Commentary for Shekalim 6:5
שְׁלשָׁה עָשָׂר שׁוֹפָרוֹת הָיוּ בַּמִּקְדָּשׁ, וְכָתוּב עֲלֵיהֶם, תִּקְלִין חַדְתִין וְתִקְלִין עַתִּיקִין, קִנִּין וְגוֹזְלֵי עוֹלָה, עֵצִים, וּלְבוֹנָה, זָהָב לַכַּפֹּרֶת. שִׁשָּׁה, לִנְדָבָה. תִּקְלִין חַדְתִּין, שֶׁבְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה. עַתִּיקִין, מִי שֶׁלֹּא שָׁקַל אֶשְׁתָּקַד, שׁוֹקֵל לְשָׁנָה הַבָּאָה. קִנִּין, הֵם תּוֹרִים. וְגוֹזְלֵי עוֹלָה, הֵן בְּנֵי יוֹנָה. וְכֻלָּן עוֹלוֹת, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי יְהוּדָה. וַחֲכָמִים אוֹמְרִים, קִנִּין, אֶחָד חַטָאת וְאֶחָד עוֹלָה. וְגוֹזְלֵי עוֹלָה, כֻּלָּן עוֹלוֹת:
There were thirteen shofroth in the Temple (see 6:1). Upon them there was written (respectively): "new shekalim" [as explained in our Mishnah, the shekalim of the current year being placed there. When the time for the terumah arrived, the treasurer would take out all the shekalim in the shofar and place them in the lishkah for the terumah to be taken from them.], "old shekalim" [One who did not bring his shekel that year brings it the following year and places it in that shofar and the treasurer takes it and places it with the left-overs of the lishkah.], "kinin" [large turtle-doves], "burnt-offering fledglings" [small pigeons, all burnt-offerings. But those who bring obligatory kinin place the money or the birds in the hand of the Cohein and do not put money into the shofar. The Yerushalmi gives the reason as ta'arovoth ("admixture"), i.e., lest one of the givers of the kinin dies, so that there will be found to be mixed up with them (the other monies) the monies of a sin-offering whose giver has died and which must itself die (and not be offered as a sacrifice). The rabbis do not fear this, however, and they hold that in the shofar of "kinin" the monies of obligatory kinin are placed, and with all the monies found there, there are offered up one as a sin-offering; another, as a burnt-offering. And the second ("burnt-offering fledglings") is all donative, and they are all offered up as burnt-offerings. The halachah is in accordance with the sages.], "wood" [wherein one who donates for the wood pile places his money], "frankincense" [wherein one who donates frankincense places his money. The treasurers take the money from the shofar and buy frankincense for it, which is burnt upon the altar.], "gold for the kaporeth" [One who donates gold places it or its corresponding monies there, and it goes for the kaporeth, i.e., ministering vessels. For the sprinkling bowls are called "keforei (wipers) zahav (of gold)" (Ezra 1:10), I Chronicles 28:17), the Cohein wiping his finger on them between sprinklings and (blood) placings of the sin-offering, (what is left on the finger being unfit)]; and six (shofroth) were for gifts. [On the first was written "the surplus of a sin-offering"; on the second, "the surplus of a guilt-offering; on the third, the surplus of kinei zavim, zavoth, and yoldoth"; on the fourth, "the surplus of Nazirite offerings"; on the fifth, "the surplus of the guilt-offering of a leper"; on the sixth, "gift," unqualified. If one separated money for a sin-offering and bought a sin-offering, and he had money left over, he casts the surplus into the shofar inscribed "the surplus of a sin-offering." The surplus of a guilt-offering is cast into the shofar so inscribed, and thus with all. And whoever donates anything to the altar places his money in the shofar marked gift."] (In the shofar inscribed) "new shekalim," (there were placed) the shekalim of every (current) year. (In the shofar inscribed) "old shekalim," one who had not given the shekel the preceding year deposits it the following year. "Kinin" are turtle-doves and "burnt-offering fledglings" are young pigeons. And they are all burnt-offerings. These are the words of R. Yehudah. The sages say: "Kinin" — one a sin-offering; another, a burnt-offering; "burnt-offering fledgling" — all burnt-offerings.
Bartenura on Mishnah Shekalim
English Explanation of Mishnah Shekalim
“new shekels”;
“New shekels” those for each year;
“old shekels”;
“Old shekels” whoever has not paid his shekel in the past year may pay it in the coming year;
“bird-offerings”;
“Bird-offerings” these are turtle-doves;
“young pigeons for burnt-offerings”;
“Young pigeons for burnt-offerings” these are young pigeons.
“wood”;
“frankincense”;
“gold for the kapporet”;
and on six, “freewill offerings”. Both [these two chests] are for burnt-offerings, the words of Rabbi Judah. But the sages say: “bird-offerings” one [half] is for sin-offerings and the other [half] for burnt-offerings, but “young pigeons for burnt-offerings” all goes to burnt-offerings.
This mishnah describes the thirteen chests that were in the Temple, as we learned above in mishnah one. We should note that the mishnah first lists all of the chests, and then below it explains more fully four of them. I shall explain them all in my explanation of the first section.
Section one: The “new shekels” chest was for shekels that were collected during each year. From this chest the shekels would later be brought into the chamber.
Section two: The “old shekels” chest was for people who failed to bring their shekels during the year.
Sections three and four: The “bird-offerings” are turtledoves (sorry, no partridge in a pear tree). The “young pigeons for burnt offerings” are, as might be obvious young pigeons. The sages dispute what these bird offerings are used for. According to Rabbi Judah both the bird-offerings and the young pigeons are used for burnt offerings. He holds that people who put money into both of these chests are bringing voluntary offerings, and voluntary bird offerings are only offered as burnt offerings. If someone needed to bring a mandated bird offering (such as a leper or a woman after childbirth) she didn’t put the money in the box but rather gave the offering directly to a priest.
The other sages agree that the box marked “young pigeons for burnt-offerings” goes exclusively for burnt offerings. This box, and only this box, was where people who wanted to make voluntary bird offerings put their money. The box marked “bird offerings” is intended for those who are obligated to bring a pair of birds, one for a sin offering and one for a burnt offering. There is actually an entire tractate (Tractate Kinim) about these bird offerings.
Section five: This was for people who wished to donate wood to fuel the altar.
Section six: For people who wished to donate the frankincense.
Section seven: One who said, “Behold I am donating gold” would bring golden dinarim (a type of coin) and put them in this box. The dinarim would then be used to buy gold to make various coverings for the Holy of Holies. The word “kapporet” in the Torah refers to the cover of the Ark, but here in this mishnah it refers to all golden coverings.
Section eight: There were six other chests upon which was inscribed “freewill offerings.” This was parallel to the six things listed above in 2:5 whose surplus goes to freewill offerings. See there for an explanation as to what these six things were.