Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Leviticus 16/אבן עזרא על ויקרא ט״ז
אאחרי מות. אחרי שהזהיר את ישראל שלא ימותו אמר השם למשה שיזהיר גם לאהרן שלא ימות כאשר מתו בניו וזאת הפרשה לאות כי בני אהרן הכניסו הקטורת לפנים מהפרכת:
1AFTER THE DEATH. After God warned Israel not to incur the death penalty1 He also told Moses to caution Aaron not to die as his sons died.2 This section is proof that the sons of Aaron brought the incense within the veil.3
בומלת בקרבתם שם הפעל וה״א לקרבה אל המלאכה שבה תי״ו כמנהג ה״א הנקבה וטעה רבי ישועה שאמר שהוא שם במשקל חכמתם:
2[WHEN THEY DREW NEAR.] The word be-korvatam (when they drew near) is an infinitive.4 Compare, le-korvah (to come unto) in to come unto the work (Ex. 36:2).5 is made up of the infinitive korvah plus the pronominal suffix. The heh in le-korvah has been turned into a tav in be-korvatam as is the practice with the feminine heh.6 is connected to a pronominal suffix, the heh changes into a tav. Rabbi Joshua,7 who says that be-korvatam is a noun following the paradigm of chokhmatam (their wisdom) (Jer. 49:7),8 is made up of the noun korvah plus a pronominal suffix. errs.
אאל הקדש. כנגד אהל מועד:
1INTO THE HOLY PLACE. In contrast to the tent of meeting.9 here refers to the place that is considered holy with regard to the tent of meeting, i.e., it is holier than the tent of meeting.
בכי בענן. הטעם שלא יכנס כי אם בקטרת שיעשה ענן ולא יראה הכבוד פן ימות. והנה טעמו לא אהיה נראה אליו כי אם בענן ויש אומרים כי פירוש כי בענן בעבור כי אני דר בענן על הכפורת כטעם ה׳ אמר לשכון בערפל:
2FOR I APPEAR IN THE CLOUD.10, which I.E. renders: for only with a cloud. It means Aaron shall only enter with incense. He shall produce smoke so that God’s glory will not be seen, and as a result he dies.11,: for only with a cloud may I be seen over the ark-cover. Note, the meaning of ki be-anan era’eh (for I appear in the cloud upon the ark-cover) is, I will not appear to him except through the agency of a cloud.12 means, I may only be seen through the smoke of the incense. There are those who say that the meaning of ki be-anan era’eh al ha-kapporet (for I appear in the cloud) is, because I dwell in a cloud upon the ark-covering.13 (v. 2). For I appear in the cloud is similar in meaning to The Lord hath said that He would dwell in the thick darkness (I Kings 8:12).
אבפר בן בקר. אין פירושו שיביא הפר אל הקדש רק שיתן משלו בתחלה פר חטאת לכפר עליו ועל הכהנים ויש אומרים גם הלוים בעבור שמצאו ואת שם אהרן תכתוב על מטה לוי והוא רחוק רק הלוים יחשבו עם ישראל:
1WITH A YOUNG BULLOCK. Its meaning is not that Aaron should bring the bullock into the holy place14 might be taken to mean that Aaron should bring the bullock into the Holy of Holies. Hence I.E.’s comment. but rather that he first bring a bullock of his own15 for a sin offering to atone for himself and the kohanim. Others say also for the Levites,16 for they found, And thou shalt write Aaron’s name upon the rod of Levi (Num. 17:18).17 form one unit. However, this is farfetched. On the contrary, the Levites are considered among the Israelites.
אכתנת בד קדש. ולא הזכיר האפוד והחשן ומעיל האפוד כי כבר הזכיר ונשמע קולו בבואו אל הקדש ומזה הכתוב למדו אנשי בית שני ששמשו בלא אורים ותומים גם נביאים היו שם:
1THE HOLY LINEN TUNIC. Scripture does not mention the ephod,18 the breastplate,19 and the robe of the ephod,20 for it earlier mentioned, and the sound thereof21. shall be heard when he22. goeth in unto the holy place (Ex. 28:35).23 must wear the robe when he enters the Holy of Holies. Now, the ephod and the breastplate were attached to the robe. Hence there was no need for Scripture to repeat once again that Aaron shall wear these garments when he enters the Holy of Holies. Rashbam on Ex. 28:35 explains similarly. It should be noted that this interpretation is contrary to the accepted halakhic opinion which rules that the kohen gadol does not enter the Holy of Holies wearing the ephod, its band, the breastplate, and the robe. See Rosh Ha-Shanah 26a. Also see Rashi, “This teaches us that he must not officiate in the interior (the Holy of Holies) robed in the eight garments which were the insignia of the High Priest…in which he performed the service outside…but in the four garments…like an ordinary priest” (Rosenbaum and Silbermann). The men of the second temple who served without the Urim and the Thummim24 learned from this verse [that their practice was proper].25 and the Thummim in our verse, it appears that the wearing of the Urim and the Thummim is not essential for the service to be valid. There were also prophets there.26 may officiate without the Urim and the Thumim if the latter are not available.
אוהקריב אהרן את פר החטאת. אל פתח אהל מועד כמשפט:
1AND AARON SHALL PRESENT THE BULLOCK OF THE SIN-OFFERING, WHICH IS FOR HIMSELF. To the opening of the tent of meeting as is the law.27
בוטעם וכפר בעדו. כי בו יכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו אחר שישחטנו ויש אומרים כי העמדתו היא כפרה:
2[AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF.] This means that with it he will make atonement for himself and for his house after he slaughters it.28 There are those who say that presenting the bullock29. See Sifra and Rashi. is the atonement.30
אגרלות. ידועים מדברי קבלת אבותינו. אמר הגאון כי עזאזל שם הר ונקרא כן בעבור שהוא תקיף כי טעם זכר השם כטעם הררי אל יקותיאל והגאון הלוי תפשו כי האל״ף במלת עזאזל הוא בין זי״ן לזי״ן ויש אומרים שהוא הר סמוך אל הר סיני והשם צוה להוליך השעיר ולהעלותו שם עד שישחט ואחר כן היו מוליכים אותו בבית המקדש להר אחר והעד שאמר ויעש אהרן וכן בחג שבועות לפי דעתי כאשר אפרש במקומו ויש אומרים כי עבודת בית שני לא היתה כראשון כי היה הכהן מחוסר בגדים ואין כפרת וזה המפרש אמר כי השעיר ישלח במדבר כי כן כתוב ושלח את השעיר במדבר וטעמו כטעם צפור המטהר מהצרעת שהוא על פני השדה מקום שאין שם ישוב והעד אל ארץ גזרה ואנחנו השיבונו כי השעיר ישלחו במדבר כאשר הוא כתוב וירדוף אחריו עד שיברח ויעל אל הצור על כן אמרו חז״ל ודוחפו ואמר רב שמואל אף על פי שכתוב בשעיר החטאת שהוא לשם גם השעיר המשתלח הוא לשם ואין צריך כי המשלח איננו קרבן כי לא ישחט ואם יכולת להבין הסוד שהוא אחר מלת עזאזל תדע סודו וסוד שמו כי יש לו חברים במקרא ואני אגלה לך קצת הסוד ברמז בהיותך בן שלשים ושלש תדענו:
1LOTS. We know what they are from the words of our sages.31 36a. The Gaon32 says that Azazel is the name of a mountain. It is so called because of its might.33 63a. Azazel is a combination of az (strong) and el (tall). Azazel thus means mighty and tall mountain (Krinsky). God’s name34 is mentioned in Azazel as it is in ke-harere el (the mighty mountains) (Ps. 36:7) and in yakti’el (Joktheel) (II Kings 14:7). The Gaon, the Levite,35 caught him in error. He pointed out that the alef of Azazel is placed between one zayin and the other zayin.36 in it, for the word is spelled ayin, zayin, alef, zayin lamed. There are those who say that Azazel is the name of a mountain close to Mount Sinai. God commanded that the goat be led and brought up there until it slipped down the mountain. Later on in the time of the temple, they led it to a different mountain. “And Aaron did” (v. 34) is proof of this.37. I.E.’s point is that Scripture goes out of the way to state that Aaron did as God commanded him in the wilderness, for later on when Israel entered Israel some parts of the Yom Kippur ritual were performed a bit differently. The sending of the goat to Mount Azazel is an example. The same, in my opinion, as I will explain in its place,38 is true of the festival of Shavu’ot.39 There are those who say that the service40 during the second temple was unlike that of the first, for the kohen41 lacked the garments42., the ephod, its band, the breastplate, and the robe. and there was no ark-cover. This commentator says that the goat was sent into the wilderness, for Scripture states, and he shall let go the goat in the wilderness (v. 22).43 The latter is similar in meaning to the bird of the one who is cleansed from leprosy44 which is sent into the open field, an uninhabited place. A land which is cut off45 (v. 22) is proof of this.46 We answered him that they sent the goat into the wilderness as it is written.47 However, the goat was pursued48 until it fled and climbed up a rock. The rabbis therefore said, “and he49 pushes it down.”50 67a. The point is that since a person accompanied the goat it was possible for him to push the goat off the mountain. Rabbi Samuel51 says that even though it is written that the goat offered as a sin offering is to be offered to God, the goat that was sent was also offered to God. There is no need for this interpretation, for the goat sent into the wilderness did not serve as an offering since it was not slaughtered. If you are able to understand the secret that follows Azazel52 (for Azazel into the wilderness). According to I.E. the word ha-midbarah is the key to understanding the meaning of Azazel. then you will know its secret and the secret of its name, for it has comrades in Scripture.53 (goat) and azal (to go). There are many such compound names in Scripture. Compare, Emmanuel (God is with us). According to I. E. the meaning of la-azazel ha-midbarah is, for a goat that goes into the wilderness. I will reveal a bit of its secret to you in a hint. When you are thirty-three, you will understand it.54 (satyrs). According to I.E. the se’irim were demons that had the shape of goats. Now it is not clear what the purpose was of sending the goat to demons who were shaped like goats. According to Nahmanides the goat was a gift to Satan so that he would not interfere with Israel’s sacrifice. However, it is doubtful that I.E. had this in mind. Weiser suggests that the goat was sent to a place of demons so that the sins which it (literally or symbolically) bore would not contaminate people, for demons dwell in a place which is uninhabited.
אועשהו חטאת. שישחטנה:
1AND OFFER HIM55 FOR A SIN-OFFERING. He shall slaughter it.
איעמד חי. מהבנין הכבד הנוסף שלא נזכר שם פועלו והיה היו״ד ראוי להיותו מאוסף בשור״ק רק נרחב בעבור אות הגרון וכן יחרם כל רכושו:
1SHALL BE SET ALIVE. The word yo’omad (shall be set) is a hofal.56 The yod57 should have been vocalized with a shuruk.58, for that is the way words in the imperfect are conjugated in the hofal. Compare, yuktzar, yurad However, it was enlarged59) to a major vowel (a kamatz). because of the guttural.60, for the root of yo’omad is ayin, mem, dalet. The word yochoram (should be forfeited) in all his substance should be forfeited (Ez. 10:8) is similar.61 rather than with a kubbutz because of its guttural.
בלכפר עליו. כי הכפור יהי עליו ופירושו לשלח אותו:
2TO MAKE ATONEMENT OVER HIM.62 For the atonement shall be upon it.63 It means to send him away.
אוהקריב אהרן. בעבור שארכו דברי השעירים הוסיף לבאר אחר שהקריב הפר ושני השעירים אל אהל מועד יחל לשחוט את הפר שלו:
1AND AARON SHALL PRESENT. Scripture goes on to explain that after Aaron has presented the bullock and the two goats to the tent of meeting, he shall begin to slaughter his bullock. Scripture does this because64. it dwelt at length on the goats.65
אהמחתה. ידועה היא:
1A CENSER. The meaning of machtah (censer) is known.
בחפניו. שניהם:
2HIS HANDS FULL. Both hands.66) always comes in the plural form. Hence I.E. points out that here the word is to be taken literally.
גקטרת סמים. היא הנזכרת:
3SWEET INCENSE. Mentioned earlier.67
אהיה נראה לנו כי על פני הכפרת ולפני הכפרת כמשמעו והמעתיקים אמרו כי על פני הכפרת הוא על בין הבדים ולפני הכפורת ידוע מדבריהם והוא אמת:
1It would have appeared to us that upon the ark-cover (v. 14); and before the arkcover (Ibid.) are to be taken literally. However, the transmitters of tradition said that upon the ark-cover means between the staves.68 stands between the staves of the ark and sprinkles from there. Furthermore, according to the rabbis the kohen does not actually sprinkle blood on the ark-cover but upward towards the ark-cover. See Yoma 53b. The meaning of and before the ark-cover is known from their words.69 means downward in front of the ark-cover. The blood fell on the ground. See Yoma 53b. What they said is true.
אושחט את שעיר החטאת אשר לעם. ועתה ישחטנו בצאתו כי יש אומרים שהוא ישחט קודם הפר ואיננו אמת:
1THEN SHALL HE KILL THE GOAT OF THE SIN-OFFERING. He shall now, when he goes out,70 slaughter it. There are those who say that he should slaughter the goat before he slaughters the bullock.71 (v. 9) as meaning, and Aaron shall slaughter the goat. The latter is untrue.72
אוכפר על הקדש. הוא קדש הקדשים:
1AND HE SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THE HOLY PLACE. The reference is to the Holy of Holies.
בוכן יעשה לאהל מועד. שיזה שבע פעמים לפני הפרוכת ועל קרנות מזבח הקטורת:
2AND SO SHALL HE DO FOR THE TENT OF MEETING. He shall sprinkle seven times before the ark-cover (kaporet)73). and on the horns of the altar of incense.
גוטעם וכפר על הקדש. להיות הדם כופר שלא ישחת בעבור טומאת הטמאים:
3The meaning of And he shall make atonement for the holy place is that the blood serves as a ransom so that the holy place does not destroy74 because of the uncleanliness of the unclean.
אוכל אדם. מהכהנים:
1AND THERE SHALL BE NO MAN. From among the kohanim.75 were never permitted to be in the tent of meeting.
בלכפר בקדש. בפנים:
2TO MAKE ATONEMENT IN THE HOLY PLACE. Inside.76
גוכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו. בפר חטאתו:
3AND HAVE MADE ATONEMENT FOR HIMSELF, AND FOR HIS HOUSEHOLD. With his sin offering bullock.
דובעד כל קהל ישראל. בשעיר חטאתם:
4AND FOR ALL THE ASSEMBLY OF ISRAEL. With their sin offering goat.
אויצא אל המזבח. הוא מזבח העולה:
1AND HE SHALL GO OUT UNTO THE ALTAR. The reference is to the burnt offering altar.77
אונתן אותם. אחר שיסורו מישראל כאילו נתונים הם אל ראש השעיר והולכים אל מקום שלא יזכרו עוד והכתוב דבר להבין הכל:
1AND HE SHALL PUT THEM. After the sins are removed from Israel they are, as it were, placed on the head of the goat. The sins will go to a place were they will never again be remembered. Scripture speaks in a way that all will understand.78
בעתי. מזומן לעתו או מנהגו ללכת בכל עת בכפורים והיו״ד להתיחס לעת כמו פנימי והמפרשים אותו חכם איננו נכון בעיני וחז״ל אמרו שהנושא הוא כהן ודבריהם אמת:
2APPOINTED. Itti (appointed) means prepared for his time.79 Or itti refers to an individual whose custom it was to always lead the goat on the Day of Atonement. The yod80. relates to the word et (time).81 Itti is similar to penimi (internal).82 is the yod of relation. The yod suffixed to a word is often a first person pronominal suffix, hence I.E.’s comment. The interpretation of those who explain itti to mean wise83 (ittim) (Est. 1:13). According to this interpretation a “timely” man is a man who is aware of what is currently happening, i.e., a wise man. does not appear correct to me.84 Our sages, of blessed memory, said that the “bearer”85 was a kohen.86 66a. Their words are true.
אבמקום קדוש. בחצר אהל מועד וסדין היו פורשין לו:
1IN A HOLY PLACE. In the courtyard of the tent of meeting. They used to spread a sheet for the kohen.87 3:4.
בבגדיו. ששמש בהן בכל יום ויש אומרים שהם הנזכרים והעד שלא נכתב ולבש בגדים אחרים:
2HIS OTHER VESTMENTS.88 With which he serves every day.89 There are those who say that the reference is to the garments mentioned.90 The fact that Scripture does not say and put on other garments (Lev. 6:4) is proof of this.91
געלתו. הוא האיל ואיל העם ופר העם ושבעה כבשיהם כי כן כתוב:
3HIS BURNT-OFFERING. The reference is to the ram92. See verse 3. and the ram of the people,93 the bullock of the people,94 and the seven lambs,95 for it is so written in Scripture.96
אואת חלב החטאת. חלב פר החטאת וחלב שעיר החטאת גם חלב שעיר העזים שהוא חטאת לכהן כמשפט ואינו נשרף וזה בפרשת פנחס:
1AND THE FAT OF THE SIN-OFFERING. The fat of the bullock sin offering97 and the fat of the goat sin offering98 and also the fat of the he-goat sin offering, which is a sin offering belonging to the kohen as is the law, and is not burned. The last named sacrifice is found in the Torah portion Pinechas.99
אורחץ את בשרו במים. ודי לו כי לא יטמא עד הערב:
1AND BATHE HIS FLESH IN WATER. This is sufficient for him,100 for he does not become unclean until evening.
איוציא אל מחוץ למחנה. בצווי:
1SHALL BE CARRIED FORTH101 WITHOUT THE CAMP. By command.102 shall command that they be carried outside of the camp.
בושרפו. הכהנים וכל אחד מהשורפים ירחץ במים ומיד יבא אל המחנה והעד שאמר ואחרי כן יבא אל המחנה כי מה צורך לאמרו:
2AND THEY SHALL BURN. The kohanim shall burn them. All those who do the burning shall bathe in water and immediately come into the camp. The fact that Scripture immediately states, and afterward he may come into the camp, is proof of this, for what reason is there to states this.103
אוהיתה לכם לחקת עולם. זאת העבודה:
1AND IT SHALL BE A STATUTE FOR EVER UNTO YOU. This service.104.
בבחדש השביעי בעשור לחדש תענו את נפשותיכם. אחר שהכתוב אומר ותתענג בדשן נפשכם ידענו כי הענוי הפך התענוג והוא הצום ועוד ונפש נענה תשביע שטעמו כמו ותפק לרעב נפשך כי דרך דברי הנביאים להכפל ואחר שיש לנו קבלה אין צורך לחפש ואין עניתי בצום נפשי ראיה בעבור זכר צום והכלל כל עינוי שימצא במקרא דבק עם נפש הוא הצום:
2IN THE SEVENTH MONTH, ON THE TENTH DAY OF THE MONTH, YE SHALL AFFLICT YOUR SOULS. Since Scripture writes, And let your soul delight itself in fatness (Is. 55:2), we know that affliction is the reverse of delight and that affliction of the soul refers to fasting.105 Furthermore, Scripture states, And satisfy the afflicted soul (Is. 58:10), the meaning of which is like And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry (Ibid.), for it is the style of the prophets to repeat themselves.106 is another way of saying the afflicted soul. We thus see that affliction of the soul refers to a lack of food. Hence it refers to fasting. Now since we have tradition107 there is no reason to go on searching.108 I afflicted my soul with fasting (Ps. 35:13) is no proof109 because the word fast is mentioned.110 The general rule is, whenever we find in Scripture the word affliction connected to soul, the reference is to a fast.111
גהאזרח והגר הגר בתוככם. לא נעזבנו לעשות מלאכה ולא נכריתנו על הצום:
3THE HOME-BORN, OR THE STRANGER THAT SOJOURNETH AMONG YOU. We are not permitted to let him112 do any work,113 but we do not force him114 as in Vat. Ebr. 38 instead of nachritennu (we shall cut him off). to fast.115
איכפר עליכם. הכהן על כן אמרו המפרשים על השעיר המשתלח כי יעמד חי לכפר עליו כי העמדתו היא כפרה:
1SHALL ATONEMENT BE MADE FOR YOU. By the kohen. The commentators therefore say regarding the goat which is sent into the wilderness, concerning which it is written, shall be set alive…to make atonement over him (v. 10), that the atonement becomes effective by the placing of the goat before the Lord.116.
במכל חטאתיכם. כאשר פירשתי ששם חטאת שם כלל על כן תמצא על השגגה ועל הזדון:
2FROM ALL YOUR SINS. This is to be understood in accordance with my earlier explanation that the noun chattat (sin) is a general term. It is therefore found with reference to both accidental and deliberate sin.
אשבת שבתון. יש אומרים שביתה לנפש ולגוף ואחרים אמרו שהוא שביתת השביתה שאין למעלה ממנה ושניהם שמות פעם יבא זה קודם זה והם שוים ואינו רחוק:
1IT IS A SABBATH OF SOLEMN REST. Some say that shabbat shabbaton (a sabbath of solemn rest) means rest for the soul and rest for the body.117 is repeated in the phrase. Others say that shabbat shabbaton means a rest above which there is no other rest.118 Both words119 are nouns. At times the other word comes first.120. However, Ex. 16:23 reads shabbaton shabbat. They have one meaning,121 and shabbaton have one meaning. This interpretation is not farfetched.
בחקת עולם. להתענות:
2IT IS A STATUTE FOR EVER. To fast.
אוכפר הכהן. שב עתה לפרש על כל מה שיכפר:
1AND THE PRIEST…SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT. Scripture now goes on to explain what the kohen shall make atonement for.
באשר ימשח אותו. המושח בשמן המשחה אחר שמלא את ידו:
2WHO SHALL BE ANOINTED. By the anointer122) and who shall be consecrated…shall make atonement. Now the priest who anoints the kohen gadol does not make atonement. Neither is the priest who anoints consecrated to wear the high priestly vestments. Furthermore, the text omits with what the anointed shall do the anointing. Hence I.E. points out that yimshach oto is short for yimshach ha-moshech oto, which means whom the anointer shall anoint. Thus according to I.E. the first part of our verse should be rendered: And the priest whom the anointer shall anoint with the anointing oil. with the anointing oil123 was anointed. Hence I.E. points out that asher yimshach oto is short for yimshach oto be-shemen ha-mishchah. after he has been consecrated.124.
גולבש. הוא הלובש אלה בגדי קדש כי אחר לא ילבשם:
3AND HE SHALL PUT ON. He125. is the one who shall put on these holy garments, for another person may not wear them.
אאת מקדש הקדש. היא מבית לפרכת:
1THE MOST HOLY PLACE. Which is located on the inner side of the veil.
בועל הכהנים ועל כל עם הקהל יכפר. עמם הלוים כי הם לא יקראו הכהנים רק כל כהן הוא לוי ואין כל לוי כהן:
2AND SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THE PRIESTS AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF THE ASSEMBLY. The Levites are included among the latter, for the Levites are not called kohanim. On the contrary, every kohen is a Levite126 but every Levite is not a kohen.127.
אוהיתה זאת לכם. וכבר אמר כן להוסיף אחת בשנה:
1AND THIS SHALL BE…UNTO YOU. Scripture already stated this.128 It is repeated to add once in the year.
בויעש. אהרן:
2AND HE DID. And Aaron did.