משנה: אָֽמְרוּ לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל הִגִּיעַ שָׂעִיר לַמִּדְבָּר. וּמִנַּיִין הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין שֶׁהִגִּיעַ שָׂעִיר לַמִּדְבָּר. דִּידַכָאוֹת הָיוּ עוֹשִׂין וּמְנִיפִין בַּסּוּדָרִין וְיוֹדְעִין שֶׁהִגִּיעַ שָׂעִיר לַמִּדְבָּר. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וַהֲלֹא סִימָן גָּדוֹל הָיָה לָהֶם שְׁלֹשֶׁת מִלִּין מִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְעַד בֵּית חוֹרוֹן. הוֹלְכִין מִיל וְחוֹזְרִין מִיל וְשׁוֹהִין כְּדֵי מִיל וְיוֹדְעִין שֶׁהִגִּיעַ שָׂעִיר לַמִּדְבָּר. רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל אוֹמֵר וַהֲלֹא סִימָן אַחֵר הָיָה לָהֶם לָשׁוֹן שֶׁל זְהוֹרִית הָיָה קָשׁוּר עַל פִּתְחוֹ שֶׁל הֵיכָל וּכְשֶׁהִגִּיעַ שָׂעִיר לַמִּדְבָּר הָיָה הַלָּשׁוֹן מַלְבִּין שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אִם יִהְיוּ חֲטָאֵיכֶם כַּשָּׁנִים כַּשֶּׁלֶג יַלְבִּינוּ: MISHNAH: They told the High Priest that the he-goat arrived in the desert. And from where did they know that the he-goat arrived in the desert? They had overseers100Greek διάδοχοι, οἱ. posted who waved sheets and they knew that the he-goat had arrived in the desert.
Rebbi Jehudah said, did they not have an important sign? There are three mil from Jerusalem to Bet Horon101Even though this text is confirmed by Maimonides’s autograph Mishnah, it seems impossible since Bet Horon is NE of Jerusalem in inhabited territory. The Babli’s reading, Bet Hidud seems more appropriate; it may designate Wadi al-Hoḏ. R. Jehudah does not require the he-goat to be on the crag, only outside agricultural land.; they were walking one mil, returning one mil, and waiting for another mil; then they knew that the he-goat had arrived in the desert. Rebbi Ismael said, did they not have another sign? A shiny strip was tied to the door of the Temple hall; when the he-goat arrived in the desert it turned white102He disputes the fact that the strip was no longer tied to the Temple door., as it is said95Lev. 16:26., if your sins were like crimson they will be white like snow.
הלכה: מָהוּ דִּידַכָיוֹת. קָבְּלָן. HALAKHAH: What are διάδοχοι? Ones opposite one another160They were stationed so that each one could see the preceding and the following ones..