Commentary for Sotah 15:3

אמר רבי יוחנן פסוק זה ברוח הקודש נאמר ותתצב אחותו (עמוס ט׳:א׳) ראיתי את י"י נצב על המזבח. אחותו (משלי ז׳:ד׳) אמור לחכמה אחותי את. מרחוק. (ירמיהו ל״א:ג׳) מרחוק י"י נראה לי. לדעה (ישעיהו י״א:ט׳) כי מלאה הארץ דעה את י"י. מה יעשה לו. (ישעיהו י״א:ט׳) כי לא יעשה י"י אלהים דבר כי אם גלה סודו אל עבדיו הנביאים:

Originally, whosoever wanted to remove [the ashes from] the Altar, removed [it]. At a time that they were many they would run and ascend the ramp [of the altar] and he that came first into the four cubits won [the privilege]. And if two were even, the appointed one would say to them [all]: Raise the finger(s). And what did they put forward [i.e. raise]? One or two. And [but] they do not put forth [raise] the thumb in the Temple: It happened [once] that two were even, and [they] were running and ascending the ramp. And one [of them] pushed his fellow and his foot was broken. And when the court saw that they were coming into danger, they enacted that they shall not remove [the ashes from] the altar except by lot. There were four lots there, and this [one] was the first lot.

Explore commentary for Sotah 15:3. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.