Another matter, “if the anointed priest shall sin” – the anointed priest atones and requires atonement. Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: Since the anointed priest atones and the congregation achieves atonement, it is preferable for the one who atones to precede the one achieving atonement, as it is taught: “And atone for himself and for his household” (Leviticus 16:6), “his household” is his wife.20The High Priest first atones for himself and his wife, then for the priests, and then he is able to atone for the rest of the congregation.
Another matter, “if the anointed priest shall sin” – does an anointed priest sin? Rabbi Levi said: Pathetic is the province where the doctor has gout, the lookout has one eye, and the advocate prosecutes in capital cases. “So that he brings guilt on [le’ashmat] the people,” it is due to the fire [le’esh], the people die [met].21When the High Priest sins, his sin is like a fire that consumes the nation and causes death.
This is analogous to a bear keeper who would eat the bear’s provisions. The king said: ‘Since he eats the bear’s provisions, let the bear eat him.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since he is deriving benefit from consecrations let him be consumed by fire.’ Rabbi Aivu said: There was an incident involving a certain ritual slaughterer in Tzippori who would feed Jews [meat from] unslaughtered animals and mauled animals.
One time, on the day before Yom Kippur, he ate, drank, became intoxicated, ascended to the rooftop, fell, and died. The dogs began licking his blood. They came and asked Rabbi Ḥanina: ‘Is it permitted to move him from before them?’22It was Yom Kippur, so moving a corpse is prohibited due to muktze. He said to them: ‘It is written: “You shall be holy people to Me; you shall not eat flesh of a mauled animal in the field; you shall cast it to the dog” (Exodus 22:30).
This is one who robbed the dogs and fed Jews unslaughtered animals and mauled animals. Leave them, they are eating from what is coming to them.’ "He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before the Lord, and he shall lay his hand on the head of the bull and slaughter the bull before the Lord” (Leviticus 4:4). “He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” (Leviticus 4:4).
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: This is analogous to the friend of a king who honored him with a gift and fine praise. The king said: ‘Place it at the entrance to the palace. Anyone who exits or enters will see it.’ So too, “he shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.”