(Mishnah): The only difference between a large (public) Bamah and a small (private) one is Korban Pesach.

The rule is, one may offer on a (small) Bamah only Nedarim and Nedavos (Korbanos brought for vows or voluntarily).

(Gemara): For three and a half years [after Reish Lakish died], R. Yochanan did not come to the Beis Midrash due to pain. At the end [of this time], R. Elazar saw in a dream that tomorrow, Sinai (R. Yochanan) will descend [to the Beis Midrash] and teach new matters.

[R. Yochanan] entered [the Beis Midrash] and said in front of them "what is the source for this true law, that Avodah was through the Bechoros [before the Mishkan was erected]?

We learn from "Ki Li Kol Bechor b'Yom Hakosi Kol Bechor b'Eretz Mitzrayim", and it says "uv'Chol Elohei Mitzrayim E'eseh Shefatim." (Pnei Moshe - Makas Bechoros proved that it is proper to serve only Hash-m, and not idolatry. Therefore, surely He took the Bechoros for His Avodah.)

Question: Before (Makas Bechoros), who did [the Avodah]?

Answer: "Va'Tikach Rivkah Es Bigdei Esav Benah ha'Gadol ha'Chamudos Asher Itah ba'Bayis" - what is ha'Chamudos? He served as Kohen Gadol.

(R. Levi): "Shavar Hash-m Mateh Resha'im" - these are the Bechoros who were first to offer to the golden calf.

Everything may be offered on a Bamah - a Behemah, Chayah, birds, big or small, male or female, Tam, but not a Ba'al Mum (i.e. missing a limb); Tahor species, but not Tamei species.

Everything offered [on a Bamah before the Mishkan was erected] was an Olah, and it did not need Hefshet v'Nitu'ach (flaying and dissecting). Nochrim nowadays may do so.

Question: What is the source for males and females?

Answer (R. Avahu citing R. Yosi bar Chaninah): "V'Es ha'Paros He'elu Olah la'Shem."

Question: What is the source for Tam, but not a Ba'al Mum?

Answer (R. Yasa): R. Lazar answered this to the Talmidim. "Mi'Kol ha'Chai mi'Kol Basar" - they must be complete in their limbs.

Mirtim (if the feathers were removed), R. Lazar resolved this. "Kol Tzipor Kol Kanaf" excludes Mirtim.

Question: What is the source for Tehorim, but not Temei'im?

Answer (R. Aba brei d'R. Papi citing R. Yehoshua of Schnin citing R. Levi): Noach learned Torah from the Torah [that he was commanded];

He said, it already says "k'Yerek Esev Nasati Lachem Es Kol" (Nochrim may eat all animals). Why did the Torah say that more Tehorim [will enter the ark]? It is for Korbanos.

Nochrim nowadays may do so. R. Ba said in the name of Rav Yehudah that it is forbidden for Yisrael to help him (to offer on a Bamah), and one may not be a Shali'ach for him.

Question (Antoninus (the Kaiser of Romi), to Rebbi): May I build a Mizbe'ach?

Answer (Rebbi): Build it, and [after offering on it] bury the rocks. (Since it was sanctified for Hash-m, people may not use it.)

Question (Antoninus): May I make Ketores [like offered in the Mikdash, to offer on it]?

Answer (Rebbi): Omit one of the ingredients.

Question: Was it not taught "Lo Sa'asu Lachem" - you may not make [for yourselves Ketores like of the Mikdash], but others (Nochrim) may make for you! (Why must he omit an ingredient?)

Answer (R. Chananyah): [Rebbi said to omit an ingredient] for R. Rumnus, whom R. sent to make it for [Antoninus].

Observation: There are matters that imply that Antoninus converted, and there are matters that imply that Antoninus did not convert!

People saw him go out with a shoe open on the bottom on Yom Kipur. (Had he converted, he would not do so!)

Rebuttal: You cannot learn from there. Even people who fear Shamayim go out with such a shoe [it is not forbidden]!

Antoninus (to Rebbi): Will you feed me from Livyasan (do righteous Nochrim have a portion in the world to come? Rebbi said "yes";

Antoninus: You said [previously] that you will not feed me from Pesach. How will you feed me from Livyasan (which has more Kedushah)?!

Rebbi: What can I do for you? Regarding Pesach it is written "Kol Arel Lo Yochal Bo." Once he heard this, he went and circumcised, and said "Rebbi, see my circumcision (if I did so properly)!"

Rebbi: I never looked at my own. Will I look at yours?!

Why is he called Rabbeinu ha'Kadosh? It is because he never looked at his Milah.

And why is Nachum called Ish Kodesh ha'Kodoshim? It is because he never looked at the form of a coin.

Inference: [Since he circumcised,] this shows that Antoninus converted.

Support: The words of Rabanan (below) show that Antoninus converted;

(R. Chizkiyah citing R. Avahu citing R. Lazar): When (Alei Tamar, below 3:2) converts come to the world to come, Antoninus will be at the head.

R. Lazar and R. Yosi ben Chaninah argued. R. Lazar says, Bnei Noach offered Shelamim. R. Yosi ben Chaninah says, Bnei Noach offered Olos.

Question (R. Lazar, against R. Yosi ben Chaninah): It says "v'Hevel Hevi Gam Hu mi'Bechoros Tzono umi'Chelvehen"! (This connotes that he offered only the Chelev, i.e. Shelamim, but not Olah, which is totally offered.)

How does R. Yosi ben Chaninah explain the verse?

Answer: [He offered] from the fat ones.

Question (R. Lazar, against R. Yosi ben Chaninah): It says "va'Yishlach Es Na'arei Bnei Yisrael v'Ya'alu Olos [va'Yizbechu Zevachim Shelamim]"!

How does R. Yosi ben Chaninah explain the verse?

Answer: Their bodies were Sheleimim (intact), without flaying and without dissection.

Question (R. Lazar, against R. Yosi ben Chaninah): It says "va'Yikach Yisro Chosen Moshe Olah u'Zevachim lEi'okim"!

How does R. Yosi ben Chaninah explain the verse?

Answer: He holds like the opinion that Yisro came after Matan Torah.

R. Chuna: Yehudah ben Rebbi and R. Yanai argue. One says that Yisro came before Matan Torah, and the other says that Yisro came after Matan Torah. I do not know who said this and who said this.

Conclusion: We learn from the following. "Va'Yishma Yisro Kohen Midyan Chosen Moshe" - what did he hear? Chizkiyah says, he heard about Kri'as Yam Suf. R. Yehoshua says, he heard about Kri'as Yam Suf. R. Levi says, he heard about the war with Amalek. Yehudah ben Rebbi says, he heard about Matan Torah;

Inference: [Yehudah ben Rebbi] holds that Yisro came after Matan Torah.

(R. Ba and R. Chiyah citing R. Yochanan): The following supports R. Yosi ben Chaninah. It says "Uri Tzafon u'Vo'i Seiman" - Uri Tzafon is Olah, which is slaughtered in the north. What is Uri? It is something that was sleeping (Olah applied even before Matan Torah), and woke;

"U'Vo'i Seiman" are Shelamim, which are slaughtered [even] in the south. Why does it say 'Vo'i'? This is a Chidush (only now we may offer Shelamim)!

How does R. Yosi ben Chaninah explain the verse?

Answer: When the exiles, who are in the north, will be aroused and they will come and build the Beis ha'Mikdash, which is in the south.

(R. Aba brei d'R. Papi citing R. Yehoshua of Sichni citing R. Levi): Also the following verse supports R. Yosi ben Chaninah - "Zos Toras ha'Olah Hi ha'Olah" (it is known) for Bnei Noach offered it...

And when it comes to Shelamim, it says "Zos Toras Zevach ha'Shelamim" - it does not say "Asher Hikriv", rather, "Asher Yakriv", from now and onwards.

Where are Parim ha'Nisrafim and Se'irim ha'Nisrafim [that were offered on a Bamah] burned? It is even over a grave (a Tamei place, unlike those offered in the Mikdash).

Source: We learn from our Mishnah - the only difference between a Bamah Gedolah and a Bamah Ketanah is Pesachim. (Both are Kosher for Parim and Se'irim ha'Nisrafim.)

Our Mishnah says that the only difference between a Bamah Gedolah and a Bamah Ketanah is Pesachim alone. It is unlike R. Yehudah, for R. Yehudah says that Chatas and Pesach are offered for an individual on a Bamah Gedolah, but Chatas and Pesach are not offered for an individual on a Bamah Ketanah. (He holds that they differ also about Chatas Yachid.)