daf bit: Meilah 11

[cellio]

A nazarite takes a vow for a period of time and, at the end, brings offerings. The mishna teaches: if one set aside money for his nazarite offerings it cannot be used for other purposes, but the law of misappropriation does not apply. If he died first and the money was unspecified (that is, which coins were designated for which purpose) it goes to a special fund. If the money was specifically designated, then the following things happen to it: the money for a burnt-offering is used for a burnt-offering (which goes wholly to God); the money for a peace-offering is used for a peace-offering that must be eaten within a day; and the money for a sin-offering (which no longer applies) is cast into the Dead Sea (that is, the coins are destroyed). (11a)

Someone asked me this morning if any coins have been found in the Dead Sea. I have no idea. I wonder whether, at least for gold, anything would be left after all that time and considering the properties of that sea.

Edit: I just asked a related question about how this was managed over on Mi Yodeya (aka Jewish Life and Learning).

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

That's a really interesting question. I don't have the chemical chops to form an informed prediction -- may I ask a couple chemists I know?

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

Don't you mean "except for gold"? One reason gold has always been so highly valued is that pure gold hardly reacts with anything at all.

Dead Sea

[(Anonymous)]

The idea is that boats did not frequent the Dead Sea, so there was little risk of the items being reclaimed and improperly used (Rashi, Pesachim 28a). This is why (according to Rabbah) when disposing of idols by dumping them in the ocean, one must first grind them to dust, but one need not grind an idol if disposing of it in the Dead Sea (Pesachim, ibid.).