Einer, der Trankopfer braucht, geht zu Yochanan, der über die Siegel ernannt wurde. Er gibt ihm Geld [nach den Trankopfern, die er braucht] und erhält von ihm das (angemessene) Siegel. Dann geht er zu Achiyah, der über die Trankopfer ernannt wurde [um Trankopfer zu kaufen: Wein, Öl und Mehl, damit alle, die Opfer bringen, nicht verpflichtet sind, Trankopfer zu suchen, die in der erforderlichen Reinheit zubereitet wurden.] Er gibt ihm das Siegel und erhält die Trankopfer von ihm. Am Abend treffen sie sich (Yochanan und Achiyah). Achiyah stellt die Siegel her und erhält Geld dafür. Wenn es einen Überschuss gibt, geht der Überschuss an Hekdesh [und wir sagen nicht, dass es das Geld von Yochanan sein könnte, das mit den Trankopfergeldern verwechselt wurde], und wenn es ein Defizit gibt, macht Yochanan es aus seiner Tasche wieder gut. denn hekdesh hat immer die Oberhand.
Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
נותן לו מעות – according to the libations that he needs.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
Introduction
This mishnah explains how a person would buy libation offerings, meaning the flour, oil and wine which we described in yesterday’s mishnah.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
בא לו אצל אחיה שהיה ממונה – to purchase libations of the wines, oils, and sifted fine flours, in order that everyone who brings a sacrifice would not have to go back after the libations that are used for the purification of that which has been dedicated to the Temple.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
If one required libations he would go to Yohanan who was the officer over the seals, and give him money and receive from him a seal. Then he would go to Ahiyah who was the officer over the libations, and give him the seal, and receive from him the libations. This is the process through which a person could buy his libation offerings.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
ואם הותירו הותירו להקדש – and we don’t say lest these monies were Yohanan’s that were mingled with the monies of the libations.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
And in the evening these two [officers] would come together, and Ahiyah would bring out the seals and receive money for their value. And if there was more [than their value] the surplus belonged to the sanctuary, but if there was less [than their value] Yohanan would pay [the loss] out of his own pocket; for the Temple has the upper hand. Here we get an early description of Jewish accounting! In the evening, after the day’s work at the Temple was done, the two officers would get together to check the accounts. Ahiyah would take out the seals which he had received and collect the money from Yohanan. If there was extra money then that money belonged to the Temple. However, if there was not enough money to cover the seals, then Yohanan would have to make up the difference from his own pocket. The mishnah notes that the Temple’s treasury has the upper hand it can gain from someone’s mistake but not lose. As they say it’s good to be the Temple.
