Parashat HaShavua 5785: Tazria-Metzora

(14) The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the ridge of the right ear of the one who is being purified, and on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot. (15) The priest shall then take some of the log of oil and pour it into the palm of his own left hand. (16) And the priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in the palm of his left hand and sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before the LORD. (17) Some of the oil left in his palm shall be put by the priest on the ridge of the right ear of the one being purified, on the thumb of the right hand, and on the big toe of the right foot—over the blood of the guilt offering. (18) The rest of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one being purified. Thus the priest shall make expiation for that person before the LORD.

(1) ולקח הכהו. ונתן הכהו, “the priest will take personally, and the priest will give personally;” (put it) just as the priest personally performs this rite so he personally performs the other rites connected with this sacrifice. I might have thought that placing the blood on the altar should be performed by some specially designated vessel such as a spoon or something like it. To prevent us from thinking this, the Torah repeats the word הכהן where it did not appear to have been necessary, and adds that the procedure for the sin offering is the same as that for the guilt offering. There were two priests needed for this whole procedure; one would receive the blood in a vessel, and the other, in his hand. The first would sprinkle the blood from his vessel on the side of the altar, and the other who held the blood in his hand would approach the leper.

[The priest] then took some [of the contents] of the log of oil and poured it into his colleague's hand; And if he poured it into his own hand, the obligation is fulfilled. He then dipped [his right forefinger] in the oil and sprinkled it seven times towards the Holy of Holies, dipping it for every sprinkling. He then approached the metzora, to the same places that he applied the blood he now applied the oil, as it is said, "Over the same places as the blood of the guilt offering; and what is left of the oil in his palm the priest shall put on the head of the one being cleansed, to make expiation for him before the Lord." (Leviticus 14:28-29). If he "put upon," he has made atonement, but if he did not "put upon," he did not make atonement, the words of Rabbi Akiba. Rabbi Yohanan ben Nuri says: these are but the remainders of the mitzvah. Whether he "put upon" or did not "put upon," atonement is made, only it is accounted to him [the priest] as if he did not make atonement. If any oil was missing from the log before it was poured out it may be filled up again; if after it was poured out, other oil must be brought anew, the words of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Shimon says: if any oil was missing from the log before it was applied, it may be filled up; but if after it had been applied, other oil must be brought anew.

(5) 5) "and he shall place it on the tnuch": I might think that the very inside ("toch") were meant; it is, therefore, written "nuch". If so, I might think that the upper tip of the ear were intended; it is, therefore, written (in effect) "toch nuch" ("the inside of the nuch"). How is the effected? (He places it) on the middle partition.

תנוך is the inner wall of the ear. The etymology of the word תנוך is unknown to me, and the compilers of glossaries call it (translate it by) tendron.

בהן means THUMB.

(4) Since we find that the Torah gives deference to the right hand: in regard to service in the Temple and in regard to the thumb and big toe referred to in the ceremony for the priests and purification of the metzora and in the mitzvah of chalitzah; therefore in dressing and in other activities you should begin with the right [hand or foot] as opposed to the left [hand or foot.] When removing shoes or other clothing you should first remove the left (because this shows respect for the right.) However, in regard to tying [a lace] the left is held in higher esteem because we tie the tefillin on the left [hand]. Therefore when you tie your shoes, you should first tie the left. For example, with shoes that must be tied, put on the right shoe without tying it, and then the left shoe and tie it, and then tie the right shoe. This also applies to other clothing.

UPON THE TIP. The meaning of tenuch (tip) is understood from its context. Now, the one who is cleansed from tzaraat, which is an affliction in the body, is similar to the kohen who is installed, for sin is like a tzaraat in the soul. The thumb is the place of connection. It is the main component of all acts. The right thumb was selected because of the power of the right side. The tip of the ear is a reminder to listen to what God has commanded.