Zevachim Daf 53 זבחים דַף 53

The next Mishnah details the avodah of an outer חטאת, both of the ציבור (e.g., מוספין) and a יחיד. Its blood requires four applications on the four קרנות, which are performed by the Kohen walking up the ramp, turning to his right to the סובב - ledge, and applying blood to each קרן as he encircled the מזבח. Rebbe Elazar and Rebbe Yochanan debate how this was performed. One says: נותן אמה אילך ואמה אילך – he may place it up to an amah away from the edge on this side, and up to an amah away on that side (i.e., it may be placed within an אמה of the edge on either side). The other says: מחטא ויורד כנגד חודו של קרן – he applies the blood by running his finger downward down the edge of the corner, parallel to the edge of the horn above. The Gemara clarifies that according to Rebbe Elazar bar Rebbe Shimon, who holds היא עצמה אינה נעשית אלא בגופה של קרן – its very [mitzvah] is only done on the horn itself, all agree that it can be applied anywhere on the קרן, not just the edge. They argue according to Rebbe, who holds the blood may be applied below the קרן, above the חוט הסיקרא.

The next Mishnah details the avodah of an עולה, first stating it is קדשי קדשים (this is mentioned because it is not called קדשי קדשים in the Torah, in contrast to חטאות and אשמות). Still, it is קדשי קדשים, since it is entirely burned on the מזבח. An עולה’s blood is thrown as שתי מתנות שהן ארבע – “two applications which are equal to four.” Rav explains: נותן וחוזר ונותן – he applies (i.e., throws) the blood on one side of the corner, and again applies it on the other side, totaling four applications. Shmuel says: מתנה אחת כמין גמא נותן – he makes a single application in the shape of a gamma, by throwing the blood against the two corners, which spreads to each wall (thus, the blood reaches all four walls). This parallels a machlokes Tannaim in a Baraisa, where the Tanna Kamma says that the terms "סביב" – all around, and "וזרקו" – they shall “throw” it (which cannot entirely encircle the מזבח) requires two זריקות on diagonally opposite corners which spreads blood to all four sides. Rebbe Yishmael derives from a gezeirah shavah (סביב סביב) from חטאת to require פיסוק וארבע מתנות – four distinct applications. Still, since the עולה’s blood requires a יסוד, and the southeast corner has none, these four זריקות must be made at two opposite corners.

Rebbe Elazar explains why the southeast corner of the מזבח lacked a יסוד: לפי שלא היתה בחלקו של טורף – because it was not in the portion of “the one who tears” (referring to Binyomin, described in a passuk as “a wolf which will tear”). Although the מזבח was in Binyomin’s portion, מזבח אוכל בחלקו של יהודה אמה – the mizbeiach eats into Yehudah’s portion an amah’s width, i.e., the space of the potential יסוד on the south and east sides, so no יסוד was made there. A strip of land extended from Yehudah’s portion along the מזבח, והיה בנימין הצדיק מצטער עליה בכל יום לנוטלה – and Binyomin the Righteous was pained about it every day to take it, as the passuk says "חופף עליו כל היום" – he agonizes over it all day. לפיכך זכה בנימין הצדיק ונעשה אושפיזכן להקב"ה – Therefore, Binyomin merited to become host to Hashem (that the ארון is in his portion), as the passuk says: ובין כתפיו שכן – and He rests between his shoulders.