(א) וַֽיְהִי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י קָרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְאַהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו וּלְזִקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קַח־לְ֠ךָ֠ עֵ֣גֶל בֶּן־בָּקָ֧ר לְחַטָּ֛את וְאַ֥יִל לְעֹלָ֖ה תְּמִימִ֑ם וְהַקְרֵ֖ב לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃ (ג) וְאֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל תְּדַבֵּ֣ר לֵאמֹ֑ר קְח֤וּ שְׂעִיר־עִזִּים֙ לְחַטָּ֔את וְעֵ֨גֶל וָכֶ֧בֶשׂ בְּנֵי־שָׁנָ֛ה תְּמִימִ֖ם לְעֹלָֽה׃ (ד) וְשׁ֨וֹר וָאַ֜יִל לִשְׁלָמִ֗ים לִזְבֹּ֙חַ֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה וּמִנְחָ֖ה בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשָּׁ֑מֶן כִּ֣י הַיּ֔וֹם יְהֹוָ֖ה נִרְאָ֥ה אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (ה) וַיִּקְח֗וּ אֵ֚ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֣ה מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־פְּנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַֽיִּקְרְבוּ֙ כׇּל־הָ֣עֵדָ֔ה וַיַּֽעַמְד֖וּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה׃
(1) On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel. (2) He said to Aaron: “Take a calf of the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering, without blemish, and bring them before יהוה. (3) And speak to the Israelites, saying: Take a he-goat for a sin offering; a calf and a lamb, yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering; (4) and an ox and a ram for an offering of well-being to sacrifice before יהוה; and a meal offering with oil mixed in. For today יהוה will appear to you.” (5) They brought to the front of the Tent of Meeting the things that Moses had commanded, and the community leadership came forward and stood before יהוה.
Moshe doesn't tell Bnei Yisrael what to bring for their offering, rather he tells Aharon to tell them what to bring. Why does he insist on Aharon delivering the instruction?
דעת זקנים:
כדי שידעו שנתכפר להם מעשה העגל מאחד שמצוה להם להקריב עגל.
Daat Zekenim:
This exchange, where Aharon commands the nation to bring a calf, is meant to convince the people that they have been forgiven for the sin of the golden calf.
רמב׳׳ן:
שיאמר להם אהרן כן, כי רצה שיהי אהרן המצווה בשם י׳׳י והוא המקריב הקרבנות, לגדלו בעיני העם.
Ramban:
Moshe wanted Aharon to issue this command in the name of the Lord, and for him to be the one to offer the sacrifices. This would increase Aharon's stature in their eyes.
העמק דבר:
ולא דבר משה בעצמו באשר התקרבות ישראל לאביהם שבשמים על ידי עבודה נעשה באמת על ידי אהרן ובניו.
Haamek Davar:
Moshe did not describe the sacrifices to the people since it would be Aharon and his sons whose services enhanced the relationship between Israel and their Father in Heaven.
Questions to consider:
- Compare the interpretations of Ramban and Haamek Davar. Which one understands that selecting Aharon was the result of Aharon's new status, and which understands that this was an attempt to change the way Aharon was viewed by the people?
- Which of the commentaries understand that Moshe is trying to undo negative associations the people have with Aharon? Which understand that Moshe is trying to highlight positive associations with Aharon?
- What line in the text of the Torah do you think could have inspired the comment of Daat Zekenim?
- According to Daat Zekenim, what unspoken tension about Aharon was lurking in the minds of Benei Yisrael in anticipation of God's Presence descending into the Mishkan?