Study Horayot folio 12B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
אימא סיפא: אין בין כהן משמש לכהן שעבר אלא פר יום הכפורים ועשירית האיפה. אתאן לרבי מאיר. דתניא: אירע בו פסול בכהן גדול ועבר ומינו כהן אחר תחתיו – הראשון חוזר לעבודתו, והשני כל מצות כהונה עליו, דברי רבי מאיר. [רבי יוסי אומר: ראשון חוזר לעבודתו, ושני אינו ראוי לא לכהן גדול ולא לכהן הדיוט].
Say the latter clause: The difference between a High Priest currently serving in that capacity and a former High Priest is only with regard to the bull brought by the High Priest on Yom Kippur and the tenth of an ephah meal-offering; but with regard to all other matters the two are equal. In this clause we arrive at the opinion of R' Meir, as it is taught in a baraita: If temporary disqualification befell the High Priest and he left his position and they appointed another priest in his stead, after the cause of his disqualification passes, the first priest returns to his service as High Priest. And with regard to the second priest, all of the mitzvot of the High Priesthood are still incumbent upon him; this is the statement of R' Meir. R' Yosei says: The first returns to his service, and the second is unfit to serve in either position; he may serve neither as a High Priest nor as an ordinary priest.
אמר רבי יוסי: מעשה ביוסף בן אילים מצפורי שאירע בו פסול בכהן גדול, ועבר, ומינו אחר תחתיו, ולא הניחוהו אחיו הכהנים להיות לא כהן גדול ולא כהן הדיוט. כהן גדול משום איבה, כהן הדיוט משום מעלין בקדש ואין מורידין.
The baraita continues. R' Yosei said: There was an incident involving the priest Yosef ben Eilim of Tzippori: When disqualification befell a High Priest and he left his position, the priests appointed another, Yosef ben Eilim, in his stead. And after the cause of the disqualification passed, his brothers the priests did not allow Yosef ben Eilim to serve, neither as a High Priest nor as an ordinary priest. The Talmud explains: Neither as a High Priest, due to enmity, jealousy, and bitterness that would be engendered if there were two High Priests with equal standing in the Temple. Nor as an ordinary priest, because the principle is: One elevates to a higher level in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade. Once he has served as a High Priest he cannot be restored to the position of an ordinary priest.