(Fol. 66) They delivered it (the scapegoat) to the man who was to conduct it. All were eligible to conduct it, only that the priests established a usage and did not permit that Israelites should do it. R. Jose said: "Once it happened to be conducted by Arsala, who was an Israelite." An elevated walk had been constructed for him (who conducted the scapegoat), on account of the Babylonians, who used to pull (the conductor) by the hair, saying: 'Take [our sins] and go, take and go.'
R. Juda, in the name of Samuel, said: "The tribe of Levi did not worship idols [the golden calf], as it is said (Ex. 32, 26) And Moses stationed himself at the gate of the camp, and said: Whoever is on the Lord's side, let him come unto me. And there assembled themselves unto him, all the sons of Levi." Rabina was sitting and repeating this tradition, whereupon the children of R. Papa b. Abba raised the following objection: (Deut. 33, 9) [The tribe of Levi] which said [in the golden calf incident] of its father and its mother I have not seen Mm, [hence some of the tribe of Levi did worship the idol]. Rabina explained: "Father, refers to the maternal grandfather, who was of Israel; brother, refers to a half-brother of the mother; and children, to the daughter's children, whose father was an Israelite."
Take it [the scapegoat] and go. We are taught that the people would say: "Why does the scapegoat tarry when the sins of the generation are so many?"
(Fol. 67) Our Rabbis have been taught: Formerly the tongue of crimson wool used to be tied outside the Temple-Hall door. When it became white, all rejoiced; when it failed, all felt grieved and ashamed. Therefore it has been ordained that it should be tied on the inside of the Temple-Hall door. However, they used to take a look at it even then, and when it became white, they would rejoice; when it failed, all felt grieved and ashamed. It was then ordained that half of it should be tied to the rock and the other half to the horns of the scapegoat.
(Ib. b) Our Rabbis were taught: (Lev. 18, 4) My ordinances shall ye do. This signifies such ordinances which, even were they not written, ought to be observed as though written; they are, idolatry, adultery, bloodshed, robbery, and blasphemy. (Ib.) And my statutes shall ye keep, refers to things that Satan and others argue against; as, for instance, abstaining from pork, from wearing cloth mixed of wool and linen, Chalitza, purification of a leper, the despatching of the scapegoat and the Para Aduma. Perhaps thou wilt say they are acts of vanity; it is therefore said (Ib.) I am the Lord, your God; i.e., I am the Lord who have commanded it; you must not criticize.