The ones who won the privilege to clear the ashes from the Inner Altar and from the Menorah would precede, and four vessels were in their hands: the basket, the jug, and two keys. The basket is similar to a large tarkav [vessel] [made] of gold; [it] holds two kavs and a half. And the jug is similar to a large pitcher made of gold. And [regarding] the two keys, [there is] one [that he] thrusts to the armpit and one [with which he] opens quickly.

He came to the northern minor doorway. The Great Gate had two minor doorways: one on the north and one on the south. The one to the south, no man ever entered through it, and [the reason for] this is explained by [the prophet] Ezekiel (Ezekiel 44:2): “Hashem said to me, `This gate shall be closed; it shall not be opened; a man shall not come through it, because Hashem, the God of Israel, comes through it; it shall be closed.’ ” [He] took the key and opened the minor doorway [and] entered the cell, and from the cell to the Heichal, until [he] reached the Great Gate. [When] he reached the Great Gate, he removed the bolt and the locks, and opened it. The slaughterer would not slaughter, until he heard the sound of the Great Gate being opened.