The elders of the father's house sleep on the tiers, the young kohanim on the ground, each on his own cover, like the guards in the courts of kings. These young men are old enough to serve; younger ones are called “rovim” and keep watch elsewhere. No one sleeps in his priestly garments: they are folded and laid by the head, and each covers himself with his own cloak.
Dimensions
- four elders' beds on the tiers, on the 'hol side
- four young kohanim's beds on the ground, near the fires
- woollen cover and cushion
Sources
- Tamid 1:1“וְזִקְנֵי בֵית אָב יְשֵׁנִים שָׁם, וּמַפְתְּחוֹת הָעֲזָרָה בְּיָדָם. וּפִרְחֵי כְהֻנָּה אִישׁ כִּסְתּוֹ בָאָרֶץ”
- Tamid 1:1“לֹא הָיוּ יְשֵׁנִים בְּבִגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ, אֶלָּא פוֹשְׁטִין וּמְקַפְּלִין וּמַנִּיחִים אוֹתָן תַּחַת רָאשֵׁיהֶן, וּמִתְכַּסִּין בִּכְסוּת עַצְמָן”
- Bartenura Middot 1:8“שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ רַשָּׁאִים לִשְׁכַּב שָׁם עַל גַּבֵּי מִטּוֹת אֶלָּא בָּאָרֶץ, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁשּׁוֹמְרֵי חַצְרוֹת הַמְּלָכִים עוֹשִׂים”
- Tamid 27a“הָכָא, דְּמָטוּ לְהוּ לְמֶעְבַּד עֲבוֹדָה – קָרֵי לְהוּ ״פִּרְחֵי״”
- Tosafot Yom Tov Tamid 1:1“וזקני בית אב ישנים שם. בחציה שבחול”
Project decisionAdopted: the elders in the 'hol half (Tosafot Yom Tov), and the young men too, whom night-time impurity befalls more often (Lechem Shamayim on Tamid 1:1). Not modelled: the folded garments, which are worn by day. Tour's choice: the number of beds and their places.