Chapter 93

1. His brethren saw him come down, and they came running to him. They hastened and sanctified their hands and their feet from the laver. They took the brushes and the forks, and went up to the top of the altar. The members and the cauls(535) (of the sacrifices) which were not consumed over night, they moved to the side of the altar. If the sides could not contain them, they laid them out in a closet at the ascent.

2. They commenced to bring up the ashes to the top of the heap,(536) and the heap was on the middle of the altar. Sometimes there was on it about 300 cors;(537) but in the holidays they did not clear away the ashes, since they were an honor for the altar. Never was the priest lazy in removing the ashes.

3. The priests began bringing up the fagots to arrange the fire of preparation on the altar. “Was, then, all wood allowed for preparation?” “Yes, all wood was allowed for the fire of preparation, except that of the olive and that of the vine. But these they preferred—branches of the fig-tree, of the nut, and of the pine.”

4. The priests arranged the great fire of preparation eastward, and then made an opening eastward, so that the heads of the inward fagots touched the heap on the altar. And there was a division between the fagots, that the priests might kindle the chips there.

5. The priest chose from the fagots the best figwood to arrange the second fire of preparation for the incense opposite the western horn southward. He prolonged it from the horn toward the north four cubits, reckoning for five seahs(538) of live coals, and on the Sabbath he reckoned for eight seahs of live coals. As they placed there the two cups of frankincense of the showbread. The members and cauls (of the sacrifices) which were not consumed by the fire overnight, were returned again by the priests to the great fire of preparation. And they kindled both the preparations with fire; and they came down, and entered into the chamber of hewn stone.(539)