Chapter IX
1. He who was legally unclean, or in a journey afar off, and did not keep the first, must keep the second (passover). “He mistook it, or was constrained by force, and did not keep the first?” “He must keep the second.” “If so, why is it said unclean[177] or in a journey afar off?” “Because such persons are free from being cut off, but those bound to observe it are to be cut off if they neglect it.”
2. What is a “journey afar off?” “From Modiim[178] and outward; and so is the measure from Jerusalem on every side.” The words of Rabbi Akiba; Rabbi Eleazar said, “from the threshold of the temple-court and outward.” Said R. José, “for this reason there is a dot on the ‘he,’ to explain not that it is really afar off, but that one is afar off from the threshold of the temple-court and outward.”
3. “What is the difference between the first and second passover?” “The first passover forbids leaven to be seen or found; but the second allows unleavened and leavened bread in one's house.” The first passover requires hallel[179] during eating, but the second does not require hallel during eating. [pg 103] Both require hallel in their preparations, and the paschal sacrifices must be eaten roasted on unleavened bread with bitter herbs, and they both abrogate the Sabbath.
4. “The passover-offering which was brought during legal uncleanness?” “The man or woman with an issue may not eat of it, nor she in separation or in childbirth. But if they eat they are free from being cut off.” Rabbi Eleazar “frees them even in going into the sanctuary.”
5. “What is the difference between the passover of Egypt and the passover of succeeding generations?” “The passover of Egypt was taken on the tenth day,[180] and required the sprinkling with a bunch of hyssop on the lintel and the two side posts, and was eaten with haste in one night; but the passover of succeeding generations exists the whole seven days.”
6. Said R. Joshua, “I once heard that the substitute[181] of the passover-offering can be sacrificed, and that the substitute of the passover-offering cannot be sacrificed, I have no one to explain.” Said R. Akiba, “I will explain: the passover-offering, which was found (after being lost) before the time for slaughtering its substitute, may be pastured till it be blemished, and it can be sold, and the owner can take for its price peace-offerings, and so also for its substitute. After the time for slaughtering the passover-offering its substitute may be offered for a peace-offering, and so can also its substitute.”
7. “He who set apart a ewe for his passover, or a male of two years?” “He may pasture it till it be blemished. And he can sell it, and its price may be used for a free-will offering.” “He who selected his passover, and afterward died?” “His son must not offer it after him with the intention of a passover, but he may offer it with the intention of a peace-offering.”
8. “The passover-offering which was mixed up with other sacrifices?” “All must be pastured till they be blemished, and they must be sold, and the offerer must bring the price of the best of this kind and the price of the best of that kind, and the loss he must make up from his private means.” “The passover-offering which was mixed up with first-borns?” [pg 104] Rabbi Simon said, “if there be companies of priests they may eat it.”