perverse doings, and their transgressions, and
their sins, which they have perversely committed, and transgressed, and
sinned before thee. Thy people the house of Israel, as is written in the
law of Moses Thy servant, saying, 'For on that day shall he make an
atonement for you to cleanse you from all your sins; before the LORD ye
shall be pure.'(228) And the priests and the people who stood in the
court, on hearing the Name clearly pronounced by the mouth of the High
Priest, knelt and worshipped, and fell on their faces and said, 'BLESSED
BE THE NAME. THE HONOR OF HIS KINGDOM FOREVER AND EVER.' "

3. They delivered (the goat) to his conductor. All were eligible for
conducting him. But the great priests made a rule, and they did not permit
Israel to lead him forth. Said R. Joseph, "it occurred that Arsela of
Zippori led him forth, and he was an Israelite."

4. And they made steps(229) for him by reason of the Babylonians,(230) who
plucked off his hair and said to him, "take and go, take and go." The
nobles of Jerusalem escorted him to the first booth. There were ten booths
from Jerusalem to Zuk,(231)--ninety stadia--seven and a half to every mile.

5. At every booth they said to him, "there is food, there is water," and
they escorted him from booth to booth, except the last. For they came not
with him to Zuk, but stood afar off and saw his acts.

6. "What did he do?" "His conductor divided the tongue of brightness (iv.
2). Half he twisted on the rock, and half he twisted between his horns.
And he thrust him backward, and the goat rolled, and descended, and he had
not reached to the half of the mountain, till his members were made
members.(232) He returned and sat under the last booth until darkness set
in." "And when did he render garments unclean?"(233) "From his exit from
the wall of Jerusalem." R. Simon said, "from the time of his thrusting at
Zuk."

7. The High Priest came beside the bullock and he-goat which were to be
burned. He cleft them, and brought out their entrails. He put them on a
dish, and caused them to smoke upon the altar. He folded them in their
skins, and caused them to be carried to the place of burning. "And when
did he render garments unclean?" "From his proceeding without the wall of
the court." R. Simon said, "when the fire kindled on the greatest part"
(of the sacrifice).

8. They said to the High Priest, "the he-goat has arrived in the
wilderness." "And whence knew they that the he-goat h