מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם שָׁוִין וְרָצִין וְעוֹלִין בַּכֶּבֶשׁ, וְדָחַף אֶחָד מֵהֶן אֶת חֲבֵרוֹ, וְנָפַל וְנִשְׁבְּרָה רַגְלוֹ. וְכֵיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ בֵית דִּין שֶׁבָּאִין לִידֵי סַכָּנָה, הִתְקִינוּ שֶׁלֹּא יְהוּ תוֹרְמִין אֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֶלָּא בְפַיִס. אַרְבָּעָה פְיָסוֹת הָיוּ שָׁם, וְזֶה הַפַּיִס הָרִאשׁוֹן:
Two (priests) were once running neck to neck up the ramp, when one of them pushed his neighbor, who fell and broke his leg. When beth-din saw that there was risk in this, they instituted that the removal of the ashes be awarded only by lottery [as described above]. There were four lotteries there (in the Temple). [They would assemble for lotteries four times a day, and not conduct all at the same time, in order to raise a din four times, there being a large crowd in the azarah. And this is to the honor of the King, viz. (Psalms 55:15): "In the house of G d we went resoundingly!"] This is the first lottery.
Tosefta Shevuot
A ma’aseh about two priestly brothers were running next to one another and they were going up the ramp. One of them preceded his fellow to the four amot. One of them took a knife and stabbed him in his heart. Rabbi Tzadoq came stood on the steps of the porch on the Temple Mount and said, “Hear me, my brothers, the house of Israel. Indeed it is said, ‘If someone is found slain in the land’ (Deut 21:1). And us, from where shall we measure? From the Sanctuary or from the courtyard?” All of Israel moaned in tears after his [words]. After that, the father of the boy came. He said to them, “I shall atone for you! My son is [still] convulsing, so the knife has not become impure.” This teaches that the impurity of the knife was more serious to them than the shedding of blood. And so it says, “And also Manasseh spilled innocent blood” (II Kings 21:16). From here , they say, for the sin of bloodshed, the shekhinah was taken away and the Temple was rendered impure.
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