Tamid, Chapter 3, Mishnah 4. This chapter follows the kohanim through the earliest hours of the morning in the Beit Hamikdash: the lotteries, the opening of the gates, the clearing of the mizbe'ach, and now the final preparations before the korban Tamid of the morning is slaughtered. The lamb has already been brought out. Everything is in place except the vessels and one last look at the animal itself.
Entering the Chamber of the Vessels
"Nichnesu lelishkat hakelim," they entered the chamber where the utensils were kept. Within the Beit Hamikdash a room was set aside for storing every implement required for the avodah. Some kelim, as we have learned, stood permanently in the Azarah, ready to be picked up at once; everything else was kept in this storeroom.
"Vehotziu misham tish'im ushloshah," and they brought out from there ninety three, "kelei chesef uchlei zahav," utensils of silver and utensils of gold. These were carried over and laid out on the table that stood beside the outer mizbe'ach, so that not a single one would have to be fetched in the middle of the avodah. The entire count was required for the service of the korban Tamid to be carried out precisely as it must be.
A Golden Cup of Water
"Hishku et hatamid," they gave water to the Tamid lamb, "bechos shel zahav," from a cup made of gold. In the Gemara a practical reason is given: an animal that has drunk shortly before shechitah is far easier to flay, since the skin comes away from the flesh more readily. And why should the cup be gold? For the beautifying of the korban, an expression of how precious this offering is.
One Last Check by Torchlight
A korban must be free of any blemish. A blemished animal may not be brought up on the mizbe'ach at all. For this reason the lamb was set aside four days before it was offered, and throughout those days it was examined again and again to be certain that no blemish had appeared on it.
Nevertheless, our mishnah records that a further inspection took place: "Af al pi shehu mevukar mib'erev, mevakrin oto le'or ha'avukot." The lamb had already been checked the night before, yet while it was still dark, before daybreak, the kohanim went over it once again beneath the flames of the torches, confirming that it was fit to be offered.