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Libations

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Ritual Objects
Libations (nesekim) are liquid offerings placed upon the Copper Altar that generally consist of wine and olive oil. On Sukkot, water is also used.
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The Precision of Libations
TANAKH
The Torah provides detailed instructions for the quantities and types of libations required for different offerings, highlighting the importance of precision in religious rituals. The book of Numbers outlines the specific instructions for daily and Sabbath offerings, including the types and quantities of animals, flour, oil, and libations to be used, as well as the timing of these offerings.
The libation with it shall be a quarter of a hin for each lamb, to be poured in the sacred precinct as an offering of fermented drink to יהוה. The other lamb you shall offer at twilight, preparing the same meal offering and libation as in the morning—an offering by fire of pleasing odor to יהוה. On the sabbath day: two yearling lambs without blemish, together with two-tenths of a measure of choice flour with oil mixed in as a meal offering, and with the proper libation— a burnt offering for every sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its libation.
Numbers 28:7-10
Did the Israelites Practice Libations in the Wilderness?
TALMUD
The debate between Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva on whether the Jews sacrificed libations in the wilderness offers a glimpse into the complexities of Jewish tradition and memory. The Talmudic tractate Kiddushin, while primarily focused on betrothal and family law, includes this discussion on the historical practice of libations.
The Gemara asks: With regard to what do Rabbi Yishmael and Rabbi Akiva disagree? The Gemara answers: They disagree with regard to whether the Jews sacrificed libations in the wilderness. Rabbi Yishmael maintains: They did not sacrifice libations in the wilderness, as the obligation to sacrifice libations came into effect only once they were living in Eretz Yisrael. And Rabbi Akiva maintains: They did sacrifice libations in the wilderness. Rabbi Akiva derives a different halakha from the term dwelling.
Kiddushin 37b:3
Oil as an Offering
MISHNAH
The question of whether oil can be pledged as an independent offering highlights the complexities and nuances in interpreting Jewish sacrificial laws. The Mishnah, a foundational text of Jewish oral law from around 200 CE, records this discussion in tractate Menachot, which deals with meal offerings in the Temple.
One may pledge to bring independent libations of wine, but one may not pledge oil alone; this is the statement of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Tarfon says: One may pledge oil as well. Rabbi Tarfon said: Just as we found that wine comes as an obligation and comes as a gift offering independent of any offering, so too, we find that oil comes as an obligation and comes as a gift offering. Rabbi Akiva said to him: No, if you said that this is true with regard to wine…
Mishnah Menachot 12:5
Ancient Rituals of Sukkot
GUIDES
The detailed traditions of the water pouring ceremony and the encircling of the altar with willow branches during Sukkot are ancient practices transmitted orally. Adin Steinsaltz introduces the section of the Talmud that gives a comprehensive account of these Sukkot rituals.
Two significant mitzvot were performed in the Temple during the festival of Sukkot, the mitzva of the water libation and the mitzva to encircle the altar with willow branches. Neither is written in the Torah; they are traditions transmitted to Moses from Sinai. The mitzva of the water libation was detailed extensively in this chapter: How they drew water from the Siloam pool and how they took it up to be poured on the altar in a procession accompanied by trumpet blasts…
Introductions to the Babylonian Talmud, Sukkah, Summary of Perek IV 3
The Consecration of Water for Sukkot
TALMUD
The specific conditions under which water drawn for the libation on Sukkot becomes consecrated have implications for its use and potential misuse. The Talmudic tractate Meilah discusses the rules regarding the consecration and misuse of Temple property, including water drawn from the Siloam pool for Sukkot.
With regard to the water that was drawn from the Siloam pool into the golden jug, which was not consecrated as a service vessel, to bring it to the altar for libation on the festival of Sukkot, one may not derive benefit from the water ab initio, as it was drawn for use in the Temple service. But if one derived benefit from it he is not liable for its misuse, since it was not consecrated in a service vessel. Once one places the water from the jug for libation into the flask, which is a service vessel…
Meilah 13b:2
Libations and Natural Cycles
SECOND TEMPLE
Philo connects the practice of libations with the natural cycles of the moon and the ripening of fruits, emphasizing their essential role in human life. Philo of Alexandria, a Hellenistic Jewish philosopher, offers a unique perspective on Jewish rituals by harmonizing them with Greek philosophy.
[179] With the victims he ordered that fine meal, soaked in oil, should be brought, and wine for libations in stated quantities, because these also are brought to their fullness by the revolutions of the moon at the various seasons of the year, and especially by its effect upon the ripening of the fruits, and corn, oil and wine are things possessing qualities most profitable to life and most necessary for human use and therefore are naturally consecrated with all the sacrifices.
On the Special Laws, Book I 35:12
The Age of Wine for Libations
COMMENTARY
Rabbi Judah ben Bava specifies that wine used for libations must be at least forty days old, emphasizing the importance of quality in sacrificial offerings. The Mishnah Eduyot, a foundational Jewish text, discusses the requirements for wine used in Temple rituals, reflecting the standards for purity and quality in ancient Judaism.
And about wine forty days old, that it was used as a libation on the altar; New wine is not as good as old, aged wine. The question that is asked is how old must wine be for it to be usable as a libation. Rabbi Judah ben Bava states that forty days is sufficient.
English Explanation of Mishnah Eduyot 6:1:5
The Ritual of Water Libation
TOSEFTA
After the destruction of the Temple, the sages disagreed about some aspects of how the water libation ritual was performed during Sukkot when the Temple was still standing. The Tosefta Sukkah 3:6 analyzes differences of opinions on the ritual details.
The libation of water occurred all the seven days of the festival; Rabbi Yehudah says all eight. He also says, One log were they pouring out all the eight days; but the sages say three logs, a little wine being added to the water and a little water to the wine.
Tosefta Sukkah 3:6
Daytime Libations
TALMUD
Libations accompanying animal offerings may only be sacrificed during the day, as derived from the juxtaposition of libations with peace offerings in the verse from Numbers 29:39. The Talmudic tractate Temurah discusses the rules and regulations surrounding the substitution of sacrificial animals and includes insights into the timing of libations.
With regard to Rav Yosef’s claim that the item: Meal offering that accompanies the libations, should be removed from the baraita, the Gemara states: When Rav Dimi ascended from Babylonia to Eretz Yisrael, he found Rav Yirmeya sitting and saying in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: From where is it derived that libations that come with an animal offering may be sacrificed only in the day? The verse states: “These you shall offer to the Lord in your appointed seasons, beside your vows, and your voluntary offerings, and your burnt offerings…
Temurah 14a:23
The Promise of Blessings Through Offerings
TANAKH
The potential for divine mercy and blessing is linked to the offering of grain and drink offerings. The prophet Joel describes a plea for divine mercy, hoping that God may change His mind and bestow blessings, allowing for offerings to be made to Him.
Who knows but [God] may turn and relent,
And leave a blessing behind
For grain offering and drink offering
To the ETERNAL your God?
Joel 2:14
Daily Wine Libations
LITURGY
The Torah provides detailed instructions for the daily wine libations that accompanied the regular burnt offerings in the Temple. The Siddur Edot HaMizrach, a Sephardi prayer book, includes in the daily liturgy passages enumerating and describing those offerings.
[The Daily Offering (Numbers 28:1-8)] And the L·rd Spoke to Moshe saying: Command the Children of Israel and say to them – My Offering – Bread for the Fire Offering is My pleasing aroma – Be careful to offer it in its [proper] time. And you shall say to them this is the fire-offering that you shall offer to the L·rd – perfect sheep of one year [old], two daily as a Regular Burnt Offering. One sheep you shall do in the morning and the second sheep you shall do in the afternoon. And a tenth of an Ephah (a measure) of fine flour for the gift offering mixed with pressed oil - one-fourth of a hin…
Siddur Edot HaMizrach, Weekday Mincha, Offerings 4

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