Page:Philip Birnbaum - ha-Siddur ha-Shalem (The Daily Prayer Book,1949).pdf/63

38 be half a hin of wine per bullock, a third of a hin for the ram, and a fourth of a hin per lamb. This is to be the burnt-offering of every month throughout the months of the year. Moreover, one he-goat is to be offered as a sin-offering to the Lord, in addition to the daily burnt-offering and its libation.

1. Which were the places of sacrifice in the Temple? The most holy offerings were slaughtered on the north side of the altar, as were also the bullock and the he-goat for the Day of Atonement. Their blood, which was there received in a sacred vessel, had to be sprinkled over the space between the poles of the ark, towards the curtain of the Holy of Holies, and upon the golden altar. The omission of one of these sprinklings rendered the atonement ceremony invalid. The priest poured out the rest of the blood at the western base of the outer altar; if, however, he failed to do so, the omission did not invalidate the ceremony.

2. The bullocks and the he-goats which were to be burned were slaughtered on the north side of the altar; their blood, which was there received in a sacred vessel, had to be sprinkled towards the curtain and upon the golden altar. The omission of either of these sprinklings rendered the ceremony invalid. The priest poured out the rest of the blood at the western base of the outer altar; if, however, he failed to do so, the omission did not invalidate the ceremony. All these offerings were burnt at the place where the ashes were deposited.

3. The communal sin-offerings and those of individuals—the goats offered on new moon festivals and on major feasts are the communal sin-offerings—were slaughtered on the north side of the altar. Their blood, which was there received in a sacred vessel, required four sprinklings on the four corners of the altar. How was this done? The priest went up the ascent, and, having turned to the ledge bordering the altar, walked along it to the southeast, northeast, northwest and southwest corners, successively. The rest of the blood he poured out at the southern base. These offerings, prepared for food in any fashion, were eaten within the Temple court only by the males of the priesthood during that day and evening—until midnight.