A Zeman Nakat Project
From the Omer to Shavuos · Mishnah 34 of 43 · Interactive Edition
Movement III·C · Political Battle, Distribution, and Divine Protection
34 · סֻכָּה ה:ז · Sukkah 5:7
בִּשְׁלשָׁה פְרָקִים בַּשָּׁנָה הָיוּ כָּל מִשְׁמָרוֹת שָׁווֹת בְּאֵמוּרֵי הָרְגָלִים וּבְחִלּוּק לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים.
בַּעֲצֶרֶת אוֹמְרִים לוֹ, הֵילָךְ מַצָּה הֵילָךְ חָמֵץ.
מִשְׁמָר שֶׁזְּמַנּוֹ קָבוּעַ — הוּא מַקְרִיב תְּמִידִין, נְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת וּשְׁאָר קָרְבְּנוֹת צִבּוּר, וּמַקְרִיב אֶת הַכֹּל.
יוֹם טוֹב הַסָּמוּךְ לְשַׁבָּת, בֵּין מִלְּפָנֶיהָ בֵּין מִלְּאַחֲרֶיהָ — הָיוּ כָל הַמִּשְׁמָרוֹת שָׁווֹת בְּחִלּוּק לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים.
At three times during the year all [24] priestly watches [Mishmaros] were equal in the Festival offerings and Lechem HaPanim distribution. At Shavuos [when it coincides with Shabbat] the distributor says: "Here is matzah for you, here is chametz for you." The scheduled Mishmar brings all the Tamidim, vow offerings, free-will offerings, and communal offerings. When a Festival falls adjacent to Shabbat — whether before it or after it — all Mishmaros were equal in the Lechem HaPanim distribution.
Green — Equal sharing
Red — The announcement (matzah/chametz)
Purple — Condition (before or after Shabbos)
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Normal distribution vs. Festival distribution
Normal Shabbat — two Mishmaros share
לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים — שְׁנֵי מִשְׁמָרוֹת
Each week, the outgoing Mishmar and the incoming Mishmar share the Lechem HaPanim equally — 6 loaves each. All other 22 Mishmaros receive nothing from that week's bread distribution.
Festival — all 24 Mishmaros share equally
בָּרְגָלִים — כָּל מִשְׁמָרוֹת שָׁווֹת
At the three Regalim (Pesach, Shavuos, Sukkot) all 24 Mishmaros receive equal shares. The Shtei HaLechem on Shavuos is a Chovas HaRegel — a Festival obligation — so all 24 watches share it, not just the scheduled two.
The most unusual moment in the Temple calendar — Shavuos on Shabbat
הֵילָךְ מַצָּה — הֵילָךְ חָמֵץ
When Shavuos falls on Shabbat, two bread distributions happen simultaneously — the Lechem HaPanim (matzah, from the previous Shabbat's baking) and the Shtei HaLechem (chametz, the Festival's new wheat offering). One Kohein distributes to each arriving Kohein: "Here is matzah for you — here is chametz for you." Both are handed to the same person in the same moment. This is the only time in the Temple calendar where two bread distributions — one matzah, one chametz — occur simultaneously for all 24 Mishmaros. The Mishnat Eretz Yisrael notes that the phrase may be repeated (as a ceremonial doubling, consistent with the repetition patterns seen throughout Temple service).
What the Shtei HaLechem's status as Chovas HaRegel means
Korban type
Who brings it
Distribution
Tamidim and weekly Korbanos
Scheduled Mishmar only
Scheduled Mishmar only
Lechem HaPanim (weekly)
Scheduled Mishmar
Outgoing + incoming only
Shtei HaLechem (Shavuos)
Scheduled Mishmar
All 24 Mishmaros equally
Position in the Omer to Shavuos arc — 43 mishnayos
Preceding · Mishnah 33
Shekalim 1:4
The Kohanic argument and RYbZ's refutation — who owns the Shtei HaLechem?
Current · Mishnah 34
Sukkah 5:7 — All 24 Mishmaros Share
Movement III·C
If mishnah 33 established who owns the Shtei HaLechem (the Tzibbur, not the Kohanim), this mishnah shows how it is distributed: equally among all 24 Mishmaros, because it is a Chovas HaRegel — every Kohein in EY has a share. The scene of simultaneous matzah and chametz distribution when Shavuos falls on Shabbat is one of the most vivid moments in the Temple's calendar.
Following · Mishnah 35
Menachos 11:9
Eating windows — 2 or 3 days for the two loaves; 9–11 days for the Lechem HaPanim