Zevachim 87a

חֲצוֹת שֵׁנִי עוֹכַלְתָּן, רַב חִסְדָּא אָמַר: עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר עוֹכַלְתָּן.

The second midnight, i.e., midnight of the following night, renders them consumed, and if they were dislodged from the altar thereafter they are not returned. Rav Ḥisda says: Dawn following the first evening renders them consumed, and if they were dislodged from the altar thereafter they are not returned.

אָמְרִי בֵּי רַב: מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַב חִסְדָּא? וּמָה חֲצוֹת שֶׁאֵין עוֹשֶׂה לִינָה, עוֹשֶׂה עִיכּוּל; עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה לִינָה, אֵינוֹ דִּין שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה עִיכּוּל?

They say in the school of Rav: What is the reasoning of Rav Ḥisda, who says that dawn renders these limbs consumed? It is the following a fortiori inference: And if midnight, which does not cause the disqualification of being left overnight with regard to limbs that were left off the altar until that time, still causes consumption, i.e., limbs burned on the altar until midnight are considered entirely consumed, then certainly with regard to dawn, which causes the disqualification of being left overnight with regard to limbs that were not left off the altar until that time, isn’t it logical that it causes consumption?

פֵּירְשׁוּ קוֹדֶם חֲצוֹת, וְהֶחְזִירָן לְאַחַר עַמּוּד הַשַּׁחַר – רַבָּה אָמַר: חֲצוֹת שֵׁנִי עוֹכַלְתָּן, רַב חִסְדָּא אָמַר: אֵין בָּהֶן עִיכּוּל לְעוֹלָם.

These amora’im also dispute the halakha in a case where the limbs separated from the altar before midnight and were returned to the altar after dawn: Rabba says that the second midnight renders them consumed, and if they separated after this time they are not returned. Rav Ḥisda says: Since these limbs were not returned to the altar by dawn, they are never subject to consumption through the passage of time. Rather, they are returned to the altar and allowed to burn until they are reduced to ash. These two disputes between Rabba and Rav Ḥisda indicate that both agree that limbs not on the altar by midnight are not considered consumed.

מַתְקֵיף לַהּ רַב יוֹסֵף: וּמַאן לֵימָא לַן דַּחֲצוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מְשַׁוְּיָא לְהוּ עִיכּוּל? דִּילְמָא כֹּל הֵיכָא דְּמַשְׁכְּחָא לְהוּ מְשַׁוְּיָא לְהוּ עִיכּוּל! שְׁלַחוּ מִתָּם: הִלְכְתָא כְּרַב יוֹסֵף.

Rav Yosef objects to this: And who shall say to us that midnight, specifically when the limbs are at the top of the altar, effects for them consumption? Perhaps anywhere that the limbs are found, midnight effects for them consumption. The Gemara notes: They sent from there, i.e., Eretz Yisrael, that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rav Yosef, i.e., the passing of midnight renders all limbs consumed, regardless of their location at that time.

אִיתְּמַר נָמֵי, אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא: פֵּירְשׁוּ קוֹדֶם חֲצוֹת וְהֶחְזִירָן אַחַר חֲצוֹת – לֹא נֶהֱנִין וְלֹא מוֹעֲלִין. וְכֵן תָּנָא בַּר קַפָּרָא: פֵּירְשׁוּ קוֹדֶם חֲצוֹת וְהֶחְזִירָן לְאַחַר חֲצוֹת – יוֹצְאִין מִידֵי מְעִילָה.

It was also stated that Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba says: In the case of limbs that separated from upon the altar before midnight and were returned to the altar after midnight, one may not benefit from them ab initio , but if one benefited from them after the fact he is not liable for misuse of consecrated property, since the mitzva of burning is considered fulfilled after midnight has passed. And bar Kappara also taught: If they separated from upon the altar before midnight and were returned to the altar after midnight, the limbs are removed from being subject to liability for misuse of consecrated property.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ רַב פָּפָּא לְאַבָּיֵי: וְכִי מֵאַחַר דִּשְׁלַחוּ מִתָּם הִילְכְתָא כְּרַב יוֹסֵף, וְאָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּיא בַּר אַבָּא וְכֵן תָּנֵי בַּר קַפָּרָא – רַבָּה וְרַב חִסְדָּא בְּמַאי פְּלִיגִי? אֲמַר לֵיהּ: בִּשְׁמֵנִים.

Rav Pappa said to Abaye: And since they sent from there that the halakha is in accordance with the opinion of Rav Yosef that midnight effects consumption even for those items left off the altar, and Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba says this as well, and bar Kappara also teaches that this is the halakha , then with regard to what do Rabba and Rav Ḥisda disagree? Abaye said to him: They disagree with regard to fatty limbs, whose consumption is delayed due to their surrounding fat, and consequently midnight may not effect consumption for these limbs.

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רָבָא מֵרַבָּה: לִינָה מוֹעֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ, אוֹ אֵינָהּ מוֹעֶלֶת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ? הֵיכִי דָמֵי? אִילֵּימָא דְּלֹא יָרְדוּ – הַשְׁתָּא לָנוּ בַּעֲזָרָה אָמְרַתְּ דְּלֹא יֵרְדוּ, בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ מִיבַּעְיָא?!

§ Rava raises a dilemma before Rabba: Is the disqualification of being left overnight effective in disqualifying limbs that are situated at the top of the altar at dawn but were not placed on the pyre, or is it not effective in disqualifying limbs that are at the top of the altar but were not placed on the pyre? The Gemara clarifies: What are the circumstances? If we say that the limbs have not descended from the altar, then the halakha should be obvious: Now that with regard to limbs that were left overnight in the Temple courtyard, you said in the mishna (84a) that if they ascended upon the altar they shall not descend, then with regard to limbs left on top of the altar, is it necessary to teach that they shall not descend?

וְאֶלָּא דְּיָרְדוּ לְשֻׁלְחָן מְדַמֵּינַן לַהּ; דִּתְנַן: אֲפִילּוּ הֵן עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן יָמִים רַבִּים – אֵין בְּכָךְ כְּלוּם, אוֹ דִילְמָא לְקַרְקַע מְדַמֵּינַן?

But rather, the dilemma is in a case where they were left overnight on top of the altar and descended from it after dawn. Do we compare limbs left overnight on top of the altar to the Table of the shewbread, and they are therefore returned, as we learned in a mishna ( Menaḥot 100a): Even if loaves of shewbread, which are supposed to be replaced every Shabbat, remained on the Table many days beyond Shabbat, there is nothing wrong with that, and the loaves are not disqualified by being left overnight. Or perhaps we compare the limbs to flesh left on the ground of the Temple courtyard, which is disqualified when left there until dawn, and they are not returned.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֵין לִינָה בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ. קִיבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ, אוֹ לָא? תָּא שְׁמַע, דְּאִיתְּמַר: אֵיבָרִים שֶׁלָּנוּ בָּעֲזָרָה – מְקַטֵּר וְהוֹלֵךְ כׇּל הַלַּיְלָה. לָן בְּרֹאשׁוֹ שֶׁל מִזְבֵּחַ – מְקַטֵּר וְהוֹלֵךְ לְעוֹלָם.

Rabba said to him: There is no disqualification of limbs that are left overnight at the top of the altar. The Gemara asks: Did Rava accept this response from Rabba or not? The Gemara suggests: Come and hear a proof from that which was stated: With regard to limbs that were left overnight in the Temple courtyard, the priest may place them upon the altar to burn them all night long provided that they are placed there before dawn. With regard to a limb that was left overnight at the top of the altar, the priest may burn it forever, i.e., no matter how much time has passed.

יָרְדוּ – רַבָּה אָמַר: יַעֲלוּ, רָבָא אָמַר: לֹא יַעֲלוּ. שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ: לָא קַיבְּלַהּ מִינֵּיהּ! שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ.

With regard to limbs that were left overnight on top of the altar and then descended from it, Rabba says that they shall ascend, while Rava says that they shall not ascend. Conclude from it that Rava did not accept the response from Rabba, as he holds here that limbs are disqualified when left overnight on top of the altar. The Gemara confirms: Indeed, conclude from it that this is so.

כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַמִּזְבֵּחַ מְקַדֵּשׁ כּוּ׳. תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן: ״הַנֹּגֵעַ בְּמִזְבֵּחַ״ – אֵין לִי אֶלָּא מִזְבֵּחַ; כֶּבֶשׁ מִנַּיִן? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ״. כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת מִנַּיִין? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר: ״כׇּל הַנֹּגֵעַ בָּהֶם יִקְדָּשׁ״.

§ The mishna teaches: Just as the altar sanctifies items, so too, the ramp and the service vessels sanctify items. With regard to this halakha , the Sages taught: The verse states: “Whatever touches the altar shall be sacred” (Exodus 29:37). From here I have derived only that the altar sanctifies items. From where is it derived that the ramp sanctifies items as well? The verse states: “And you shall anoint… the altar [ et hamizbe’aḥ ]” (Exodus 40:10), and the addition of the word et serves to include the ramp. With regard to service vessels, from where is it derived that they sanctify items? The verse states with regard to them: “Whatever touches them shall be sacred” (Exodus 30:29).

בְּעָא מִינֵּיהּ רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ מֵרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: כְּלֵי שָׁרֵת מַהוּ שֶׁיְּקַדְּשׁוּ אֶת הַפְּסוּלִין? אֲמַר לֵיהּ, תְּנֵיתוּהָ: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהַכֶּבֶשׁ מְקַדְּשִׁין אֶת הָרָאוּי לָהֶן, כָּךְ כֵּלִים מְקַדְּשִׁין!

Reish Lakish raises a dilemma before Rabbi Yoḥanan: What is the halakha with regard to whether service vessels sanctify disqualified items? Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: You learned in the mishna that just as the altar and the ramp sanctify items that are suited to them even if those items are disqualified, so too, the service vessels sanctify items placed in them.

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: לְכַתְּחִילָּה לִיקְרַב קָמִיבְּעֵי לִי. הָא נָמֵי תְּנֵינָא:

Reish Lakish said to him: The mishna indicates that service vessels sanctify that which is placed in them in the sense that they may no longer be redeemed even if they become disqualified. I raise the dilemma with regard to whether service vessels sanctify disqualified items such that they may be sacrificed ab initio . Rabbi Yoḥanan said to him: This also we learn in a mishna (84a):