Sukkah, Daf Nun Vav, Part 3

 

Introduction

This short section deals with the sacrifices divvied up the watch of priests whose set time fell during the festival.

 

משמר שזמנו קבוע [וכו’] ושאר קרבנות צבור. לאתויי מאי? – לאתויי פר העלם דבר של צבור, ושעירי עבודה זרה. והוא מקריב את הכל לאתויי מאי? – לאתויי קייץ המזבח.

 

The watch of priests whose period of service was fixed etc., and all other congregational sacrifices.

What does [this] come to include?

It includes the bull brought as a result of a transgression caused by the forgetfulness of the congregation and the he-goats brought as atonement for idolatry.

And it offered them all. What does this include?

It includes the sacrifices offered when the altar was not otherwise occupied.

 

The mishnah had stated: "A watch whose period of service was fixed [for that festival week] offered the tamid, vow-offerings and freewill-offerings and all other public offerings; and it offered them all."

The Talmud asks what else the words "all other public offerings" includes. After all most public offerings had already been listed. It answers with two types of sacrifices not already mentioned a bull brought when the entire congregation erred and sinned. And the male goats brought as atonement for unintentional acts of idolatry committed by the public.

The second half of the mishnah also contains some additional words "and it offered them all." What do these words come to include? The Talmud answers they include animals offered on the altar when it was not otherwise being used. The altar was not supposed to be left without any other sacrifice on it. Rashi explains that there were special funds for this. Occasionally an animal set aside for a sacrifice cannot be offered. It is then left to pasture until it develops a blemish. The animal is then "redeemed" meaning its value goes to the Temple and animal becomes non-sacred. These funds go for this purpose.