Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Leviticus 16:18/רמב"ן על ויקרא ט״ז:י״ח
אוְיָצָא אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי ה' וגו' הַזָּאוֹת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת מְכַפְּרוֹת עַל טֻמְאַת מִקְדָּשׁ וְקָדָשָׁיו; שֶׁל לִפְנַי לִפְנִים וְהַזָּאוֹת שֶׁעַל הַפָּרֹכֶת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מְכַפְּרוֹת עַל טֻמְאַת הֵיכָל וְקָדָשָׁיו, כְּגוֹן מְנוֹרָה וְשֻׁלְחָן וְלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים וּפָרֹכֶת עַצְמָהּ; וּמַתְּנוֹת מִזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי וְהַזָּאוֹת שֶׁעָלָיו מְכַפְּרוֹת עַל טֻמְאַת מִזְבֵּחַ עַצְמוֹ וְקָדָשָׁיו, כְּגוֹן הַקְּטֹרֶת. וְלָכֵן הַכָּתוּב מְחַלֵּק בָּהֶן וּמַזְכִּיר כָּל כַּפָּרָה לְבַדָּהּ. וּבְתוֹרַת כֹּהֲנִים (פרשה ד א ב) דּוֹרֵשׁ זֶה מִן הַכָּתוּב בַּסּוֹף (ויקרא ט"ז:כ') "וְכִלָּה מִכַּפֵּר אֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ" וְגוֹ', וְאָמְרוּ, "מִכַּפֵּר אֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ" זֶה לִפְנַי לִפְנִים, "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" זֶה הֵיכָל, "הַמִּזְבֵּחַ" זֶה מִזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁכָּל אֶחָד כַּפָּרָה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ, נָתַן מִקְצַת מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים וְנִשְׁפַּךְ הַדָּם, יָבִיא דָּם אַחֵר וְיַתְחִיל בַּתְּחִלָּה בַּמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּפְנִים. גָּמַר אֶת הַמַּתָּנוֹת מִבִּפְנִים וְנִשְׁפַּךְ הַדָּם, יָבִיא דָּם אַחֵר וְיַתְחִיל בַּתְּחִלָּה בַּמַּתָּנוֹת שֶׁבַּחוּץ. גָּמַר מַתָּנוֹת שֶׁבַּחוּץ וְנִשְׁפַּךְ הַדָּם, יָבִיא דָּם אַחֵר וְיַתְחִיל בַּתְּחִלָּה בְּמַתְּנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וכו':
1AND HE SHALL GO OUT UNTO THE ALTAR THAT IS BEFORE THE ETERNAL AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR IT, etc. The sprinklings before the ark-cover [in the Holy of Holies]97 effected atonement for impurity that befell the innermost part of the Sanctuary and its hallowed things. The sprinklings in front of the Veil in the Tent of Meeting [which divided between the holy place and the most holy],98 effected atonement for impurity that befell the Sanctuary and its holy things, such as the candelabrum, the table, the showbread, and the Veil itself. The applications of the blood upon [the horns of] the inner altar and the [seven] sprinklings upon its top99 effected atonement for impurity that befell this altar itself and its holy things, such as the incense [which was burnt on it twice daily]. It is for this reason that Scripture divided them [these three parts of the Service] and mentioned “atonement” in each case.100 (Verse 16) refers to the Holy of Holies. And there shall be no man in the Tent of Meeting when he goeth in to ‘make atonement’ in the holy place (Verse 17), refers to the atonement in front of the Veil. And he shall go out unto the altar … and ‘make atonement’ for it (Verse 18 before us) is the atonement for the altar. In the Torath Kohanim the Rabbis derived this interpretation from a verse written at the end [of this part of the Service], And when he hath finished making an atonement for the holy place, and the Tent of Meeting, and the altar etc.101 On this verse the Rabbis commented:102 4:1-2. “Making an atonement for the holy place, this refers to the innermost part of the Sanctuary [i.e., the Holy of Holies]. The Tent of Meeting, this is the Sanctuary. The altar, that is the inner altar. This teaches that they are each a separate act of atonement. From this the Sages have deduced that if [the High Priest] made some of the applications of the blood within [the Holy of Holies], and the blood then became spilt, he must bring other blood and start again with the applications [done] within [the Holy of Holies]. But if he finished the applications within [the Holy of Holies], and the blood then became spilt, he must bring other blood and start again with the applications [done] on [the Veil] outside103 [in the Sanctuary]. If he finished the applications outside [in the Sanctuary] and the blood then became spilt, he must bring other blood and start again with the applications on the altar, etc. [since they are each a separate act of atonement].”104