Chumashחומש

תנוך. הוּא הַסְּחוּס הָאֶמְצָעִי שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הָאֹזֶן, שֶׁקּוֹרִין טנדרו"ס בְּלַעַז:

תנוך — This is the inner cartilage which is within the ear, which they call tendrons in old French (cf. Rashi on Leviticus 14:14).

בהן ידם. הַגּוּדָל וּבַפֶּרֶק הָאֶמְצָעִי (ספרא):

בהן ידם — i. e. the thumb; and the blood was placed on the middle joint (Chullin 11a).

החלב. זֶה חֵלֶב הַדַּקִּים אוֹ הַקֵּבָה:

החלב THE FAT — This means the fat of the gut, or, (according to the opinion of Rabbi Ishmael,) of the maw (Chullin 49b; cf. Rashi on Leviticus 3:3).

והאליה. מִן הַכְּלָיוֹת וּלְמַטָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּוַיִּקְרָא שֶׁנֶּ' (ויקרא ג'), לְעֻמַּת הֶעָצֶה יְסִירֶנָּה – מָקוֹם שֶׁהַכְּלָיוֹת יוֹעֲצוֹת (חולין י"א), וּבְאֵמוּרֵי הַפָּר לֹא נֶאֱמַר אַלְיָה, שֶׁאֵין אַלְיָה קְרֵבָה אֶלָּא בְכֶבֶשׂ וְכִבְשָׂה וְאַיִל, אֲבָל שׁוֹר וְעֵז אֵין טְעוּנִין אַלְיָה:

והאליה AND THE FAT TAIL — This is the portion of the animal from the kidneys and lower down, as is explained in Leviticus, (3:9) because it is said, “[the whole fat tail], he shall take it off hard by the back bone (עָצָה)” i. e. by the place where the kidneys give counsel (עָצָה) (Chullin 11a). In the case of the fat portions of the bullock the “fat tail” is not mentioned, for the “fat tail” was offered only in the case of a male or female lamb and a ram, but an ox and a goat do not require the “fat tail” to be offered.

ואת שוק הימין. לֹא מָצִינוּ הַקְטָרָה בְשׁוֹק הַיָּמִין עִם הָאֵמוּרִים אֶלָּא זוֹ בִלְבָד:

ואת שוק הימין AND THE RIGHT SHOULDER — We do not find that burning if prescribed for the right shoulder together with the fat parts except in the case of this alone.

כי איל מלאים הוא. שְׁלָמִים; לְשׁוֹן שְׁלֵמוּת – שֶׁהֻשְׁלַם בַּכֹּל; מַגִּיד הַכָּתוּב שֶׁהַמִּלּוּאִים שְׁלָמִים, שֶׁמְּשִׂימִים שָׁלוֹם לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּלְעוֹבֵד הָעֲבוֹדָה וְלַבְּעָלִים, לְכָךְ אֲנִי מַצְרִיכוֹ הֶחָזֶה, לִהְיוֹת לוֹ לְעוֹבֵד הָעֲבוֹדָה לְמָנָה, וְזֶהוּ מֹשֶׁה שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ בַּמִּלּוּאִים, וְהַשְּׁאָר אָכְלוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו שֶׁהֵם בְּעָלִים, כַּמְפֹרָשׁ בָּעִנְיָן:

כי איל מלאים הוא FOR IT IS A RAM OF מלאים — of שלמים (usually translated peace-offerings): מלואים has the meaning of “perfection” (מלא meaning “full”, so that מלואים is synonymous with שלמים) — something that is perfect in all respects. Scripture informs us that the מלואים (consecration sacrifices) are to be regarded as שלמים-sacrifices, in that they, like the שלמים, promote peace (שלום) between the altar and him who carries out the sacrifical rite (the priest) and the owner of the animal (the worshipper who brings the sacrifice”). Therefore, says God, in this case I make it a condition that the breast shall belong as a portion to him who performs the sacrificial rite, viz., Moses, who officiated at the installation into office (cf. v. 26). — The remainder, Aaron and his sons ate because they were the “owners”, as is expressly set forth in this section (cf. Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura d'Nedavah, Chapter 16 2; Midrash Tanchuma, Tzav 4).

וככר לחם. מִן הַחַלּוֹת:

וככר לחם AND ONE LOAF OF BREAD — of the cakes (mentioned in Exodus 29:2) (Menachot 78a).

וחלת לחם שמן. מִמִּין הָרְבוּכָה:

וחלת לחם שמן AND ONE PIERCED CAKE OF OILED BREAD — of the “saturated" kind.

ורקיק. מִן הָרְקִיקִין, אֶחָד מֵעֲשָׂרָה שֶׁבְּכָל מִין וָמִין. וְלֹא מָצִינוּ תְרוּמַת לֶחֶם הַבָּא עִם זֶבַח נִקְטֶרֶת אֶלָּא זוֹ בִּלְבַד, שֶׁתְּרוּמַת לַחְמֵי תוֹדָה וְאֵיל נָזִיר נְתוּנָה לַכֹּהֲנִים עִם חָזֶה וְשׁוֹק, וּמִזֶּה לֹא הָיָה לְמֹשֶׁה לְמָנָה אֶלָּא חָזֶה בִּלְבָד:

ורקיק AND ONE WAFER — of the wafers there mentioned: i. e. one out of the ten which were comprised in each of these different kinds of bread (Menachot 76a; cf. Rashi on Exodus 29:2). We do not find that any heave-offering of bread brought with a sacrifice was burnt except this alone, for the heave-offering of the bread brought with the thanksgiving offering and with the ram of the Nazarite was given to the priest (and therefore not burnt) together with the breast and the shoulder, whilst of this the breast alone was given as a portion to Moses, as the officiating priest.

על כפי אהרן: והנפת. שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲסוּקִים בִּתְנוּפָה – הַבְּעָלִים וְהַכֹּהֵן, הָא כֵּיצַד? כֹּהֵן מַנִּיחַ יָדוֹ תַּחַת יַד הַבְּעָלִים וּמֵנִיף; וּבָזֶה הָיוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו בְּעָלִים, וּמֹשֶׁה כֹּהֵן:

על כפי אהרן … והנפת [AND THOU SHALT PUT ALL] IN THE HANDS OF AARON … AND THOU SHALT WAVE THEM — The rule is that both of them take part in the waving ceremony, the “owner” and the priest. How is this done? The priest places his hand beneath the “owner’s” hand, and thus does the waving (Menachot 61b) — and in case of this offering Aaron and his sons were the “owners” and Moses the priest, and therefore Scripture enacts as stated here.

תנופה. מוֹלִיךְ וּמֵבִיא לְמִי שֶׁאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הָעוֹלָם שֶׁלּוֹ; תְנוּפָה מְעַכֶּבֶת וּמְבַטֶּלֶת פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת וְרוּחוֹת רָעוֹת, מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד לְמִי שֶׁהַשָּׁמַיִם וְהָאָרֶץ שֶׁלּוֹ, וּמְעַכֶּבֶת טְלָלִים רָעִים (מנחות ס"ב):

תנופה A WAVE OFFERING — He moved it about horizontally in all directions to the glory of Him to Whom belong the four quarters of the world. This waving was symbolical of preventing and making of none effect misfortune and destructive winds. Then he moved it upwards and downward to the glory of Him to Whom belong heaven and earth and this was symbolical of keeping away injurious dews (Menachot 62a).

על העלה. עַל הָאַיִל הָרִאשׁוֹן שֶׁהֶעֱלִיתָ עוֹלָה:

על העלה BESIDES THE BURNT OFFERING — besides the first ram which you had already offered up as a burnt offering.

לריח ניחוח. לְנַחַת רוּחַ לְמִי שֶׁאָמַר וְנַעֲשָׂה רְצוֹנוֹ:

לריח ניחוח AS A PLEASING ODOUR — as a gratification of spirit to Him Who gave the command and found that His will was carried out (cf. Sifra, Vayikra Dibbura d'Nedavah, Chapter 6 10).

אשה. לְאֵשׁ נִתָּן:

אשה AN OFFERING MADE BY FIRE given over to the fire.

לה'. לִשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מָקוֹם:

לה׳ TO THE LORD — to the Name of the Omnipresent.

וקדשת את חזה התנופה ואת שוק התרומה וגו'. קַדְּשֵׁם לְדוֹרוֹת, לִהְיוֹת נוֹהֶגֶת תְּרוּמָתָם וַהֲנָפָתָם בְּחָזֶה וְשׁוֹק שֶׁל שְׁלָמִים, אֲבָל לֹא לְהַקְטָרָה, אֶלָּא וְהָיָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו לֶאֱכֹל:

וקדשת את חזה התנופה ואת שוק התרומה וגו׳ AND THOU SHALT SANCTIFY THE BREAST OF THE WAVE OFFERING AND THE SHOULDER OF THE HEAVE OFFERING etc. — Declare these portions of the animal to have a sacred character for future generations in that the heaving of them and the waving of them shall be practised in respect of the breast and the shoulder of all peace-offerings, but the similarity between the שלמים and the מלואים shall not extend to burning the shoulder as was done in the case of the מלואים but (v. 28) “it shall be for Aaron and his sons” to be eaten.

תנופה. לְשׁוֹן הוֹלָכָה וַהֲבָאָה, ונטלי"ה בְּלַעַז:

הונף WHICH IS WAVED — an expression for moving to and fro in a horizontal direction; venteler in old French

הורם. לְשׁוֹן מַעֲלֶה וּמוֹרִיד:

הורם WHICH WAS HEAVED — an expression for moving up and down.

לחק עולם מאת בני ישראל. שֶׁהַשְּׁלָמִים לַבְּעָלִים, וְאֶת הֶחָזֶה וְאֶת הַשּׁוֹק יִתְּנוּ לַכֹּהֵן:

לחק עולם מאת בני ישראל AS AN ASSIGNED PORTION FROM THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL — because peace-offerings belong to the “owner”, and the breast and the shoulder shall they give to the priest.

כי תרומה הוא. הֶחָזֶה וְשׁוֹק הַזֶּה:

כי תרומה הוא FOR IT IS A HEAVE OFFERING — i.e. the breast and the shoulder form a heave-offering.

לבניו אחריו. לְמִי שֶׁבָּא בִּגְדֻלָּה אַחֲרָיו:

לבניו אחריו [SHALL BE] FOR HIS SONS AFTER HIM — for him who comes after him in this high office.

למשחה. לְהִתְגַדֵּל בָּהֶם, שֶׁיֵּשׁ מְשִׁיחָה שֶׁהִיא לְשׁוֹן שְׂרָרָה, כְּמוֹ לְךָ נְתַתִּים לְמָשְׁחָה (במדבר י"ח), אַל תִּגְּעוּ בִּמְשִׁיחָי (דהי"א טז):

למשחה means to be raised to dignity by means of them. For sometimes the word משח is used in the sense of “dignity”, as in (Numbers 18:8), “to thee I have given them as a dignity (למשחה)”, and (I Chronicles 16:22) “Touch ye not my nobles (משיחי)” (cf. Rashi on Exodus 30:29).

ולמלא בם את ידם. עַל יְדֵי הַבְּגָדִים הוּא מִתְלַבֵּשׁ בִּכְהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה:

ולמלא בם את ידם AND TO BE CONSECRATED BY THEM — through these garments he is to be invested with the high-priesthood (cf. Rashi on Yoma 73a).

שבעת ימים. רְצוּפִין:

שבעת ימים SEVEN DAYS in succession, on such a High Priest’s installation,

ילבשם הכהן. אֲשֶׁר יָקוּם מִבָּנָיו תַּחְתָּיו לִכְהֻנָּה גְדוֹלָה, כְּשֶׁיְּמַנּוּהוּ לִהְיוֹת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל:

ילבשם הכהן THE PRIEST SHALL PUT THEM ON — i. e. he who, from among his sons, will rise up in his stead in the high-priesthood at the time when they will appoint him to be High Priest.

אשר יבא אל אהל מועד. אוֹתוֹ כֹהֵן הַמּוּכָן לִכָּנֵס לִפְנַי וְלִפְנִים בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, וְזֶהוּ כֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, שֶׁאֵין עֲבוֹדַת יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים כְּשֵׁרָה אֶלָּא בּוֹ:

אשר יבא אל אהל מועד WHO WILL COME INTO THE APPOINTED TENT — These words qualify the word הכהן so that it refers to that priest who is designated to enter into the innermost part (the words לפני ולפנים in the Rashi text correspond to בקדש in the Biblical text) of the Sanctuary on the Day of Atonement — and this must mean the High Priest, since the sacrificial service on the Day of Atonement was not valid unless performed by him (Yoma 73a).

תחתיו מבניו. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם יֵשׁ לוֹ לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל בֵּן מְמַלֵּא אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ, יְמַנּוּהוּ כֹהֵן גָּדוֹל תַּחְתָּיו:

תחתיו מבניו IN HIS STEAD FROM AMONG HIS SONS — This informs us that if the High Priest has a son who can fill his place they shall appoint him High Priest in his stead (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 5; cf. Rashi on Yoma 72b).

(הכהן תחתיו מבניו. מִכָּאן רְאָיָה כָּל לְשׁוֹן כֹהֵן פוֹעֵל עוֹבֵד מַמָּשׁ, לְפִיכָךְ נִגּוּן תְּבִיר נִמְשָׁךְ לְפָנָיו):

[הכהן תחתיו מבניו — From here (from this phraseology) we have a proof that the word הכהן is everywhere a participle — meaning “he who is actually acting as the officiant”; therefore the tonic accent תביר on the word הכהן connects it with the word following it.].

במקם קדש. בַּחֲצַר אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, שֶׁהַשְּׁלָמִים הַלָּלוּ קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים הָיוּ:

במקום קדש IN A HOLY PLACE in the court of the tent of meeting because these peace-offerings were holy in the highest degree (cf. Rashi on Leviticus 6:9).

פתח אהל מועד. כָּל הֶחָצֵר קָרוּי כֵּן:

פתח אהל מועד BY THE ENTRANCE OF THE APPOINTED TENT — the whole court is thus named (cf. Rashi on Exodus 29:11).

ואכלו אתם. אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו, לְפִי שֶׁהֵם בַּעֲלֵיהֶם:

ואכלו אתם AND THEY SHALL EAT THOSE THINGS i. e. Aaron and his sons because they are the “owners” of them (cf. Pesachim 59b).

אשר כפר בהם. כָּל זָרוּת וְתִעוּב:

אשד כפר בהם THROUGH WHOM THERE WAS EXPIATED everything that was strange and objectionable.

למלא את ידם. בְּאַיִל וְלֶחֶם הַלָּלוּ:

למלא את ידם TO INITIATE THEM INTO OFFICE by means of this ram and bread.

לקדש אתם. שֶׁעַל יְדֵי הַמִּלּוּאִים הַלָּלוּ נִתְמַלְּאוּ יְדֵיהֶם וְנִתְקַדְּשׁוּ לִכְהֻנָּה:

לקדש אתם TO SANCTIFY THEM — for by means of this initiation-sacrifice they were installed and sanctified to the priesthood.

כי קדש הם. קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים; וּמִכָּאן לָמַדְנוּ אַזְהָרָה לְזָר הָאוֹכֵל קָדְשֵׁי קָדָשִׁים, שֶׁנָּתַן הַמִּקְרָא טַעַם לַדָּבָר מִשּׁוּם דְּקֹדֶשׁ הֵם (פסח' כ"ד):

כי קדש הם BECAUSE THEY ARE HOLY — i. e. holy in the highest degree. From this we derive the prohibition against a “stranger” (a non-priest) eating anything that is holy in the highest degree (Makkot 18b), since Scripture assigns a reason for the matter (why a stranger may not eat of these), viz., because they are holy in the highest degree (cf. Pesachim 24a).

ועשית לאהרן ולבניו ככה. שָׁנָה הַכָּתוּב וְכָפַל לְעַכֵּב – שֶׁאִם חָסַר דָּבָר אֶחָד מִכָּל הָאָמוּר בָּעִנְיָן, לֹא נִתְמַלְּאוּ יְדֵיהֶם לִהְיוֹת כֹּהֲנִים וַעֲבוֹדָתָם פְּסוּלָה:

ועשית לאהרן ולבניו ככה AND THUS SHALT (i. e. must) THOU DO TO AARON AND HIS SONS — Scripture recites a second time in this general statement all that has been already commanded in order to impede the validity of the rites; i. e. that if they do not do this and a single thing is omitted of all that is prescribed in this section their initiation to be priests must be regarded as not having taken place and their act of sacrifice is consequently invalid (Yoma 5a).

אתכה. כְּמוֹ אוֹתָךְ:

אתכה is the same as (another form of): אוֹתָך “thee”.

שבעת ימים תמלא וגו'. בָּעִנְיָן הַזֶּה וּבַקָּרְבָּנוֹת הַלָּלוּ בְּכָל יוֹם:

שבעת ימים תמלא ידם SEVEN DAYS SHALT THOU CONSECRATE THEM in this manner and by means of these sacrifices on each day.

על הכפרים. בִּשְׁבִיל הַכִּפּוּרִים, לְכַפֵּר עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִכָּל זָרוּת וְתִעוּב; וּלְפִי שֶׁנֶּ' שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תְּמַלֵּא יָדָם, אֵין לִי אֶלָּא דָּבָר הַבָּא בִּשְׁבִילָם, כְּגוֹן הָאֵילִים וְהַלֶּחֶם, אֲבָל הַבָּא בִּשְׁבִיל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, כְּגוֹן פַּר שֶׁהוּא לְחִטּוּי הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, לֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ, לְכָךְ הֻצְרַךְ מִקְרָא זֶה; וּמִדְרַשׁ תּ"כֹּ אוֹמֵר כַּפָּרַת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הֻצְרְכָה שֶׁמָּא הִתְנַדֵּב אִישׁ דְּבַר גֶּזֶל בִּמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהַמִּזְבֵּחַ:

על הכפרים means for the purpose of expiation — to expiate for the altar for all that is “strange” (not holy) and objectionable that may happened to it. Now since it is said. (v. 35) “Seven days shalt thou consecrate them” after having stated that if a single thing is omitted the ceremony is invalid, I can infer nothing more than that this alludes to a thing that is offered on account of them personally as, for example, the rams and the bread, but as regards anything that is offered on account of the altar as, for example, the bullock, which is intended to serve as expiation for the altar, we cannot infer from that verse that if this is omitted the ceremony of initiation is invalid; consequently this verse is necessary to inform us of this. An explanation in Torath Cohanim (the Sifra) states: atonement for the altar was necessary because perhaps a man had donated for work in connection with the construction of the Tabernacle or the altar something which he had stolen (Sifra, Tzav, Mechilta d'Miluim 1 15).

וחטאת. וּתְדַכֵּי, לְשׁוֹן מַתְּנַת דָּמִים הַנְּתוּנִים בְּאֶצְבַּע קָרוּי חִטּוּי:

וחטאת — The Targum translates this by ותדכי AND THOU SHALT PURIFY [THE ALTAR]; the expression for placing upon the altar the blood that is placed there with the finger is called חַטַּא (hence it is followed by the preposition על “upon”).

ומשחת אתו. בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְכָל הַמְּשִׁיחוֹת כְּמִין כִי:

ומשחת אתו AND THOU SHALT ANOINT IT with the oil of anointing: every anointing was done in the form of a Greek Chi (X).

והיה המזבח קדש. וּמַה הִיא קְדֻשָּׁתוֹ? כל הנגע במזבח יקדש. אֲפִלּוּ קָרְבָּן פָּסוּל שֶׁעָלָה עָלָיו קִדְּשׁוֹ הַמִּזְבֵּחַ לְהַכְשִׁירוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יֵרֵד; מִתּוֹךְ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּל הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ יִקְדָּשׁ, שׁוֹמֵעַ אֲנִי בֵּין רָאוּי בֵּין שֶׁאֵינוֹ רָאוּי – כְּגוֹן דָּבָר שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה פְסוּלוֹ בַּקֹּדֶשׁ, כְּגוֹן הָרוֹבֵעַ וְהַנִּרְבָּע וּמֻקְצֶה וְנֶעֱבָד וְהַטְּרֵפָה וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן – תַּ"לֹ וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה הַסָּמוּךְ אַחֲרָיו, מָה עוֹלָה רְאוּיָה, אַף כָּל רָאוּי שֶׁנִּרְאָה לוֹ כְבָר וְנִפְסַל מִשֶּׁבָּא לָעֲזָרָה, כְּגוֹן הַלָּן וְהַיּוֹצֵא וְהַטָּמֵא וְשֶׁנִּשְׁחַט בְּמַחֲשֶׁבֶת חוּץ לִזְמַנּוֹ וְחוּץ לִמְקוֹמוֹ וְכַיּוֹצֵא בָּהֶן (זבחים פ"ג):

והיה המזבח קדש AND THE ALTAR SHALL BE [MOST] HOLY — and in what consists its holiness? In this: כל הנגע במזבח יקדש that WHATSOEVER TOUCHETH THE ALTAR SHALL BECOME HOLY — that even a sacrifice which is really invalid that has been brought upon it — even that does the altar sanctify making it a valid sacrifice in so far that it must not be taken down from the altar. Now since it is said, “Anything that toucheth the altar shall become holy”, I might infer that this applies to a thing whether it was fitting to be an offering at the time when it was brought into the Sanctuary or whether it was not so fitting as, for example, in the latter case, something the disqualification of which did not happen within the Sanctuary itself but had happened before it was brought there, such as, an animal, male or female, with which sexual sin had been committed, or an animal which had been set aside as a sacrifice to an idol, or one which had been worshipped as a god, or one which showed signs of incapacity to live owing to certain diseases (technically termed טרפה) and animals similar to these (with similar disqualifications); consequently it states, “Now this is that which thou shalt offer [upon the altar]”, which follows immediately after this (in v. 38). Now how is it in the case of the burnt-offering which is mentioned in the next verse as something commanded to be brought upon the altar? It must be fitted to be brought upon the altar! So, also, the preceding statement, “Whatever [touches the altar shall become holy]”, refers only to whatever was fitting, i. e. what was already fitting to be brought upon the altar and became disqualified only after it had been brought into the fore-court of the Sanctuary, as, for example, that which had been left over night (the blood or fat of a sacrifice which had been left until the morning without having been placed upon the altar), or that which, before it had been placed upon the altar, had been taken (lit., had gone forth) outside the forecourt, or that which had become unclean, or an animal which had been slaughtered with the intention to sprinkle the blood or to burn the fat or to eat the flesh outside the prescribed period or outside the prescribed place, and animals similar to these (Zevachim 83b).