Temidin uMusafim - Chapter 4

All of these services that were performed [in the Temple] every day were performed on the basis of a lottery.1 How would they conduct themselves? All of the priests of the clan of that day2 enter the Chamber of Hewn Stone3 after dawn,4 while garbed in the priestly garments. The [priest] appointed [to supervise] the lotteries [stands] with them and they stand in a semicircle. The supervisor takes a hat from one of the priests and returns it to him.5 This is the person from whom they will begin to count and thus determine the lottery, as will be explained.6

The men [selected to perform] the services proceed to them. The remainder of the priests are taken to the attendants who remove the sacred garments from them, leaving them only with the leggings7 until they put on their ordinary garments. They then remove the sacred leggings. The attendants then return the garments to the lockers.8

How would the lottery be carried out? [The priests] would stand in a semicircle. They would decide on a number, e.g., 80, 100, 1000, or any other number that they would choose. Afterwards, the supervisor says: "Stick out your fingers" and they stick out one or two fingers.9 If one would stick out three, the three are counted.10 A thumb should not be stuck out in the Temple because of the deceivers. For a thumb is small and it is easy to stick out and then bend over.11 If one sticks out a thumb, it is not counted.

The supervisor begins counting from [the priest] who was identified by the removal of his hat. They count on their fingers12 and then repeat13 until they reach the number they agreed upon. The person upon whose finger the counting was completed is the one who is chosen in the first lottery for the Temple service.

Why do they count the number they have agreed upon by the fingers they stuck out instead of counting the people themselves? Because it is forbidden to count Jews14 except via another entity, as [I Samuel 15:4] states: "And he counted them with lambs."15

Four lotteries were carried out each day in the morning.16 The first lottery was for who would remove the ashes from the altar.17 The lottery was conducted and the one who merited was chosen to remove the ashes. He also arranges the wood on the altar, and he brings the two logs of wood to the altar, and brings in a fire-pan full of flaming [coals]18 from the outer altar to the golden altar to offer the incense upon it.

Thirteen [priests] are chosen in the second lottery19 according to the order in which they stand.

What is implied? The supervisor tells them to stick out their fingers and counts as explained.20 The one who is chosen first by lottery slaughters the continuous offering of the morning. The second priest standing next to him21 receives the blood of the continuous offering and he casts it [on the altar]. The third, [who stands] next to the second, removes the ashes from the inner altar, the altar of the incense offering. The fourth on his side removes the ashes from the Menorah and kindles the lamps. The fifth brings up the head of the continuous offering and its [right] hindleg to the ramp.22 The sixth brings up the two forefeet. The seventh brings up the tail and the [left] hindleg. The eighth brings up the breast and the neck. The ninth brings up the two flanks. The tenth brings up the inner organs. The eleventh brings up the flour for the additional offerings. The twelfth brings up the chavitin23 and the thirteenth brings up the wine of the additional offerings.

For the third lottery, the supervisor announces to all the members of the clan of that day: "Whoever has never brought an incense offering24 should come and enter the lottery."25 The one chosen first in this lottery merited to offer the incense offering.

For the fourth lottery, all the priests gathered.26 The lottery is held to know who will bring the limbs up from the ramp to the altar. The lottery was held and the one who was chosen27 merited.

A different lottery was not held for the continuous offering of the afternoon. Instead, all of the priests who were chosen to perform any of the tasks in the morning should also perform them in the afternoon.28 An exception was the incense offering. Another lottery was made for [the right to offer] it in the afternoon. All those who never brought an incense offering from that clan could come and enter the lottery. If they had all offered incense previously, they are all able to enter the third lottery in the morning and the one who was selected in the morning offers the incense in the afternoon as well.

On the Sabbath, when [besides] the continuous offerings, the additional offerings and the two bowls of frankincense were offered, how would they conduct themselves?

In the morning, the lottery was held among the men of clan of the watch that was leaving.29 They would offer the continuous offering of the morning and the two sheep brought as burnt-offerings for the additional offering.30 The ones selected to perform the tasks for the continuous offering of the morning would [perform those tasks] for the two sheep [brought as] additional offerings.31 The watch that enters32 on the Sabbath would conduct other lotteries for the continuous offering of the afternoon. Both watches would [participate in] the division of the showbread.33

The [show]bread is not eaten until the two bowls of frankincense are offered on the pyre. The frankincense requires salt like the other sacrifices.34

These two bowls are offered after the additional offerings.35 Two priests offer these two bowls.36

How is the showbread divided on the Sabbaths of the year in general? The watch that enters receives six loaves and the watch that leaves receives six loaves. Those that enter divide [the bread] among themselves in the north, for they are prepared to carry out the Temple service.37 Those who depart divide it in the south.38

When the holiday of one of the three pilgrimage festivals39 falls on the Sabbath or on Sabbath in the midst of the holiday,40 all of the watches share equally in the division41 of the showbread.42 Similarly, if the first holiday of a festival falls on Sunday, all of the watches share equally in the division of the showbread on the day preceding the festival which is the Sabbath because they came early to the Temple service.43

Similarly, if the final day of the festival falls on Friday, all of the watches share equally in the division of the showbread on the Sabbath which is the day following the festival. This practice is an ordinance of our Sages [who instituted it] so that the priests should delay [their departure from Jerusalem so that they share] in the division of the showbread.44 [In this way,] if one of the members of the watch [of the coming week] would be delayed and not come [on time], another priest will be found [to take his place].

If there is one day intervening between the Sabbath and the festival, e.g., the first day of the festival fell on Monday or the last day fell on Thursday, or Shavuot fell on Monday or Thursday, the watch whose time was fixed that week receives ten loaves and the watch which enters receives two.45 The rationale is that only one day is left for them to serve alone,46 either Friday or Sunday, and they are indolent and only a few come [to the Temple].47

The High Priest always receives from each watch, half of the loaves that they receive, as [implied by Leviticus 24:9]: "And it shall be for Aaron and his sons," i.e., half for Aaron and half for his sons. A High Priest never receives a portion of a loaf, because that is not respectful.