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 had arrived in the wilderness?” “They set watchmen, who waved handkerchiefs, and they knew that the he-goat had arrived in the wilderness.” Said R. Judah, “and was not this a great sign to them? from Jerusalem to Bethhoron(234) there were three miles. They went a mile and returned, and rested the time of a mile, and they knew that the he-goat arrived in the desert.” R. Ishmael(235) said, “and was there not another sign to them?” A tongue of brightness was twisted on the door of the Sanctuary, and when the he-goat arrived in the wilderness the tongue blanched, as is said, “Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.”(236)