Weekly Torah Study: Tetzaveh 2024/5784

(1) ונשמע קולו בבואו אל הקדש, “and its sound will be heard when he enters the holy precincts.” When Aaron enters the Sanctuary dressed in his eight special vestments his voice in prayer will be heard by G’d and his prayers will be accepted. In addition to the sound of his voice in prayer there will also be heard the sound of the bells at the hem of his robe. This little verse is a lesson in manners. When a person wishes to receive an audience he first knocks on the door of the king or prefect from whom he requests the audience. Aaron (the High Priest) would announce his intention to pray by means of the chiming of the bells at the hem of his robe. What is customary as a sign of deference to a mortal king must also be observed when one petitions the King of Kings. When one arrives unannounced in a mortal king’s palace, enters without preamble, one incurs the death penalty. Similarly, when the High Priest enters G’d’s Sanctuary it behooves him to give notice of his intention to enter. The matter is best illustrated in Esther 4,11 from where we know that King Ahasverush looked with great suspicion on anyone who came unannounced, and, generally speaking, he had such persons executed as he thought they were bent on harming him. Even though G’d, of course, is fully aware of the intentions of the “intruder,” the same rules of etiquette apply in the Sanctuary.
Another reason why the High Priest “gave notice” in this manner of his intention to enter the Sanctuary was to ensure that none of the angels would at that time interfere with his prayer, i.e. interpose themselves between him and G’d. Had he entered unannounced this could have happened. He himself might even have been harmed by the angels who were unaware of his intentions.
Actually, the sound of the bells was not meant to give warning either to the Shechinah or to the angels that the High Priest was approaching. it was intended to warn the angels that the approaching High Priest desired to have privacy during his audience with the Shechinah. Additionally, it was meant to head off any chance that some angel would harm him as an unwanted intruder (as happened to Nadav and Avihu). The same sound of these bells chiming when the High Priest had completed his audience in the Sanctuary served the angels notice that they could again resume their customary positions inside the Sanctuary. When the Torah writes the words ולא ימות, “so that he will not die,” at the end of our verse, this was a warning that if the High Priest were to enter the Sanctuary without the bells on his robe being audible, the attendants around the Shechinah would kill him as an intruder. This matter is elaborated on in Jerusalem Talmud Yuma 1,5 and quoted by Nachmanides in connection with Leviticus 16,17: “that no person (אדם) should be in the Tent of Testimony,” that this wording includes even the angels which were described in Ezekiel’s vision as having a ”human face” (Ezekiel 1,10). This is why the High Priest was instructed to make certain that his approach would be heard by means of the bells in the hem of his robe chiming. The idea is reflected in Psalms 55,15 “sweet was our fellowship; together we walked in G’d’s house when there is turmoil.” What we have described applied during all the days of the year when the High Priest entered the Sanctuary; it did not apply on the Day of Atonement when he entered the Holy of Holies, as on that day he was not allowed to wear the “golden garments” when inside the Sanctuary...

(41) Put these on your brother Aaron and on his sons as well; anoint them, and ordain them*and ordain them Lit. “and fill their hands.” and consecrate them to serve Me as priests.