Vayikro
Book 3: Leviticus


ACHAREI MOS - RASHI COMMENTARY


Chapter 16 - Rashi

Verse 1: And Ad-noy spoke to Moshe after the death of two sons of Aharon, etc.

What does the verse say?1 Rabbi Eleazar ben Azariah made a parable: [This may be compared] to a sick patient whom a physician visited. He said to him: "Do not eat cold food and do not lie in a damp place." A second [physician] came and said to him: "Do not eat cold food and do not lie in a damp place, [in order] that you not die in the [same] way so-and-so died. This [second one clearly] urged him on more than the first one. Therefore it is said, "after the death of two sons of Aharon."2

Verse 2: Ad-noy spoke to Moshe: Speak to your brother Aharon that he not come,

that he not die in the [same] way his sons died.3

That he not die.

For if he enters [without the proper ritual], he dies.4

For in a cloud I shall appear on the Ark-cover.

For I constantly appear there with My pillar of cloud; and because the revelation of My Shechinah is there, he5should be careful not to accustom himself to enter--- this is [the verse's] plain meaning. And its midrashic meaning: He should not come except6 with the cloud of incense on Yom Kippur.7

Verse 3: With this.

Its gematria8 is 410, a hint of the [time of standing] of the First Temple.9

With this shall Aharon come, etc.

And this too not at every time, but [only] on Yom Kippur, as explained at the end of the section, "during the seventh month, on the tenth of the month."10

Verse 4: Linen tunic, etc.

[This] tell us that he does not perform the Service within11 with the eight garments12 with which he performs the Service without,13 for, they have gold in them, for, a prosecuting attorney does not become a defense attorney,14 but with four [garments] like an ordinary kohein15--- and all of these were of linen.16

He shall don a sanctified---

that it should come from the Temple treasury.17

Place [on his head],

as its Targum, "he shall lower on his head,"18 he shall place on his head, as [in the verse] "she placed his garment"--- "and she placed."19

He shall bathe...in water.

[The Service of] that day requires an immersion with his every change of clothing. He20 would change his clothing five times [during the course of the day], from the Service within [the Holy of Holies] to the Service without [the Holy of Holies], and from [Service] without to within, and he would change from "golden garments"21 to "white garments,"22 and from white garments to golden garments. Each change required an immersion and two sanctifications of the hands and feet from the laver.23

Verse 6: The sin-offering bullock which is his.

That is what is mentioned above,24 and [this] teaches you here that it comes [=is purchased] from his25 [property], and not from public [funds].26

And atone on his own behalf and on behalf of his household.

He confesses over it, his sins, and the sins of his household.27

Verse 8: Aharon shall put lots on the two he-goats.

He places one [goat] to his right and one to his left, and places his two hands into the urn [which holds the lots], and takes a lot in the right and its companion in the left; and he places these upon them ---[the one] on which is written "to G-d" is for the Name [=G-d (la-Shem)], and [the one] on which is written "to Azazel" is sent to Azazel.28

Azazel

is a mountain, strong and hard,29 a high cliff, as it is said "a land cut off,"30 cut off.31

Verse 9: And do (offer) it as a sin-offering.

When he places the lot on it, he calls it a name, saying "for Ad-noy a sin-offering."32

Verse 10: Shall be placed alive,

[The form yo'omad, "it shall be placed"] is like [the form] yu'amad---by others,33 and its Targum is, "it shall be made to stand when [it is still] alive." What does the verse say? Because it is said, "to send it to Azazel," and I do not know whether its sending is to [its] death or for life, therefore it is said, "it shall be placed alive"--- it stands34 alive, until it is sent away; from there [I learn] that it is sent35 for death.36

To achieve atonement with37 it,

that he shall confess over it, as it is written, "and he shall confess over it."38

Verse 11: And atone on his behalf, etc.

A second confession for himself and his brother kohanim,39 for all of them are called "his household," as it is said, "House of Aharon, bless Ad-noy, etc.40 From here [we learn] the kohanim are atoned for by it,41 and all their atonement [affects only the sin of causing] impurity to the Temple and its holy things, as it is said, "and he will atone for [causing impurity to] the Sanctuary from the impurities of Bnei Yisroel," etc.42

Verse 12: From atop the altar---

the outer [one].43

Before Ad-noy.

From the side before the entrance [to the Sanctuary], and that is the western side.44

Finely-ground.

Why does the verse say "finely-ground"? [After all,] is not all the incense finely-ground, as it is said: "pulverize some of it finely-ground"45? Rather, it must be the finest of the fine, for on the eve of Yom Kippur he would return it to the mortar.46

Verse 13: On the fire

which is within the incense-pan.47

That he not die,

therefore, if he did not do it properly, 48 he is liable to death.49

Verse 14: He shall sprinkle with his finger,

one sprinkling is implied.50

And before the Ark-cover he shall sprinkle seven.

Thus once above and seven below.51

Verse 15: That belongs to the people.

That for which the bullock atones on behalf of the kohanim, the goat atones on behalf of Israel,52 that is, the goat upon which the lot "for G-d" fell.53

Just as he did with the bullock's blood,

one above and seven below.54

Verse 16: From the impurities of Bnei Yisroel,

for entering the Sanctuary in [a state of] impurity, [which] was not know to them afterwards, as it is said:

for all their transgressions,

and a transgression is unintentional.55

and from their rebellious sins,

even intentionally entering in [a state of] impurity.56

He shall do likewise for the Tent of Meeting.

Just as he sprinkled [the blood] of the two of them within,57 once above and seven [times] below, so he sprinkles upon the Holy Curtain58 without59 from the [blood of the] two of them, once above and seven [times] below.60

That dwells with them in the midst of their impurity.

Even though they are [ritually] impure, the Shechinah is with them.61

Verse 18: To the altar that is before Ad-noy.

This is the golden altar, which is before Ad-noy in the Sanctuary [proper]. And why does scripture state: "and he shall go out?"62 Since he sprinkled the sprinklings on the Holy Curtain, standing inward63 from the altar [while] sprinkling, and during the placings [of blood] onto the altar he had to exit from the altar [area] outward,64 and begin with the northeast corner.65

And atone on it.

What is its atonement?66

He shall take some of the bullock's blood and some of the he-goat's blood,

mixed together, one within the other.67

Verse 19: He shall sprinkle on it from the blood.

After he places the sprinklings [of blood] with his finger on its horns,68 he sprinkles seven sprinklings on its top.69

And purify it,

from what has passed.70

And sanctify it,

for the future.71

Verse 21: Man [so] designated.

Who is prepared for this from the day before.72

Verse 23: Aharon will come into the Tent of Meeting.

Our Rabbis said this is not the [proper] place of this verse, and gave a reason for their words, in Maseches Yomo.73 They said: This entire section is written in order, except for this entrance, which is after the offering of his burnt-offering and the burnt-offering of the people,74 the burning of the entrails of the bullock and he-goat,75 which were done in [the Kohein G-dol's] golden garments, [after which] he immerses76 and sanctifies,77 takes them78 off and puts on [his] white garments.79

Aharon will [then] come into the Tent of Meeting---

in order to take out the spoon and incense-pan with which he had offered incense within the Holy of Holies.

And remove the linen garments.

After taking them out, he dons golden garments for [offering] the perpetual [burnt-offering] of the afternoon. And this is the order of the [Temple] Services: The morning perpetual offering in golden garments; the Service of the bullock and he-goat within,80 and the incense of the fire-pan in white garments; his ram and the people's ram and part of the additional sacrifices81 in golden garments; the taking out of the spoon and fire-pan in white garments, and the rest of the additional sacrifices,82 the perpetual [burnt-]offering of the afternoon, and the incense offered in the Sanctuary proper83 upon the inner altar in golden garments. The order of the verses according to the Services is as such: "[The man] shall send the goat into the desert,"84 "he85 shall wash his body in water," etc., "and go out and do his burnt-offering," etc.86 "the fat of the sin-offering," etc.87 and [then] the whole section until "and afterwards he shall come into the encampment,"88 and after that: "Aharon will [then] come."89

And place them there.

[This] teaches that they require being hidden away; he will not use those four [linen] garments for another Yom Kippur.90

Verse 24: He shall wash his flesh, etc.

Above91 we learned from "and he shall wash his body and don them," that when he changes from golden garments to white garments he is required to immerse, (for in that immersion92 he had taken off the golden garments with which he had performed the Service of the daily morning [burnt-offering], and put on white garments for the Service of the Day) and here we have learned that when he changes from white garments to golden garments he is required to immerse.93

In a sacred place,

sanctified with the sanctity of the [Outer] Court, and it was in the roof of the Parva House,94 and so [too] the four immersions which are obligatory for the Day, but the first [immersion] was in common95 [space].96

And don his garments,

eight garments in which he performs the Service all the [other] days of the year.97

He shall go out

of the Sanctuary [proper] to the Court in which the Burnt-Offering Altar was located.98

And do (offer) his burnt-offering,

the ram for the burnt-offering mentioned above.99

And the people's burnt-offering,

and one ram for the burnt-offering mentioned above,100 "and from the congregation of Bnei Yisroel," etc.

Verse 25: The fat of the sin-offering,

the entrails of the bullock and goat.101

He shall burn on the altar,

on the outer altar, for if the inner [were intended, is it not] written: "Do not bring upon it strange incense; neither burnt-offerings nor meal-offerings."102

Verse 27: Whose blood was brought

to the Sanctuary and within [=to the Holy of Holies].

Verse 32: The kohein will atone ---he who himself will be anointed, etc.

This atonement of Yom Kippur is not valid except [when carried out] by a Kohein G-dol.103 Because the whole section was said of Aharon,104 it was necessary to state that a Kohein G-dol who comes after him shall be like him [in this respect].

And who will be initiated.

I [know this] only of [a Kohein G-dol] who was anointed with the anointing oil, one distinguished only by the greater number of garments from where [do I know that he is also eligible]?105 The verse says: "and who will be initiated, etc."106 And these are all of the kohanim gedolim who arose after Yoshiyohu onward, for in his days the flask of anointing oil was hidden.107

To serve in his father's stead.

This teaches us that if his son is capable of fulfilling his father's place, he has precedence over everyone else.108

Verse 34: He did as [Ad-noy] commanded [Moshe] Etc.

When Yom Kippur arrived, he performed [Service] according to this order--- to recount Aharon's praise, that he did not wear [these garments] for his own greatness, [but] rather to fulfill the Royal decree..109


Chapter 17 - Rashi

Verse 3: Who will slaughter an ox [or] lamb.

This verse speaks of consecrated [animals], as it is said, "so that it may be brought as an offering."110

Within the encampment,

outside the [Temple] courts.111

Verse 4: It shall be considered [for that person] as blood,

as one who shed the blood of [another] person, who [thereby] forfeits his life.

He has spilled blood---

to include one who sprinkles blood outside [the encampment].112

Verse 5: That they [would] slaughter,

which they were accustomed to slaughter.113

Verse 7: To the spirits,

114

to the demons, as [in the verse] "and demons dance there."115

Verse 8: Who will bring a burnt-offering---

to make guilty one who burns limbs outside [the Temple Courts] as one who slaughters outside [the Temple Courts],116 that if one slaughters and his fellow [Jew] offers it,117 both are guilty [of this offense].118

Verse 9: Shall be cut off.

His children will be cut off,119 and his days will be cut short.120

Verse 10: Any blood.

Since it is said: "[blood] that will achieve atonement for the soul,"121 perhaps he will be guilty only for the blood of consecrated [animals]?122 The verse says: "Any blood."123

I shall direct My anger,124

My "free time"125--- I will turn from all My [other] concerns126 and concern Myself with him.127

Verse 11: For [the] soul of the body

of every creature128---depends on the blood,129 and therefore I have allowed it [on the altar] to atone for the soul of man; let a soul come and atone for a soul!

Verse 12: Every soul among you---

to warn the adults regarding the young ones.130

Verse 13: Will ensnare.

I [know this only] of game,131 How do I know that this applies to geese and chickens? The verse says: "the catch of"---in any case.132 (If so,133 why is it said, "which he will ensnare"? That one should not eat meat without this preparation.)134

That is permitted to be eaten,

except for [ritually] unclean [=unkosher animals].135

Verse 14: Its blood is its life.

Its blood is for it in the place of the soul, for the soul depends on it.136

For the life of all flesh is its blood.

The soul is the blood. Dom and bosor are of the masculine [gender]; nefesh ["soul"] is feminine.137

Verse 15: That will eat an improperly slaughtered animal

138

or an animal with a fatal defect.139

The verse speaks of the carcass of a pure [=kosher] bird, which has no [rule of ritual] impurity140 except when it is swallowed in the gullet.141 And [the verse] teaches you here that it causes uncleanness by its being eaten (but does not cause uncleanness by touch).142 [The word] {Hebrew Ref} mentioned here has been written only for midrashic exposition, and so we have learnt: Perhaps the carcass of a impure [=unkosher] bird causes uncleanness in the gullet? The verse says: {Hebrew Ref} whatever has within its category [the possibility of being] improperly slaughtered, excluding an impure [=unkosher] bird, which does not have within its category [the possiblity of being] improperly slaughtered.143

Verse 16: He bears his iniquity,

if he eats holy food or enters the Sanctuary, he is liable for this impurity as for other impurities.144

And does not bathe his flesh... he bears his iniquity.

He is punished with koreis145 for not washing his body,146 and for not washing his clothes [he is punished] with lashes.147


Chapter 18 - Rashi

Verse 2: I am Ad-noy, your G-d,

I am He who said at Sinai: "I am Ad-noy your G-d,"148 and you accepted My kingship upon on yourselves; therefore, accept My decrees [which follow].149 Rabbi [Judah the Prince] says: It was revealed and known before Him that they will eventually150 tear [themselves] loose [from the laws] of forbidden relations151 in the days of Ezra;152 therefore, He came to them153 with a decree:

I am Ad-noy your G-d---

know Who decrees [this] on you, a Judge who will exact punishment and [Who] is faithful in giving reward.154

Verse 3: After the practices of the Land of Egypt.

This tells [us] that the practices of the Egyptians155 and Canaanites156 were the most corrupt of all the nations, and that place in which the Israelites settled was the most corrupt of all.157

To which I am bringing you.

This tells [us] that those nations which the Israelites conquered were the most corrupt of all.158

And you shall not follow their statutes.

What did Scripture leave [unsaid] which was not previously stated? Rather, this verse refers to their customs, matters which are [social] obligations for them, such as [attending] theaters and stadiums. Rabbi Meir says: These are the "ways of the Amorites" which the Sages enumerated.159

Verse 4: You shall fulfill My laws,

these are matters mentioned in the Torah as law, which if they were not mentioned, would have been proper to mention.160

And keep My statutes,

matters which are a royal decree, against which the evil inclination raises objections: Why should we keep them? And the nations of the world raise objections against them; such as [the law against] eating of pork,161 the wearing of shaatnez,162 and the purification [power] of {Hebrew Ref} .163 Therefore, it is said:

I am Ad-noy,

My decree is upon you, you are not allowed to evade [them].164

To follow them.

You may not evade them, that you not think: "I have learned the wisdom of Israel, I will go and learn the wisdom of the nations."165

Verse 5: You shall keep My statutes, etc.

[The comes] to include other subdivisions [of these laws] which the Torah has not detailed.166 Another interpretation: it provides for keeping and fulfilling the statutes and keeping and fulfilling the laws,167 for [until now the Torah] only provided "fulfilling" for laws, and "keeping" for statutes.

He shall live through them,

in the World to Come, for if you say [that this refers] to this world, will he not in the end die [even if he keeps the mitzvos]?168

I am Ad-noy,

faithful to give a reward [to those deserving of it].169

Verse 6: You shall not approach,

[the word {Hebrew Ref} ] provides a warning for a female as [well as] a male, and therefore it is expressed in plural form.170

I am Ad-noy,

faithful to give a reward [to those deserving of it].171

Verse 7: The nakedness of your father,

this [refers] to your father's wife--- or perhaps it [follows] its plain meaning? "The nakedness of your father" is said here, and it is said later, "the nakedness of his father he uncovered",172 just as later [the phrase refers] to the wife of his father,173 here too [the phrase] refers to the wife of his father.174

And the nakedness of your mother,

to include his mother [who] is not the wife of his father.175

Verse 8: The nakedness of your father's wife,

to extend [the prohibition even] after [his father's] death.176

Verse 9: Your father's daughter,

even the daughter of a [woman] raped [by your father].

Whether she is born in the house or she is born outside---

whether they tell your father: "Maintain her mother [as your wife],"177 and whether they tell him: "Divorce her mother,"178 as [in the case of] a {Hebrew Ref} 179 or a {Hebrew Ref} . 180

Verse 10: The nakedness of your son's daughter, etc.

His daughter [from a woman he] raped, is mentioned in the verse, and [regarding] his daughter and daughter's daughter from his wife we learn from the [prohibition] of "the nakedness of a woman and her daughter," of which it is said, "you may not uncover,"181 whether she is [offspring] of his or from another man.182

The nakedness of your son's daughter,183

[This could be derived by] a {Hebrew Ref} for your [own] daughter,184 but because we do not derive a prohibition from a logical argument,185 [it was] derived it from a {Hebrew Ref} in Tractate Yevomos.186

Verse 11: The nakedness of the daughter of your father's wife.

[This] teaches us that he is not liable for [marrying] his sister [born] of a handmaiden or a non-Jewish woman;187 therefore it is said: "the daughter of your father's wife"--- [referring] to [a woman] fit for marriage.188

Verse 14: The nakedness of your father's brother you shall not uncover.

And what is nakedness?

You shall not approach his wife.189

Verse 15: Your son's wife.

I said this only when your son has a [legal] marital relationship with her,190 excluding a woman raped, a handmaiden or a non-Jewish woman.191

Verse 17: The nakedness of a woman and her daughter.

The verse forbade [them] only by means of the marriage of the first,192 and that is why it is said, "you shall not take"--- an expression of "taking [in marriage]." So too in the context of the punishment: "[a man] who takes a woman and her mother"193 ---[there too] an expression of "taking [in marriage]." But if he raped a woman, he is permitted to marry her daughter.194

They are kin,

they are related to one another.

It is lewdness,

an [evil] plan, as it Targum [states]: "a sinful plan,"195 that your [evil] inclination advises you to sin.

Verse 18: And her sister,

both as one.196

To vex [her],

an expression of vexation, to make one a vexation197 for the other.

In her lifetime.

[This] teaches you that if he divorced her, he may not marry her sister as long as [his former wife] is alive.198

Verse 21: To Molech.

This is an idolatrous form of worship whose name is "Molech," and this is its worship: that he hands over his son to priests, and they make two large bonfires, and they made the son pass on foot between the two bonfires.199

You shall not hand over200

this [refers] to his handing over [his son] to the priests.201

To be passed through Molech,

this [refers] to passing [the child] through the fire.

Verse 23: It is defilement.

An expression of prostitution, incest and adultery, and so too: "My anger is against their depravity."202 Another interpretation: It is {Hebrew Ref} : an expression of mixing and intermixture of the seed of mankind and the seed of animals.

Verse 28: [So that] the land not expel you.

A parable: [This may be compared to] a king's son whom they fed a disgusting food, which did not remain in his bowels but [which] he vomited--- so is the Land of Israel: It cannot sustain sinners.203 And its Targum[ic interpretation]: "that it not empty out," and expression of emptying out--- it empties itself out of them.

Verse 29: Anyone who will do,

both male and female are implied.204

Verse 30: You shall keep My watch---

to warn the Court on this.205

And you will not defile yourselves through them; I am Ad-noy your G-d.

Thus, if you become defiled, I am not your G-d, and you are cut off from Me, and what benefit do I have from you206 [then] if you are liable to destruction? Therefore it is said: "I am Ad-noy your G-d."207


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