פירוש על זבחים 12:5

פרים הנשרפין – the bull of the anointed priest [brought as a sin-offering] and the bull for an unwitting communal sin [because of an active unwitting transgression committed by the Jewish people, as a result of an erroneous Halakhic decision handed down by the Great Sanhedrin], and the bullock of Yom Kippur [which is brought by the High Priest for himself, his family and all the members of the Priesthood].

Introduction In chapter five mishnayot 1-2 we learned that in certain cases, namely that of certain bullocks and goats, the sacrificial rites are performed on the inner altar. Their blood is spilled on the inner altar. Our mishnah deals with where these sacrifices are burned.

ושעירים הנשרפים – the goat of Yom Kippur and the goats as a sin-offering for idolatry.

Bullocks which are burned and goats which are burned: when they are burned in fulfillment of their prescribed commandment, they are burned in the ash depository (bet, and they defile garments. If the bullocks or goats had not been disqualified, then the flesh is burned in the “ash depository” or “bet hadeshen” which was outside of Jerusalem. In addition, one who burns these sacrifices must wash his clothes and any clothes that he touches, see Leviticus 16:28 and Yoma 6:7.

נשרפין בבית הדשן – outside of the three camps . But in the cemetery, outside of Jerusalem, as it is written regarding them (Leviticus 4:21): “[He shall carry the bull] outside the camp [and burn it as he burned the first bull,” that is to say, outside of three camps.

But when they are not burned in fulfillment of their commandment, they are burned in the bet habirah and they do not defile garments. However, if they were disqualified in some way, then they are burned in a place called “bet habirah.” According to some commentators there are two places that are called “bet habirah” one in the Temple courtyard, and one on the Temple Mount, outside the Temple. If they were disqualified before they left the courtyard, then they would be burned inside the Temple, and if they were disqualified after they left the courtyard, then they would be burned outside the Temple but on the Temple Mount. These bullocks and goats do not defile garments only valid ones are defiling.

מטמאין בגדים – to those engaged with them. As is it written (Leviticus 16:28): “He who burned them shall wash his clothes [and bathe his body in water].” And every place where it states, “shall wash his clothes/יכבס בגדיו,” not only the clothes that he was wearing require washing, but also every piece of clothing that he touches while he is attached to the impurity is ritually defiled and requires washing.

שלא כמצותן – such as that they became defiled and required burning like the rest of the consecrated animals that were disqualified.

בבית הבירה – sometimes in the Temple courtyard and sometimes on the Temple Mount. How so? If a disqualification occurred to them prior to their leaving from the Temple courtyard whether prior to the sprinkling/tossing [of the blood] or after, they are burned in the place of ashes that is in the Temple courtyard. If a disqualification occurred to them after their departure from the Temple courtyard, they are burned in the place of ashes that is on the Temple Mount, and that is the Temple.