Yoma 66B

שיהא מזומן. ״עתי״⁠ — ואפילו בשבת, ״עתי״⁠ — ואפילו בטומאה.

that he should be designated the day before. The word appointed also indicates that the scapegoat is always sent away at the appointed time, and even on Shabbat. Similarly, the word appointed indicates that the scapegoat is always sent away at the appointed time, and even when the appointed man is in a state of ritual impurity.

״איש״⁠ — להכשיר את הזר. פשיטא? מהו דתימא: ״כפרה״ כתיבא ביה, קא משמע לן.

The baraita stated that the word man is mentioned to qualify a non-priest. The Talmud expresses surprise: It is obvious that a non-priest is qualified for this service; why would one have thought otherwise? The Talmud answers: Lest you say: The term atonement is written with regard to it, and atonement is achieved only through services performed by priests. Therefore, it teaches us that this atonement is not achieved through a sacrificial offering, and consequently the service may be performed even by an Israelite.

״עתי״ ואפילו בשבת. למאי הלכתא? אמר רב ששת: לומר, שאם היה חולה ⁠— מרכיבו על כתפו.

The baraita stated that the word appointed indicates that the service is performed even on Shabbat. The Talmud asks: With regard to what halakha is this stated? There is no apparent desecration of Shabbat by escorting the goat, since the halakha of Shabbat boundaries is merely Rabbinic. Rav Sheshet said: It is mentioned in order to state that if the goat were ill and could not walk the whole way, the one who escorts the goat carries it on his shoulder.

כמאן, דלא כרבי נתן. דאי רבי נתן, האמר: חי נושא את עצמו: אפילו תימא רבי נתן, חלה שאני.

The Talmud comments: In accordance with whose opinion was this stated? It is not in accordance with the opinion of R' Natan, as, if it were in accordance with the opinion of R' Natan, didn’t he say that a living being carries itself? Because a living being is lighter than dead weight, the living being is considered to be aiding the one carrying it, and therefore carrying a living being is not considered an act of prohibited labor according to Torah law. The Talmud rejects this: Even if you say that it is in accordance with the opinion of R' Natan, a living being that is ill is different. Since the goat cannot walk on its own strength, despite the fact that it is alive, all agree that the one who carries it is performing a prohibited labor.