Yoma 15B

אגופיה דמזבח, דכתיב: ״וכעצם השמים לטהר״.

Rather, tohoro means on top of the altar itself, as it is written: “Like the very sky for purity [latohar]” (Exodus 24:10). Tohoro refers to the top of the altar after the ashes of the incense are cleared and the pure gold is visible.

מאי שנא דיהיב עולה ברישא והדר יהיב דחטאת? ניתיב ברישא דחטאת, והדר ניתיב דעולה! כיון דעולה היא, היא קדמה ברישא.

The Talmud returns to the opinion of R' Shimon IshHaMitzpa: What is different that he says to sprinkle in accordance with the procedure of the burnt-offering first and then sprinkle in accordance with the procedure that is used for the sin-offering? Let us first sprinkle in accordance with the procedure that is used for the sin-offering and then let us sprinkle in accordance with the procedure that is used for the burnt-offering. The Talmud answers: Since the daily offering is a burnt-offering, that procedure takes precedence, and it is followed by the sin-offering.

ומאי שנא דיהיב מזרחית צפונית, ומערבית דרומית, ניתיב דרומית מזרחית, והדר צפונית מערבית! אמרי: עולה טעונה יסוד, וקרן דרומית מזרחית לא הוה ליה יסוד.

The Talmud asks: What is different that he says to sprinkle first on the northeast corner of the altar and then on the southwest corner? Let him sprinkle first on the southeast corner and then on the northwest corner. The rabbis say: That is because the blood of the burnt-offering requires sprinkling on the side of the altar with a base, as it is stated: “On the base of the altar of burnt-offering” (Leviticus 4:18) and the southeast corner did not have a base. Therefore, the sprinkling was performed on the northeast corner, where part of the base of the altar was located.

מאי שנא דיהיב ברישא מזרחית צפונית והדר מערבית דרומית? ניתיב ברישא מערבית דרומית והדר מזרחית צפונית! כיון דאמר מר כל פינות שאתה פונה ⁠— לא יהו אלא דרך ימין למזרח, ברישא בההוא פגע.

The Talmud asks: What is different that he says to sprinkle first on the northeast corner of the altar and then on the southwest corner? Let him sprinkle first on the southwest corner and then on the northeast corner. The Talmud answers that it is since the Master said: All turns that you turn should be only to the right. With regard to certain offerings sacrificed when the priest is on the south side of the altar, he would turn to the east, which was to his right. Since the animal to be offered is slaughtered to the north of the altar, he first sprinkles blood at the corner that he encounters first.