The first of the first is the most superior. The second of the first and the first of the second are equal. The third of the first, the second of the second, and the first of the third are equal. The third of the second and the second of the third are equal. The third of the third is the most inferior. One could deduce that the minchah-offerings should also require pure olive oil; if the menorah, which is not for consumption, requires pure olive oil, surely the minchah-offerings, which are for consumption, should require pure olive oil. Therefore, Scripture teaches: pure, beaten for the light — but not pure, beaten for the minchah-offerings.

And from where did they bring the wine? Kerusim and Hattulim are the preferred areas for wine. Second to them are Beth Rimah and Beth Lavan in the highland and Kefar Signah in the valley. All lands are valid, but they would bring from these. We do not bring either from a fertilized field, or from an irrigated field, or from those [vines] between which vegetation grew; but if one brought, it is valid. We do not bring from Elioston wine, but if one brought, it is valid. We do not bring from old [wine]; [these are] the words of Rabbi. But the Sages declare [it] fit. We do not bring either sweetened [wine], or smoked, or cooked; and if one brought, it is invalid. We do not bring from espaliers but only from trailing vines and from well-cultivated vineyards.

They did not store it in large casks but rather in small barrels, and one does not fill the barrel to its rim so that it should be aromatic. One does not bring from its mouth because of the mold, nor from its bottom because of the sediment. Rather, one brings from the middle third and from its middle. How does he check? The treasurer sits with the reed in his hand. [When] it exuded the vein [of sediment], he struck with the reed. R’ Yose bar R’ Yehudah says: Wine in which mold developed is unfit, as it is stated (Num. 28:19-20, 31): Unblemished they shall be for you and their minchah-offerings; unblemished they shall be for you and their libations.

1. There were two dry measures in the Temple: the issaron and the half-issaron. R’ Meir says: An issaron, an issaron, and a half issaron. What was the function of the issaron? All minchah-offerings were measured in it. One did not measure with [one of] three [essronos] for the bull, nor with [one of] two [essronos] for the ram; rather, he measured them by the issaron. What was the function of the half-issaron? The chavitin of the Kohen Gadol were measured in it, half in the morning and half in the afternoon.