Once every thirty days, the market price is established for the lishkah. [The price is established for wine, oil, and flour, to stand for thirty days. And they (the Temple buyers) buy what they need every day from the sellers of wine, oil, and meal for the stipulated sum. If the price rises, they do not give more, and if it falls, they give less.] All who take upon themselves to supply meal at four — if it stood at three, they must supply at four. If (they take upon themselves to supply flour) at three, and it stood at four, they must supply at four. For hekdesh always has the upper hand. [In the days of the grain, wine, and olive harvest, the treasurers would advance money to the merchant, who would take it upon himself to supply wine, oil, and flour for the entire year. And if at that time the market price were four sa'ah for a sela and it rose to three sa'ah for a sela, he must give it at four sa'ah for a sela. For hekdesh acquires (the purchase) with money, viz. (as per Leviticus 27:19): "And he shall give the money and it shall be his." And if he undertook to supply three sa'ah for a sela and the price fell to four sa'ah for a sela, he gives four sa'ah for a sela. For hekdesh is not inferior in this regard to hedyot (non-hekdesh), which acquires only at (the time of) meshichah ("drawing forth" the purchased object)]. And if the meal became wormy, it became wormy for him (the supplier). [Even if the Temple treasurer effected meshichah and paid for it, the responsibility is the merchant's.] And if the wine turned sour, it turned sour for him. And he does not receive his money until it (the meal or the wine) is accepted upon the altar. [Therefore, if the wine turns sour or the flour becomes wormy, the responsibility is the merchant's.]
Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
משערין את הלשכה – they calculate the market price for wines, oils and fine-flour and this market price will stand for thirty days. And they purchase every day from the sellers of wine, oils and fine flour what they need for that sum that they established. But if the cost went up, they do no t add monies, and if it became less expensive, they purchase according to the cheaper price.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
Introduction
This mishnah teaches how prices were fixed on behalf of the Temple such that the Temple would always get the better of the deal, should there be price changes.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
המקבל עליו לספק סלתות – in the days of the wheat harvest and the vintage of the grapes and olive harvest, the treasurers would advance money to the storekeeper and the storekeeper would accept upon himself to supply wine, oils and fine flour all year long. But if they were then sold four Se’ah for a Sela and their price increased and stood at three Se’ah for a Sela, one must give four Se’ah. For that which is dedicated to a sacred purpose/Temple property acquires with money, as it is written (Leviticus 27:19 – though the quote is not exact, but all of the sources refer to this verse): “[And if he who consecrated the land wishes to redeem it, he must add one-fifth to the sum at which it was assessed,] and it shall pass to him.” But if he accepted to supply three Se’ah for a Sela and the price became cheaper and stood at four [Se’ah] for a Selah, he gives the four [Se’ah] for a Selah, for he is not worse than a commoner, that does not acquire other than through משיכה/”pulling.”
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
Once in thirty days prices were fixed [on behalf of] the chamber. Once every thirty days the prices of oil, fine flour and wine were set so that the Temple (the chamber) would be able to buy at that price for the entire month. This means that if the market price went up, the Temple could still buy at the lower rate. However, if the market price of these items went down, the Temple could buy the items at the new lower rate. The mishnah shall now illustrate.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
התליע לו – even if the treasurer pulled and gave the monies for the property which may be resorted to in case of non-payment on behalf of the storekeeper.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
Anyone who had accepted upon himself to supply fine flours at four [se'ahs for a sela] and they now stood at three [se'ahs for a sela] he must [still] supply four. If a merchant agreed to sell flour at four se’ahs (a measure of volume) for a sela (a coin) and then the price went up to three se’ahs for a sela, the merchant takes the loss. The Temple can still give him a coin and get four se’ahs.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
אינו מקבל את מעותיו – that is to say, they are not considered the monies of the storekeeper nor did he take possession of them, and even though he received them from the treasurer.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
[If he had accepted to supply fine flours] at three [se'ahs for a sela] and they now stood at four, he must [also] supply at four, for the sanctified property has the upper hand. However, if the price was three se’ahs for a sela and it went down to four se’ahs for a sela, he must provide four se’ahs. The mishnah notes that the Temple (i.e. the sanctified property) always has the upper hand.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
עד שיהיה המזבח מרצה – Therefore, if the wine soured or the fine-flour became infected with worms, the responsibility is upon is the storekeeper.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
If the fine flour became worm-eaten the loss is his; if the wine became sour the loss is his. For he is not entitled to his money until the altar has accepted [the offering]. If the Temple buys some produce but before the produce is offered it goes bad, the merchant must replace the produce. This is because the money is not considered to belong to the merchant until the flour, wine or oil has actually been offered. Since the money is not yet his, he must replace the ruined product in order to keep the money which the Temple’s treasurers gave him.
