The Nature of the Altar

A new Mishna teaches us that the nature of the altar effectively alters the process of sacrifice.  Certain unfit items are sacrificed once they have been placed on the altar.  Rabbi Yehoshua says that any item suited to be consumed by the fire on the altar are sacrificed.  What does it mean to be “suited for the altar”? Leviticus (52) seems to point us toward the idea that some things should be burned in fire. Rabban Gamliel says that  things that ascend would not descend.   As well, Rabban Gamliel says that if it ascended, is should not descent.  

The Mishna notes that the difference between Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Yehoshua only regards disqualified blood and libations which do no ascend onto the altar but are not consumed by fire.  Rabban Gamliel says that they should not descend because they are fit to ascend, and Rabban Yehoshua says that they should not descend because they are they are not burned on the altar.

Rabbi Shimon adds that whether the offering was fit and the libations were unfit (became ritually impure or were brought outside their designated area) or whether the libations were fit and the offering was unfit, the offering is rendered

Rabbi Shimon says:n Whether the offering was fit and the accompanying libations were unfit,  e.g., if they became ritually impure or they were brought outside their designated area, or whether the libations were fit and the offering was unfit, rendering the libation unfit as well. In that case the offering should not go down, because it was sanctified by the altar.  The libations, however, should descend.  This Mishna is discussed in today’s daf.