1:26: They cast lots for them.
As long as the temple remained, decisions by lot were commonplace in
temple service. Thus, not only were the two goats of the Day of Atonement
determined by lota (see Lev 16:8ff.), but also the individual
ministries in the temple were distributed by lot to the members of the priestly
division on duty.b
a. Mishnah Yoma 3.9: The high priest stood
on the east side of the court to the north of the altar for the burnt
offerings, the prefect of the priesthood on his right, and the head of the
priestly division on his left. There were two goats, and an urn in which two
lots גוֹרָלוֹת made of boxwood resided. Ben Gamla
(probably = Joshua b. Gamla, who was high priest around 63–65 CE) had them made
of gold and because of this he was remembered with honor. ‖ Mishnah Yoma 4.1:
The high priest shook (the lots) in the urn and pulled out both lots. On the
one was it was written, “For God” (לַשֵּׁם,
literally, “For the name,” i.e., for Yahweh), and on the other it was written,
“For Azazel.” When the lot “for the name” was in his right hand, the prefect of
the priesthood said to him, “My lord high priest, lift up your right hand!” And
when it came out in his left hand, the prefect of the priesthood on duty said
to him, “My lord high priest, lift up your left hand!” Then he laid them on the
two goats and said, “A sin offering for Yahweh!” R. Ishmael († ca. 135) said,
“He did not need to say, ‘A sin offering,’ but only, ‘For Yahweh.’ But they
(the onlookers) answered afterward, ‘Blessed be the name of his glorious
kingdom forever and ever!’ ”—Parallel passages can be found in t. Yoma 2.2
(183); 3.1, 2 (185).
b. Mishnah Yoma 2.2: Four lotteries פְּיָסוֹת (sg. פַיִס;
verb הֵפִיס to draw lots) took place there (in the
temple on a daily basis). ‖ The first lottery. Mishnah Yoma 1.2: Those (among
the priests) who wished to clean the altar got up early and immersed themselves
before the prefect הַמְמֻנֶה
(in charge of the lottery) came. At what time did the prefect come? Not all
times were the same (in this respect). Sometimes he came when the rooster
crowed or close to that time, either a little before or after. The prefect
would come and knock on their door, and they would open the door for him. He
said to them, “Let whoever has immersed himself come and draw lots!” They drew
lots and it was determined who won (by lot).—See m. Yoma 2.1, 2.—The second
lottery. Mishnah Yoma 3.1: The prefect said to them, “Come and draw lots for
(1) he who slaughters, (2) he who sprinkles the blood, (3) he who removes the
ashes from the inner altar, (4) he who removes the ashes from the candlestick,
(5–10) he who removes the offerings from the ramp (which led up to the altar of
the burnt offerings), namely (5) the head and the (right) hind foot, (6) the
two front feet, (7) the tail (coccyx, lowest vertebra of the backbone) and the
(left) hind foot, (8) the chest and the neck, (9) the two sides, (10) the
bowels, (whoever is to bring them to the altar), (11) the fine flour and (12)
the cakes (of the high priest; see Lev 6:12ff.), and (13) the wine. It (each
service) was obtained by whoever obtained it (by lot).”—Parallel passages can
be found in m. Yoma 2.3 and in t. Yoma 1.13 (181), which has differing
traditions about the 13 lots.—The third lottery. Mishnah Tamid 5.2: The prefect
said to them, “Those who are new to the incense offering (i.e., priests who
have never offered incense before), come and draw lots!” They drew lots, and it
was determined by lot who received this service.—A parallel passage can be
found in m. Yoma 2.4. The fourth lottery. Mishnah Tamid 5.2: The prefect said
to them, “Those who are new along with those who have experience, come and draw
lots for who will bring the offerings from the ramp to the altar.”—A parallel
passage can be found in m. Yoma 2.4. ‖ In the list of the 15 temple officers
and their prefect, it is said in m. Šeqal. 5.1 with respect to the drawing of
lots: Matthew b. Samuel was placed in charge of the lots הפיסות. ‖ The lottery itself is described in t. Yoma 1.10 (181) in the
following way: How did they cast lots? They went into the rectangular halls and
stood around as if in the shape of a snail. The prefect came and took the cap
(turban) of one of them. By this action, they all recognized that the lottery
began with this one. [A high number was mentioned, which was far greater than
the number of the priests gathered together. The priest whose cap the prefect
took began counting, and each counted one by one after him. Whoever landed on
the number mentioned by the priest was chosen by lot (see Rashi on b. Yoma
22A). During the counting, each priest had to raise a finger.] They were not
permitted to raise two fingers, but only one at a time. Those among them who were
alone (because of illness or weakness) were allowed to stretch out two fingers,
but the excess was not counted.—The same is said as a baraita in b. Yoma 25A.
(Hermann L. Strack and Paul Billerbeck, A Commentary on the New
Testament from the Talmud and Midrash, ed. Jacob N. Cerone, 4 vols. [trans.
Andrew Bowden and Joseph Longarino; Bellingham, Wash.: Lexham Press, 2022], 2:686-87)
