Hebraic Heritage Radio Podcasts

At cockcrow, the ashes were removed from the sacrifice altar. Cockcrow is dawn. Any one of the Levites who wanted to remove the ashes would rise before dawn to bathe. The superintendant would come knock and he would say, “Let all who have bathed come and draw lots”. (Tamid 26a). The priest who drew lots to remove the ashes would first wash his hands and feet. Initially, the ashes are put beside the altar. Later the ashes are put outside of the camp. There were three camps in the wilderness Tabernacle. Similarly, there are three camps in Jerusalem. The ashes were put outside of the camp in a clean place: “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the law of the burnt offering: The burnt offering shall be on the hearth upon the altar all night until morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it. ‘Then he shall take off his garments, put on other garments, and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place. Leviticus 6:9,11 The Mount of Olives, east of Jerusalem is “outside of the cam