Komentarz do Arachin 2:4
וְעַבְדֵי הַכֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ, דִּבְרֵי רַבִּי מֵאִיר. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, מִשְׁפְּחוֹת בֵּית הַפְּגָרִים וּבֵית צְפָרְיָא וּמֵאֶמָּאוֹם הָיוּ מַשִּׂיאִין לַכְּהֻנָּה. רַבִּי חֲנַנְיָא בֶּן אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אוֹמֵר, לְוִיִּם הָיוּ:
Oni [tj. Muzycy Świątyni] byli [zabrani] niewolnikom kapłanów - [to] są słowa rabina Meira; Rabin Yose powiedział: byli z rodzin z Bet Hapegarim, Bet-Zipparya i z Emaus, miejsc, z których księża żenili się [kobiety]; Rabin Chanina ben Antigonos powiedział: byli lewitami.
Bartenura on Mishnah Arakhin
ועבדי כהנים היו – those who would play the flute, for Rabbi Meir felt that they do not promote one from the Dukhan (i.e., the platform upon which the Levites stood during the singing of Psalms) to noble families (i.e., free from any taint of illegitimacy) and not to the enjoyment of tithes (i.e., if they are Levites they are not only privileged to marry into Israel’s noble families, but also, a more practical benefit, to obtain the tithe which a member of that tribe is entitled to receive from the average Jew). Therefore, it is does not matter to us if they were slaves.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Arakhin
Introduction
This mishnah is a continuation of yesterday’s, which discussed the blowing of the flutes on holiday occasions.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Arakhin
בית הפגרים בית צפריא – names of noble families.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Arakhin
They were slaves of the priests, the words of Rabbi Meir. According to Rabbi Meir, it was slaves owned by priests who would play the flute.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Arakhin
ומאמאום – name of a place.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Arakhin
Rabbi Yose said: they were of families from Bet Hapegarim, Bet-Zipparya and from Emmaus, places from which priests would marry [women]. Rabbi Yose seems to think that it would not have been appropriate for slaves to fulfill such a function. Rather, people from important families, families whose daughters were able to marry priests (see Kiddushin 4:5), would play the flute. These three locations are in the region of Judea. In face, Emmaus is on my regular bike-riding route (near Latrun). Next time I’m out, I’ll try to listen for some flutists!
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Bartenura on Mishnah Arakhin
ומשיאין לכהונה – Kohanim would marry their daughters, that were from noble families of Israel. But Rabbi Yossi held that they promote one from the platform to noble families, therefore, if they were not noble families, he would not let them continue to play on the Dukhan.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Arakhin
Rabbi Hanina ben Antigonos said: they were Levites. Rabbi Hanina ben Antigonus says that just as Levites would sing, so too they were the ones to play the flute.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Arakhin
רבי חנניא בן אנטינוס אומר לוים היו – Rabbi Hananiah ben Antigonos holds that they promote one from the platform to the enjoyment of tithes, therefore, they were Levites. But they don’t dispute other than regarding those who play the musical instruments, but regarding singing by mouth, everyone agrees that only the Levites sing songs by mouth over the offering of sacrifices, as it is written (Deuteronomy 18:7): “He may serve in the name of the LORD his God [like all his fellow Levites who are there in attendance before the LORD],” what is service which is in the name of the LORD? He would say, this is the song. And the Halakha is according to Rabbi Yossi.
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