Abaye Sets the Order of the Daily Temple Service

Abaye arranged the order of the daily service according to the tradition and in accord with Abba Shaul. The great arrangement precedes the second arrangement of incense, as it was taught: "It is the burnt offering on its firewood upon the altar all night until morning" - this is the great arrangement; "and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it" - this is the second arrangement of incense. Perhaps I should reverse it? It stands to reason that the great arrangement takes precedence, for its atonement is greater. On the contrary, the second is preferable, since its coals are brought inside! Even so, the one whose atonement is greater is preferable. Or say: if one finds no wood for the second arrangement, does one not bring it from the great arrangement? The second arrangement of incense precedes the laying of the two logs of wood, as it is written, "and the priest shall burn wood on it morning by morning" (Leviticus 6:5) - "on it" and not on its fellow, implying there is a fellow. But this "on it" is needed for itself! Two instances of "on it" are written. The laying of the two logs precedes the clearing of the inner altar; for although here it is written "morning by morning" and there "morning by morning," even so that which makes possible the offering is preferable. Is this comparable? What is it that makes the second arrangement possible? The two logs of wood. The laying of the two logs is done for the great arrangement! Rabbi Yirmeya said: simply more wood. Ravina said: since he has begun with the arrangement, he completes it. Rav Ashi said: the logs of wood enable the incense, for if one finds no wood for the second arrangement, does one not bring coals from the great arrangement? The clearing of the inner altar precedes the trimming of five lamps. What is the reason? Abaye said: I have it as a tradition; the reasoning I do not know. Rava said: it is like Resh Lakish, who held that one does not pass over the commandments; and when he meets one first, it is the altar he meets first - for it was taught: the table stood in the north, drawn two and a half cubits from the wall, and the menorah in the south, drawn two and a half cubits from the wall; the altar was centered and stood in the middle, drawn a little outward. Let us tend them together! Since it is written, "and the menorah opposite the table" (Exodus 26:35), we require that they face one another. Rava said: learn from Resh Lakish that to pass the strap over the head-phylactery is forbidden. The trimming of five lamps precedes the blood of the daily offering; the blood of the daily offering precedes the trimming of two lamps. What is the reason? Abaye said: that "morning by morning" of the two logs of wood, which is not needed, cast it here and there: cast one to the trimming of five lamps, that it precede the blood of the daily offering, and cast one to the blood of the daily offering, that it precede the trimming of two lamps - here three and there two. And cast one to the blood of the daily offering that it precede the trimming of two lamps; for although here two and there two, the one that atones is preferable. Rav Pappa said to Abaye: say rather, cast one to the clearing of the inner altar that it precede the blood of the daily offering, three here and two there, and cast one to the blood of the daily offering that it precede the trimming of five lamps - although here two and there two, the one that atones is preferable. If so, by what do you interrupt between them? This works well for Resh Lakish, who said: why do they trim and trim again? To rouse the whole courtyard. But for Rabbi Yochanan, who said "morning by morning" means divide it into two mornings, what is there to say? Ravina said to Rav Ashi: this "morning" of the wood, is it superfluous? It is needed for itself, since the Merciful One said let it precede the second arrangement of incense! He said to him: did we not establish "on it" and not on its fellow, implying there is a fellow? And why is it that he does the trimming of five lamps first? Let him do the trimming of two lamps. Since he has begun, he does the greater part. Then let him do six! Scripture says, "when he trims the lamps," and lamps are no fewer than two. The trimming of two lamps precedes the incense, for Scripture says, "morning by morning when he trims the lamps," and afterward "he shall burn it." The incense precedes the limbs, for it was taught: let the thing of which "morning by morning" is said precede the thing of which only one morning is said. The limbs precede the meal offering, for it was taught: from where that nothing should precede the morning daily offering? As it is said, "and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it" - and Rava said: "the burnt offering," the first burnt offering. The meal offering precedes the pancakes; burnt offering and meal offering. The pancakes precede the libations, the name "meal offering." The libations precede the additional offerings; sacrifice and libations. The additional offerings precede the bowls of frankincense - but was it not taught that the bowls precede the additional offerings? It is a dispute of Tannaim, for it was taught: the additional offerings precede the bowls; Rabbi Nechemya says the bowls precede the additional offerings. Abaye said: it stands to reason like the one who says the additional offerings precede the bowls - did you not say "morning by morning" is to give precedence? Here too "day by day" is to delay. What is the reason of the one who says the bowls precede? He derives "statute, statute" from the pancakes. If he derives from there, let him derive the entire matter from there! For this purpose "day by day" is effective, to delay.