Weekly Torah Lesson
Parasha: Shemini – Eighth
Torah: vaYikra 9:1 – 11:47
** Moshe had just completed the erection and purification of the Tent of Meeting as well as the inauguration of the Levitical priesthood which included Aharon as the high priest and Aharon’s four sons as regular priests. The process took seven days to complete and the Tabernacle and the Priesthood were ready to begin serving the Children of Israel. This eighth day was a big deal. If all went well, Avinu would appear in the Tabernacle to show His approval. Approximately 2.5 million Israelis stood around the Tabernacle to watch the event. Moshe gave instructions to Aharon.
“9:1 And it came to pass on the eighth day, that Moshe called Aharon and his sons, and the elders of Israel; 2 And he said to Aharon, Take you a young calf for a sin offering, and a ram for a Olah offering, without blemish, and offer them before Avinu. 3 And to the children of Israel you shall speak, saying, Take you a kid of the goats for a sin offering; and a calf and a lamb, both of the first year, without blemish, for a Olah offering; 4 Also a bullock and a ram for peace offerings, to sacrifice before Avinu; and a grain offering mingled with oil: for to day Avinu will appear to you. 5 And they brought that which Moshe commanded before the tabernacle of Meeting.
** Preparation for Avinu’s visit required that Aharon sacrifice several different animals in order to effect “atonement” for himself, his family, including his sons and the children of Israel. Atonement is always required for anyone to be able to be in the vicinity of Avinu. Anyone who happened to be in the vicinity of Avinu without atonement would die. The instructions for effecting this atonement are meticulous. When all of the sacrifices were performed the anticipated arrival occurred.
*** 22 And Aharon lifted up his hand toward the people, and blessed them, and came down from offering of the sin offering, and the Olah offering, and peace offerings. 23 And Moshe and Aharon went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of Avinu appeared to all the people. 24 And there came a fire out from before Avinu, and consumed on the altar the Olah offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.
The erection and consecration were complete. The Levitical Priesthood served the people for approximately thirteen hundred years.
Leave a Reply