The Gemoro says that it's a praise for the Kohanim to go in the Azoro up to their ARKUVA in blood. Is the ARKUVA the ankle or knee? If it's the knee, could it really have been that the blood was 40-50 cm deep in the entire Azoro?
Chaim Mateh, Rechovot, Israel
Shalom Chaim,
It's great to hear from you!
The most straightforward understanding of Arkuvah is indeed the knee. For further clarification on the terminology of the different parts of the leg, you might find it helpful to look at the Bartenura on Chulin 4:6.
As for the depth of the blood, while it's difficult to determine an exact measurement, the Gemara's description that the Kohanim would walk on an elevated platform does indicate that there was indeed a significant accumulation of blood, forming quite a deep pool.
May you continue to grow in Torah and Yir'as Shamayim!
Warm regards,
Yishai Rasowsky
Rav Yishai,
According to the Bartenura in Chullin 4:6, there are 3 parts of the hind leg of the animal:
(1) the lower bone that is connected to the hooves (IMHO corresponding to the human foot that is connected to its toes, i.e. from the toes until the ankle) that is called the "arkuva sold with the head",
(2) Above it is the middle bone and the "tzomess hagidim" below it, near the joint of the "arkuva sold with the head" (IMHO corresponding to the human "shoke", i.e., from the ankle until the knee),
(3) the upper bone is the "kulis" (IMHO corresponding to the human "yerech", i.e. from the knee until the hip).
According to the above, the arkuva is the ankle and not the knee.
Please clarify.
Thanks and kol tuv,
Chaim
Shalom Chaim,
I very much appreciate your follow-up and your careful analysis. Because of your insightful comments, I looked more closely into this issue, and it seems that my earlier statement was not correct.
One gets the impression from a number of places that on the human body, Arkuvah refers to the knee. See, for example:
- Daniel 5:6 with the commentary of the Metzudas David.
- Yevamos 120b and Rambam Hilchos Yibum 4:15.
- Rashi on Avodah Zarah 17a DH a'Bei Chadayhu.
- Nidah 30b with comment of Tosfos DH Shnei Atzilav.
- Perhaps most relevant, since we are dealing with Kohanim, is the Rambam's description in Hilchos Klei ha'Mikdash toward the end of Chapter 8.
Still, the Gemara in Chulin 76a cites differing opinions regarding the meaning of the animal's Arkuvah in that Mishnah. The first opinion interprets it as the ankle, while the second identifies it as the knee. I would understand the Bartenura, reflecting the view of his teachers, adopted the first interpretation; whereas in contrast he cites the Rif and Rambam who adopted the second interpretation.
Warm regards,
Yishai Rasowsky