Menachot 88a

אֶת מִי אָבִיא תַּחְתָּיו? אֶלָּא מִדָּה יְתֵירָה שֶׁל לוֹג וּמֶחֱצָה הָיְתָה שָׁם, שֶׁבּוֹ הָיָה מוֹדֵד לַחֲבִיתֵּי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל – לוֹג וּמֶחֱצָה בַּבֹּקֶר, לוֹג וּמֶחֱצָה בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם.

If so, which size vessel shall I bring in its stead to complete the tally of seven vessels? Rather, there was an additional measuring vessel of one and a half log there in the Temple, with which one would measure the oil used for the griddle-cake offering of the High Priest; one and a half log were used in the morning and one and a half log in the afternoon.

אָמְרוּ לוֹ: חֲצִי לוֹג הָיְתָה שָׁם, וְאֶפְשָׁר לְשַׁעֵר בַּחֲצִי לוֹג.

The Rabbis said to Rabbi Shimon: There is no need for a dedicated vessel for the one and a half log for the High Priest’s offering, as there was a vessel of one-half of a log there, in the Temple, and it is possible to calculate the required one and a half log by using the vessel of one-half of a log three times.

אָמַר לָהֶם: אַף לְדִבְרֵיכֶם, חֲצִי לוֹג וְלוֹג לֹא יַעֲשֶׂה, רְבִיעִית הָיְתָה שָׁם, וְאֶפְשָׁר לְשַׁעֵר בִּרְבִיעִית! אֶלָּא זֶה הַכְּלָל הָיָה בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ: כְּלִי שֶׁמְּשַׁמֵּשׁ מִדָּה זוֹ אֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ מִדָּה אַחֶרֶת.

Rabbi Shimon said to them: But according to your statement as well, one should not fashion a vessel of one-half of a log or of one log , as there was a vessel of one-quarter of a log there, and it is possible to calculate whatever quantity is required by repeatedly using the vessel of one-quarter of a log . Rather, this was the principle with regard to measuring vessels in the Temple: A measuring vessel that was used for measuring this quantity was not used to measure a different quantity.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: שְׁנָתוֹת הָיוּ בַּהִין וְכוּ׳.

The baraita concludes with an opinion that is also stated in the mishna: Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: There were graduations on the vessel that held one hin , indicating the respective quantities needed for the bull, the ram, and the lamb.

מַאי אִיכָּא בֵּין רַבִּי מֵאִיר לְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה? אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: בֵּירוּצֵי מִדּוֹת אִיכָּא בֵּינַיְיהוּ.

The Gemara analyzes the baraita . What difference is there between the opinions of Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda? They both list the same seven vessels, but in a different order. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The practical difference between them concerns whether the vessels consecrate the overflow [ beirutzei ] of the measuring vessels, i.e., the liquid that flows down over the outer walls of the vessel when it is filled beyond capacity.

לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מִמַּטָּה לְמַעְלָה, קָסָבַר בֵּירוּצֵי הַמִּדּוֹת נִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, וּרְבִיעִית יָהֵיב לֵיהּ רַחֲמָנָא לְמֹשֶׁה, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁעַר דְּקָא עָיְילִי לְהוּ בֵּירוּצִין.

According to the one who said that the vessels should be listed in ascending order of size, i.e., Rabbi Yehuda, he holds that the overflow of measuring vessels is consecrated. His reasoning is as follows: When Moses was commanded to fashion these vessels, the Merciful One initially gave Moses a measuring vessel of one-quarter of a hin and said to him: With this vessel calculate the various quantities needed and fashion vessels accordingly. So, for example, to calculate one-half of a hin , Moses would twice fill up the vessel of one-quarter of a hin , each time pouring it into a larger vessel. When pouring from a small vessel into a larger one, the overflow also enters the larger one and so it is included in the calculation. Evidently, the overflow is also consecrated.

לְמַאן דְּאָמַר מִמַּעְלָה לְמַטָּה, קָסָבַר בֵּירוּצֵי מִדּוֹת לֹא נִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, וְהִין יָהֵיב לֵיהּ רַחֲמָנָא לְמֹשֶׁה, וְאָמַר לֵיהּ: שַׁעַר בְּהָא, דְּקָא נָפְקִי בֵּירוּצִין.

According to the one who said that the vessels should be listed in descending order of size, i.e., Rabbi Meir, he holds that the overflow of measuring vessels is not consecrated. His reasoning is as follows: When Moses was commanded to fashion these vessels for the Temple, the Merciful One initially gave Moses a measuring vessel of one hin and said to him: With this vessel calculate the various quantities needed and fashion vessels accordingly. So, for example, to calculate one-half of a hin , Moses filled the vessel of one hin and divided it equally into two vessels. Then, to calculate one-quarter of a hin , he would equally divide the liquid in one of those vessels into another two vessels. When pouring from a large vessel into a smaller one, the overflow on the outer walls of the larger vessel does not enter the smaller vessel but instead falls to the ground. Therefore, the overflow is excluded from the calculation. Accordingly, there is no basis to say that the overflow is consecrated.

אַבָּיֵי אָמַר: דְּכוּלֵּי עָלְמָא בֵּירוּצֵי הַמִּדּוֹת אִיכָּא לְמֵימַר נִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, וְאִיכָּא לְמֵימַר לֹא נִתְקַדְּשׁוּ, וְהָכָא בִּמְלֵאִים קָא מִיפַּלְגִי.

Abaye said: Everyone, both Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Meir, agrees that with regard to the overflow of measuring vessels, one could say that they are consecrated and one could say that they are not consecrated, i.e., their dispute is unrelated to this issue. But here they disagree with regard to the meaning of the term “full” in the verse: “And his offering was one silver dish, its weight was one hundred and thirty shekels, one silver basin of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the Sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering” (Numbers 7:13).

מַאן דְּאָמַר מִלְּמַעְלָה לְמַטָּה, קָא סָבַר מְלֵאִים, שֶׁלֹּא יְחַסֵּר וְשֶׁלֹּא יוֹתִיר.

The one who said that the vessels should be listed in descending order of size, i.e., Rabbi Meir, holds that the term “full” indicates that the size of each vessel should be exact, i.e., that it should hold neither less nor more than the prescribed amount. If one calculates the various sizes by first filling a vessel of the largest size, one hin , and then dividing its contents carefully between two smaller vessels and so on, one will arrive at accurate measurements. By contrast, if one starts with the smallest size and uses it multiple times to calculate larger quantities, then each time one pours he includes the overflow of the smaller vessel, and so the quantities calculated are slightly larger than prescribed.

וּמַאן דְּאָמַר מִמַּטָּה לְמַעְלָה, מְלֵאִים – שֶׁלֹּא יְחַסֵּר, אֲבָל יוֹתִיר, ״מְלֵאִים״ קָרֵינָא בֵּיהּ.

And the one who said that the vessels should be listed in ascending order of size, i.e., Rabbi Yehuda, holds that the intention of the term “full” is that the size of each vessel should not hold less than the prescribed amount, but if it holds more, that is still called full. Accordingly, the various quantities can be calculated by starting with the smallest vessel.

אָמַר מָר: רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר לֹא הָיָה שָׁם הִין, שַׁפִּיר קָאָמַר לְהוּ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן לְרַבָּנַן! וְרַבָּנַן – הֲוָה הִין דַּעֲבַד מֹשֶׁה לְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, דִּכְתִיב ״וְשֶׁמֶן זַיִת הִין״.

In the mishna and the baraita cited above the Master said that in contrast to the opinion of the Rabbis, Rabbi Shimon says: There was no vessel there in the Temple that held one hin , as what purpose could a one- hin vessel serve? That volume of liquid was never used in an offering. The Gemara comments: Rabbi Shimon is saying well to the Rabbis, i.e., this is a reasonable objection. And what would the Rabbis say? Why is there a measuring vessel of one hin ? The Gemara answers: It was the vessel of one hin that Moses fashioned in the wilderness for measuring the anointing oil with which the Tabernacle, its vessels, and the priests were anointed, as it is written: “And of olive oil a hin . And you shall make it a holy anointing oil” (Exodus 30:24–25).

מָר סָבַר: כֵּיוָן דִּלְדוֹרוֹת לָא הֲוָה צְרִיךְ, לְפִי שָׁעָה הוּא דְּעַבְדֵיהּ וְאִיגְּנֵז, וְאִידַּךְ: כֵּיוָן דַּהֲוָה – הֲוָה.

The Gemara explains the dispute between Rabbi Shimon and the Rabbis. One Sage, Rabbi Shimon, holds that since there was no further need for the vessel of one hin in future generations, Moses fashioned it only for the sake of that time, and then afterward it was sequestered. And the other Sage, the Rabbis, holds that since it was fashioned and used in the time of Moses, it was kept in the Temple despite the fact there was no longer a need for it.

אָמַר מָר: וְאֶת מִי אָבִיא תַּחְתָּיו. לָא סַגִּיא דְּלָא מְעַיֵּיל? כִּדְאָמַר רָבִינָא: גְּמִירִי שְׁתֵּי סְמִיכוֹת בְּצִיבּוּר, הָכָא נָמֵי גְּמִירִי דְּשֶׁבַע מִדּוֹת שֶׁל לַח הָיוּ בְּמִקְדָּשׁ.

The Master said in the baraita that after claiming that there was no vessel of one hin , Rabbi Shimon asked: If so, which size vessel shall I bring in its stead to complete the tally of seven vessels? The Gemara asks: Is it not possible to simply not include a seventh vessel? What compels him to list a seventh? The Gemara explains: It is just as Ravina said with regard to a different matter: It is learned as a tradition that there are two instances in which placing hands on the head of the offering is required for communal offerings. Here too, one must say that it is learned as a tradition that there were seven measuring vessels for liquids in the Temple.

רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי צָדוֹק אוֹמֵר: שְׁנָתוֹת הָיוּ בַּהִין. וְלֵית לֵיהּ שֶׁבַע מִדּוֹת? לֵית לֵיהּ. וְאִי בָּעֵית אֵימָא: מַאי ״שֶׁבַע מִדּוֹת״? שֶׁבַע מְדִידוֹת.

The mishna teaches: Rabbi Elazar, son of Rabbi Tzadok, says: It was not necessary to have separate vessels for the meal offerings and libations of each type of animal. Rather, there were graduations on the vessel that held one hin indicating the measures for the various offerings. The Gemara asks: But doesn’t Rabbi Eliezer, son of Rabbi Tzadok, have the tradition that there were seven measuring vessels? The Gemara concedes: He does not have that tradition. And if you wish, say instead that he has that tradition, but he understands that what is meant by seven measuring vessels? It means that seven fixed ways of measuring should exist, but not that there must be seven different vessels.

מַתְנִי׳ רְבִיעִית מָה הָיְתָה מְשַׁמֶּשֶׁת? רְבִיעִית מַיִם לִמְצוֹרָע, וּרְבִיעִית שֶׁמֶן לְנָזִיר.

MISHNA: What purpose did the quarter- log measuring vessel serve? It was used to measure a quarter- log of water for the purification of the leper, and a quarter- log of oil for the wafers and loaves that the nazirite brings on the day that his term of naziriteship ends.

חֲצִי לוֹג מָה הָיָה מְשַׁמֵּשׁ? חֲצִי לוֹג מַיִם לְסוֹטָה, וַחֲצִי לוֹג שֶׁמֶן לְתוֹדָה.

What purpose did the half - log measuring vessel serve? It was used to measure a half- log of water for the rite of the sota and a half- log of oil for the three types of loaves of matza accompanying the thanks offering.

וּבַלּוֹג הָיָה מוֹדֵד לְכׇל הַמְּנָחוֹת.

And with the vessel of one log , one would measure the oil for all the standard meal offerings.

אֲפִילּוּ מִנְחָה שֶׁל שִׁשִּׁים עִשָּׂרוֹן, נוֹתֵן לָהּ שִׁשִּׁים לוֹג. רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: אֲפִילּוּ מִנְחָה שֶׁל שִׁשִּׁים עִשָּׂרוֹן אֵין לָהּ אֶלָּא לוּגָּהּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לְמִנְחָה וְלֹג שָׁמֶן״.

Each tenth of an ephah of flour requires one log of oil. Accordingly, even if one brings a meal offering of sixty tenths of an ephah of flour, one adds to it sixty log of oil. Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov says: Each meal offering, irrespective of its volume, even a meal offering of sixty tenths of an ephah of flour, requires only its single log of oil, as it is stated with regard to the offering brought by a poor leper on the day of his purification: “And a tenth of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil” (Leviticus 14:21). The juxtaposition of “a meal offering” with “a log of oil” teaches a principle for all meal offerings: Each offering requires only one log of oil.

שִׁשָּׁה לַפָּר, וְאַרְבָּעָה לָאַיִל, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה לַכֶּבֶשׂ.

The mishna lists the quantities of oil and wine that were required for the meal offerings and libations that accompanied the sacrifice of an animal. Six log , i.e., one - half of a hin , for those of a bull; and four log , i.e., one-third of a hin , for those of a ram; and three log , i.e., one-quarter of a hin , for those of a lamb.

שְׁלֹשָׁה וּמֶחֱצָה לַמְּנוֹרָה, חֲצִי לוֹג לְכׇל נֵר.

In addition, three and a half log of oil were required for the Candelabrum, as there were seven lamps and a half- log was required for each lamp.

גְּמָ׳ יְתֵיב רַבִּי וְקָא קַשְׁיָא לֵיהּ: רְבִיעִית לָמָּה נִמְשְׁחָה? אִי מְצוֹרָע –

GEMARA: Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was sitting in study and posed a difficulty: For what purpose was the quarter- log measuring vessel anointed with the anointing oil, thereby consecrating it a service vessel? If you suggest it was necessary in order to measure the water used in the purification of a leper,