"You blind men,whichis more important,the offering,orthe altarthat sanctifiesthe offering?
"For sevendaysyou shall makeatonementfor the altarand consecrateit; then the altarshall be mostholy,[and] whatevertouchesthe altarshall be holy.
"You shall also consecratethem, that they may be mostholy;whatevertouchesthem shall be holy.
Ifa mancarriesholymeatin the foldof his garment,and touchesbreadwith this fold,or cookedfood,wine,oil,or any[other] food,will it becomeholy?'"And the priestsanswered,"No."
"You foolsand blind men!Whichis more important,the goldorthe templethat sanctifiedthe gold?
"And, 'Whoeverswearsby the altar,[that] is nothing,but whoeverswearsby the offeringon it, he is obligated.'
"Therefore,whoeverswearsby the altar,swears[both] by the altarand by everythingon it.
