Page:Philip Birnbaum - ha-Siddur ha-Shalem (The Daily Prayer Book,1949).pdf/65

40 4. The burnt-offering was one of the most holy sacrifices. It was slaughtered on the north side of the altar. Its blood, which was there received in a sacred vessel, required two sprinklings [at opposite angles of the altar] making four in all. This offering had to be flayed, severed into parts, and consumed by fire.

5. As to the communal peace-offerings and the guilt-offerings—the following are the guilt-offerings: for robbery, for making improper use of sacred objects, for violating a betrothed handmaid, the offering of a nazirite who has become ritually unclean, the offering of a leper at his cleansing, and the offering of a person in doubt whether an act he has committed requires a sin-offering—all these were slaughtered on the north side of the altar. Their blood, which was there received in a sacred vessel, required two sprinklings [at opposite angles of the altar] making four in all. These offerings, prepared for food in any fashion, were eaten within the Temple court only by the males of the priesthood that day and evening—until midnight.

6. The thanksgiving-offering and the ram offered by a nazirite [at the termination of his vow] were holy in a minor degree. These might be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple court. Their blood required two sprinklings [at opposite angles of the altar] making four in all. They might be eaten, prepared for food in any fashion, anywhere in the city by anyone during that day and evening—until midnight. The same rule applied to the priests’ share, except that the priests’ share might be eaten only by the priests, their wives, their children and their servants.

7. The peace-offerings also were holy in a minor degree. These might be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple court. Their blood required two sprinklings [at opposite angles of the altar] making four in all. They might be eaten, prepared for food in any fashion, anywhere in the city by anyone during two days and one night. The same rule applied to the priests’ share, except that the priests’ share might be eaten only by the priests, their wives, their children and their servants.

8. The firstlings of animals, the tithe of cattle, and the paschal lamb were likewise holy in a minor degree. These might be slaughtered anywhere in the Temple court. Their blood required one sprinkling only; this, however, had to be done at the base of the altar. The following difference prevailed as to the eating of them: the firstborn animal might be eaten only by the priests,