹתֶה מִן הַגֶּחָלִים שֶׁנִּתְאַכְּלוּ בְּלֵב הָאֵשׁ וְיוֹרֵד לְמַטָּה לָאָרֶץ. וְהוֹפֵךְ פָּנָיו לְצָפוֹן וּמְהַלֵּךְ בָּאָרֶץ לְמִזְרַח הַכֶּבֶשׁ כְּמוֹ עֶשֶׂר אַמּוֹת כְּלַפֵּי הַצָּפוֹן. וְצוֹבֵר אֶת הַגֶּחָלִים שֶׁחָתָה עַל גַּבֵּי הָרִצְפָּה רָחוֹק מִן הַכֶּבֶשׁ שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים. בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁנּוֹתְנִים מֻרְאַת הָעוֹף וְדִשׁוּן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי וְהַמְּנוֹרָה. וַחֲתִיָּה זוֹ שֶׁחוֹתֶה בַּמַּחְתָּה וּמוֹרִיד לָרִצְפָּה אֵצֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הִיא הַמִּצְוָה שֶׁל כָּל יוֹם:
12How are [the ashes] removed? [The priest] who merited40See Chapter 4, Halachot 1-5, for a description of the process in which this priest was chosen. to remove the ashes would immerse [in the mikveh]41From Hilchot Bi'at HaMikdash 5:4 and Tamid 26a, it appears that the intent is that a person who enters the lottery for the right to remove the ashes would immerse beforehand. See Hilchot Bi'at HaMikdash 5:9. and put on the clothes for the removal of the ashes.42Chapter 4, Halachah 1, states that the priests would come to the lottery wearing their priestly garments. Thus the one who was chosen would remove his ordinary priestly garments and put on the garments for the removal of the ashes. He would sanctify his hands and feet [from the basin].43As the Rambam writes in his Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 1:4), a priest should not approach the altar for any aspect of the Temple service, without first sanctifying himself, as implied by Exodus 30:20. See Hilchot Bi'at HaMikdash 5:1. They would tell him:44This warning was administered by the head of the clan that would serve in the Temple that day (Tifferet Yisrael, Tamid 1:4). "Be careful lest you touch a sacred utensil before sanctify your hands and feet."Afterwards, he would take a fire-pan - it was silver and would be placed in the corner between the ramp and the altar - to the west of the ramp.45I.e., the side near the entrance to the Temple Building. He would take the fire-pan and ascend to the top of the altar and scatter the coals, this way and that. [With the fire-pan,] he would lift up some of the coals46The Kessef Mishneh quotes authorities who mention that these coals must be from the limbs of the sacrifices that were consumed by the fire. which were consumed by the heart of the fire, and descend to the ground. He would turn his face to the north47For when descending the altar, he would be facing the south. and walk on the ground at the east of the altar48The side closer to the entrance to the courtyard. approximately ten cubits to the north.49Thus he is 20 cubits from the altar, for the ramp was 30 cubits long. He would gather the coals that he lifted up [from the altar, placing them] on the floor [of the Temple Courtyard], three handbreadths away from the ramp,50Thus they are placed "near the altar," as stated in Leviticus 6:3. in the place where they would place the innards of a fowl [brought as an offering],51See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot 6:21. the ashes of the inner altar and the Menorah.52Which are described in Chapter 3, Halachot 4 and 12 respectively.Picking up these coals with the fire-pan and bringing them to the floor near the altar is a commandment that must be performed each day.
י״גאַחַר שֶׁיָּרַד זֶה שֶׁתָּרַם רָצִים אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים וּמְקַדְּשִׁין יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם בִּמְהֵרָה. וְנוֹטְלִין אֶת הַמַּגְּרֵפוֹת וְאֶת הַצִּנּוֹרוֹת וְעוֹלִין לְרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וְכָל אֵיבְרֵי הָעוֹלוֹת וְאֵימוּרֵי הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁלֹּא נִתְאַכְּלוּ כָּל הַלַּיְלָה מַחֲזִירִין אוֹתָם לְצִדְדֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. אִם אֵין הַצְּדָדִין מַחֲזִיקִין סוֹדְרִים אוֹתָם בַּכֶּבֶשׁ כְּנֶגֶד הַסּוֹבֵב. וְאַחַר כָּךְ גּוֹרְפִין אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן בְּמַגְרֵפוֹת מִכָּל צִדְדֵי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. וּמַעֲלִין אוֹתוֹ עֲרֵמָה עַל גַּבֵּי הַתַּפּוּחַ. וְגוֹרְפִין אוֹתָהּ הָעֲרֵמָה בִּפְסַכְתֵּר. וְהוּא כְּלִי גָּדוֹל שֶׁמַּחְזִיק לֶתֶךְ. וּמוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ לְמַטָּה. וּבָרְגָלִים לֹא הָיוּ מוֹרִידִין אוֹתוֹ אֶלָּא מַנִּיחִין הָעֲרֵמָה גְּבוֹהָה בְּאֶמְצַע הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא נוֹי לַמִּזְבֵּחַ:
13After the person who [initially] removed ashes from the altar descended, his priestly brethren53As opposed to the other services in the Temple, there was no lottery made for this service. In his gloss, the Radbaz first explains that since many priests were required, there was no need to make a selection. Anyone who desired could participate. The Radbaz appreciates the apparent question that arises from the comparison to the following halachah and hence offers another explanation: that the priest who was selected to remove the ashes initially was responsible for gathering several of his priestly brethren to help complete the task. would run and sanctify their hands and feet quickly.54They would hurry so that they would not remain in the Temple Courtyard without having sanctified their hands and feet (Tifferet Yisrael, Tamid 2:1). They would take rakes and spits55Our translation is based on the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Tamid 2:1). and ascend to the top of the altar. They would place all of the limbs of the burnt-offerings and the eimorim of the sacrifices that were not consumed [by the pyre] throughout the night, on the side of the altar.56If they would be removed from the altar, they would be disqualified for having remained overnight. Nevertheless, while limbs and fats were on the altar themselves, they would never be disqualified. If the sides of the altar could not contain [all the limbs], they would be arranged on the ramp57For the ramp is considered as equivalent to the altar and the limbs are also not disqualified there. opposite [the altar's] surrounding ledge.58See Hilchot Beit HaBechirah 2:7, 10.Afterwards, they would use the rakes to rake the ashes from all the corners of the altar and make a pile on the ash-heap.59See note 22.The mishnah (Tamid 2:1) states that this pile would at times reach 300 kor (every kor being 2 letechim, see below). Although the Rambam states that this is an exaggeration, we can be certain that the size of the ash-heap was significant. This pile [of ashes] would be cleared away with a pasachiter.60See Chapter 3, Halachah 6, for more details regarding this utensil. This is a large container that contains a letech.61A Talmudic measure equal to 9 kor which is equivalent to approximately 121 liters (approximately 27 gallons) according to Shiurei Torah and approximately 211 liters (48 gallons) according to Chazon Ish. It is taken down [to the floor of the Temple Courtyard]. On the festivals, they would not bring it down, but instead would leave a high pile in the center of the altar, because this beautifies the altar.
י״דכָּל מִי שֶׁיִּרְצֶה מִן הַכֹּהֲנִים מְמַלֵּא מִן הַדֶּשֶׁן שֶׁהוֹרִידוּ לְמַטָּה וּמוֹצִיא חוּץ לָעִיר לְשֶׁפֶךְ הַדֶּשֶׁן. וְאֵין לְהוֹצָאַת הַדֶּשֶׁן לַחוּץ פִּיּוּס אֶלָּא כָּל הָרוֹצֶה. וּמֵעוֹלָם לֹא נִתְעַצֵּל כֹּהֵן מִלְּהוֹצִיא אֶת הַדֶּשֶׁן:
14Any one of the priests who desired would collect the ashes that were brought down [from the altar] and take them outside the city to the ash depository.62Leviticus 6:4 speaks of taking the ashes "outside the camp." For future generations, that was interpreted as meaning "outside of Jerusalem." In the same place, the bull brought by the High Priest as a sin-offering would be burnt as required by Leviticus 4:12. See Hilchot Ma'aseh HaKorbanot 7:4. Taking the ashes outside [the Temple Mount] did not require a lottery. Instead, whoever desired [was allowed to do so]. None of the priests were ever lethargic about removing the ashes.63Even though it was not considered part of the Temple service, as the Rambam proceeds to state.
ט״ווְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין הוֹצָאָתוֹ לַחוּץ עֲבוֹדָה. אֵין בַּעֲלֵי מוּמִין מוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ. וּכְשֶׁמּוֹצִיאִין אוֹתוֹ לְחוּץ לָעִיר מַנִּיחִין אוֹתוֹ בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁאֵין הָרוּחוֹת מְנַשְּׁבוֹת בּוֹ בְּחָזְקָה. וְלֹא חֲזִירִים גּוֹרְפִים אוֹתוֹ. וְלֹא יְפַזְּרֶנּוּ שָׁם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא ו ג) "וְשָׂמוֹ". שֶׁיַּנִּיחֶנּוּ בְּנַחַת. וְאָסוּר לֵהָנוֹת בּוֹ:
15Although removing [the ashes] outside [the Temple Mount] is not considered as service,64And thus does not require immersion or wearing the priestly garments. it should not be performed by priests with disqualifying physical blemishes.When it is removed outside the city, it is deposited in a place where the wind will not blow it powerfully, nor [rivers] would not flow into it.65Our translation follows the first printings and authoritative manuscripts of the Mishneh Torah and also follows the Rambam's Commentary to the Mishnah (Temurah 7:6). It should not be scattered there, as [Leviticus 6:3] states: "And you shall deposit it."66The Ra'avad questions the Rambam's statements, noting that the prooftext he cites refers to the removal of the ashes from the altar and not depositing them outside of Jerusalem. As the Radbaz explains, the Rambam does not differentiate between the two. [Implied is] that it should be placed down gently. It is forbidden to benefit from it.67See Hilchot Pesulei HaMukdashim 19:13 which mentions this prohibition. The Radbaz maintains that not only is a prohibition is involved, a person is liable for meilah, unauthorized use of sacred property, as stated in Hilchot Meilah 2:14.