Yoma 35a — the Talmud in English

Gemara:

We learned in the Mishna: They brought him to the Parva Chamber.

And we explain:

What is Parva?

Rav Yosef said: Parva

is

an amgusha,

a sorcerer. For a sorcerer built this chamber, and it was named after him. We learned in the Mishna:

They spread a linen sheet

between him and the people.

And we inquire about it:

What is different

—in what way is a sheet preferable—

of linen

to other sheets?

Rav Kahana said: So that he would recognize

[so that he would have a sign] and remember

that the service of the day is in linen garments,

and not in gold garments, which he is accustomed to wear every day.

We learned in the Mishna: And the Sages say:

In the morning he would wear

[linen garments from the land of]

Pelusium

of eighteen

maneh. And between the evenings, [the Indian ones,] of twelve maneh. In total, thirty maneh.

And we raise an objection:

And

so the

tanna—

did he come to inform us of an enumeration?!

Did the tanna come to inform us that eighteen plus twelve equals thirty? And are we unable to make this calculation ourselves?!

And we answer:

This comes to teach us

, this matter comes to teach us: that the Sages were not particular that the morning garments be worth exactly eighteen maneh, and likewise that the garments between the evenings be worth exactly twelve maneh. Rather, they were particular

that we should not make [them] for less than these,

that he should not make [them] for less than thirty maneh in total.

And it follows:

But if [one set is] less than these,

if the value of the morning garments was reduced below eighteen maneh,

and [the other set is] more than these,

and he added to those between the evenings more than twelve maneh—

we have no concern with it!

We are not particular about the matter, since the total value of the garments is thirty maneh [provided that the morning garments are worth more than the garments between the evenings. Rosh, Meiri].

In any event, it is explained in the words of the Mishna that

everyone

[Rabbi Meir and the Sages] agrees with this matter,

at least

,

that

the

morning garments are superior

—better than those between the evenings.

And we inquire about it:

From where do we know

, from where do we know this matter?

Rav Huna, son of Rav Ilai, said: The verse says

[Leviticus 16:4], concerning the wearing of the white garments in the morning: “A tunic

of linen

of holiness he shall wear. And linen trousers

of linen

shall be upon his flesh, and with a sash

of linen

he shall gird himself, and with a turban

of linen

he shall wrap himself.”

Why was “linen” mentioned four times in the verse? To tell you that the morning garments shall be of

the choicest

of

linen

[that is, more choice than those between the evenings].