OR [IF HE SACRIFICED] TURTLE-DOVES BEFORE THEIR TIME OR PIGEONS AFTER THEIR TIME; (1) [OR A BIRD] WHOSE WING WAS WITHERED, [OR] BLIND IN THE EYE. [OR] WHOSE FOOT WAS CUT OFF, — [ALL THESE] DEFILE IN THE GULLET. THIS IS THE GENERAL RULE: ALL WHOSE UNFITNESS [AROSE] IN THE SANCTUARY (2) DO NOT DEFILE IN THE GULLET; IF THEIR UNFITNESS DID NOT ARISE IN THE SANCTUARY, THEY DEFILE IN THE GULLET. GEMARA. Rab said: [If they were nipped with] the left [hand] or at night, they do not defile in the gullet; [by] a Zar or [with] a knife, they do defile in the gullet. Why is the left [hand] different; [presumably] because it is fit on the Day of Atonement; and likewise night is fit in respect of [the burning of] the limbs and the fats; (3) then surely a Zar too is fit for shechitah? (4) — Shechitah is not a [sacrificial] rite. (5) Is it not? Surely R. Zera said: Shechitah of the [red] heifer by a Zar is invalid, and Rab observed thereon: [The reason is because] ‘Eleazar’ and ‘statute’ [are written in connection with it]? (6) — The [red] heifer is different, because it is of the holy things of the Temple repair. Does it not then follow a fortiori; if the holy things of the Temple repair require priesthood, surely the holy objects dedicated to the altar require priesthood? — Said R. Shisha the son of R. Idi: Let it be analogous to the inspection of [leprous] plagues, which is not a rite, and yet requires priesthood. (7) But let us learn it from the high places? (8) — One cannot learn from the high places. (9) Can one not? Surely it was taught: How do we know that if [flesh] which went out ascended [the altar], it does not descend? Because [flesh that] goes out is fit at the high places! — The Tanna relies on the text, This is the law of the burnt-offering. (10) But R. Johanan maintained: [If a] Zar [performed melikah] it does not defile in the gullet; [if melikah was done with] a knife, it does defile in the gullet. We learnt: [IN REGARD TO] ALL UNFIT PERSONS WHO PERFORMED MELIKAH, THE MELIKAH IS INVALID. As for R. Johanan, it is well: ALL includes a zar; (11) but according to Rab, what does ALL include? — It is surely to include [melikah with] the left [hand] and [at] night. [But] the left [hand] and night are explicitly taught? — He [the Tanna] teaches and then explains. (12) Come and hear: THIS IS THE GENERAL RULE: ALL WHOSE UNFITNESS [AROSE] IN THE SANCTUARY DO NOT DEFILE GARMENTS [WHEN THE FLESH OF THE BIRD IS] IN THE GULLET. (13) As for R. Johanan, it is well: ALL includes a Zar. But according to Rab, what does it include?

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(1). ↑ Only fully grown turtle-doves or young pigeons might be sacrificed. Otherwise they are not eligible, and therefore it is as though he nipped hullin.
(2). ↑ Birds which were brought to the Temple court fit, and there became unfit.
(3). ↑ On the Day of Atonement the spoon containing incense was taken with the left hand. The limbs and fats of sacrifices were burnt at night. Thus in two instances the left hand and night are fit for service, and presumably for that reason he rules that even in the present case, though they are not fit, they free them from uncleanness.
(4). ↑ An animal sacrifice might be slaughtered by a Zar.
(5). ↑ Whereas the taking of the spoon and the burning of the limbs are sacrificial rites.
(6). ↑ Cf. Num. XIX, 2.
(7). ↑ For notes v. supra 14b.
(8). ↑ Where a Zar might perform melikah (v. infra 113a). By the same reasoning melikah by a Zar even in the Temple should free the bird from defilement.
(9). ↑ Because by comparison with the Temple they were non-sacred.
(10). ↑ Lev. VI, 2. For notes v. supra 51a. He does not really learn it from the high places at all.
(11). ↑ It is a general principle that ‘all’ is an extension.
(12). ↑ First he states the law in general, and then he explains who are meant in the word ALL.
(13). ↑ ‘Garments’ is absent in the Mishnah.