 The Gemorah (Yoma 38a) states that the House Avitnas defended themselves to the sages that they feared that if they revealed the secret it would be used for idolatry (Yoma 38a); there are differing traditions as to whether the Rabbis accepted this defense and removed the censure from Avitnas.The Talmud relates that the officers of the Temple once attempted to replace the House of Avtinas, but the replacement workers were unable to compound the incense in a way that made the smoke from the offering rise in the expected manner.The Talmud relates said that