
The Chamber of Lambs
Once it has been established that the proper time has come for offering the tamid daily sacrifice, and the gates of the Sanctuary are open, the overseer instructs the kohanim who will be attending to the service: "Bring a lamb from the Chamber of Lambs!"
The Chamber of Lambs was the Temple's store of lambs; at all times a minimum of 6 animals previously checked and certified as blemish-free were kept here for the daily offerings. It was required that each lamb be checked 4 days in advance of being offered.
Although the lamb which had been selected for the tamid offering had already been ascertained as being free of any disqualifying blemish, nonetheless as an added precaution - since the Torah strongly prohibits the offering of blemished animals - it is checked again now by torchlight, after its removal from the chamber. This is to preclude the unlikely event that perhaps something has befallen it since it was last examined, which would render it unfit.
After it has been selected, the lamb is given to drink before it is slaughtered, for this makes its skin easier to remove. It is watered from a golden vessel; everything done in the Temple was always conducted with as much honor as possible.
This chamber was located in the northwest corner of the courtyard, within the larger, dome-covered room known as the Place of the Fire which we have discussed. In each of that room's four corners there was a smaller chamber which opened onto the larger room.

The other three chambers were: The Chamber of Seals
Located in the northeast corner of the Place of the Fire, this was the office of Yochanan ben Pinchas, administrator of the seals. An individual who sought to bring a libation to the Temple would come here and pay for his libation, and receive a "seal" from Yochanan. This seal was a note which constituted proof of purchase; one would bring this note to Achya, administrator of the libations, and receive his needs. The amounts of oil, fine flour and wine which accompanied the various peace offerings and burnt offerings, differed for each sacrifice. This system was devised in order make it easier for those who came to the Temple to make offerings: people could procure pure ingredients within the Temple, rather than bringing their own wine, etc., from home and taking the risk of it becoming defiled along the way.

The Chamber of the Fire
In the northwest corner. Here, the fire where the kohanim sat to warm themselves was constantly burning.

The Chamber of the Showbread
This is where those who made the showbread kneaded and baked the dough. It was located in the southeast corner of the Place of the Fire.

The Chamber of Vessels
After selecting a lamb from the Chamber of Lambs, the kohanim entered into the Chamber of Vessels, where the all Temple vessels were stored (a doubt exists among the sages as to this exact location of this chamber). There, they remove all the 93 sacred vessels of silver and gold which they will require to conduct all aspects of the Divine service during the course of the day.

The Lamb is Led to Slaughter
Now, the priest who received first place in the lottery and thus, the right to slaughter the tamid, leads the lamb to the area of the court north of the altar. He is followed by the 6 kohanim who will actually bring the parts of the offering up to the altar's ramp.
This slaughtering area was especially equipped: it featured metal rings in the floor the court for holding the animals; 8 small stone columns, topped with wooden blocks and fitted with metal rings, for removing the skin, and marble tables for preparing the sacrifices to be brought to the altar.

Removing the Ashes from the Inner Altar
We have focused on the tamid offering itself; while these aspects of the Divine service are transpiring, other activities which had been awarded by the second lottery begin as well. Once the gates to the Sanctuary have been opened, the other kohanim on the staff, who are involved in separate aspects of the morning service, may commence with their tasks.
Entering into the Sanctuary
The kohen who is to attend the incense altar's ashes now enters into the Sanctuary, straight through the open gates. He carries the golden basket which we have mentioned above (p. 14) and makes his way into the holy place. Standing before the golden incense altar, he first places the basket down, on the Sanctuary floor. Then he removes excess ashes from the incense altar into his two palms, and transfers these ashes into the basket before him. When only a small amount of ashes were left over and the contents could not be gathered up into his palms in this manner, he used a small brush to sweep them straight into the basket. Concluding, he left the basket on the floor before him and exited - the basket would not be removed until later on in the service.