פירוש על שקלים 4:9

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.

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.

[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.

עד שיהיה המזבח מרצה – Therefore, if the wine soured or the fine-flour became infected with worms, the responsibility is upon is the storekeeper.

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.