(He is liable for the offering) whether he enters the azarah [the first Temple court] or its [later]addition; for no addition is made to the city and to the azaroth without authorization [(for which reason it is sanctified as the first)] of the king, the prophet, the urim vetumim, the sanhedrin of seventy-one, the two thank-offerings, and song. The beth-din go, and the two thank-offerings behind them, and all of Israel behind them. The inner is eaten, and the outer burned. And if all of these do not obtain, if one enters there (in a state of uncleanliness), he is not liable (for an oleh veyored offering). [("with a king":) it being written (Exodus 25:9): "According to all that I show you: the form of the tabernacle, and the form of all its vessels, and thus shall you do." This ("and thus shall you do") is a superfluous verse, to be expounded as relating to future generations. And in the days of Moses, he was the king and the prophet, and his brother, the high-priest. And there were also the urim vetumim and the seventy elders — and thus for future generations. ("two thank-offerings":) two breads of thanksgiving. They would carry them in a circle until the end of the sanctified bound, where the first would be eaten, and the second burned. This is derived from (the rite of) Nechemiah ben Chachalyah, viz. (Nechemiah 12:31): "Then I presented two great thanksgivings." ("song":) they would chant (Psalms 30) "I shall extol You, O L rd, for You have uplifted me." And in the second Temple, even though there was neither king nor urim vetumim, the original sanctification of the Temple by Solomon "took" for its time and for the future, and what Nechemiah did was by way of commemoration alone.] And all (additions) that were made without all these (ceremonies) — If one (who were tamei) entered there, they (beth-din or the anointed high-priest as the case may be) are not liable (for a bullock of forgetfulness.)
Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
אחד הנכנס לעזרה – [to the courtyard] first.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shevuot
Introduction
Mishnah two discusses which areas of the Temple are included in these laws.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
ואחר הנכנס תוספת – that they added to it afterwards.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shevuot
It is the same whether one [while impure] enters the Temple court or the addition to the Temple court, for additions are not made to the city [of Jerusalem], or to the Temple courts except by the king, prophet, Urim and Thummim, the Sanhedrin of seventy one, and with two [loaves] of thanksgiving, and with song. And the court walks in a procession, the two [loaves] of thanksgiving [being carried] after them, and all Israel [following] behind them. The inner one is eaten, and the outer one is burnt. And as to any addition that was made without all these he who enters it [while impure] is not liable. A person who is impure and enters the Temple is obligated to bring a sliding scale sacrifice even if he only entered an addition that had been made to the Temple court. In other words, the holiness inherent to the Temple is also to be found in any additions made to the Temple. The reason is that the additions made to the Temple are made with the consent of all of the ruling institutions in Israel, as well being performed in a religious ceremony. Additions to the Temple or to the city of Jerusalem, which is also considered to be holy, can only be made with the consent of the following parties: 1) the king; 2) the Urim and Thummim, the two stones that sat in the high priest’s breastplate which were used to receive oracles (see Numbers 27:21); 3) the Sanhedrin of 71 elders. The additions to the Temple would be made in a great procession with two loaves of thanksgiving. Any addition to the Temple that was not made using all of these elements was considered to be of a lower status. Therefore, one who entered there while impure would not have to bring a sliding scale sacrifice. This mishnah has some interesting historical implications. In the Second Temple period, which began in the 5th century B.C.E. and continued until the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. there were no Urim and Thummim. Therefore, any additions to the Temple would not have been of the same holiness. On the other hand, the mishnah does not completely delegitimize these additions to the Temple. The last clause in the mishnah indeed admits that additions to the Temple can be made without the approval of the all of these parties. The only consequence is that one who entered there impure would not be obligated to bring a sacrifice.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
שאין מוספין וכו' – therefore, this is holy like the first (i.e., the courtyard).
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English Explanation of Mishnah Shevuot
Questions for Further Thought: • Why do you think that in order to add on to the Temple they need the approval of the king, the priestly oracles and the Sanhedrin?
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
אלא במלך – as Scripture states (Exodus 25:9): “Exactly as I show you – the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings – so shall you make it,” this is an additional verse for expounding for the generations. For in the days of Moses, he was King and Prophet and his brother (i.e. Aaron) was the High Priest, and there were there Urim and Thumim (in the High Priest’s breast plate) and seventy elders, even so also all generations.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
ובשתי תודות – with two loaves of thanksgiving offerings, and they would carry them in the circumference around until the end of the border that they sanctify, and there they consume (that is inside) and burn the second (which is outside) , and by the word of the prophet, it is consumed and by the word of the prophet it is burned, and that is exactly what is taught in the Mishnah: “the one offered inside is eaten and the one offered outside is burned.” But from Nehemiah ben Chakhliah, he completed it as it is written regarding him (Nehemiah 12:31): “and I appointed two large thanksgiving [choirs] and processions.”
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Bartenura on Mishnah Shevuot
ובשיר – the song that they would recite (Psalms 30:2): “I extol You, O LORD, for you have lifted me up,” But during the Second Temple period, even though there was no King and no Urim and Thumim, the Holiness that Solomon sanctified of the First Temple was a holiness for its time period and a holiness for the time to come. But the service of Nehemiah ben Chakhliah was for mere memory.
