Parsha Shmini: Day 7 (Leviticus 11:33-47)

(Study Notes)

(Leviticus 11:33)

In Leviticus chapter 11, verse 33 Moshe tells us that if one of these unclean animals dies and falls into an earthenware vessel, the vessel and everything in it becomes irreversibly unclean. The vessel must be broken.

If we remember our previous lessons about an earthenware vessel, we can recall that even when such vessels touched a holy piece of flesh, they must be broken. Considering the laws of the vessel that has contacted holy flesh can help us understand the laws that Moshe is laying out here.

Previously, we learned that since an earthenware vessel is porous, when flesh is boiled in an earthenware pot, remnants of the flesh may remain in the pores, and thus the pot must be broken. Whether the flesh is holy or unclean, these principles remain. This is to avoid anyone from becoming either…

Parsha Shmini Day 6 (Part 3): Leviticus 11:24-32 (Study Notes)

(Leviticus 11:24-28)

 In Leviticus chapter 11, verse 24 through 28 Moshe tells of the actions and activities that make a person unclean if done with an unclean animal, insect, bird or otherwise.

Moshe says that touching the carcass of an unclean animal makes the person unclean until evening. Moshe also says that carrying the carcass of an unclean animal makes a person unclean.

When Jews become unclean, we are to wash our clothes and remain unclean until evening. When evening comes and a new day begins, the Jew is considered clean by Hashem.

These statements about being unclean until evening and clean at the dawn (or should I say nightfall) of a new day, seems meaningless or mundane until we consider what Hashem has promised regarding His return.

Parsha Shmini: Day (Part 2) (Leviticus 11:13-23)

(Leviticus 11:13-19)

The ideology of the sharks becoming unclean by eating that which is unclean is seen clearly when Moshe discusses the birds of the sky in Leviticus chapter 11 verses 13 through 19.

Here Moshe lists 20 unclean birds of the sky, which Jewish people are not to eat. These include:

1. the eagle

2. the vulture,

Parsha Shmini: Day 6

(Part 1: Leviticus 11:1-12)

After offering the sin offerings and the burnt offerings, Moshe then goes into the laws of kashrut, or the laws of those animals that can and cannot be eaten.

(Leviticus 11:1-8)

In Leviticus chapter 11 verses one through eight, Moshe discusses the land animals.

We learned that the animals that can be eaten are those that have true hoofs and that also chew the cud. Moshe defines a true hoof as one that has a cleft through the hoof. This means that the hoof is completely divided. It is separated into two parts.

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.

Parsha Shmini: Day 4

(Leviticus 10:12-15) (Study Notes)

(Leviticus 10:12-13)

In Leviticus chapter 10 verses 12 through 13, we read that Moshe commands Aaron and his two remaining sons Eleazar and Ithamar to take the leftover meal offerings from the LORD’s offerings by fire and “eat it unleavened besides the altar.”

In Leviticus chapter 2 verse 10 we read that the leftover meal offering is the most holy portion of a meal burnt offering and is to be eaten in the holy precinct. Thus, the altar here referred to must be the incense altar. We learned in Tzav and Vayikra that the holy portion is the portion of meal offering that remains after the token portion has been removed and turned to smoke on the altar. The leftover portion is the most holy portion that is the gift portion to the priests.

(Leviticus 10:13)

Parsha Shmini: Day 3

(Leviticus 9:24-10:11) (Study Notes)

(Leviticus 9:24)

In Leviticus chapter 9 verse 24, we learn that the presence of Hashem appeared as fire that came out from in front of Hashem.

We learn the fire consumed both the burnt offerings and the fat parts of the well-being and sin offerings. We also learn that Hashem appeared to Aaron and the people BECAUSE Aaron and his son’s successfully completed the seven day consecration.

As we have learned previously, this miracle of Hashem’s fire is tied directly to the miracle of Hanukkah.

Parsha Shmini: Day 2 (Leviticus 9:17-23) (Study Notes)

(Leviticus 9:17)

In Leviticus chapter 9, verse 17 we learn that this mincha meal offering was added to the burnt offerings of the morning.

The burnt offering discussed here again is the first offering of the twice daily burnt offerings discussed and commanded in Exodus chapter 29 verses 38 through 46. This burnt offering would have been a yearling lamb brought with a 10th measure of flour, a quarter hin of beaten oil, and a quarter hin of wine.

(Leviticus 9:18)

 In Leviticus chapter 9, verse 18 we learned that Moshe then offered the well-being sacrifice of the people.

Parsha Shmini: Day 1 (Leviticus 9:1-16)

(Study Notes).

In our previous studies of the book of Leviticus, we learned all about the animal sacrifices. In chapters 1 through 5 we learned specific details about the burnt offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and offerings for transgressions. Later in chapters Leviticus six through seven, we learned more specific details about these offerings. In chapter 8, we learned about Aaron and his sons and the consecration ceremony that took place to anoint both him and the altar and the tent of meeting.

Today’s lesson begins where chapter 8 left off. At the end of chapter 8, we learned that Aaron and his sons were to stay in the Tent of Meeting for seven days in order to complete their consecration. These seven days inside the tent would make expiation for Aaron and his sons.

(Leviticus 9:1)

Leviticus chapter 9 verse one begins by telling…