Study Taanit folio 27B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
וחלקום והעמידום על עשרים וארבעה, בללום ונתנום בקלפי. בא ידעיה ונטל חלקו וחלק חבריו שש, בא חרים ונטל חלקו וחלק חבריו שש, וכן פשחור, וכן אימר.
and divided them and established them as 24 watches. They achieved this by writing the names of these new 24 watches on pieces of paper, mixing them up, and putting them in a receptacle [kalfei] from which lots were drawn. A representative from the family of Jedaiah came and drew his portion and the lot of 5 other watches, for a total of 6. Harim came and also drew his portion and the lot of 5 other watches, a total of 6. And likewise Pashhur, and likewise Immer.
וכן התנו נביאים שביניהם: שאפילו יהויריב ראש משמרת עולה — לא ידחה ידעיה ממקומו. אלא ידעיה עיקר, ויהויריב טפל לו.
And likewise the prophets among them stipulated that even if the descendants of Jehoiarib, who originally headed the priestly watches, ascended to Eretz Yisrael, Jedaiah would not be demoted from its place as the first of the watches. Rather, the watch of Jedaiah would retain precedence, and Jehoiarib would be subordinate to it.
וישראל שבאותו משמר מתכנסין בעריהן וקורין במעשה בראשית. מנהני מילי? אמר רבי יעקב בר אחא אמר רב אסי: אלמלא מעמדות לא נתקיימו שמים וארץ, שנאמר: ״ויאמר ה׳ אלהים במה אדע כי אירשנה״,
§ The Mishnah taught: And the Israelites of that priestly watch assembled in their towns and read the act of Creation. The Talmud asks: From where is this matter, that they must read this specific portion, derived? R' Ya’akov bar Aḥa said that Rav Asi said: Were it not for the non-priestly watches and the Temple service, heaven and earth would not continue to exist, as it is stated: “And he said: YHWH God, by what should I know that I should inherit it?” (Genesis 15:8).
אמר אברהם: רבונו של עולם! שמא ישראל חוטאין לפניך, אתה עושה להם כדור המבול וכדור הפלגה? אמר ליה: לאו. אמר לפניו: רבונו של עולם! הודיעני במה אירשנה? אמר ליה: ״קחה לי עגלה משלשת ועז משלשת וגו׳״.
The Talmud explains this verse. Abraham said: God! perhaps the Jews will sin before You. Will You treat them as You did the Generation of the Flood and the Generation of the Dispersion, and destroy them? God said to him: No. Abraham said before God: God! tell me, with what should I inherit it? How can my descendants ensure that You will maintain the world? God said to Abraham: “Take for Me a 3-year-old heifer, and a 3-year-old goat, and a 3-year-old ram, and a turtledove, and a young pigeon” (Genesis 15:9). God was alluding to the offerings, in whose merit the Jewish people, and through them the entire world, will be spared divine punishment.