וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר   8:1

Levi. 8:1    And the Lord spoke to Moses saying,

קַח אֶת־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו אִתֹּו וְאֵת הַבְּגָדִים וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְאֵת פַּר הַחַטָּאת וְאֵת שְׁנֵי הָאֵילִים   8:2

וְאֵת סַל הַמַּצֹּות

Levi. 8:2    “Take Aaron and his sons with him and the garments and the oil of anointing and the bullock of the sin offering and the two rams and the basket of unleavened bread,

                                                                                                  [Return to Exod. 23:18]

וְאֵת כָּל־הָעֵדָה הַקְהֵל אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד   8:3

Levi. 8:3    and assemble the whole congregation to the entrance of the tent of meeting.”

וַיַּעַשׂ מֹשֶׁה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֹתֹו וַתִּקָּהֵל הָעֵדָה אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד   8:4

Levi. 8:4    And Moses did as the Lord had commanded him and the congregation was assembled to the entrance of the tent of meeting.

I’m not sure how the whole congregation would be able to assemble in front of the entrance to the tent of meeting.  Were they standing outside the court of the tent of meeting?  If so, they would not have been able to see much.  Therefore, I would be inclined to assume that the court had been taken down for this event, so the entrance to the tent of meeting, the altar, and the laver were visible.  Torah scholars conjecture that it was not the whole of the congregation that assembled before the tent of meeting, only the elders and tribal chiefs.  The bottom line to this dilemma is that whoever attempts to interpret these verses must read something into them that is not explicitly stated.  However, there is some small evidence that the court had been erected already and was standing.  If we look back to Exod. 40:8-40:12, we find that the Lord had instructed Moses to erect the court before bringing Aaron and his sons to the tabernacle to be dressed and anointed.

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־הָעֵדָה זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוָה לַעֲשֹׂות   8:5

Levi. 8:5    And Moses said to the congregation, “This is the thing that the Lord has commanded to be done.”

וַיַּקְרֵב מֹשֶׁה אֶת־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת־בָּנָיו וַיִּרְחַץ אֹתָם בַּמָּיִם   8:6

Levi. 8:6    And Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.

וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו אֶת־הַכֻּתֹּנֶת וַיַּחְגֹּר אֹתֹו בָּאַבְנֵט וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתֹו אֶת־הַמְּעִיל וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו אֶת־הָאֵפֹד וַיַּחְגֹּר אֹתֹו   8:7

בְּחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפֹד וַיֶּאְפֹּד לֹו בֹּו

Levi. 8:7    And he put the tunic on him and girded him with the sash and put the robe on him and put the ephod on him and girded him with the woven band of the ephod, and bound him with it.

Another possible problem here:  Did Moses actually dress Aaron before the whole assembly?  At the start, Aaron should have been either naked or wearing only breeches.  Nothing is mentioned about breeches since Exod. 28:42 and we have not been informed that Aaron and his sons were wearing them yet to this point in time.  If he was naked, how was this possible?  The Lord had warned that this was not to happen (Exod. 20:23).  Is this another error by the scribe?  Or is it wrong to assume that the court was down (see v. 8:4 above) and the people were witnessing the entire event?  Perhaps the people were, instead, assembled before the court and were not able to see into the courtyard (see my discussion relating to v. 8:4 above).  This one leaves me a bit baffled.  I have been able to find no commentaries that address this issue.

וַיָּשֶׂם עָלָיו אֶת־הַחֹשֶׁן וַיִּתֵּן אֶל־הַחֹשֶׁן אֶת־הָאוּרִים וְאֶת־הַתֻּמִּים   8:8

Levi. 8:8    And he set the breastplate on him and put the Urim and the Thummim on the breastplate.

וַיָּשֶׂם אֶת־הַמִּצְנֶפֶת עַל־רֹאשֹׁו וַיָּשֶׂם עַל־הַמִּצְנֶפֶת אֶל־מוּל פָּנָיו אֵת צִיץ הַזָּהָב נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ כַּאֲשֶׁר   8:9

צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה

Levi. 8:9    And he set the miter on his head, and he set the plate of gold, the holy crown, on the miter toward its front, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת־שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וַיִּמְשַׁח אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בֹּו וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתָם   8:10

Levi. Levi. 8:10  And Moses took the oil of anointing and anointed the Tabernacle and all that was in it and sanctified them.

וַיַּז מִמֶּנּוּ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים וַיִּמְשַׁח אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָיו וְאֶת־הַכִּיֹּר וְאֶת־כַּנֹּו לְקַדְּשָׁם   8:11

Levi. 8:11  And he sprinkled from it on the altar seven times, and anointed the altar and all its articles and the laver and its base to sanctify them.

Once more Moses seems to add to the Lord’s instructions, apparently on his own.  No where did the Lord’s instructions include sprinkling oil on the altar seven times.  The only instructions for sprinkling seven times relates to blood on the veil covering the ark by the high priest (Levi. 4:6 and 4:17).

וַיִּצֹק מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה עַל רֹאשׁ אַהֲרֹן וַיִּמְשַׁח אֹתֹו לְקַדְּשֹׁו   8:12

Levi. 8:12  And he poured some of the oil of anointing on the head of Aaron and anointed him to sanctify him.

וַיַּקְרֵב מֹשֶׁה אֶת־בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן וַיַּלְבִּשֵׁם כֻּתֳּנֹת וַיַּחְגֹּר אֹתָם אַבְנֵט וַיַּחֲבֹשׁ לָהֶם מִגְבָּעֹות כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה   8:13

יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה

Levi. 8:13  And Moses brought the sons of Aaron and put tunics on them and girded them a sash and bound bonnets for them, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Did the scribe omit that Moses also sanctified Aaron’s sons with oil in accordance with God’s instructions?  Or did Moses fail to follow instructions again?  There is no way for us to answer these questions.  But in light of previous and subsequent examples of Moses’ seeming errors or oversights (see Exod. 3:18, Exod. 9:23, Exod. 10:13, and Exod. 14:21), it’s easy to conclude that this is another of them.

                                                                 [Return to Levi. 20:14]          [Return to Numb. 20:11]

וַיַּגֵּשׁ אֵת פַּר הַחַטָּאת וַיִּסְמֹךְ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם עַל־רֹאשׁ פַּר הַחַטָּאת   8:14

Levi. 8:14  And he brought the bullock of the sin offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the bullock of the sin offering.

וַיִּשְׁחָט וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַדָּם וַיִּתֵּן עַל־קַרְנֹות הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב בְּאֶצְבָּעֹו וַיְחַטֵּא אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת־הַדָּם   8:15

יָצַק אֶל־יְסֹוד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיְקַדְּשֵׁהוּ לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו

Levi. 8:15  When it was slaughtered, then Moses took the blood and put on the horns of the altar all around with his finger and purified the altar, and he poured the blood out at the base of the altar and sanctified it to make atonement over it.

וַיִּקַּח אֶת־כָּל־הַחֵלֶב אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַקֶּרֶב וְאֵת יֹתֶרֶת הַכָּבֵד וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת־חֶלְבְּהֶן וַיַּקְטֵר מֹשֶׁה   8:16

הַמִּזְבֵּחָה

Levi. 8:16  And he took all the fat that was on the innards and the protrusion of the liver and the two kidneys and their fat, and Moses made smoke on the altar.

וְאֶת־הַפָּר וְאֶת־עֹרֹו וְאֶת־בְּשָׂרֹו וְאֶת־פִּרְשֹׁו שָׂרַף בָּאֵשׁ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה   8:17

Levi. 8:17  But the bullock and its skin and its flesh and its dung were burned in a fire outside of the camp, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

וַיַּקְרֵב אֵת אֵיל הָעֹלָה וַיִּסְמְכוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם עַל־רֹאשׁ הָאָיִל   8:18

Levi. 8:18  And he presented the ram of the burnt offering, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

וַיִּשְׁחָט וַיִּזְרֹק מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַדָּם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב   8:19

Levi. 8:19  And it was slaughtered, and Moses scattered the blood on the altar all around.

וְאֶת־הָאַיִל נִתַּח לִנְתָחָיו וַיַּקְטֵר מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הָרֹאשׁ וְאֶת־הַנְּתָחִים וְאֶת־הַפָּדֶר   8:20

Levi. 8:20  And the ram was cut in its pieces and Moses made the head and the pieces and the fat smoke.

וְאֶת־הַקֶּרֶב וְאֶת־הַכְּרָעַיִם רָחַץ בַּמָּיִם וַיַּקְטֵר מֹשֶׁה אֶת־כָּל־הָאַיִל הַמִּזְבֵּחָה עֹלָה הוּא לְרֵיחַ־נִיחֹחַ   8:21

אִשֶּׁה הוּא לַיהוָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה

Levi. 8:21  And he washed the innards and the legs in water, and Moses made the whole ram smoke on the altar.  It was a burnt offering for a sweet scent; it was a fire offering to the Lord, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת־הָאַיִל הַשֵּׁנִי אֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים וַיִּסְמְכוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת־יְדֵיהֶם עַל־רֹאשׁ הָאָיִל   8:22

Levi. 8:22  And he presented the second ram, the ram of consecration, and Aaron and his sons laid their hands on the head of the ram.

וַיִּשְׁחָט וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה מִדָּמֹו וַיִּתֵּן עַל־תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן־אַהֲרֹן הַיְמָנִית וְעַל־בֹּהֶן יָדֹו הַיְמָנִית וְעַל־בֹּהֶן רַגְלֹו   8:23

הַיְמָנִית

Levi. 8:23  And it was slaughtered, and Moses took some of its blood and put on the tip of Aaron’s right ear and on the thumb of his right hand and on the big toe of his right foot.

Could this indicate that Aaron (and his sons, see below) were consecrated to hear, to do, and to go?

וַיַּקְרֵב אֶת־בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן וַיִּתֵּן מֹשֶׁה מִן־הַדָּם עַל־תְּנוּךְ אָזְנָם הַיְמָנִית וְעַל־בֹּהֶן יָדָם הַיְמָנִית וְעַל־בֹּהֶן   8:24

רַגְלָם הַיְמָנִית וַיִּזְרֹק מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הַדָּם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב

Levi. 8:24  And he brought the sons of Aaron, and Moses put some of the blood on the tip of their right ears and on the thumb of their right hands and on the big toe of their right feet, and Moses scattered the blood on the altar all around.

וַיִּקַּח אֶת־הַחֵלֶב וְאֶת־הָאַלְיָה וְאֶת־כָּל־הַחֵלֶב אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַקֶּרֶב וְאֵת יֹתֶרֶת הַכָּבֵד וְאֶת־שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיֹת   8:25

וְאֶת־חֶלְבְּהֶן וְאֵת שֹׁוק הַיָּמִין

Levi. 8:25  And he took the fat and the fat tail and all the fat that was on the innards and the protrusion of the liver and the two kidneys and their fat and the right thigh.

וּמִסַּל הַמַּצֹּות אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לָקַח חַלַּת מַצָּה אַחַת וְחַלַּת לֶחֶם שֶׁמֶן אַחַת וְרָקִיק אֶחָד וַיָּשֶׂם   8:26

עַל־הַחֲלָבִים וְעַל שֹׁוק הַיָּמִין

Levi. 8:26  And from the basket of unleavened bread that was before the Lord he took one unleavened cake and one cake of oiled bread and one wafer and set them on the fat pieces and on the right thigh.                                                                                              [Return to Exod. 23:18]

וַיִּתֵּן אֶת־הַכֹּל עַל כַּפֵּי אַהֲרֹן וְעַל כַּפֵּי בָנָיו וַיָּנֶף אֹתָם תְּנוּפָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה   8:27

Levi. 8:27  And he put the whole over the hands of Aaron and over the hands of his sons and waved them, a wave offering before the Lord.

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֹתָם מֵעַל כַּפֵּיהֶם וַיַּקְטֵר הַמִּזְבֵּחָה עַל־הָעֹלָה מִלֻּאִים הֵם לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה הוּא   8:28

לַיהוָה

Levi. 8:28  And Moses took them from over their hands and made smoke on the altar on the burnt offering.  They were a consecration offering for a sweet scent; it was a fire offering to the Lord.

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה אֶת־הֶחָזֶה וַיְנִיפֵהוּ תְנוּפָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה מֵאֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים לְמֹשֶׁה הָיָה לְמָנָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה   8:29

יְהוָה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה

Levi. 8:29  And Moses took the breast and waved it, a wave offering before the Lord.  From the ram of consecration, it was for Moses for a portion, as the Lord had commanded Moses.

וַיִּקַּח מֹשֶׁה מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וּמִן־הַדָּם אֲשֶׁר עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וַיַּז עַל־אַהֲרֹן עַל־בְּגָדָיו וְעַל־בָּנָיו וְעַל־   8:30

בִּגְדֵי בָנָיו אִתֹּו וַיְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת־אַהֲרֹן אֶת־בְּגָדָיו וְאֶת־בָּנָיו וְאֶת־בִּגְדֵי בָנָיו אִתֹּו

Levi. 8:30  And Moses took some of the oil of anointing and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled on Aaron, his garments, and on his sons, and on the garments of his sons with him, and sanctified Aaron, his garments, and his sons, and the garments of his sons with him.

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל־בָּנָיו בַּשְּׁלוּ אֶת־הַבָּשָׂר פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד וְשָׁם תֹּאכְלוּ אֹתֹו וְאֶת־הַלֶּחֶם   8:31

אֲשֶׁר בְּסַל הַמִּלֻּאִים כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוֵּיתִי לֵאמֹר אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו יֹאכְלֻהוּ

Levi. 8:31  And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, “Boil the flesh at the entrance of the tent of meeting and you shall eat it there, and the bread that is in the basket of consecration, as I commanded saying, ‘Aaron and his sons shall eat it.’”

וְהַנֹּותָר בַּבָּשָׂר וּבַלָּחֶם בָּאֵשׁ תִּשְׂרֹפוּ   8:32

Levi. 8:32  “And the remainder of the flesh and of the bread you shall burn up in fire.”

וּמִפֶּתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד לֹא תֵצְאוּ שִׁבְעַת יָמִים עַד יֹום מְלֹאת יְמֵי מִלֻּאֵיכֶם כִּי שִׁבְעַת יָמִים יְמַלֵּא אֶת־   8:33

יֶדְכֶם

Levi. 8:33  “And you shall not go out of the entrance of the tent of meeting seven days, until the day of fulfillment of the days of your consecration, for He shall consecrate your hands seven days.”

Can this verse mean what it says?  Aaron and his sons were not to leave the tent of meeting for seven days?  How could this be?  There must have been unspoken exceptions.  They had to urinate and move their bowels during the seven days.  Like everyone else, they had to leave the camp for that.

כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה בַּיֹּום הַזֶּה צִוָּה יְהוָה לַעֲשֹׂת לְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם   8:34

Levi. 8:34  “As has been done on this day, the Lord has commanded to be done to make atonement for you.”

וּפֶתַח אֹהֶל מֹועֵד תֵּשְׁבוּ יֹוםָם וָלַיְלָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת־מִשְׁמֶרֶת יְהוָה וְלֹא תָמוּתוּ כִּי־כֵן   8:35

צֻוֵּיתִי

Levi. 8:35  “And you shall stay day and night seven days at the entrance of the tent of meeting and keep the watch of the Lord, so you will not die, for so I have been commanded.”

וַיַּעַשׂ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֵת כָּל־הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהוָה בְּיַד־מֹשֶׁה   8:36

Levi. 8:36  And Aaron and his sons did all the things that the Lord had commanded by the hand of Moses.

Notice that Aaron and his sons remained at the entrance to the tent of meeting, not inside it (vss. 8:33 and 8:35),.  This is support for my contention that the sons of Aaron were not permitted inside the tent of meeting, except for after Aaron’s death, when his eldest surviving son would be anointed as the new high priest and could then enter.

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