(a)In how many locations in the Beis-ha'Mikdash did the Kohanim keep watch?
(b)Two of these locations were the Beis-Avtinas and the Beis-ha'Nitzutz. What was the third?
(c)If the Beis-Avtinas was the room where they prepared the Ketores, what was ...
1. ... the Beis-ha'Nitzutz (see Rosh)?
2. ... the Beis-ha'Mokad? Why was it so-called?
(d)What was the significance of the guards?
(e)How do we know that it was not in order to protect the Holy Vessels?
1)
(a)The Kohanim kept watch - in three locations in the Beis-ha'Mikdash ...
(b)... in the Beis-Avtinas, in the Beis-ha'Nitzutz - and in the Beis-ha'Mokad.
(c)The Beis-Avtinas was the room where they prepared the Ketores ...
1. ... the Beis-ha'Nitzutz - was a sun-porch, open on one side. It was so-called on account of the rays of the sun that shone into it.
2. ... the Beis-ha'Mokad was - a room which contained a fire that was kept burning to warm the feet for the Kohanim, who served bare-footed on the marble floor of the Azarah.
(d)In fact - the Kohanim were guards of honor, as befits the palace of the king ...
(e)... rather than to protect the Holy Vessels, which was not necessary - based on the principle that there is no poverty in a place of wealth (the House of Hash-m).
2)
(a)In what way did the Beis-Avtinas and the Beis-ha'Nitzutz differ from the Beis ha'Mokad?
(b)Who were the Rovim who kept watch there?
2)
(a)The Beis-Avtinas and the Beis- ha'Nitzutz differed from the Beis- ha'Mokad in that - they were attics, whilst the latter was built on the ground in the form of an archway.
(b)The Rovim who kept watch there - were the young Kohanim (See Rosh).
3)
(a)The Beis-ha'Mokad was in fact a large room, surrounded by tiers of Rovdim jutting out of the wall. What were the Rovdim?
(b)How were they built?
(c)What purpose did they serve?
(d)Who slept on them?
3)
(a)The Beis-ha'Mokad was in fact a large room, surrounded by tiers of Rovdim - ledges, rows of stone benches that ran along the wall, jutting out from it ...
(b)They were staggered, wide starting from the ground, and becoming progressively narrower as they got higher ...
(c)... and they served as beds ...
(d)... for the elders of the Beis-Av who had served that day.
4)
(a)What did the Ziknei Kehunah have in their charge overnight?
(b)What is the significance of the term Beis-Av?
(c)Who served on Shabbos?
4)
(a)Overnight, the Ziknei Kehunah had in their charge - the keys of the Azarah (as will be explained in Midos).
(b)The Kohanim were divided into twenty-four Mishmaros, which served in weekly rotation. Each Mishmar - was divided into six Batei-Avos, each of which served one day of the week ...
(c)... and they all served together on Shabbos).
5)
(a)Who were the Pirchei Kehunah?
(b)Where did they sleep?
(c)Where did they place their Bigdei Kehunah, before going to sleep?
(d)Why could they not use them as cushions?
(e)In which clothes did they sleep?
5)
(a)The Pirchei Kehunah - were young Kohanim whose beards had begun to sprout, who stood guard at the Beis ha'Mokad (see Tiferes Yisrael), and ...
(b)... who slept (in turns) on the floor of the Beis-Hamokad.
(c)Before going to sleep - they would place their Bigdei Kehunah besides their heads.
(d)They could not use them as cushions - since the belt, which was made of Kil'ayim, was forbidden for their personal use (see also Tiferes Yisrael).
