Day 5: Leviticus 10:16-20 (Study Notes)
Parsha Shmini: Day 5
(Leviticus 10:16-20)
(Leviticus 10:16)
In Leviticus chapter 10, verse 16 Moshe asks about the goat of the sin offering, which he commanded to be brought in Leviticus chapter 9 verse three.
As we learned earlier, the male goat is the sin offering for The Chieftains, not an individual Israelite, which would be a female goat or a female lamb. This we can learn about in Leviticus chapter 4, verse 22 through 26.
Moshe discovers upon his asking that the sin offering had already been burned. Moshe gets very upset and we might wonder what the problem is.
(Leviticus 10:17)
We learn in Leviticus chapter 10 verse 17 that Aaron and his two remaining sons turned the flesh of The Chieftains’ offering into smoke.
By this, we learn that Aaron and his sons did not partake of their most holy portion of the offering. Instead, Aaron and his sons treated the remainder of the sin offering as if it was the leftover part after they were done eating.
(Leviticus 10:18-20)
In Leviticus chapter 10 verses 18 through 20, Moshe was upset and angry that the priests had not eaten of their due portion. However, Aaron provides the reason why.
Essentially Aaron made note to Moshe that he and his sons were in a state of uncleanness because of the actions of the other two sons, who were killed due to bringing strange fire. Therefore, because of their uncleanness, Aaron did not allow himself nor his two sons to eat of the most holy portion.
From Aaron’s statement, we understand more clearly the idea that the sins of priests effect the community. Aaron did not sin. Eleazer did not sin. Ithamar did not sin. Yet, Aaron reacts (and acts) as if they had because the priesthood is a community within the community. When one priest sins, a sin offering for all is brought for forgiveness. There is no individual sin offering for priests. It is one for all. Thus, the actions of one priest effects all of Am Yisrael. Aaron understood this, and thus refuses to eat the holy portion because the priesthood community was unclean as a whole.
Thus, according to Leviticus chapter 7 verse 20 Aaron knew that eating of the terumah in a state of uncleanness would bring more harm to the community than good. So instead of eating of his most holy portion, he turned the most holy portion back to Hashem “as food” as commanded of the chieftains’ sin offering in Leviticus chapter 5.
By giving the most holy portion back to Hashem, Aaron allowed the most holy portion to be consumed by Hashem and thereby allow for expiation and forgiveness for The Chieftains’ sin. Aaron‘s actions make clear that he knew that he and his sons are not exempt from the laws of Hashem. Even though Leviticus Chapter 7 verse 20 refers to an individual Jew, Aaron willingly placed the laws upon himself and upon his sons and did not eat in a state of uncleanliness lest they and all Israel would perish.
(Leviticus 10:20)
In Leviticus chapter 10, verse 20, we see that Moshe approves Aaron‘s response and his humility. Moshe gives no response nor retort. His silence speaks volumes of approval, as he quickly moves to the giving of additional laws.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis