Leviticus 8:22-29 

​​Parsha Tzav: Day #6​ 

Study Notes

(Leviticus 8:22)

In the previous daily portion, Moshe began bringing forth the various offerings brought by the Priests during their consecration and ordination ceremony. Today's portion begins with Moshe bringing forward another Ram.

The second ram is “the Ram of Ordination”

This is not the same as the first ram, which was offered as a Burnt offering.

(Leviticus 8:23)

The ram was to be slaughtered and the blood was to be:

• Placed on the ridge of Aaron’s Right ear

• Placed on the thumb of Aaron’s Right hand

• Placed on the big toe of Aaron’s Right foot.

(Leviticus 8:24)

Moshe then brings forward Aaron’s sons and does the same thing, placing some of the blood of the ram on the ridge of their right ears, the thumb of their right hand, and the big toe of their right foot.

These placements of blood harken to:

• The placement of blood on the four horns of the altar, which we learned has the purpose of “cleansing” the altar and “consecrating the altar in order to make expiation.” The fourth placement is the oil atop the heads of Aaron and his sons.

  
  

• The three placements of blood are on Aaron and his son’s right side, which is the strong side of Hashem.

• The ear: to hear Hashem correctly

• The thumb: the strong right hand of Hashem

• The toe: a reminder that their feet stand on holy ground.

The oil on the head: is the crown that anoints the priest for a flow of heaven’s oil—Hashem's wisdom and knowledge to know how to rule and direct the people of Hashem.

All of these work together to “cleanse” the priest and “consecrate and ordinates” the priests in order that they are prepared to do the work on behalf of the congregation that will work to provide expiation and forgiveness: the sacrifices.

The placements of blood also hearken to the placements of blood during Pesach:

The three placements of blood upon Aaron and his sons body hearken to the placement of blood on the two doorposts and the lintel of the homes on the night of Pesach.

These markings of blood marked the Hebrew homes out for life, just as the three markings of blood mark the priests out for their work, which leads to life and perpetuation of the Jewish nation through expiation and forgiveness of sin.

(Leviticus 8:24)

After placing the blood on Aaron and his sons, THEN with the rest of the blood,

Again, the dashing of the sides of the altar tells us that this ram was not offered as a trespass nor sin offering. And, again, the dashing of the blood on the sides of the altar creates life:

חַי

(Leviticus 8:25)

Moshe then takes the fat of the Ram:

• The broad-tail—like the lamb of well-being (Leviticus 3:16).

• All of the fat around the entrails.

• The protuberance of the liver.

• The two kidneys and their fat.

AND

• The right Thigh

It is important to note that The Broad Tail is normally offered from a sheep. The fact that it is here offered from the Ram of Ordination indicates that the Ram of ordination is like the sheep of Well-Being. Both hold the promise of the Israelites not being burned, but instead being exalted as the head, as promised by Hashem.

The Right Thigh here being taken by Moshe also connects the Ram of Ordination with the well-being offering. Like the right thigh that is elevated to Hashem as a gift, it is as if Hashem is stating that He takes back Jacob’s right thigh—a promise that the wrestling with Him is over so long as the priesthood stands.

Since the priesthood does not now stand (in the Biblical sense and authority), there is continued wrestling with Hashem and His people. When moshiach arrives and Hashem returns, all struggling and suffering will end—eternal shalom will be global and there will be peace between Hashem and all of mankind. May the coming of moshiach come speedily in our days!

(Leviticus 8:26)

From the Basket of Unleavened Bread (mentioned at the beginning of Leviticus chapter 8), Moshe took:

• 1 cake of unleavened bread

• 1 cake of oil bread (which is the griddle cake)

• 1 wafer

This is like the meal offering that is taken for a Thanksgiving offering of well-being (Leviticus 7:14) save the one loaf of leavened bread.

All of these bread offerings were placed on top of:

• The fat parts

• The right thigh

THEN placed in Aaron’s and his son’s palms and elevated to Hashem as an Elevation offering (Leviticus 8:27). This harkens to Hashem’s statement “I have written you on the palms of my hands.”

BREAD: (Represents the first-fruits of Hashem: sons of Israel)

FAT: (Turned to smoke for forgiveness)

THIGH: (Joseph—Israel)

PALM

(Leviticus 8:28)

All of the above was taken and turned into smoke on the altar.

• Burnt Offering

• Ordination Offering

• Offering by fire

This tells us that the ram of ordination was akin to the burnt offerings we learned about in Leviticus chapter 1—it is all good. It is pleasing to Hashem. Like the pillar of cloud by day, the burnt offerings are proof of Hashem’s presence and faithfulness to His promises of Redemption and eternal salvation of His Jewish people.

( Leviticus 8:29)

Moshe then elevates the breast of the Ram to the LORD.

Again, this elevation offering hearkens to the well-being offering. We mentioned previously that the elevation of the breast of a sacrificial animal is a gift to Hashem and the priests—it becomes the portion of the priest. Here, Moshe is the designated priest to whom the gift portions go to since he is the one offering the sacrifices on behalf of Aaron and his sons..

This gift of the breast to the priest is like Hashem taking the chest of His people in the palms of His hands—as promised in Ezekiel 36, one day He will provide a heart that will simply know and do all of His mitzvot. With the New Heart, all wrestling with Hashem will cease. The first fruit nation of Hashem will all be gathered home back to the land of Israel. The world will be secured in eternal shalom. And every person alive will acknowledge, know, and intimately worship Hashem alone. May today be the day of redemption and may the coming of moshiach be speedily in our days!

Am Yisrael Chai!

Kimberly Davis