Shelosha Umeya - mi yodeya?

Question

Who knows one hundred three?

Please cite/link your sources, if possible. At some point at least twenty-four hours from now, I will:

• Upvote all interesting answers.

• Accept the best answer.

• *Go on to the next number.

Answer 1

Yeravam (the first king of the Ten Tribes, a brilliant Torah scholar but a wicked person) knew how to explain each concept in the Book of Vayikra in 103 different ways.

(Appropriately enough, this statement appears in the Gemara Sanhedrin on page 103 b.)

Answer 2

The last two dynasties that governed Israel prior to the Second Temple's destruction maintained their rule for 103 years (Avodah Zara 9a): The Chashmonaim from 140 BCE to 36 BCE, and the Herodians from 36 BCE to 68 CE.

Answer 3

Off to the west of the main Altar's ramp stood a silver table upon which the Kohanim would set out the ninety-three vessels used in the daily service. These ninety-three vessels were actually three sets of thirty-one vessels, since the Temple kept on hand two backup copies of each of its vessels in case one should become tamei or otherwise unusable. The following is a list of the thirty-one vessels (as recorded in the sefer Ezras Kohanim):

1. Issaron measuring cup (for dry goods)
2. Half-issaron measuring cup (for dry goods)
3. Half-hin measuring cup (for liquid goods)
4. Third-hin measuring cup (for liquid goods)
5. Quarter-hin measuring cup (for liquid goods)
6. Lug measuring cup (for liquid goods)
7. Half-lug measuring cup (for liquid goods)
8. Quarter-lug measuring cup (for liquid goods)
9. Slaughtering knife
10. Meat knife
11. Knife for trimming fat
12. Cleaver
13. Mizrak, a cone-shaped vessel for receiving the blood of sacrifices
14. Golden cup used to water the lamb for the Tamid-offering prior to its slaughter
15. Teni, a golden basket used to collect ashes from the Golden Altar
16. Kuz, a cup to collect unused oil from the Menorah
17. Bezach, a large, golden spoon used to bring innards to the Altar
18. Golden spoon of the Incense
19. Cover for the Incense spoon
20. Bezach for the Incense
21. Silver machatah, a shovel used in the Incense service to collect coals from the Outer Altar
22. Golden machatah, a shovel to carry the coals (transferred from the silver shovel) into the Sanctuary
23. Pesachter, a large, multipurpose container
24. Magrephah, a shovel-like vessel designed to make a loud clatter when dropped
25. Bowl for mixing Minchah-offerings
26. Bowl to hold the oil for Minchah-offerings
27. Machavas, frying pan for certain Minchah-offerings
28. Marcheshes, pot for certain Minchah-offerings
29. Mazleig, tool for adjusting the wicks of the Menorah
30. Machatah, tool for cleaning the lamps of the Menorah
31. Alas, a ladle for transferring liquids”

See The Original Second Temple by Yoav Elan.

In addition to these 93 utensils were ten vessels:

• The Menorah – chesed;

• The Table – gevurah;

• The Altar - tiferet with its connection to malchut;

• The Basin and Jug or Laver - netzach and hod;

• The Ark – bina;

• The Curtain – chochmah;

• The cherubs on the Ark – keter; &

• All in its Weight/shekel – malchut.

See Likkutei Sichos, Vol. XXI, Vayakhel-Pekudei.

Thus it would appear that there is a total of 103 vessels and utensils in the Temple.

Answer 4

David said one hundred and three chapters, and he did not say Halleluya in any of them until he saw the downfall of the wicked. (Berachos 9b)

Answer 5

Mincha = 103

Avimelech = 103

Nechama = 103