Translation:Talmud/Seder Kodashim/Tractate Tamid/2a

Mishnah

IN THREE PLACES THE PRIESTS KEEP WATCH IN THE TEMPLE,2 IN THE CHAMBER OF ABTINAS,3 IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SPARK,4 AND IN THE FIRE CHAMBER.5 IN THE CHAMBER OF ABTINAS AND IN THE CHAMBER OF THE SPARK THERE WERE UPPER CHAMBERS WHERE THE YOUTHS6 KEPT WATCH. THE FIRE CHAMBER WAS VAULTED.7 IT WAS A LARGE ROOM SURROUNDED WITH STONE PROJECTIONS,8 AND THE ELDERS OF THE BETH AB9 USED TO SLEEP THERE,10 HAVING WITH THEM THE KEYS OF THE AZARAH. THE PRIESTLY NOVITIATES11 USED TO PLACE EACH ONE HIS PILLOW12 ON THE GROUND.13 THEY DID NOT SLEEP IN THEIR SACRED GARMENTS, BUT THEY USED TO TAKE THEM OFF [AND FOLD THEM]14 AND PLACE THEM UNDER THEIR HEADS AND COVER THEMSELVES WITH THEIR OWN ORDINARY CLOTHES. IF AN ACCIDENT15 HAPPENED TO ONE OF THEM, HE USED TO GO OUT AND TAKE HIS WAY