It seems like the person that speaks the least and does the most for the Israelites, is Aaron. Yet, Aaron and his children are threatened if they are not careful in Chapter 18 if a non-Levite enters the sanctuary, or a non-Kohen performs services of the kohen. I find it interesting how before Chapter 18, G-d talks to Moses and Aaron, why here does G-d have to speak to Aaron through Moses (v. 1). Now, when looking at the Hebrew and the Stone Edition, it shows that Adonai spoke to Aaron, no where does it show Moses.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן אַתָּ֗ה וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבֵית־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְאַתָּה֙ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֺ֥ן כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם׃
Therefore the Eternal said to Aaron through Moses: “You, your sons and the family of your father Kohath with you will bear the consequences of the iniquity if a non-Levite enters the Sanctuary because of your negligence; you and your sons will bear the consequences of the iniquity also if a non-kohen will do the service of the kohen because of your negligence.
ויאמר ה' אל אהרן. לְמֹשֶׁה אָמַר שֶׁיֹּאמַר לְאַהֲרֹן, לְהַזְהִירוֹ עַל תַּקָּנַת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא יִכָּנְסוּ לַמִּקְדָּשׁ:
ויאמר ה' אל אהרן AND GOD SAID UNTO AARON — i.e. He said it to Moses that he in turn should speak to Aaron to admonish him regarding the precautions to be taken for the benefit of the Israelites in order that they might not enter the Sanctuary (cf. Rashi on Leviticus 1:1 s. v. אליו and Note thereon).
Does G-d think that Aaron won't listen to him if spoken to directly? Does G-d think that Aaron will rebel if this threat isn't given to him through Moses as Korach rebelled thinking that it was sufficient to be a leader after only hearing G-d's voice once at Mount Sinai? After looking through dozens of documents that solely focus on Korach, I guess rightly so since the book is named after him. Surprisingly in as you can see in 16:33 it says "their names were thus blotted out from among the assembly."
וַיֵּ֨רְד֜וּ הֵ֣ם וְכׇל־אֲשֶׁ֥ר לָהֶ֛ם חַיִּ֖ים שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַתְּכַ֤ס עֲלֵיהֶם֙ הָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֹּאבְד֖וּ מִתּ֥וֹךְ הַקָּהָֽל׃
So they and all that belonged to them went down alive into the grave and the earth closed over them; their names were thus blotted out from among the assembly.
(א"ע.)
(א"ע.)
Now as I was saying, I looked at dozens of articles and couldn't find anything that focused on chapter 18 so I figured I would just do a d'var.
How important is leadership or knowing your place and/or role in life?
Aaron up unto this point has only been told what to do, even when he stood between the living and the dead. He was told what to do by Moses.
In chapter 18, it seems as though Aaron needs to be told exactly what will happen to him and his sons if they let others go where they're not supposed to go and do things they're not supposed to do. Have we ever faced with serious repercussions when we allow others to do our job and we don't if they know the rules and regs of the job?
How important is leadership or knowing your place and/or role in life?
Aaron up unto this point has only been told what to do, even when he stood between the living and the dead. He was told what to do by Moses.
In chapter 18, it seems as though Aaron needs to be told exactly what will happen to him and his sons if they let others go where they're not supposed to go and do things they're not supposed to do. Have we ever faced with serious repercussions when we allow others to do our job and we don't if they know the rules and regs of the job?
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן אַתָּ֗ה וּבָנֶ֤יךָ וּבֵית־אָבִ֙יךָ֙ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֺ֣ן הַמִּקְדָּ֑שׁ וְאַתָּה֙ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִתָּ֔ךְ תִּשְׂא֖וּ אֶת־עֲוֺ֥ן כְּהֻנַּתְכֶֽם׃ וְגַ֣ם אֶת־אַחֶ֩יךָ֩ מַטֵּ֨ה לֵוִ֜י שֵׁ֤בֶט אָבִ֙יךָ֙ הַקְרֵ֣ב אִתָּ֔ךְ וְיִלָּו֥וּ עָלֶ֖יךָ וִישָֽׁרְת֑וּךָ וְאַתָּה֙ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִתָּ֔ךְ לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֥הֶל הָעֵדֻֽת׃ וְשָֽׁמְרוּ֙ מִֽשְׁמַרְתְּךָ֔ וּמִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת כׇּל־הָאֹ֑הֶל אַךְ֩ אֶל־כְּלֵ֨י הַקֹּ֤דֶשׁ וְאֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֔בוּ וְלֹֽא־יָמֻ֥תוּ גַם־הֵ֖ם גַּם־אַתֶּֽם׃ וְנִלְו֣וּ עָלֶ֔יךָ וְשָֽׁמְר֗וּ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֙רֶת֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד לְכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדַ֣ת הָאֹ֑הֶל וְזָ֖ר לֹא־יִקְרַ֥ב אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃
Therefore the Eternal said to Aaron through Moses: “You, your sons and the family of your father Kohath with you will bear the consequences of the iniquity if a non-Levite enters the Sanctuary because of your negligence; you and your sons will bear the consequences of the iniquity also if a non-kohen will do the service of the kohen because of your negligence. Your brethren, the Gershonites and the Merarites who are also of the tribe of Levi, which is the tribe of your forefathers, bring near with you; but only you and your sons with you shall keep guard in the inner Sanctuary in front of the Tent of the Ark of the Tablets on the Testimony.
(רש"י.) They shall guard the Holy of Holies, from the outside, and have charge of the whole Tent; only they shall not approach the vessels of the Sanctuary on the Altar, so that neither they nor you may die.
(יונתן.) They shall be joined to you and keep guard outside of the Tent of Assembly, for all the service of the Tent, then any of the non-Levites shall not come near to you.
(רמב"ן.)
(רש"י.) They shall guard the Holy of Holies, from the outside, and have charge of the whole Tent; only they shall not approach the vessels of the Sanctuary on the Altar, so that neither they nor you may die.
(יונתן.) They shall be joined to you and keep guard outside of the Tent of Assembly, for all the service of the Tent, then any of the non-Levites shall not come near to you.
(רמב"ן.)
Some of the questions I have and really can't find the answers to, I hope you will help me find them are: How to be careful to not let those who are not Levites or Kohanim get too close so that no more people die? Why does Aaron need to hear this threat?
I think it's important to know your purpose in life even though many of us don't get the chance to know what our purpose in life is and what we are meant to do in order to fulfill our destiny.
The Kohen and the Levites had the blessing of really being told what they were to do and what would happen if they allowed others to do it or go there. I sometimes wish G-d would give me a clear sign as to what my purpose, my role in this life is so that I can do it.
I find it interesting that G-d tells them that this is a gift in doing G-d's work and not for personal work. To me, this means, don't abuse your power. Did G-d think that there would be abuse of power or is the perception that Korach and the Children of Israel perceived the "abuse of power" sufficient to clarify this here?
I think it's important to know your purpose in life even though many of us don't get the chance to know what our purpose in life is and what we are meant to do in order to fulfill our destiny.
The Kohen and the Levites had the blessing of really being told what they were to do and what would happen if they allowed others to do it or go there. I sometimes wish G-d would give me a clear sign as to what my purpose, my role in this life is so that I can do it.
I find it interesting that G-d tells them that this is a gift in doing G-d's work and not for personal work. To me, this means, don't abuse your power. Did G-d think that there would be abuse of power or is the perception that Korach and the Children of Israel perceived the "abuse of power" sufficient to clarify this here?
וַאֲנִ֗י הִנֵּ֤ה לָקַ֙חְתִּי֙ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֶ֞ם מַתָּנָ֤ה נְתֻנִים֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לַעֲבֹ֕ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃
Behold, I have separated your brethren, the Levites, from among the Children of Israel; they are given as a gift to the Eternal, to perform the service of the Tent of Assembly, but not your private work.
וְאַתָּ֣ה וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִ֠תְּךָ֠ תִּשְׁמְר֨וּ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֜ם לְכׇל־דְּבַ֧ר הַמִּזְבֵּ֛חַ וּלְמִבֵּ֥ית לַפָּרֹ֖כֶת וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֑ם עֲבֹדַ֣ת מַתָּנָ֗ה אֶתֵּן֙ אֶת־כְּהֻנַּתְכֶ֔ם וְהַזָּ֥ר הַקָּרֵ֖ב יוּמָֽת׃ {פ}
And you, and your sons with you shall keep the kohanate regarding every altar in the court and on the Altar in the Holy of Holies, which is inside the Partition, you are to do the service; for I give you the kohanate as a gift, as a privilege and not as a burden; and a non-kohen who approaches to offer sacrifices upon the altar shall be deserving of death from heaven.”
(רש"י.)
(רש"י.)
I believe that G-d wants us to prevent further deaths and to allow us to acknowledge that our role in life isn't always to be the President, Vice President, or part of the C-Suite but that every role in life is important and a gift. I also see how we are to support each other within our community. Not everyone has the luxury or benefit of having it all so we have to take care of each other. When we do though, we are to give the best to those in need.
וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ וַאֲנִי֙ הִנֵּ֣ה נָתַ֣תִּֽי לְךָ֔ אֶת־מִשְׁמֶ֖רֶת תְּרוּמֹתָ֑י לְכׇל־קׇדְשֵׁ֣י בְנֵֽי־יִ֠שְׂרָאֵ֠ל לְךָ֨ נְתַתִּ֧ים לְמׇשְׁחָ֛ה וּלְבָנֶ֖יךָ לְחׇק־עוֹלָֽם׃ זֶֽה־יִהְיֶ֥ה לְךָ֛ מִקֹּ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים מִן־הָאֵ֑שׁ כׇּל־קׇ֠רְבָּנָ֠ם לְֽכׇל־מִנְחָתָ֞ם וּלְכׇל־חַטָּאתָ֗ם וּלְכׇל־אֲשָׁמָם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יָשִׁ֣יבוּ לִ֔י קֹ֣דֶשׁ קׇֽדָשִׁ֥ים לְךָ֛ ה֖וּא וּלְבָנֶֽיךָ׃ בְּקֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִׁ֖ים תֹּאכְלֶ֑נּוּ כׇּל־זָכָר֙ יֹאכַ֣ל אֹת֔וֹ קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִֽהְיֶה־לָּֽךְ׃
The Eternal said to Aaron: “Behold, I have given you, as a reward for guarding the Sanctuary, the contributions which are made to Me; these are the sacred gifts of the Children of Israel which I have given to you and to your children as an everlasting share, as a consecrated portion.
(רש"י.) These portions shall be yours from the most holy offering, after some parts have been burnt on the fire of the Altar, from all of their offerings which they render to Me, cereal offerings, sin-offerings, or guilt-offerings, these shall be most holy for you and your sons.
(יונתן.) Within the enclosure of the Sanctuary you shall eat it; every male may eat of it; it shall be sanctified to you.
(רש"י.) These portions shall be yours from the most holy offering, after some parts have been burnt on the fire of the Altar, from all of their offerings which they render to Me, cereal offerings, sin-offerings, or guilt-offerings, these shall be most holy for you and your sons.
(יונתן.) Within the enclosure of the Sanctuary you shall eat it; every male may eat of it; it shall be sanctified to you.
This Parsha also speaks about how important it is to make amends for the things done wrong in the past, i.e. giving 5 shekels for the redemption of the first-born is thought to amend for the sale of Yosef into slavery for 20 pieces. Per "https://www.etzion.org.il/en/halakha/studies-halakha/philosophy-halakha/pidyon-ha-ben-and-commandment-chinukh"
The Torah commands us to redeem the firstborn son in each family, by giving five shekels (coins of particular mass) of silver to the Kohen (priest) when the child is a month old (Bamidbar 18:15-16.) This is in commemoration of the plague of the firstborn, when God redeemed the Jewish first born sons as He smote the Egyptians (Shemot 13:13-15.) Children of male and female Kohanim and Levi'im (Levites) are exempt from this mitzva.
I feel that since there was human sacrifice going on, G-d wanted us to be separate by telling us only to sacrifice the firstlings of animals and not the first-born human.
The Torah commands us to redeem the firstborn son in each family, by giving five shekels (coins of particular mass) of silver to the Kohen (priest) when the child is a month old (Bamidbar 18:15-16.) This is in commemoration of the plague of the firstborn, when God redeemed the Jewish first born sons as He smote the Egyptians (Shemot 13:13-15.) Children of male and female Kohanim and Levi'im (Levites) are exempt from this mitzva.
I feel that since there was human sacrifice going on, G-d wanted us to be separate by telling us only to sacrifice the firstlings of animals and not the first-born human.
וּפְדוּיָו֙ מִבֶּן־חֹ֣דֶשׁ תִּפְדֶּ֔ה בְּעֶ֨רְכְּךָ֔ כֶּ֛סֶף חֲמֵ֥שֶׁת שְׁקָלִ֖ים בְּשֶׁ֣קֶל הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ עֶשְׂרִ֥ים גֵּרָ֖ה הֽוּא׃ אַ֣ךְ בְּֽכוֹר־שׁ֡וֹר אֽוֹ־בְכ֨וֹר כֶּ֜שֶׂב אֽוֹ־בְכ֥וֹר עֵ֛ז לֹ֥א תִפְדֶּ֖ה קֹ֣דֶשׁ הֵ֑ם אֶת־דָּמָ֞ם תִּזְרֹ֤ק עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ וְאֶת־חֶלְבָּ֣ם תַּקְטִ֔יר אִשֶּׁ֛ה לְרֵ֥יחַ נִיחֹ֖חַ לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃
The first-born of man you will redeem when he is one month old; his redemption fee will be at the valuation of five silver Shekels, according to the shekels of the Sanctuary, which is twenty Gerahs. But for the firstling of an ox, or the firstling of a sheep, or the firstling of a goat you will not take any redemption fee, because they are holy and are fit for sacrifice; you shall sprinkle their blood on the Altar; their, fat will burn as a fire-offering to be acceptable to the Eternal.
כֹּ֣ל ׀ תְּרוּמֹ֣ת הַקֳּדָשִׁ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֥ימוּ בְנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ לַֽיהֹוָה֒ נָתַ֣תִּֽי לְךָ֗ וּלְבָנֶ֧יךָ וְלִבְנֹתֶ֛יךָ אִתְּךָ֖ לְחׇק־עוֹלָ֑ם בְּרִית֩ מֶ֨לַח עוֹלָ֥ם הִוא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה לְךָ֖ וּלְזַרְעֲךָ֥ אִתָּֽךְ׃
All the above-mentioned contributions of the holy things which the Children of Israel set aside for the Eternal are given to you, to our sons, and to your daughters with you for an everlasting share; it is an everlasting covenant of salt; even as salt never decays so will My covenant endure; this belongs to you and to your descendants with you before the Eternal."
I think the above is such a beautiful covenant between G-d and His people as to me this is not just for the Kohanim but for everyone. His covenant will endure like salt, never decaying, forever enduring throughout the ages. It's as if to say, no matter what you do, I will always love you and take care of you. I will be there for you and your descendants and the descendants of your descendants. This sort of gives me comfort that G-d is with me even when I feel alone.
וְלִבְנֵ֣י לֵוִ֔י הִנֵּ֥ה נָתַ֛תִּי כׇּל־מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ר בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְנַחֲלָ֑ה חֵ֤לֶף עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ אֲשֶׁר־הֵ֣ם עֹֽבְדִ֔ים אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ וְלֹא־יִקְרְב֥וּ ע֛וֹד בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לָשֵׂ֥את חֵ֖טְא לָמֽוּת׃ וְעָבַ֨ד הַלֵּוִ֜י ה֗וּא אֶת־עֲבֹדַת֙ אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וְהֵ֖ם יִשְׂא֣וּ עֲוֺנָ֑ם חֻקַּ֤ת עוֹלָם֙ לְדֹרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וּבְתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִנְחֲל֖וּ נַחֲלָֽה׃ כִּ֞י אֶת־מַעְשַׂ֣ר בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָרִ֤ימוּ לַֽיהֹוָה֙ תְּרוּמָ֔ה נָתַ֥תִּי לַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְנַחֲלָ֑ה עַל־כֵּן֙ אָמַ֣רְתִּי לָהֶ֔ם בְּתוֹךְ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לֹ֥א יִנְחֲל֖וּ נַחֲלָֽה׃ {פ}
To the tribe of Levi I have given the tithe, the tenth part of all the grain in Israel as their possession, as wages for their service which they perform in the Tent of Assembly.
(יונתן, ועיין בערוך ערך אדם.) Henceforth the Children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Assembly to perform, any holy function, lest they bear sin and deserve death from heaven. Only the Levites shall perform the service in the Tent of Assembly; they shall bear the consequences' of any guilt occurring because of negligence; this is an everlasting decree throughout your generations. But they shall not have any possessions among the Children of Israel. For the tithe, the tenth part of the grain of the Children of Israel which they render as a contribution to the Eternal, I have given to the Levites as their possession. Therefore have I said to them: Among the Children of Israel they shall not hold any possession."
(יונתן, ועיין בערוך ערך אדם.) Henceforth the Children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Assembly to perform, any holy function, lest they bear sin and deserve death from heaven. Only the Levites shall perform the service in the Tent of Assembly; they shall bear the consequences' of any guilt occurring because of negligence; this is an everlasting decree throughout your generations. But they shall not have any possessions among the Children of Israel. For the tithe, the tenth part of the grain of the Children of Israel which they render as a contribution to the Eternal, I have given to the Levites as their possession. Therefore have I said to them: Among the Children of Israel they shall not hold any possession."
So even though G-d will protect everyone He feels it's necessary for a separation of roles to be made. Again, going back to my beginning thoughts. We're not all meant to be the President or Vice-President but we will forever be taken care of. We may go through struggles and be tired of those struggles as I have often felt for the last two years but I know that by continuing to learn Torah and reading it with a different lens every year, I grow and only wish the same for each person.
כֵּ֣ן תָּרִ֤ימוּ גַם־אַתֶּם֙ תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה מִכֹּל֙ מַעְשְׂרֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֣ר תִּקְח֔וּ מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם מִמֶּ֙נּוּ֙ אֶת־תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֔ה לְאַהֲרֹ֖ן הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ מִכֹּל֙ מַתְּנֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם תָּרִ֕ימוּ אֵ֖ת כׇּל־תְּרוּמַ֣ת יְהֹוָ֑ה מִכׇּ֨ל־חֶלְבּ֔וֹ אֶֽת־מִקְדְּשׁ֖וֹ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֲלֵהֶ֑ם בַּהֲרִֽימְכֶ֤ם אֶת־חֶלְבּוֹ֙ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ וְנֶחְשַׁב֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם כִּתְבוּאַ֥ת גֹּ֖רֶן וְכִתְבוּאַ֥ת יָֽקֶב׃
Even as the Israelites must give a contribution from their grain to the kohen, so you, too, shall render a contribution to the Eternal from all the tithes which you receive from the Children of Israel; from it you shall give to Aaron, the kohen, and his descendants, the contribution for the Eternal. Out of all that is given to you, you shall render of that which is due to the Eternal, from the best of all the grain shall you give the sanctified part. Tell the kohanim: After you take the part of the contribution from the best portion of their tithe, the remainder is then to be regarded as ordinary food for the Levites, the same as the produce of the threshing floor and as the produce of the winepress —
(תלמוד מועד קטן, ג'.)
(תלמוד מועד קטן, ג'.)
I think the above is specified so no one ever feels they are better than the person next to them, everyone needs to give the best of what they are given to the Eternal. So my goal and my challenge to you is to find a way to be the best you can be, try to find out what your role is in life, and if you can - take care of those who are in need in your community.
