One who needs libations goes to Yochanan, who was appointed over the seals. He gives him money [according to the libations that he needs] and receives the (appropriate) seal from him. He then goes to Achiyah, who was appointed over the libations [to buy libations: wine, oil, and flour, so that all who bring offerings not be required to seek out libations prepared in the requisite purity.] He gives him the seal and receives the libations from him. In the evening, they (Yochanan and Achiyah) meet. Achiyah produces the seals and receives money for them. If there is a surplus, the surplus goes to hekdesh [and we do not say that it might be the money of Yochanan that got mixed up with the libation monies], and if there is a deficit, Yochanan makes it up from his pocket, for hekdesh always has the upper hand.
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.
