אחרי מות

וידבר ה' אל משה אחרי מות שני בני אהרן וגו'. מַה תַּ"ל? הָיָה רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן עֲזַרְיָה מוֹשְׁלוֹ מָשָׁל לְחוֹלֶה שֶׁנִּכְנָס אֶצְלוֹ רוֹפֵא, אָמַר לוֹ אַל תֹּאכַל צוֹנֵן וְאַל תִּשְׁכַּב בְּטַחַב; בָּא אַחֵר וְאָמַר לוֹ אַל תֹּאכַל צוֹנֵן וְאַל תִּשְׁכַּב בְּטַחַב שֶׁלֹּא תָמוּת כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמֵּת פְּלוֹנִי, זֶה זֵרְזוֹ יוֹתֵר מִן הָרִאשׁוֹן, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אַחֲרֵי מוֹת שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן:

'וידבר ה' אל משה אחרי מות שני בני אהרן וגו‎‎ AND THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AFTER THE DEATH OF THE TWO SONS OF AARON etc. —What is this statement intended to tell us? (i. e. why is it at all stated when God spoke this to Moses?) Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah illustrated this by a parable: It may be compared to the case of a sick person whom the physician visited. He (the physician) said to him: “Do not eat cold things nor sleep in a damp place!" Another physician came and said to him: “Do not eat cold things, nor sleep in a damp place so that thou mayest not die as Mr. So-and-so died!" Certainly this (the latter) put him on his guard more than the former; that is why Scripture states “after the death of the two sons of Aaron" (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 1 3).

ויאמר ה' אל משה דבר אל אהרן אחיך ואל יבא. שֶׁלֹּא יָמוּת כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁמֵּתוּ בָנָיו:

יבא‎ ויאמר ה׳ אל משה דבר אל אהרן אחיך ואל AND THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES, SPEAK UNTO AARON THY BROTHER THAT HE COME NOT [AT ALL TIMES INTO THE HOLY PLACE]! THAT HE DIE NOT as his sons have died (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 1 4).

ולא ימות. שֶׁאִם בָּא הוּא מֵת (ספרא):

ולא ימות THAT HE DIE NOT — for if he comes into the Holy of Holies at any time other than Yom-Kippur he will die (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 1 4).

כי בענן אראה. כִּי תָמִיד אֲנִי נִרְאֶה שָׁם עִם עַמּוּד עֲנָנִי, וּלְפִי שֶׁגִּלּוּי שְׁכִינָתִי שָׁם, יִזָּהֵר שֶׁלֹּא יַרְגִּיל לָבֹא, זֶהוּ פְשׁוּטוֹ; וּמִדְרָשׁוֹ: לֹא יָבֹא כִּי אִם בַּעֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים (יומא נ"ג):

כי בענן אראה means, for I constantly show Myself there with My pillar of cloud, and because the revelation of My Shechinah takes place there he should take care not to make it his habit to come there. This is the literal meaning of the verse. The Halachic explanation is: He shall not come into the Holy of Holies except with (i.e. on the occasion when he is going to raise) a cloud of incense on the Day of Atonement (Yoma 53a).

בזאת. גִּימַטְרִיָּא שֶׁלּוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת וְעֶשֶׂר, רֶמֶז לְבַיִת רִאשׁוֹן (ויקרא רבה כ"א):

בזאת WITH THIS [SHALL AARON COME] — The numerical value of this word is 410, being an allusion to the 410 years during which the First Temple existed (cf. Leviticus Rabbah 21 9).

בזאת יבא אהרן וגומר. וְאַף זוֹ לֹא בְכָל עֵת, כִּי אִם בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּסוֹף הַפָּרָשָׁה "בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ" (שם):

'בזאת יבא אהרן וגו WITH THIS SHALL AARON COME [INTO THE HOLY PLACE] etc. — And this, also, shall not be at any time he pleases, but on the day of Atonement, as it is explicitly stated at the end of this section (vv. 29—34). “In the seventh month on the tenth day of the month [ye shall fast … And the priest … shall make expiation]".

כתנת בד וגו'. מַגִּיד שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְשַׁמֵּשׁ לִפְנִים בִּשְׁמוֹנָה בְגָדִים שֶׁהוּא מְשַׁמֵּשׁ בָּהֶן בַּחוּץ, שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם זָהָב, לְפִי שֶׁאֵין קָטֵגוֹר נַעֲשֶׂה סָנֵגוֹר, אֶלָּא בְּאַרְבָּעָה כְּכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט — וְכֻלָּן שֶׁל בּוּץ (ראש השנה כ"ו):

'כתנת בד וגו [HE SHALL PUT ON] THE LINEN INNER GARMENTS etc. — This teaches us that he must not officiate in the “Interior" (in the Holy of Holies) robed in the eight garments which were the insignia of the High Priest (cf. Exodus 28:4ff) in which he performed the service outside (in the היכל and the עזרה) and in which there was gold interwoven, — because the prosecuting counsel cannot become the defending counsel) — but in the four garments (cf. Exodus 28:40), like an ordinary priest, all of these being on this occasion entirely of linen (whereas one of the four worn by the ordinary priests, the belt, was a mixture of wool and linen) (Rosh Hashanah 26a).

קדש ילבש. שֶׁיִּהְיוּ מִשֶּׁל הֶקְדֵּשׁ (ספרא):

קדש ילבש HE SHALL PUT ON [THE LINEN INNER GARMENT] OF HOLINESS (or, OF THE SANCTUARY) - This means that they shall be purchased from the Temple treasury (whilst his personal offering mentioned v. 3 had to be of his own) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 1 10).

יצנף. כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, יָחֵת בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ — יַנִּיחַ בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, כְּמוֹ וַתַּנַּח בִּגְדוֹ (בראשית ל"ט) — וַאֲחִתְּתֵהּ:

יצנף — Understand this as the Targum does: יחת ברישה which means: he shall place upon his head. Thus, the verb in (Genesis 39:16) ותנח בגדו, is rendered by the Targum ואחתתיה (of the same root as יחת) “and she placed".

ורחץ במים. אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם טָעוּן טְבִילָה בְּכָל חֲלִיפוֹתָיו; וְחָמֵשׁ פְּעָמִים הָיָה מַחֲלִיף מֵעֲבוֹדַת פְּנִים לַעֲבוֹדַת חוּץ, וּמִחוּץ לִפְנִים, וּמְשַׁנֶּה מִבִּגְדֵי זָהָב לְבִגְדֵי לָבָן וּמִבִּגְדֵי לָבָן לְבִגְדֵי זָהָב, וּבְכָל חֲלִיפָה טָעוּן טְבִילָה וּשְׁנֵי קִדּוּשֵׁי יָדַיִם וְרַגְלַיִם מִן הַכִּיּוֹר (יומא ל"א):

ורחץ במים AND HE SHALL LAVE [HIS FLESH] IN WATER — That day he required immersion at each change of his garments! Five times he proceeded alternately from the service in the “Interior" to that performed outside and from the outside service to that in the "Interior", changing from the golden garments into the linen garments or from the linen garments into the golden garments. At each change he required to take an immersion and to wash his hands and his feet twice from the laver (viz., before he took off the garments he was wearing and after he had put on others — in all, 10 times during the day) (Yoma 32a).

את פר החטאת אשר לו. הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה, וְלִמֶּדְךָ כָּאן שֶׁמִּשֶּׁלּוֹ הוּא בָא וְלֹא מִשֶּׁל צִבּוּר (שם ג'):

את פרי החטאת אשר לו [AND AARON SHALL OFFER] THE BULL OF SIN OFFERING WHICH IS HIS — i. e. that mentioned above (v. 3). It teaches you here, by adding the words אשר לו, that it came (had to be purchased) from his own and not from the money of the community (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 2 2; Yoma 3b).

וכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו. מִתְוַדֶּה עָלָיו עֲוֹנוֹתָיו וַעֲוֹנוֹת בֵּיתוֹ (שם ל"ו):

וכפר בעדו ובעד ביתו means, he shall make confession over it of his own sins and of the sins of his house (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 2 2; Yoma 36b).

ונתן אהרן על שני השעירם גרלות. מַעֲמִיד אֶחָד לְיָמִין וְאֶחָד לִשְׂמֹאל, וְנוֹתֵן שְׁתֵּי יָדָיו בַּקַּלְפִּי, וְנוֹטֵל גּוֹרָל בְּיָמִין וַחֲבֵרוֹ בִּשְׂמֹאל וְנוֹתֵן עֲלֵיהֶם, אֶת שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ "לַשֵּׁם" הוּא לַשֵּׁם, וְאֶת שֶׁכָּתוּב בּוֹ "לַעֲזָאזֵל" מִשְׁתַּלֵּחַ לַעֲזָאזֵל (יומא ל"ט):

‎‎‎‎‏ השעירים גרלות‎שני ‎על ‎‎ אהרן ‎ונתן AND AARON SHALL CAST LOTS UPON THE TWO GOATS — He places one goat at his right and the other at his left. He then puts both his hands into an urn and takes one lot in his right hand and the other in his left. These he places upon them (the goats; i.e. one upon each of them). The goat upon which there fell that lot bearing the inscription 'לה, "For the Lord" was destined for the Lord, and that upon which there fell that lot bearing the inscription "For Azazel" was afterwards sent forth to the Azazel (Yoma 39a).

עזאזל. הוּא הַר עַז וְקָשֶׁה, צוּק גָּבוֹהַּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר אֶרֶץ גְזֵרָה — חֲתוּכָה:

עזאזל AZAZEL — (The word is taken to be a compound of עזז "to be strong" and אל "mighty"). It was a precipitous and flinty rock — a towering peak, for it is said (v. 22) "[and the goat shall bear upon it their iniquities into] an גזר) "ארץ גזרה means to cut) — into a craggy land (Yoma 67b).

ועשהו חטאת. כְּשֶׁמַּנִיחַ הַגּוֹרָל עָלָיו קוֹרֵא לוֹ שֵׁם וְאוֹמֵר "לַה' חַטָּאת":

ועשהו חטאת means, when putting the lot upon it he names it (i.e. designates its purpose), using the words: "to the Lord as a sin offering״ (Yoma 39a).

יעמד חי. כְּמוֹ יֻעֲמַד חַי — עַל יְדֵי אֲחֵרִים, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ יִתָּקַם כַּד חַי; מַה תַּ"ל? לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לְשַׁלֵּחַ אֹתוֹ לַעֲזָאזֵל וְאֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ שִׁלּוּחוֹ אִם לְמִיתָה אִם לְחַיִּים, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר יָעֳמַד חַי, עֲמִידָתוֹ חַי עַד שֶׁיִּשְׁתַּלֵּחַ, מִכָּאן שֶׁשִּׁלּוּחוֹ לְמִיתָה (ספרא):

חי ‎יעמד SHALL BE PRESENTED ALIVE — חי‎ יָעֳמַד is the same as חי ‏‎ ‏ יוּעֲמַד (i. e. יָעֳמַד is a regular Hophal-form) — it shall be made to stand by others (i. e. it shall be placed). The Targum also renders it by: יתקם כד חי, “it shall be made to stand in a live state". — Why is it stated that it shall be presented alive; this is already implied in the word יעמד. it shall be made to stand!? But because it continues “to send it forth unto Azazel" and I would not know whether this “sending forth” means to death or to life (in the latter case it would mean “to let it go”; cf. Leviticus 14:7 where ושלח has this meaning), therefore Scripture states “it shall be presented alive” — its presentation must be made whilst it is alive and the animal remains so up to the time when it is being sent forth; it follows therefore that it shall be sent forth to death (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 2 6).

לכפר עליו. שֶׁיִּתְוַדֶּה עָלָיו, כְּדִכְתִיב "וְהִתְוַדָּה עָלָיו" וְגוֹ':

לכפר עליו THAT HE MAY MAKE AN EXPIATION WITH IT — i. e. that he (the High-Priest) shall confess upon it (upon its head) Israel’s sins, as it is said (v. 21) “And Aaron shall confess upon it [the iniquities of the children of Israel]” (cf. Yoma 40b).

וכפר בעדו וגו'. וִדּוּי שֵׁנִי, עָלָיו וְעַל אֶחָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים, שֶׁהֵם כֻּלָּם קְרוּיִים בֵּיתוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בֵּית אַהֲרֹן בָּרֲכוּ אֶת ה'" וְגוֹ' (תהילים קל"ה), מִכָּאן שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים מִתְכַּפְּרִין בּוֹ, וְכָל כַּפָּרָתָן אֵינָהּ אֶלָּא עַל טֻמְאַת מִקְדָּשׁ וְקָדָשָׁיו, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (פסוק ט"ז), "וְכִפֶּר עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת" וְגוֹ' (ספרא; שבועות ז'):

'וכפר בעדו וגו‎ AND HE SHALL MAKE AN EXPIATION FOR HIMSELF etc. — This implies a second confession of sins which he was to make for himself and on behalf of his brother-priests, who may all be termed “his house”, as it said (Psalms 135:19) “Bless the Lord, o house of Aaron, etc." (cf. Shevuot 14a). Hence we learn that the priests become atoned for by means of it (the bullock). The expiation effected by it extended, however, only to those sins committed by causing uncleanness to the Sanctuary or holy things (i.e. by the priests having entered the Sanctuary or eaten of the holy things in such a state), as it is said (v. 16) “And he shall make an expiation for the holy place because of the uncleanness [of the children of Israel] etc.”.

מעל המזבח. הַחִיצוֹן:

מעל המזבח FROM OFF THE ALTAR — i. e. the outer altar (that was in the fore-court) (Yoma 45b).

מלפני ה'. מִצַּד שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַפֶּתַח, וְהוּא צַד מַעֲרָבִי:

מלפני ה׳ FROM BEFORE THE LORD — from that side of the altar which was before the entrance — that is, the west side (cf. Yoma 45b.)

דקה. מַה תַּ"ל דַּקָּה? וַהֲלֹא כָל הַקְּטֹרֶת דַּקָּה הִיא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְשָׁחַקְתָּ מִמֶּנָּה הָדֵק (שמות ל"ו), אֶלָּא שֶׁתְּהֵא דַּקָּה מִן הַדַּקָּה, שֶׁבְּעֶרֶב יֹהַ"כִּ הָיָה מַחֲזִירָהּ לַמַּכְתֶּשֶׁת (כריתות ו'):

דקה [AND HIS HANDS FULL OF INCENSE OF AROMATICS] FINE — Why is it stated that it shall be fine? Was not all incense fine, for so it is said, (Exodus 30:36) "And thou shall rub some of it very fine” - ? But it is intended to teach that it (the incense used on the Day of Atonement) was to be of the very finest powder, for on the Eve of the Day of Atonement it (the ordinary incense) was put again into the mortar in order that it should be again beaten into a finer powder. (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 3 8-9; Keritot 6b; Yoma 45a).

על האש. שֶׁבְּתוֹךְ הַמַּחְתָּה:

על האש UPON THE FIRE which was in the censer.

ולא ימות. הָא אִם לֹא עֲשָֹאָהּ כְּתִקְנָהּ חַיָּב מִיתָה (ספרא):

ולא ימות THAT IIE DIE NOT — Hence, if he did not offer it according to regulation he was liable to the death penalty (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 3 10; Yoma 53a).

והזה באצבעו. הַזָּאָה אַחַת בְּמַשְׁמָע:

והזה באצבעו AND HE SHALL SPRINKLE IT WITH THE FINGER — One sprinkling only is implied (since the next phrase mentions a definite number),

ולפני הכפרת יזה שבע. הֲרֵי אַחַת לְמַעְלָה וְשֶׁבַע לְמַטָּה (שם):

ולפני הכפרת יזה שבע AND BEFORE THE COVERING SHALL HE SPRINKLE [OF THE BLOOD] SEVEN TIMES — Thus we have one sprinkling upwards and seven downwards (Yoma 53b).

אשר לעם. מַה שֶּׁהַפָּר מְכַפֵּר עַל הַכֹּהֲנִים מְכַפֵּר הַשָּׂעִיר עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְהוּא הַשָּׂעִיר שֶׁעָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַשֵּׁם (שבועות ב'):

אשר לעם [THE GOAT OF THE SIN-OFFERING] THAT IS FOR THE PEOPLE — Only for that which the bullock effects atonement for the priests (i. e. for ומאת מקדש וקדשיו‎ט) the goat effects atonement for the Israelites. It (the goat spoken of here) is that goat upon which the lot “for the Lord" fell (Yoma 61a; Shevuot 2b).

כאשר עשה לדם הפר. אַחַת לְמַעְלָה וְשֶׁבַע לְמַטָּה:

כאשר עשה לדם הפר AS HE DID WITH THE BLOOD OF THE BULLOCK, viz., sprinkling once upwards and seven times downwards (Yoma 53b).

מטמאת בני ישראל. עַל הַנִּכְנָסִין לַמִּקְדָּשׁ בְּטֻמְאָה וְלֹא נוֹדַע לָהֶם בַּסּוֹף, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר לכל חטאתם, וְחַטָּאת הִיא שׁוֹגֵג.

מטמאת בני ישראל [AND HE SHALL MAKE AN EXPIATION FOR THE HOLY PLACE] BECAUSE OF THE UNCLEANNESS OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL — i. e. for those who entered the Sanctuary in a state of uncleanness without having finally become conscious of this fact (Shevuot 7b), for it is said לכל חטאתם, and the word חטאת implies a sin committed unconsciously.

ומפשעיהם. אַף הַנִּכְנָסִין מֵזִיד בְּטֻמְאָה (שם ז'):

ומפשעיהם AND BECAUSE OF THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS — This implies atonement also for those who entered the Sanctuary presumptuously in a state of uncleanness (Shevuot 7b; cf. also Shevuot 2a and Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 1).

וכן יעשה לאהל מועד. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִזָּה מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם בִּפְנִים אַחַת לְמַעְלָה וְשֶׁבַע לְמַטָּה, כָּךְ מַזֶּה עַל הַפָּרֹכֶת מִבַּחוּץ מִשְּׁנֵיהֶם אַחַת לְמַעְלָה וְשֶׁבַע לְמַטָּה (ספרא; יומא נ"ו):

וכן יעשה לאהל מועד AND SO SHALL HE DO FOR THE APPOINTED TENT — Just as he sprinkled in the “Interior" (the Holy of Holies) from the blood of both of them (of the bullock and the goat) once upwards and seven times downwards so he sprinkles over against the Partition Vail from outside (i. e. standing in the היכל; cf. Leviticus 4:6) once upwards and seven times downwards (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 5; Yoma 56b).

השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם. אַעַ"פִּי שֶׁהֵם טְמֵאִים שְׁכִינָה בֵינֵיהֶם (שם):

השכן אתם בתוך טמאתם— This implies that although they are unclean nevertheless the Shechinah dwells in their midst (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 5; Yoma 57a).

אל המזבח אשר לפני ה'. זֶה מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב שֶׁהוּא לִפְנֵי ה' — בַּהֵיכָל, וּמַה תַּ"ל וְיָצָא? לְפִי שֶׁהִזָּה הַהַזָּאוֹת עַל הַפָּרֹכֶת וְעָמַד מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלִפְנִים וְהִזָּה, וּבְמַתְּנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ הִזְקִיקוֹ לָצֵאת מִן הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְלַחוּץ וְיַתְחִיל מִקֶּרֶן מִזְרָחִית צְפוֹנִית (יומא נ"ח):

אל המזבח אשר ‎'לפני ה‎‎‎ [AND HE SHALL GO OUT] UNTO THE ALTAR THAT IS BEFORE THE LORD — i. e. unto the golden altar which is before the Lord viz., in the היכל. But why then (if the golden altar is intended) does Scripture state ויצא, “he shall go out" since he did not then leave the area where he officiated before? But because immediately before he made the sprinklings in front of the Partition Vail (cf. Rashi on the preceding verse) and was standing inwards (i.e. westwards) from the altar when sprinkling, whilst for the purpose of sprinkling the blood upon the horns of the altar Scripture forced him to go outwards from the altar (i. e. to its east-side, the side facing the exit) so that he should begin the sprinklings from the north-east corner, therefore it rightly Uses the term ויצא, he shall go out" i. e. move alongside the altar towards the exit (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 7-8; Yoma 58b).

וכפר עליו. מַה הִיא כַפָּרָתוֹ? ולקח מדם הפר ומדם השעיר מְעֹרָבִין זֶה לְתוֹךְ זֶה (שם נ"ז):

וכפר עליו AND HE SHALL MAKE EXPIATION FOR IT — wherein does this expiation consist? ולקח מדם הפר ומדם השעיר that HE TAKETH OF THE BLOOD OF THE BULLOCK AND OF THE BLOOD OF THE GOAT mingled one with the other and sprinkles it (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 9; Yoma 57b).

והזה עליו מן הדם. אַחַר שֶׁנָּתַן מַתָּנוֹת בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ עַל קַרְנוֹתָיו מַזֶּה שֶׁבַע הַזָּאוֹת עַל גַּגּוֹ:

והזה עליו מן הדם AND HE SHALL SPRINKLE UPON IT WITH THE BLOOD — After he has made with his finger the application of the blood upon the horns of the altar he shall make seven sprinklings on its top (עליו signifies "upon it") (cf. Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 12).

וטהרו. מִמַּה שֶּׁעָבָר:

וטהרו AND THUS HE CLEANSES IT from the defilement that happened to it in the past,

וקדשו. לֶעָתִיד לָבֹא (ספרא):

וקדשו AND HALLOWS IT for use in the future (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 4 13)

איש עתי. הַמּוּכָן לְכָךְ מִיּוֹם אֶתְמוֹל:

איש עתי A READY MAN — one who was held in readiness for this purpose from yesterday (Yoma 66a; Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 4 8).

ובא אהרן אל אהל מועד. אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁאֵין זֶה מְקוֹמוֹ שֶׁל מִקְרָא זֶה וְנָתְנוּ טַעַם לְדִבְרֵיהֶם בְּמַסֶּכֶת יוֹמָא (דף ל"ב), וְאָמְרוּ: כָּל הַפָּרָשָׁה כֻּלָּהּ נֶאֶמְרָה עַל הַסֵּדֶר חוּץ מִבִּיאָה זוֹ שֶׁהִיא אַחַר עֲשִֹיַּת עוֹלָתוֹ וְעוֹלַת הָעָם, וְהַקְטָרַת אֵמוּרֵי פַּר וְשָֹעִיר, שֶׁנַּעֲשִֹים בַּחוּץ בְּבִגְדֵי זָהָב, וְטוֹבֵל וּמְקַדֵּשׁ וּפוֹשְׁטָן וְלוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי לָבָן, ובא אל אהל מועד לְהוֹצִיא אֶת הַכַּף וְאֶת הַמַּחְתָּה שֶׁהִקְטִיר בָּהּ הַקְּטֹרֶת לִפְנַי וְלִפְנִים:

ובא אהרן אל אהל מועד AND AARON SHALL COME INTO THE APPOINTED TENT — Our Rabbis said (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 6 2; Yoma 32a), that this is not the proper place for this verse (it should be read after v. 25) and they gave a reason for this assertion in Treatise Yoma 32a. They said: The whole section is written in the order in which the rites actually took place with the exception of this "coming" into the appointed tent which was really done after he (the High-Priest) had offered his burnt offering and the burnt offering of the people (v. 24) and also after the burning of the fat-parts of the bullock and the goat, which rites were performed outside the Sanctuary (i. e. in the fore-court) he being then attired in the golden garments. This having been done he immersed himself, sanctified himself (i. e. washed his hands and feet), took them (the golden garments) off, and put on the linen garments and only then, ובא אהרן אל אהל מועד DID HE COME INTO THE APPOINTED TENT in order to bring out the spoon and the censer in which he had burnt the incense in the "Innermost" (the Holy of Holies).

ופשט את בגדי הבד. אַחַר שֶׁהוֹצִיאָהּ, וְלוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי זָהָב לְתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם; וְזֶהוּ סֵדֶר הָעֲבוֹדוֹת: תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר בְּבִגְדֵי זָהָב, וַעֲבוֹדַת פַּר וְשָׂעִיר הַפְּנִימִיִּים וּקְטֹרֶת שֶׁל מַחְתָּה בְּבִגְדֵי לָבָן, וְאֵילוֹ וְאֵיל הָעָם וּמִקְצַת הַמּוּסָפִין בְּבִגְדֵי זָהָב, וְהוֹצָאַת כַּף וּמַחְתָּה בְּבִגְדֵי לָבָן, וּשְׁיָרֵי הַמּוּסָפִין וְתָמִיד שֶׁל בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם וּקְטֹרֶת הַהֵיכָל שֶׁעַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַפְּנִימִי בְּבִגְדֵי זָהָב; וְסֵדֶר הַמִּקְרָאוֹת לְפִי הָעֲבוֹדוֹת כָּךְ הוּא: וְשִׁלַּח אֶת הַשָּׂעִיר בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְרָחַץ אֶת בְּשָׂרוֹ בַמַּיִם וְגוֹ', וְיָצָא וְעָשָׂה אֶת עֹלָתוֹ וְגוֹ', וְאֵת חֵלֶב הַחַטָּאת וְגוֹ', וְכָל הַפָּרָשָׁה עַד וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן יָבוֹא אֶל הַמַּחֲנֶה — וְאַחַר כָּךְ וּבָא אַהֲרֹן:

ופשט את בגדי הבד AND HE SHALL PUT OFF THE LINEN GARMENTS — after he had brought it (the censer) out. Then he attired himself in his golden garments to offer the continual burnt offering due in the afternoon. Thus the order of the services on the Day of Atonement was as follows: The offering of the morning continual offering — in the golden garments; the service connected with the bullock and the ram the blood of both of which was sprinkled in the Interior, (v. 6—22) and the offering of the incense in the censer (in the Holy of Holies) — in the linen garments. The offering of his (the High-Priest's) ram and that of the people and one part of the additional offerings (the seven lambs mentioned in Numbers 29:8; cf. Yoma 70a) — in the golden garments. The bringing out of the spoon and the censer — in the linen garments. Finally the offering of the remaining additional offerings (the bullock and the ram mentioned in Numbers 29:8, 11) and of the continual burnt offering due in the afternoon and of the daily incense in the היכל. which was burnt on the golden altar — in the golden garments. The sequence of the Scriptural verses according to the rites as actually performed is as follows: "and he shall send the goat forth into the desert" (v. 22), then "and he shall lave his flesh with water …. and come out and burn his burnt offering etc." (v. 24) and the whole section up to "and afterwards he shall come into the camp" (end of v. 28), and only after this (v. 23) "and Aaron shall come etc."

והניחם שם. מְלַמֵּד שֶׁטְּעוּנִין גְּנִיזָה וְלֹא יִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּאוֹתָן ד' בְגָדִים לְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אַחֵר (יומא י"ב):

והניחם שם AND HE SHALL PUT THEM THERE — This teaches us that they (the linen garments) must be laid by and that he must not officiate in those four garments again on any subsequent Day of Atonement (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 6 7; Yoma 12b).

ורחץ את בשרו וגו'. לְמַעְלָה לָמַדְנוּ מִ"וְרָחַץ אֶת בְּשָֹרוֹ וּלְבֵשָׁם" שֶׁכְּשֶׁהוּא מְשַׁנֶּה מִבִּגְדֵי זָהָב לְבִגְדֵי לָבָן טָעוּן טְבִילָה, — שֶׁבְּאוֹתָהּ טְבִילָה פָשַׁט בִּגְדֵי זָהָב שֶׁעָבַד בָּהֶן עֲבוֹדַת תָּמִיד שֶׁל שַׁחַר וְלוֹבֵשׁ בִּגְדֵי לָבָן לַעֲבוֹדַת הַיּוֹם, — וְכָאן לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁכְּשֶׁהוּא מְשַׁנֶּה מִבִּגְדֵי לָבָן לְבִגְדֵי זָהָב טָעוּן טְבִילָה (שם ל"ב):

'ורחץ את בשרו וגו‎‎ AND HE SHALL LAVE HIS FLESH etc. — Above (v. 4) we have learned from the statement "therefore shall he lave his flesh and so put them on" that whenever he (the High-Priest) changed from the golden garments into the linen ones he had to immerse himself (for on the occasion of that immersion, mentioned v. 4, he took off his golden garments in which he performed the service connected with the continual burnt offering due in the morning and put on the linen garments for the performance of the service peculiar to that Day); here, however, we are told that whenever he changed from the linen garments into the golden ones he had also to immerse himself (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 6 3; Yoma 32).

במקום קדוש. הַמְקֻדָּשׁ בִּקְדֻשַּׁת עֲזָרָה; וְהִיא הָיְתָה בְגַג בֵּית הַפַּרְוָה, וְכֵן אַרְבַּע טְבִילוֹת הַבָּאוֹת חוֹבָה לַיּוֹם, אֲבָל הָרִאשׁוֹנָה הָיְתָה בַחֹל (שם י"ט):

במקום קדוש [AND HE SHALL LAVE HIS FLESH WITH WATER] IN A HOLY PLACE — i.e. in a place which has the sanctity of the fore-court. It (the immersion) took place (later on when the Temple was built) on the roof of the so-called Parva-compartment. Similarly also all the four immersions that formed a special obligation for the Day alone. The first immersion, however, (that which took place immediately before entering the עזרה to offer the תמיד של שחר) was taken in an unsanctified place (i.e. outside the fore-court) (Yoma 30a).

ולבש את בגדיו. שְׁמוֹנָה בְגָדִים שֶׁהוּא עוֹבֵד בָּהֶן כָּל יְמוֹת הַשָּׁנָה:

ולבש את בגדיו AND HE SHALL PUT ON HIS GARMENTS — i. e. the eight garments in which he officiated on every day of the year.

ויצא. מִן הַהֵיכָל אֶל הֶחָצֵר שֶׁמִּזְבַּח הָעוֹלָה שָׁם:

ויצא AND HE SHALL COME OUT from the היכל into the fore-court where was the altar of the burnt offering. ...

ועשה את עלתו. אַיִל לְעוֹלָה הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה:

ועשה את עלתו AND HE SHALL MAKE HIS BURNT OFFERING — "the ram for a burnt offering" mentioned above (v. 3) (cf. Yoma 70b).

ואת עלת העם. וְאַיִל אֶחָד לְעוֹלָה הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה "וּמֵאֵת עַדַת בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל" וְגוֹ':

ואת עלת העם AND THE BURNT OFFERING OF THE PEOPLE — This is identical with "a ram for a burnt offering" mentioned above (v. 5) which begins with the words "And he shall take from the congregation of the children of Israel … [a ram for a burnt offering]".

ואת חלב החטאת. אֵמוּרֵי פַּר וְשָׂעִיר:

ואת חלב החטאת AND THE FAT OF THE SIN OFFERING [SHALL HE CAUSE TO ASCEND IN FUMES] — i. e. the fat parts of both the bullock and the goat.

יקטיר המזבחה. עַל מִזְבֵּחַ הַחִיצוֹן, דְּאִלּוּ בַּפְּנִימִי כְתִיב לֹא תַעֲלוּ עָלָיו קְטֹרֶת זָרָה וְעֹלָה וּמִנְחָה (שמות ל'):

יקטיר המזבחה SHALL HE CAUSE TO ASCEND IN FUMES ON THE ALTAR — i. e. on the outer altar, for if you say that it was burnt on the inner altar you are wrong, for it is written (Exodus 30:9) "Ye shall not bring up strange incense thereon, (i. e. on the inner altar) nor burnt offering, nor oblation".

אשר הובא את דמם. לַהֵיכָל וְלִפְנַי וְלִפְנִים:

אשר הובא את דמם WHOSE BLOOD WAS BROUGHT into the Heichal and the Innermost (the Holy of Holies).

וכפר הכהן אשר ימשח וגו'. כַּפָּרָה זוֹ שֶׁל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אֵינָהּ כְּשֵׁרָה אֶלָּא בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל (יומא ע"ג); לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרָה כָל הַפָּרָשָׁה בְּאַהֲרֹן, הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר בְּכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל הַבָּא אַחֲרָיו שֶׁיְּהֵא כָמוֹהוּ:

'וכפר הכהן אשר ימשח וגו‎ AND THE PRIEST WHOM THEY SHALL ANOINT … SHALL MAKE EXPIATION etc. — This expiation on the Day of Atonement is valid only if it is effected by the High-Priest. Because in the whole of this section reference is made to Aaron alone, Scripture was compelled to state here (towards the end) that any High-Priest succeeding him shall be like himself (i. e. shall possess the same power of effecting atonement on Yom-Kippur) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 4).

ואשר ימלא את ידו. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא הַמָּשׁוּחַ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, מְרֻבֵּה בְגָדִים מִנַּיִן? תַּ"ל וַאֲשֶׁר יְמַלֵּא אֶת יָדוֹ וְגוֹמֵר; וְהֵם כָּל הַכֹּהֲנִים גְּדוֹלִים שֶׁעָמְדוּ מִיֹּאשִׁיָּהוּ וָאֵילָךְ, שֶׁבְּיָמָיו נִגְנְזָה צְלוֹחִית שֶׁל שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה (הוריות י"ב):

ואשר ימלא את ידו AND WHOM THEY SHALL CONSECRATE — Since it is stated "whom they anoint" I might say I have here only the law that he who has been anointed with the oil of anointing is capable of effecting expiation; How do I know that this is also the case with a High- Priest who is distinguished from an ordinary priest only by a larger number of official garments though he may not have been anointed? Because Scripture states "and whom they shall consecrate etc." (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 4) — Such (i. e. מרובה בגדים only) were all the High-Priests who held office from Josiah and later, for in his days the flask of anointing oil was concealed (Horayot 12a).

לכהן תחת אביו. לְלַמֵּד שֶׁאִם בְּנוֹ מְמַלֵּא אֶת מְקוֹמוֹ, הוּא קוֹדֵם לְכָל אָדָם (ספרא):

לכהן תחת אביו TO MINISTER AS A PRIEST IN HIS FATHER'S STEAD — The words "in his father's stead” are intended to teach us that if the High-Priest’s son is able to fill his father’s place he has to be given preference to any other man (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 5).

ויעש כאשר צוה וגו'. כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים עָשָֹה כַּסֵּדֶר הַזֶּה; וּלְהַגִּיד שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה לוֹבְשָׁן לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֶלָּא כִּמְקַיֵּם גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ (שם):

'ויעש כאשר צוה וגו AND HE DID AS [THE LORD] COMMANDED [MOSES] etc. — When the next Day of Atonement arrived he (Aaron) did everything as is here set forth in order. And Scripture only states this in order to declare the praise of Aaron — that he did not attire himself with them (the official garments) for his own aggrandisement, but as one who was executing the ordinance of his King (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 8 10).

אשר ישחט שור או כשב. בַּמֻּקְדָּשִׁין הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "לְהַקְרִיב קָרְבָּן" (זבחים ק"ז):

ישחט שור או כשב‎ ‎‎‏ אשר [WHAT MAN SOEVER] THAT SLAUGHTERETH AN OX, OR A LAMB — Scripture is speaking here of consecrated animals since it says (v. 4) "and bringeth it not unto the appointed tent to offer an offering" (cf. Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 6 3; Zevachim 106a).

במחנה. חוּץ לָעֲזָרָה:

במחנה [WHAT MAN SOEVER SLAUGHTERETH …] IN THE CAMP — i. e. outside the forecourt (cf. Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 6 5; Zevachim 107b).

דם יחשב. כְּשׁוֹפֵךְ דַּם הָאָדָם שֶׁמִּתְחַיֵּב בְּנַפְשׁוֹ:

דם יחשב BLOOD SHALL BE IMPUTED [UNTO THAN MAN] — As though he had shed the blood of a human being, who is guilty of a deadly sin.

דם שפך. לְרַבּוֹת אֶת הַזּוֹרֵק דָּמִים בַּחוּץ (שם):

דם שפך HE HATH SHED BLOOD — These apparently redundant words are intended to include in the penalty of כרת him who sprinkles outside the fore-court the blood of a sacrifice which has been slaughtered within it as is here commanded (Sanhedrin 34b; Zevachim 107a).

אשר הם זבחים. אֲשֶׁר הֵם רְגִילִים לִזְבֹּחַ:

אשר הם זבחים [THAT THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL MAY BRING THEIR SACRIFICES] WHICH THEY SACRIFICE [IN THE OPEN FIELD ….. UNTO THE LORD] — "which they sacrifice" means, which they are at present accustomed to sacrifice.

לשעירם. לַשֵּׁדִים, כְּמוֹ וּשְֹעִירִים יְרַקְּדוּ שָׁם (ישעיהו י"ג):

לשעירים .means TO THE DEMONS. Similar is (Isaiah 13:21) “and demons (ושעירים) shall dance there" (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 9 8).

אשר יעלה עלה. לְחַיֵּב עַל הַמַּקְטִיר אֵבָרִים בַּחוּץ כְּשׁוֹחֵט בַּחוּץ, שֶׁאִם שָׁחַט אֶחָד וְהֶעֱלָה חֲבֵרוֹ שְׁנֵיהֶם חַיָּבִין (זבחים ק"ו):

אשר יעלה עלה [WHOSOEVER MAN THERE BE ….] THAT OFFERETH (lit., bringeth up) A BURNT OFFERING — This is intended to declare one who burns the limbs of sacrifices outside the fore-court to be liable to the penalty of excision just the same as him who slaughtered a sacrifice outside the fore-court; so that if one person slaughtered a sacrifice outside the fore-court and another brought it up on the altar to burn it both are liable to excision (cf. Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 10 6; Zevachim 106a).

ונכרת. זַרְעוֹ נִכְרָת וְיָמָיו נִכְרָתִין:

ונכרת [THAT MAN] SHALL BE CUT OFF — his offspring are cut off (die out) and his own life-time (lit., his days) is shortened (cf. Rashi and Tos. Shabbat 25a; Tos. Yevamot 2a).

כל דם. לְפִי שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בַּנֶּפֶשׁ יְכַפֵּר", יָכוֹל לֹא יְהֵא חַיָּב אֶלָּא עַל דַּם הַמֻּקְדָּשִׁים, תַּ"ל "כָּל דָּם":

כל דם [WHATSOEVER MAN THERE BE … THAT EATETH] ANY BLOOD — Since Scripture states (v. 11) “[for it is the blood] with the life that maketh expiation", I might think that one is liable only for eating the blood of consecrated animals, (i. e. sacrifices), for it is only the blood of such animals that makes expiation. Scripture therefore states here “[Whatsoever man there be … that eateth] any blood [I will cut him off from among his people]" (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 7 3).

ונתתי פני. פְּנַאי שֶׁלִּי — פּוֹנֶה אֲנִי מִכָּל עֲסָקַי וְעוֹסֵק בּוֹ (ספרא):

ונתתי פני I WILL SET פני [AGAINST THAT SOUL] — ‎פני is taken to mean as much as פנאי שלי My leisure — i.e. I will turn away (פונה) from all My affairs and concern Myself only with him (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 7 4; cf. also Targum Jonathan)

כי נפש הבשר. שֶׁל כָּל בְּרִיָּה בַּדָּם הִיא תְלוּיָה, וּלְפִיכָךְ נְתַתִּיו (עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ) לְכַפֵּר עַל נֶפֶשׁ הָאָדָם — תָּבֹא נֶפֶשׁ וּתְכַפֵּר עַל הַנֶּפֶשׁ:

כי נפש הבשר FOR THE LIFE OF THE FLESH of every creature, not only of animals brought as sacrifices, is dependent on its blood (בדם היא), and it is for this reason that I have placed it [on the altar] to make expiation for the life of man: let life come and expiate for life!

כל נפש מכם. לְהַזְהִיר גְּדוֹלִים עַל הַקְּטַנִּים:

כל נפש מכם NO SOUL OF YOU [SHALL EAT BLOOD] — This is stated in addition to v. 10 to admonish the adults about their young children (that they should not permit them blood to eat — for “no soul” shall eat blood) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 7 6; Yevamot 114a).

אשר יצוד. אֵין לִי אֶלָּא צַיִד, אֲוָזִין וְתַרְנְגוֹלִין מִנַּיִן? תַּ"ל "צֵיד" מִכָּל מָקוֹם; אִם כֵּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר "אֲשֶׁר יָצוּד"? שֶׁלֹּא יֹאכַל בָּשָׂר אֶלָּא בַּהַזְמָנָה הַזֹּאת (חולין פ"ד):

אשר יצוד WHO HUNTETH — I seem to have here only the law that the blood of hunted beasts and fowls caught now by hunting must be covered with dust. Whence do I know that this applies also to geese and fowls which have been kept in the house having already been caught? Scripture therefore states יצוד] ציד], “who hunts a hunted thing"— hunted under any circumstances whether now or before. If this be so why does Scripture at all state אשר יצוד (let it merely state 'אשר ישחט וכו‎)? But it uses the term “hunting” to teach that one should not eat meat except after such toilsome preparation (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 11 2; Chullin 84a).

אשר יאכל. פְּרָט לִטְמֵאִים (שם פ"ה):

אשר יאכל THAT MAY BE EATEN — This is especially mentioned to the exclusion of unclean animals (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 11 4).

דמו בנפשו הוא. דָּמוֹ הוּא לוֹ בִּמְקוֹם הַנֶּפֶשׁ, שֶׁהַנֶּפֶשׁ תְּלוּיָה בוֹ:

דמו בנפשו הוא means its blood represents its life (במקום הנפש), in as much as its life is depending on it.

כי נפש כל בשר דמו הוא. הַנֶּפֶשׁ הִיא הַדָּם. דָּם וּבָשָׂר לְשׁוֹן זָכָר, נֶפֶשׁ לְשׁוֹן נְקֵבָה:

כי נפש כל בשר דמו הוא means the life is (is identical with) the blood; דם and בשר are masculine, נפש is feminine.

אשר תאכל נבלה וטרפה. בְּנִבְלַת עוֹף טָהוֹר דִּבֵּר הַכָּתוּב, שֶׁאֵין לָהּ טֻמְאָה אֶלָּא בְשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּבְלַעַת בְּבֵית הַבְּלִיעָה, וְלִמֶּדְךָ כָּאן שֶׁמְּטַמְּאָה בַאֲכִילָתָהּ (וְאֵינָהּ מְטַמְּאָה בְמַגָּע); וּטְרֵפָה הָאֲמוּרָה כָּאן לֹא נִכְתַּב אֶלָּא לִדְרֹשׁ, וְכֵן שָׁנִינוּ: יָכוֹל תְּהֵא נִבְלַת עוֹף טָמֵא מְטַמְּאָה בְּבֵית הַבְּלִיעָה, תַּ"ל טְרֵפָה — מִי שֶׁיֵּשׁ בְּמִינוֹ טְרֵפָה, יָצָא עוֹף טָמֵא שֶׁאֵין בְּמִינוֹ טְרֵפָה (ספרא; זבחים ע'):

אשר תאכל נבלה וטרפה [AND EVERY SOUL] THAT EATETH CARRION, OR THAT WHICH WAS TORN … [HE SHALL BOTH WASH HIS GARMENTS AND LAVE HIMSELF IN WATER] — Scripture is here speaking of the carrion of a clean bird which causes uncleanness only during the time it passes through the gullet (lit., it is being swallowed in the gullet) and what Scripture teaches you here is that it makes one unclean by eating of it [but it does not defile one by touching it]. The טרפה mentioned here (though being superfluous since a טרפה which died) is of course also a נבלה and thus causes uncleanness just as any other נבלה is mentioned only for the sake of the correct interpretation of the word נבלה. For thus we learn (in Sifra): One might think that the carrion of an unclean bird causes uncleanness in the moment it passes through the gullet! Scripture therefore adds the word טרפה to intimate that this law of נבלה applies only to that class of birds among which טרפה is possible, thus excluding unclean birds for in their class a רפה‎ט can never occur (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 12 7; Zevachim 69b).

ונשא עונו. אִם יֹאכַל קֹדֶשׁ אוֹ יִכָּנֵס לַמִּקְדָּשׁ חַיָּב עַל טֻמְאָה זוֹ כְּכָל שְׁאָר טֻמְאוֹת (ספרא):

ונשא עונו THEN HE SHALL BEAR HIS INIQUITY — If he eats sacred food or enters the Sanctuary in this state of uncleanness he becomes liable to excision for this uncleanness just as for doing these things in any other state of uncleanness (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 12 14).

ובשרו לא ירחץ ונשא עונו. עַל רְחִיצַת גּוּפוֹ עָנוּשׁ כָּרֵת וְעַל כִּבּוּס בְּגָדִים בְּמַלְקוּת (שם):

ובשרו לא ירחץ ונשא עונו [BUT IF HE WASH THEM NOT], NOR LAVE HIS FLESH HE SHALL BEAR HIS INIQUITY — For the omission to lave his body before entering the Sanctuary or before eating sacred food he is liable to excision, but for the omission to wash his clothes he is liable to lashes only (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 12 13).

אני ה' אלהיכם. אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁאָמַרְתִּי בְסִינַי אָנֹכִי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ וְקִבַּלְתֶּם עֲלֵיכֶם מַלְכוּתִי, מֵעַתָּה קַבְּלוּ גְזֵרוֹתָי; רַבִּי אוֹמֵר גָּלוּי וְיָדוּעַ לְפָנָיו שֶׁסּוֹפָן לִנָּתֵק בַּעֲרָיוֹת בִּימֵי עֶזְרָא, לְפִיכָךְ בָּא עֲלֵיהֶם בִּגְזֵרָה אני ה' אלהיכם — דְּעוּ מִי גוֹזֵר עֲלֵיכֶם, דַּיָּן לִפָּרַע וְנֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר (עי' ספרא):

אני ה' אלהיכם I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD — I am He Who spoke on Mount Sinai “I am the Lord thy God" and Whose kingship you then accepted; now, therefore, accept My decrees! Rabbi Judah han-Nasi said: It was manifest and known to Him that in the days of Ezra they would ultimately revolt against restricting sexual relations, He therefore came to them with a decree emphasized by the words: "I am The Lord your God" — understand well Who it is that imposes this decree upon you, — the Judge (אלהיכם) Whose function it is to punish but Who is certain also to give a reward ('‎ה‎) (cf. Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 1).

כמעשה ארץ מצרים. מַגִּיד שֶׁמַּעֲשֵׂיהֶם שֶׁל מִצְרִיִּים וְשֶׁל כְּנַעֲנִיִּים מְקֻלְקָלִים מִכָּל הָאֻמּוֹת, וְאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שֶׁיָּשְׁבוּ בוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָל מִן הַכֹּל:

כמעשה ארץ מצרים AFTER THE DEEDS OF THE LAND OF EGYPT… [SHALL YE NOT DO] — This tells us that the deeds of the Egyptians and the Canaanites were more corrupt than those of all other nations, and that the district of Egypt in which the Israelites had resided (אשר ישבתם בה) was even more corrupt than all the rest of Egypt (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 3).

אשר אני מביא אתכם שמה. מַגִּיד שֶׁאוֹתָן עֲמָמִין שֶׁכִּבְּשׁוּ יִשְֹרָאֵל מְקֻלְקָלִים מִכֻּלָּם (שם):

אשר אני מביא אתכם שמה [AND AFTER THE DEEDS OF THE LAND OF CANAAN] WHITHER I BRING YOU [SHALL YE NOT DO] — This again tells us that those Canaanitish clans whom Israel subdued were more corrupt than all the others of them (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 4).

ובחקתיהם לא תלכו. מַה הִנִּיחַ הַכָּתוּב שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר? אֶלָּא אֵלּוּ נִימוֹסוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶן — דְּבָרִים הַחֲקוּקִין לָהֶם — כְּגוֹן טַרְטִיָּאוֹת וְאִצְטַדִיָּאוֹת, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, אֵלּוּ דַּרְכֵי הָאֱמוֹרִי שֶׁמָּנוּ חֲכָמִים (שם):

ובחקתיהם לא תלכו NEITHER SHALL YE WALK IN THEIR ORDINANCES — What has Scripture left unsaid when it spoke of the deeds of the Egyptians and Canaanites that it felt compelled to add ובחקתיהם לא תלכו But by these latter words it refers to their social customs — things which have assumed for them the character of a law as, for instance, the frequenting of theaters and race-courses. Rabbi Meir, however, said: These (חקתיהם) refer to the "ways of the Amorites" (superstitious practices) which our Rabbis have enumerated (Shabbat 67a; Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 8; cf. also Tosefta Shabbat 7).

את משפטי תעשו. אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים הָאֲמוּרִים בַּתּוֹרָה בְּמִשְׁפָּט, שֶׁאִלּוּ לֹא נֶאֶמְרוּ הָיוּ כְדַאי לְאָמְרָן:

את משפטי תעשו YE SHALL DO MY JUDGMENTS — Matters prescribed in the Torah which are in conformity with the human feeling of justice such as one feels ought to be ordained if they had not been already ordained by the Torah.

ואת חקתי תשמרו. דְּבָרִים שֶׁהֵן גְּזֵרַת הַמֶּלֶךְ, שֶׁיֵּצֶר הָרַע מֵשִׁיב עֲלֵיהֶם לָמָּה לָנוּ לְשָׁמְרָן? וְאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם מְשִׁיבִין עֲלֵיהֶם, כְּגוֹן אֲכִילַת חֲזִיר וּלְבִישַׁת שַׁעַטְנֵז וְטָהֳרַת מֵי חַטָּאת, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אני ה', גָּזַרְתִּי עֲלֵיכֶם, אֵי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לִפָּטֵר (יומא ס"ז):

ואת חקתי תשמרו AND KEEP MINE ORDINANCES — matters which are decrees of the King (promulgated without any reason being stated) against which the evil inclination raises objections: "Why should we observe them and against which also the nations of the world raise objections, as e. g., the prohibition of eating swine’s flesh, of wearing clothes of a mixture of wool and linen, the purgatory power of "water mingled with the ashes of the Red Heifer" (טהרת מי חטאת) — therefore it is stated: "I", the Lord, have enacted this for you — you are not at liberty to evade the obligation (Yoma 67b).

ללכת בהם. אַל תִּפָּטֵר מִתּוֹכָם, שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר לָמַדְתִּי חָכְמַת יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלֵךְ וְאֶלְמַד חָכְמַת הָאֻמּוֹת (ספרא):

ללכת בהם TO WALK IN THEM — do not free yourselves from their environment, i.e. that you must not say, I have acquired Jewish wisdom, now I will go and acquire the wisdom of the other peoples of the world in order to walk in their ways.

ושמרתם את חקתי וגו'. לְרַבּוֹת שְׁאָר דִּקְדּוּקֵי הַפָּרָשָׁה, שֶׁלֹּא פֵּרֵט הַכָּתוּב בָּהֶם; דָּבָר אַחֵר לִתֵּן שְׁמִירָה וַעֲשִׂיָּה לַחֻקִּים וּשְׁמִירָה וַעֲשִׂיָּה לַמִּשְׁפָּטִים, לְפִי שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן אֶלָּא עֲשִׂיָּה לַמִּשְׁפָּטִים וּשְׁמִירָה לַחֻקִּים (ספרא):

'ושמרתם את חקתי וגו‎ YE SHALL THEREFORE KEEP MY ORDINANCES — [This is not a mere repetition of v. 4 but is intended] to include other details of the laws mentioned in this chapter which Scripture does not expressly mention. Another explanation is: Scripture makes this repetition in order to attach the commands of “observing" (שמירה) and "performing" (עשיה) to the חוקים, and the commands of שמירה and עשיה to the משפטים, for in v. 4 it uses the term עשיה only in connection with the משפטים, and that of שמירה only with reference to the חוקים (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 10).

וחי בהם. לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, שֶׁאִם תֹּאמַר בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה וַהֲלֹא סוֹפוֹ הוּא מֵת (שם):

וחי בהם means, THAT HE SHALL LIVE THROUGH THEM in the world to come (eternal life). For if you say it means that he shall live in this world, is it not a fact that in the end he must die! (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 10; cf. also Targ. Onkelos)

אני ה'. נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר (שם):

'אני ה‎ I AM THE LORD, Who am faithful to pay you your reward (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Section 8 10).

לא תקרבו. לְהַזְהִיר הַנְּקֵבָה כַּזָּכָר, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר לְשׁוֹן רַבִּים:

לא תקרבו NONE OF YOU SHALL APPROACH TO [ANY THAT IS NEAR OF KIN TO HIM] — The intention is to admonish women as well as men (in respect to this general prohibition of unchastity); on this account the plural is used (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 1).

אני ה'. נֶאֱמָן לְשַׁלֵּם שָׂכָר:

'אני ה I AM THE LORD, who am faithful to pay you your reward (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 13.

ערות אביך. זוֹ אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ, אוֹ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא כְמַשְׁמָעוֹ? נֶאֱמַר כָּאן עֶרְוַת אָבִיךָ וְנֶאֱמַר לְהַלָּן עֶרְוַת אָבִיו גִּלָּה, מַה לְּהַלָּן אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו אַף כָּאן אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו (סנהדרין נ"ד):

אביך‎ ערות‎ THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER, [AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY MOTHER SHALT THOU NOT UNCOVER] — This refers to intercourse with thy father's wife (no matter whether she is thy own mother or thy stepmother). Or perhaps this is not so, but ערות אביך has to be taken literally (as sodomy)?! Scripture, however, uses the expression ערות אביך here, and it is said later on (Leviticus 20:11) “And the man that lieth with his father's wife hath uncovered his father's nakedness (״(ערות אביו גלה. Now what is the meaning of ערות אביו there? It refers to one's fathers wife! so does ערות אביך here also refer to one's father's wife (Sanhedrin 54a).

וערות אמך. לְהָבִיא אִמּוֹ שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֵשֶׁת אָבִיו (שם):

וערות אמך AND THE NAKEDNESS OF THY MOTHER [SHALT THOU NOT UNCOVER] — This is intended to include in the prohibition the marriage of one's own mother although she be not the wife of one's father (Sanhedrin 54a).

ערות אשת אביך. לְרַבּוֹת אַחַר מִיתָה (שם):

ערות אשת אביך THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER'S WIFE [SHALT THOU NOT UNCOVER] — This is intended to include in the prohibition of union with one's father's wife already mentioned v. 7. even the doing of this after his death (Sanhedrin 54a).

בת אביך. אַף בַּת אֲנוּסָה בְמַשְׁמָע:

בת אביך [THE NAKEDNESS OF THY SISTER] THE DAUGHTER OF THY FATHER [OR THE DAUGHTER OF THY MOTHER… THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — Also the daughter of a woman raped by one's father is implied by the term מולדת בית או מולדת חוץ.

מולדת בית או מולדת חוץ. בֵּין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לוֹ לְאָבִיךָ קַיֵּם אֶת אִמָּהּ, וּבֵין שֶׁאוֹמְרִים לוֹ הוֹצֵא אֶת אִמָּהּ, כְּגוֹן מַמְזֶרֶת אוֹ נְתִינָה (יבמות כ"ג):

.בת — WHETHER SHE BE BORN IN THE HOUSE OR WHETHER SHE BE BORN OUTSIDE THE HOUSE — This means, thy sister, thy father's daughter, whether according to the law we can say to thy father, "Keep her mother as your wife" or whether we have to say to him, "Divorce her mother", as, for instance, when she is a ממזרת (the issue of a union forbidden in the Torah under the penalty of כרת) or a נתינה (the daughter of a Gibeonite woman, cf. Joshua 9:27, forbidden under the penalty of מלקות) (Yevamot 23a).

ערות בת בנך וגו'. בְּבִתּוֹ מֵאֲנוּסָתוֹ הַכָּתוּב מְדַבֵּר, וּבִתּוֹ וּבַת בִּתּוֹ מֵאִשְׁתּוֹ אָנוּ לְמֵדִין מֵ"עֶרְוַת אִשָּׁה וּבִתָּהּ", שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בָּהֶן "לֹא תְגַלֵּה", בֵּין שֶׁהִיא מִמֶּנּוּ וּבֵין שֶׁהִיא מֵאִישׁ אַחֵר (שם כב):

ערות בת בנך THE NAKEDNESS OF THE DAUGHTER OF THY SON [OR THE DAUGHTER OF THY DAUGHTER THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — When it states "thy daughter״ Scripture is speaking of his daughter born of a woman whom he had outraged (similarly "the daughter of thy son" means, the son born of such a woman). This must be so, for that one is forbidden to marry one's daughter or the daughter of one's daughter who was born of one's wife we may learn from the prohibition (v. 17) in the verse beginning אשה ובתה ערות "the nakedness of a woman and her daughter" of whom it is stated "thou shalt not uncover" and which thus implies the prohibition to marry one's daughter (and forbids one's marriage with one's daughter's daughter; for Scripture continues there: “neither shalt thou take her son's daughter or her daughter's daughter) whether she be begotten by him or by another man (cf. Yevamot 22b and Rashi von v. 17).

ערות בת בנך. קַל וָחֹמֶר לְבִתְּךָ, אֶלָּא לְפִי שֶׁאֵין מַזְהִירִין מִן הַדִּין, לְמָדוּהָ מִגְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה בְּמַסֶּכֶת יְבָמוֹת (דף ג'):

ערות בת בנך THE NAKEDNESS OF THY SON'S DAUGHTER [… THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — Since even thy son's daughter (the former being born from an אנוסה) is forbidden, the prohibition concerning thy own daughter born of thy אנוסה could be derived by a conclusion a minori ad majus (ק״ו). But because there is a rule אין מזהירין מן הדין “no prohibition can be derived by a logical conclusion" they (the Rabbis) derived it in Treatise Yevamot 3a by an analogy (גזירה שוה) based on the similar expression הנה — הנה used here and in v. 17.

ערות בת אשת אביך. לִמֵּד שֶׁאֵינוֹ חַיָּב עַל אֲחוֹתוֹ מִשִּׁפְחָה וְנָכְרִית, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר "בַּת אֵשֶׁת אָבִיךָ" — בִּרְאוּיָה לְקִדּוּשִׁין (שם כ"ג):

ערות בת אשת אביך THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER'S WIFE'S DAUGHTER… [THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — This teaches us that one is not liable to excision for a union with one's sister (on his father’s side) who was born of a maid-servant or a non-Jewess. It is for this reason that Scripture instead of simply saying "thy sister" uses the circumlocution "the daughter of thy father's wife" i. e. a woman who is fitted for Kiddushin (one with whom a marriage may be legitimately entered into, which is not the case with a שפחה ונכרית) (Yevamot 22b).

ערות אחי אביך לא תגלה. וּמַה הִיא עֶרְוָתוֹ? אל אשתו לא תקרב:

ערות אחי אביך לא תגלה THE NAKEDNESS OF THY FATHER'S BROTHER THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER — and what does this "uncovering of his nakedness" mean אל אשתו לא תקרב? THOU SHALT NOT APPROACH TO HIS WIFE.

אשת בנך. לֹא אָמַרְתִּי אֶלָּא בְּשֶׁיֵּשׁ לְבִנְךָ אִישׁוּת בָּהּ, פְּרָט לַאֲנוּסָה וְשִׁפְחָה וְנָכְרִית (עי' ספרא):

אשת בנך [THE NAKEDNESS OF THY DAUGHTER-IN-LAW THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER; SHE IS] THY SON'S WIFE — By using the apparently redundant words: “she is thy son's wife" Scripture says, as it were: I command this about such a woman only when thy son has a legal matrimonial relation (אישות) to her, thus excluding a woman who has been raped by him (אנוסה) or a Canaanitish maid-servant, or a non-Jewess (cf. Sifra, Kedoshim, Chapter 10 10)).

ערות אשה ובתה. לֹא אָסַר הַכָּתוּב אֶלָּא עַל יְדֵי נִשּׂוּאֵי הָרִאשׁוֹנָה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר לֹא "תִקַּח" — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, וְכֵן לְעִנְיַן הָעֹנֶשׁ, אֲשֶׁר "יִקַּח" אֶת אִשָּׁה וְאֶת אִמָּה — לְשׁוֹן קִיחָה, אֲבָל אָנַס אִשָּׁה מֻתָּר לִשָּׂא בִּתָּהּ (יבמות צ"ז):

ערות אשה ובתה THE NAKEDNESS OF A WOMAN AND HER DAUGHTER [THOU SHALT NOT UNCOVER] — Scripture forbids this only if the union with the first of these (whether it be the woman or her daughter) came about through a legal marriage. That is why Scripture uses the term לא תקח, the expression employed for "taking to wife in a legal way". Similarly with reference to the punishment for such a union it states, (Leviticus 20:14) "And if a man take (יקח) a wife and her mother, [it is wickedness; they shall be burnt with fire]" — an expression for "taking" to wife in a legal way. But if one has raped a woman he is permitted to marry her daughter (Yevamot 97a).

שארה הנה. קְרוֹבוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ:

שארה הנה means, they are closely related to one another.

זמה. עֵצָה, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ עֲצַת חֶטְאִין, שֶׁיִּצְרְךָ יוֹעֶצְךָ לַחֲטֹא:

זמה means, an evil plan, as the Targum renders it‎ עצת חטאין , "a sinful plan"; the term is used because it is your evil inclination which counsels you to sin.

אל אחתה. שְׁתֵּיהֶן כְּאַחַת (קידושין נ'):

‎ אל אחתה ‎[NEITHER SHALT THOU TAKE A WIFE] TO HER SISTER — both at the same time.

לצרר. לְשׁוֹן צָרָה — לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת זוֹ צָרָה לָזוֹ:

לצרר is connected with the word ,צרה — a rival (cf. I Samuel 1:6). Thus the verse signifies “thou shalt not take a wife to her sister", to make (i. e. making) the one the rival of the other.

בחייה. לִמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאִם גֵרְשָׁהּ לֹא יִשָּׂא אֶת אֲחוֹתָהּ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהִיא בַחַיִּים (יבמות ח'):

בחייה DURING HER LIFE-TIME — This teaches you that if he divorced her (his wife) he is not allowed to marry her sister so long as she (the former) is still living (Yevamot 8b).

למלך. עֲ"זָ הִיא שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ מֹלֶךְ, וְזוֹ הִיא עֲבוֹדָתָהּ, שֶׁמּוֹסֵר בְּנוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים וְעוֹשִׂין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת וּמַעֲבִירִין אֶת הַבֵּן בְּרַגְלָיו בֵּין שְׁתֵּי מְדוּרוֹת הָאֵשׁ (סנהדרין ס"ד):

למלך [AND THOU SHALT NOT LET ANY OF THY SEED PASS THROUGH THE FIRE] TO MOLECH — This was an idol the name of which was "Molech", and this was the manner in which it was worshipped: that he (the father) handed his child (lit., his son, but it applies to his daughter also; cf. Deuteronomy 18:10) over to the priests of the idol. These lit two large pyres one opposite the other and made the child to pass on foot between the two pyres (Sanhedrin 64b).

לא תתן. זוֹ הִיא מְסִירָתוֹ לַכּוֹמְרִים:

לא תתן refers to “the handing over of the child” to the priests.

להעביר למלך. זוֹ הַעֲבָרַת הָאֵשׁ:

להעביר למלך — this refers to the “passing through the fire".

תבל הוא. לְשׁוֹן קָדֵשׁ וְעֶרְוָה וְנִאוּף, וְכֵן וְאַפִּי עַל תַּבְלִיתָם (ישעיהו י'); דָּבָר אַחֵר תֶּבֶל הוּא לְשׁוֹן בְּלִילָה וְעִרְבּוּב זֶרַע אָדָם וְזֶרַע בְּהֵמָה:

תבל הוא THIS IS CONFUSION — תבל is an expression used for unchastity, incest and adultery. Similar is (Jeremiah 10:25) “Mine anger because of their depravity (תבליתם)". Another explanation of תבל הוא: it is an expression denoting the mingling (root בלל) and fusion of the human seed and the animal seed.

ולא תקיא הארץ אתכם. מָשָׁל לְבֶן מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהֶאֱכִילוּהוּ דָּבָר מָאוּס, שֶׁאֵין עוֹמֵד בְּמֵעָיו אֶלָּא מְקִיאוֹ, כָּךְ אֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵינָהּ מְקַיֶּמֶת עוֹבְרֵי עֲבֵרָה (ספרא סוף קדושים), וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ וְלָא תְרוֹקֵן, לְשׁוֹן רִקּוּן — מְרִיקָה עַצְמָהּ מֵהֶם:

ולא תקיא הארץ אתכם THAT THE LAND VOMIT NOT YOU OUT — A parable! This may be compared to the case of a prince (i. e. a sensitive, refined person) to whom one gives a disgusting thing to eat which he cannot retain on his stomach but vomits it out thus Eretz-Yisrael is unable to retain sinners on its soil (Sifra, Kedoshim, Chapter 12 14). The Targum renders it by: ולא תרוקן a term for ״emptying out״ — it (the earth) empties itself of them.

הנפשות העשת. הַזָּכָר וְהַנְּקֵבָה בְמַשְׁמָע (ספרא):

העשת‏‎ הנפשות ‎‏‎‎EVEN THE SOULS THAT SHALL DO THEM [SHALL BE CUT OFF] — Both men and women are implied by the plural הנפשות (in contrast to the sing. יעשה in the beginning of the verse) (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 20).

ושמרתם את משמרתי. לְהַזְהִיר בֵּית דִּין עַל כָּךְ (שם):

ושמרתם את משמרתי THEREFORE SHALL YE KEEP (OR, WATCH OVER) MY CHARGE — This is intended to caution the court regarding this (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 22).

ולא תטמאו בהם אני ה' אלהיכם. הָא אִם תִּטַּמְּאוּ אֵינִי אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, וְאַתֶּם נִפְסָלִים מֵאַחֲרַי, וּמַה הֲנָאָה יֵשׁ לִי בָּכֶם וְאַתֶּם מִתְחַיְּבִים כְּלָיָה? לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיכֶם (שם):

ולא תטמאו בהם אני ה' אלהיכם AND IF YE DEFILE NOT YOURSELVES THEREIN, I AM THE LORD YOUR GOD — If, however, you do defile yourselves I shall no longer be your God (אלהיכם) since you have cut yourselves off from following after Me. What use then can I have of you? Consequently you deserve annihilation! That is why Scripture states: I am the Lord your God (Sifra, Acharei Mot, Chapter 13 22).