Lifting the Ashes from the Inner Coals of the Altar

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 483:3

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And he shall lift up the ashes which the fire has consumed" (Leviticus 6:3). One might think this means the wood. Scripture therefore says "the burnt-offering." If it speaks of the burnt-offering, one might think it means the limbs of the burnt-offering. Scripture therefore says "which the fire has consumed." How then? He rakes from the inner consumed coals and brings them down. "And he shall place it" (Leviticus 6:3) gently; "and he shall place it," all of it; "and he shall place it," so that he does not scatter it. Rabbi Avin inquired: the removal of the ashes is performed with how much? Do we learn it from the heave-offering of the tithe, or do we learn it from the heave-offering of Midian? Come and hear, for Rabbi Chanina taught: it is said here "and he shall lift up," and it is said there (verse 8) "and he shall lift up." Just as there it is done with his closed fistful, so too here it is done with his closed fistful.

Themes

SacrificePriesthoodTemple

Continue Reading

Ben SiraHigh Priest Before the AltarForget the sterile descriptions in history books. Ben Sira, in chapter 50 of his wisdom book, gives us a series of breathtaking images to help us do just that. Letter of AristeasThe King Sends Lavish Offerings to the High PriestAmong the oldest Jewish texts outside the Hebrew Bible is a peculiar document called the Letter of Aristeas, not a letter in scripture, but a letter about scripLetter of AristeasPtolemy — Andreas Before the AltarLetter of Aristeas turns to Ptolemy — Andreas Before the Altar. The letter opens with the high priest acknowledging receipt of Ptolemy's correspondence. But thiLetter of AristeasHoly Temple at the TempleLetter of Aristeas turns to Holy Temple at the Temple. This letter, a fascinating document from the Hellenistic period, purports to be written by a Greek officiMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelWho Has Committed Murder in NezikinThe Torah's command in (Exodus 21:14), "From My very altar shall you take him to die," addresses a chilling scenario: a priest, a Kohen (a priest), who has commSifrei DevarimLevites at the Gate and the AltarThat’s how I feel when I read certain verses in the Torah. They seem simple The first reading, but underneath.. whole worlds are waiting to be discovered. Take