young priests filliped with the first
finger(198) before him, and said to him, "My Lord High Priest, stand up
and refresh thyself(199) once on the pavement," and they kept him
occupied(200) until the time approached for slaying (the victims).

8. Every day they cleansed the altar at cockcrow, or at its approach,
intermediate before or after it; and on the day of atonement(201) at
midnight; and in the three great feasts, at the first watch. And before
cockcrow the court was crowded with Israel.

Chapter II

1. At first everyone who wished to (cleanse) the altar, cleansed it. When
they were many, they ran and mounted the ascent, and each one, who at the
middle outstripped his companion by four cubits, won it. If two were equal
the president said to them, "lift your fingers."(202) "And what is that?"
"They lifted one or two fingers, but no one lifted the thumb in the
Sanctuary."

2. It happened that two were equal, and running and mounting the ascent,
one of them thrust his companion, so that he fell, and his leg was broken.
And when the great Sanhedrin saw that they were getting into danger, they
decreed that they should not cleanse the altar save by lot. There were
four lots, and this was the first lot.

3. The second lot was: Who should slay? Who sprinkle? Who should take the
ashes from the inner altar? and who should take the ashes from the
candlestick? and who should carry the members to the ascent? the head and
the right foot, and the hind feet, the tail, and the left foot, the
breast, and the throat, and the two sides, and the inwards, and the fine
flour, and the pancakes, and the wine. Thirteen priests discharged this
lot. Said Ben Asai in the presence of R. Akiba from the mouth of Rabbi
Joshua, "like to its way of motion" (when alive).

4. The third lot(203) was for new men who came to offer incense, and they
cast the lots. The fourth lot was for new men with the old, who should
carry the members from the ascent to the altar.

5. The daily offering was with nine, ten, eleven, twelve, priests; not
less and not more. "How?" "Itself with nine: at the feast of Tabernacles
in the hand of one, a glass of water there is ten. The evening offering
with eleven, itself with nine, and in the hands of two, two fagots of
wood. On Sabbath, eleven; itself with nine, and two, in their hands two
fragments of incense of the showbread. And on the Sabbath in the feast of
Tabernacles in the hand of one a glass of water."