פירוש על יומא 2:4

חדשים לקטורת – this is what they would announce in the Temple court, that is to say, whomever was not worthy of the incense all of his life, should come and decide by chance. But they would not allow someone who was found worthy of it once [already] to repeat it, because he becomes wealthy as it is written (Deuteronomy 33:10-11): “They shall offer You incense to savor [and whole-offerings on Your altar]. Bless, O LORD, his substance…” For since every Kohen who offers incense would become wealthy and blessed on its account, therefore, they would not allow a person to repeat it, in order that all could be wealthy and blessed through it.

Introduction This mishnah teaches what the third and fourth counts were for.

חדשים גם ישנים – he who was worthy of the lottery other times and he who never was worthy of it ever, come and participate in the lottery.

The third count: “New [priests] come up and submit to the count for the incense.” The chief of priests would make this statement, directed at the new priests who had never before had the chance to offer the incense. Offering the incense was considered by the priests to be the best task in the Temple because of Deuteronomy 33:10-11: “They shall offer You incense to savor…Bless, O Lord his substance and favor his undertakings.” The blessing and the favor went to the one who offered the incense. In other words, offering the incense would bring a person reward. Since this was so desirable, they let only the priests who had not already performed this task participate in this count.

מי מעלה אברים מן הכבש למזבח – when they would bring up the limbs from the slaughter house, they would not bring them to the Altar, but rather place them on the lower half of the ramp in the east and conduct another lottery – who will bring them from the place where they are lying on the ramp to the altar, and they would do such because of [the Biblical adage] (Proverbs 14:28): “A numerous people is the glory of a king…”

The fourth count: “New and old priests, who will take up the limbs from the ramp to the altar.” The final count was open to both new and old priests alike. The count was to determine who would bring the limbs up and sacrifice them on the altar. Some commentators explain that nine priests would bring the nine items up (see the list in yesterday’s mishnah), while other commentators explain that one priest would bring all nine items up himself.