THE ANCHOR BIBLE LEVITICUS 23-27 A New Translation with Introduction and Commentary JACOB MILGROM ag THE ANCHOR BIBLE Doubleday New York London Toronto Sydney Auckland“THe ANCHOR BIBLE PUBLISHED BY DOUBLEDAY a division of Random House, Inc. 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036 THE ANCHOR BrBit, DouBl.EDAY, and the portrayal of an anchor with the letters A and B are trademarks of Doubleday, a division of Random House, Ine. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Bible. OT. 1. icns XXJE-XXVIL English. Milgrom, 2000, Leviticus 23-27: a new translation with introduetion and commentary / by ne Milgrom. — Ist ed. cm. (The Anchor Bible; v. 3B) Includes bibliographical referonces and index 1. Bible. O.'T. Leviticus XXII-XXV1IJ —Commentaries. I. Title: Leviticus twenty-three through twenty-seven. 1. Milgrom, Jacob, 1923- IIL Title. IV. Bible. English. Anchor Bible. 1964: v. 3B. BSI92.2Al 1964.G3 vol. 3B {BS1253} 220.7'7 s~de21 {222'.13077] 99086528 ISBN 0-385-50035-1 Copyright © 2001 by Doubleday, a Division of Random Honse, Inc. All Rights Reserved Printed in the United States of America February 2001 First Editionfor my children and grandchildren Shira, David, Talia, Noam, Yarm, Liore Jeremy, Kinneret, Maor, Maayan Etan, Deborah, Jonathan, Sarah, Hannah Asher, Alice, Eliana, Chyelle O House of Jacob, come, let us walk by the light of YHWH Isaiah 2:5CONTENTS + Preface xi Abbreviations xiii ‘TRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS The Book of Leviticus in Outline 1895 1. THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM (Chapters 1-7) 1896 Il. THE INAUGURATION OF TIIK. CULT (Chapters 8-10) 1906 Il. THE IMPURITY SYSTEM (Chapters 11-16) 1910 IV. THE HOLINESS SOURCE (Chapters 17-27) 1923 ‘TRANSLATION, NOTES, AND COMMENTS IV. THE HOLINESS SOURCE (Chapters 17-27) 23. The Holiday Calendar Translation 1947 Notes 1950 Comments A. The Composition of Chapter 23 2054 B. ‘The Sabbath-Weck: A Resolution to a Heavy Crux 2056 C. The Festival of Booths in Nehemiah 8 2063 D. Fxodus 23:18-19; 34:25-26 and the Paschal Sacrifice 2067 F. The Firstfruits Festivals of Qumran 2071 F. A Brief Comparison of the Israelite and Hittite Festival Calendars, by David I. Stewart 2076 24. Tabernacle Oil and Bread; the Case of Blasphemy ‘Translation 2080 Notes 2081 Comments A. The Structure of Leviticus 24:23-23 and Its Significance 2128 B. Lex Talionis in the Bible and the Ancient Near Fast 2133 C. Lex Talionis and the Rabbis 2136 D. Lev 24:10-23: Apostasy in H-by Simeon Chavel 2140viii 25. 26. CONTENTS Jubilee, the Priestly Solution for Economic Injustice ‘Translation Notes Comment A. The Jubilee: Its Date and Background B. The Sabbatical and Jubilee: Their Observance C. The Sabbatical and Jubilee: Are They Consecutive? D. The Slave Laws of Exodus 21 (and Deuteronomy 15) versus Leviticus 25 The Slave Laws of D and H Compared Was the Jubilee Year Observed in Preexilic Judah? by Lisbeth S. Fried and David N. Freedman G. Jubilee: A Rallying Cry for Today's Oppressed Blessings, Curses, and the Recall of the Covenant Translation Notes: Comments A. The Unbroken Covenant B. Leviticus 26 and Deuteronomy 28 C. Leviticus 26 and Ezekiel D. H (Except Leviticus 26), the Other Pentateuchal Sources, and Ezekiel E. The Date of Leviticus 26 io . Consecrations and Their Redemption Translation Notes. Comments A. The Organizing Principle of Leviticus 27 and a Hittite Confirmation Leviticus 27: Its Function and Date . Oaths, Vows, and Consccrations Sanctifications The Firstborn The Hérem . The Tithe: Its History . ‘The Tithe: Mandatory or Voluntary? Can the Tithe Laws Be Harmonized? Ancient Seed Mensuration and Leviticus 27:16, by Jean Sheldon OmmOAP ro Appendixes ‘A. Response to Henry Sun B. Response to Baruch Levine bape ta eeaeueet 1 Kaahl 2145 2548 2241 2245 2248 2251 2254 2257 2270 2272 2274 2343 2346 2348 2352 2363 2365 2367 2402 2407 2409 2412 2415 2417 242) 2426 2431 2434 2437 2438 2440CONTENTS . Response to Adrian Schenker . Response to Victor Hurowitz . On The Savage in Judaism . Respone to Hyam Maccoby . Addenda and Corrigenda TOMASO BIBLIOGRAPHY (Cumulative Bibliography of Volumes 3A and 3B) Select Commentaries A. Medieval and Pre-critical B. Critical Select Bibliography INDEXES (Cumulative Indexes of Volumes 3, 3A, and 3B) Index of Subjects Index of Terms Index of Authors Index of Sources 2446 2452 2456 2458 2463 2469 2470 2471 2555 2573 2591 2611 ixPREFACE ° A word of explanation regarding the Introduction. From the start, I decided not to repeat anything I had written in the Commentary. The Introduction is thus not a compendium, but a supplement. Frequent references to the Commentary are made throughout. Such is the case with H’s distinct terminology (I B); style (I D); law and narrative (I G); polemic against P, JE, and D (I 1); holiness (IT G); ethics (II H); jubilee (II K); and reflections on the biblical ger (II N). Hence, just as necessity dictated that the Commentary be written before the Introduc- tion, so also the Commentary should be read before the Introduction. Frequent reference is also made to three seminal books on H, which appeared during the past five years: Knohl (1995), Joosten (1996), and Schwartz (1999 Hebrew). Moreover, wherever chapters 17-27 (H) allude to or assume chapters 1-16 (P), I refer the reader to the discussion in my earlier work, Leviticus 1-16 (AB3). The Introduction also omits the state of research, since it is thoroughly covered by Hartley (1992: 251-60) and Joosten (1996: 5-16). The other commentators and studies | have consulted—Reventlow (1961), Kilian (1963), Feucht (1964), Elliger (1966), Cholowinski (1970), Zimmerli (1980), Hurvitz (1982), Levine (1989), Paran (1989), and Sun (1990)—have contributed to this Commentary and are gratefully acknowledged. As in volume 1, the insights of the medieval Jewish commentators and their rabbinic prede- cessors illuminate these pages. Once again, I have benefited from the percep- tive questions and comments of my graduate students in both Berkcley and Jerusalem. They are noted by first initial and surname. Several of them have also contributed excursuses: ‘The Missing Family Members in the List of Sex- ual Prohibitions (IDr. S. Rattray); Parallelism and Inversion in 21:1b-15 (C. F. Hayes); Hittite and Israclite Festive Calendars (Dr. $. Stewart); and Ancient Seed Mensuration (J. Sheldon). The Introduction is in two parts. ‘The first is called Structure, justifying ref- erence to chapters 17-27 as H, a discrete priestly source, which differs from chapters 1-16 (P) in form (I A), terminology (IB), style (I D), and precision (I C). H exhibits inner growth (I F), supplements and revises P (I H), polemicizes against P (II), and extends into Exodus and Numbers (I EF). Hence the book of Leviticus remains a distinctive organic creation (I L), composed, with the ex- ception of several verses, in preexilic times (I K). Ihe second part, ‘Theology, deals with topics found in H, such as revelation (II A), rationales (IIB), ances- tor worship (II C), idolatry (II 1D), covenant (II F), holiness (II G), ethics (II H), land (IL 1), Sabbath (IT J), jubilee (II K), crime (II O), and YHWH (It Q) My deepest appreciation is extended to the librarians of the Hebrew Unionxii PREFACE College, Jerusalem, for their cooperative and efficient bibliographical help. 1 cannot close without expressing my thanks to my indefatigable and faithful ed- itor, David Noel Freedman. My indebtednerss is implicit on every page by its improved style and clarity and is explicit on occasion by his perceptive com- ments. The introduction is preceded by my translation of the entire book of Leviti- cus, thereby obviating the need to flip to volume | each time my rendering is sought. The volume concludes with appendices A-F, giving my comments to some of the scholarly reactions to volume 1. tam wenislam April 23, 1999 ‘This is the day YHWY made; let us rejoice and exult in it. Ps 118:24“Ab. AB ABD ‘Abod. Zar. “Abot R. Nat. ADD AfO AH? AHw AJSR Akk. AnBib ANET* AOAT AoF ‘Arak. Aristotle Polit. ARM ARN! ArOr Aram. ASOR Symposia ASTI b. B. Bat. B. Mes. B. Qam. B. Sot. BA BAM BAR Baby. ABBREVIATIONS S “Abot Anchor Bible Anchor Bible Dictonary ‘Abodah Zarah “Abot Rabbi Nathan C. H.W. Johns, Assyrian Deeds and Documents, 3 vols (Cambridge, 1898) Archiy fiir Orientforschung Biblia hebraica stuttgartensia (3d edition) W. von Soden, Akkadisches Handworterbuch (Wiesbaden, 1965-81) Association of Jewish Studies Review Akkadian Analecta Biblica J. B. Pritchard, ed., Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament (Princeton, 1969) Alter Orient und Altes Testament (1069-_) Altorientalische Forschugen ‘Arakin Aristotle, Politius Archives royales de Mari Abot Rabbi Nahman, ms.1 Archiy Orientalni Aramaic America Schools of Oriental Research Symposia Annual of the Swedish Theological Institute Babylonian ‘lalmud Baba Batra Baba Mesi‘a Baba Qamma Talmud Babli, Sotah Biblical Archaeologist F. Kocher, Die babylonisch-assyriache Medizin in Texen und Untersuchungen (Berlin, 1963—_) Biblical Archaeologist Reader Babylonianxiv bar. BASOR BBR B.C.h. BDB Bek. Ber. Bes. BHS BH? BI Bib Bik. BIN BiOr BJRL BKAT Cowley CTA CTH D ABBREVIATIONS baraita Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research H. Zimmern, Beitrége zur Kenntnis der babylonischen Religion (Leipzig, 1901) Before the Common Era; corresponds to B.C. F. Brown, S. R. Driver, and C. A. Briggs, Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament (Oxford, orig. 1907; I cite the 1953 ed.) Bekorot Berakot Besah biblical Hebrew Biblia Llebraica Stuttgartensia Biblia hebraica stuttgartensia (3rd edition) Biblical Interpretation Biblica Bikkurim Babylonian Inscriptions in the Collection of J. B. Nies Bibliotheca Orientalis Bulletin of the John Rylands University Library of Manchester Biblische Kommentar: Altes Testament Beth Mikra Biblische Notizen unpublished Bogazkéy Tablets Bibliotheca Orientalis Bible Review Babylonian Wisdom Literature Biblische Zeitschrift The Assyrian Dictionary of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago Cambridge Bible Commentary Catholic Biblical Quarterly Damascus Document Common Fra Code of [ammurabi Conservative Judaism A. Cowley, ed., Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B. C. (1923) Cuneiform Texts from Babylonian Tablets A. Herdner, ed., Corpus des tablettes en cunéiformes alphabétiques découvertes a Ras Shamra-Ugarid de 1929 @ 1939 (Paris, 1963) designation of compositions after Laroche 1971 DeutcronomistDBAT DBSup Dem. Deut. Rab Deut. Re’eh DISO DIDV DID DNWSI E EBWL ‘Ed. EI E] EM FQ ERE ‘Erub, ET Eth fem. FF frag CAG Git GKC H Hal. Hag. HALAT HAL HAR HAT Heb. Heliod. Herod. Hitt. ABBREVIATIONS xv Dielheimer Blatter zum Alten Testament Dictionnaire de la Bible, Supplément Demai (Midrash) Deuteronomy Rabbah Deuteronomy Rabbah, parashat re’eh C-F. Jean and J. Hoftijzer, Dictionnaire des inscriptions sémitiques de louest (Leiden, 1965) J. Allegro, ed. Discoveries in the Judean Desert, V (Oxford, 1968) J.T. Milik et al., eds., Discoveries in the Judaean Desert (Oxford, 1955-62) Dictionary of Northwest Semitic Inscriptions Elohist Source Encyclopedia of the Biblical World, Leviticus (Jerusalem: Revivim) (Hebrew) ‘Eduyyot Eretz-Israel Encyclopaedia Judaica Encyclopaedia Migra’it Evangelical Quarterly ]. Hastings, ed., Encyclopedia of Religion and Ethics “Erubin ‘The Expository Times Fthiopic Feminine Forschungen und Fortschrifte fragment W. von Soden, Grundriss der akkadischen Grammatik samt Erganzungsheft, AnOr 33/47 (Rome, 1969) Gittin W. Gesenius, ed. E. Kautsch, trans. A. Cowley, Gesenius’ Hebrew Grammar (Oxford, 1983) Holiness Code allah Hagiga Iebrdisches und Aramdische Lexikon zum Alten Testament W. Baumgentmer et al, eds., Hebrdisches und aramaisches Lexicon zum Alten Testament, 3 ed. Hebrew Annual Review Handbuch zum Alten Testament Hebrew Heliodorus, Aethiopica Herodotus Hittitexvi HL Hor. HSS HTR HUCA Hul. IBHS ICC IDB IDB S inf. const. IE] J JAAR JAOS JBL ICS JE JEN IS JLAS JNES ]NSL JNWSL. Jos. Ant. Con. Ap. Wars Life JPS JOR JSOT JSS yrs Jub. IDBSup K/Q KAT KAR KAT KB ABBREVIATIONS Hittite Laws Horayot Harvard Semitic Studies Harvard Theological Review Hebrew Union College Annual Lullin B. Watke and M. O'Connor, An Introduction to Biblical Hebrew Syntax (Winona Lake, Ind: 1990) International Critical Commentary G. A Buttrick, ed., Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible, 4 vols. (Nashville, 1962) Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible, Supplement infinitive construct Israel Exploration Journal Yahwist Source Journal of the American Academy of Religion Journal of the American Oriental Society Journal of Biblical Literature Journal of Cuneiform Studies Jewish Encyclopedia Joint Expedition with the Iraq Museum at Nuzi Journal of Jewish Studies Jewish Law Association Studies Journal of Near Eastern Studies Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages Journal of Northwest Semitic Languages Josephus (Loeb Classical Library editions) Antiquities of the Jews Contra Apion The Jewish Wars Life Jewish Publication Society Jewish Quarterly Review Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Journal of Semitic Studies Journal of Theological Studies Jubilees Interpreters Dictionary of the Bible Supplement Ketib/Qri? H. Donner and W. Réllig, Kanaandische und aramdische Inschriften (Wicsbaden, 1968-71) Keilschrifitexte aus Assur religisen Inhalts Kommentar zum Alten Testament L. Koehler and W. Baumgartner, Lexicon in Veteris Testa- menti libros (Leiden, 1958)KB? KBo Kel. Ker. Ket. Kil. KJV Koh. Rab KTU KUB LB LBH LE lit. LKA I LXX m MA Ma ‘as. Mak. MAL MAL A MAOG MDP Meg. Meil. Mek. Mekh, Men. Menah. Mes. Mid. Midr. Exod. Rab. Midr. Gen. Rab. Midr. Ley. Rab. Midr. Num. Rab. MMT MMT B Mo ‘ed Qat. MSL MS(S) MT MTZ ABBREVIATIONS xvii Kohler Baumgartner, third edition Keilschrifttexte aus Boghazkoy Kelim Keritot Ketubot Kilayim King James Version Kohelet Rabbeh Die keilalphabetischen Texte aus Ugarit Keilschrifturkunden aus Boghazkoy Late Bronze late biblical Hebrew Laws of Eshnunna literally E. Ebeling, Literarische Keilschrifttexte aus Assur (Berlin, 1953) Lines Septuagint Mishna Middle Assyrian Ma ‘aserot Makkot Middle Assyrian Laws Middle Assyrian Laws, ‘lablet A Mitteilungen der Altorientalischen Gesellschaft Mémoires de la Délégation en Perse Megilla/construct Megillat (e.g., Megillat Ta ‘anit) Mela Mekilta Mekhilta Menahot Menahot Mesora‘ Middot Midrash Exodus Rabbah Mirdash Genesis Rabbah Midrash Leviticus Rabbah Midrash Numbers Rabbah Ma sé Migsat Hatt6ra, Qumran Cave 4, 394-99 Migsat ma ‘%sé Tord, B Mo'ed Qatan Materialen zum sumerischen Lexikon, (Rome, 1937 ) manuscript(s) Masoretic Text Miinchener theologische Zeitschriftxviii NAB Naz. Nbn NEB Ned. Nid. NJPS NRSV Num. R. OB OB Gilg. OLA Or Or OTL OTS P PAAJR part(s). Paus. PEQ Pesah. Pesh. Pesig. R Pesig. Rab Kah. Philo Plant. Virt. Vit. Mos. Pirge R. Kah. pl PRU Q Qidd OL 10M Qoh. 10S 10Sa 4Q 49D° ABBREVIATIONS New American Bible Nazir J. N. Strabsmeier, Inschriften von Nabonidus, Kénig von Babylon von der Thrintafeln des Britischen Museums (Leipzig, 1989) New English Bible Nedarim Niddah New Jewish Publication Society Bible New Revised Standard Version Numbers Rabbah Old Babylonian Old Babylonian text of Gilgamesh Orientalia Louveniensia Analecta Orientalia (Rome) ‘Orlah Old Testament Library Oudtestamentische Studién Priestly Source Proceedings of the American Academy of Jewish Research paragraph(s) Pausanias Palestine Exploration Quarterly Pesahim Peshitta Pesiqta Rabbati Pesigta de Rab Kahana Philo De plantatione De virtutibus De vitae Mose Pirge Rab Kahana plural C. F-A. Schaeffer and J. Nougayrol, eds., Le Palais royal @'Ugarit (Paris, 1955-65) Qumran Quiddishun Qumran Literature Qumran, War Scroll, Cave 1 Qohelet (Eccl, Kcclesiastes) Serek hayyahad (Rule Of The Community, Manual Of Discipline) Cave 1 Qumran, Rule of the Congregation, Cave 1 Qumran, Cave + Qumran fragment D?, Cave 44QD° 4QD° 4QLev? 110PaleoLev OT oT" R RA RB rev. Revg RHA RHR RIDA RIH RLA RLAR Ros Hai. RS RSBY RSO RSV Ruth Rab, Sab, Sabb, Sam. Sam. Tg Sanh. SANT SBL SBLSP SbTU Sebi SDB Sebu. Seder Elijah Rab Sek, si SJOT Skt Sop. Sot. ABBREVIATIONS xix Qumran fragment D*, Cave 4 Qumran fragment D®, Cave 4 Qumran, Leviticus, fragment e Qumran, Paleo Leviticus, Cave 11 Qumran, Temple Scroll, Cave 11 Qumran, Temple Scroll fragment a, Cave 11 Rabbi Revue d'assyriologie et d’archéologie orientale Revue biblique reverse Revue de Qumran Revue hittite et asianique Revue d'histoire des religions Revue internationale des droits de l'antiquité J. de Rouge, Inscriptions hiéroglyphiques en Egypte, 3 Vols. Etudes égyptoloiques 9-11 (Paris, 1877-78) F. Ebeling and B. Meissner, eds., Reallexikon der Assyri- ologie (Berlin, 1928) Realexicon der aegyptischen Religionsgeschichte Ro§ Hai$ana Ras Shamnra, field numbers of tablets Rabbi Simeon bar Yohai Rivista degli studi Orientali Revised Standard Version Ruth Rabbah Sabbat Sabbat Samaritan Pentateuch Samaritan Targum Sanhedrin Studien zum Alten und Neuen Testament Society of Biblical Literature Society of Biblical Literature Seminar Papers H. Hunger, ed., Spatbabylonische Texte aus Uruk (Berlin: Mann, 1976- ) Shebi ‘it Supplément, Dictionnaire de la Bible Sebu ‘ot Seder Elijah Rabbah Sekalim singular Sandinavian Journal of the Old Testament Sanskrit Soperim Sotahx StBoT ‘Suk. Sum. SVT Syr. t T. Levi TA Ta‘un, Targ. Jon. Tam. Tank TCL TCS TDOT Tem. Ter. tg(s). Tg. Neof. Tg. Ong. Tg. Ps-J. Te. Yer. Th WAT THAT ThR Tig. Soph, Tg. Ong. Tg. Sam. Tos. TS UF Ug. UT Vv VAB VBW Vg VT VIE ABBREVIATIONS Studien zu den Bogazkoy-Texten Sukkot Sumerian Supplements to Vetus Testamentum Syriac Tosefta Testament of Levi Tel Aviv Ta ‘anit Targum Jonathan Tamid Tanhuma Textes cunéiformes du Louvre Texts from Cuneiform Sources G. J. Botterweck and H. Ringgren, eds., Theological Dictionary of the Old Testament Temura Terumot targum(s) Targum Neofiti Targum Ongelos Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Targum Yerusalimi G. J. Botterweck and H. Ringgren, eds., Theologisches Worterbuch zum Alten Testament E. Fenni and C. Westermann, eds., Theologisches Handworterbuch zum alten Testament, 2 vols. (Miinchen, 1971-76) Theologische Rudschau Tiqqun Sopherin Targum Ongeles Targum Samuel Tosafot M. M. Kasher, ed., Torah Shelemah (Jerusalem, 1927— Ugaritische Forschungen Ugatitic C. 1. Gordon, Ugaritic Textbook (Rome, 1965) Vetus Latina Vorasiartische Bibliotek (Lipzig, 1907-16) B. Mazar, ed., Views of the Biblical World (Jerusalem, 1958-61) Vulgate Vetus Testamentum D. J. Wiseman, ed., Vassal-Treaties of Esarhaddon (London, 1958) )WHIP WMANT WO Y. Yal. YBC y. y. Pea Yeb. Yelammedenu ZA ZABR ZAH ZAW ZDMG Zeb. Zebah. Zut ABBREVIATIONS xxi World History of The Jewish People Wissenschaftliche Monographien zum Alten und Neuen Testaments Die Welt des Orients ‘Talmud Yeru8almi = Jerusalem Talmud Yalqut tablets in the Babylonian Collection, Yale University Library yerushalmi (Talmud) yerushalmi, Pe’a Yebamit Midrash Tanhuma Yclammedenu Zeitschrift fiir Assyriologie Zeitschrift fiir Altorientalische und Biblische Rechtsgeshichte Zeitschrift fiir Althebraistic Zeitschrift fiir die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Zeitschrift der deuschen morgenlandischen Gesellschaft Zebahim Zebahim ZataTRANSLATION OF THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS SdI. THE BOOK OF LEVITICUS IN OUTLINE ° . The Sacrificial System Chapters 1-7 . The Burnt Offering (1:1-17) The Cereal Offering (2:1-16) . The Well-Being Offering (3:1-17) . The Purification Offering (4:1-35) . The Graduated Purification Offering (5:1-13) . The Reparation Offering (5:14~26) Sacrifices: The Administrative Order (6:1-7:38) NAMA WN . The Inauguration of the Cult Chapters 8-10 8. The Consecration of the Priests (8:1-36) 9. The Inaugural Service (9:1-24) 10. The Tragic Aftermath of the Inaugural Service (10:1-20) The Impurity System Chapters 11-16 1. Diet Laws (11:1-47) 12, Childbirth (12:1-8) 13. Scale Disease (13:1-59) 14. Purification after Scale Disease (14:1-57) 15. Genital Discharges (15:1-33) 16. ‘The Day of Purgation (Yom Kippiir) (16:1-34) . The Holiness Source Chapters 17-27 17. The Slaughter and Consumption of Meat (17:1-16) 18. Mlicit Sexual Practices (18:1-30) 19. Ritual and Moral Holiness (19:1-37) 20. Penalties for Molek Worship, Necromancy, and Sexual Offenses (20:1-27) 21. Instructions for the Priests (21:1-24) 22. Instructions for the Priests (Continued) and Lay Persons (22:1-33) 23. The Holiday Calendar (23:1~44) 24. Tabernacle Oil and Bread; The Case of Blasphemy (24:1-23) 25. Jubilee, the Priestly Solution for Economic Injustice (25:1-55) 26. Blessings, Curses, and the Recall of the Covenant (26:1-46) 27. Consecrations and Their Redemption (27:1-34)1896 TRANSLATION 1:1-17 PART I. THE SACRIFICIAL SYSTEM (CHAPTERS 1-7) 1. The Burnt Offering (1:1-17) Introduction IYHWH summoned Moses and spoke to him from the ‘Tent of Meeting, and said: *Speak to the Israelites, and say to them: When any person among you pre- sents an offering of livestock to YHWH, he shall choose his offering from the herd or from the flock. The Burnt Offering: From the Herd If his offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he shall offer a male without blemish. He shall bring it to the entrance of the Tent of Mceting, for accep- tance on his behalf before YHWH. *He shall lean his hand on the head of the burnt offering, that it may be acceptable on his behalf, to expiate for him. *The bull shall be slaughtered before YHWH, and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall pre- sent the blood and dash the blood against all sides of the altar that is at the en- trance to the Tent of Mceting. “The bumt offering shall be flayed and quar- tered. “The sons of Aaron the priest shall stoke the fire on the altar and lay out wood upon the fire. "Then Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall lay out the quarters, with the head and suet, on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar. “Its en- trails and shins shall be washed with water, and the pricst shall turn all of it into smoke on the altar as a burnt offering, a food gift of pleasing aroma to YUWH. From the Flock ‘If his offering for a burnt offering is from the flock, of sheep or of goats, he shall offer a male without blemish. |'It shall be slaughtered on the north side of the altar before YHWII, and Aaron's sons, the priests, shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. !2When it has been quartered, the priest shall lay out the quarters, with the head and suct, on the wood that is on the fire upon the altar. The entrails and the shins shall be washed with water, and the priest shall present all of it and turn it into smoke on the altar. It is a bumt offering, a food gift of pleasing aroma to YHWH. From Birds VIF his offering to YHWII is a burt offering of birds, he shall present a turtle- dove or a young pigeon as his offering. '"The priest shall present it to the altar, pinch off its head and turn it into smoke on the altar; and the blood shall be drained out against the side of the altar. '°He shall remove its crissum by its feathers, and cast it into the place of the ashes, at the east side of the altar. '"TheTRANSLATION 2:1-14 1897 pricst shall tear it open by its wings, without severing [them], and turn it into smoke on the altar, upon the wood that is on the fire. {t is a burnt offering, a food gift of pleasing aroma to YHWI. 2. The Cereal Offering (2:1-16) Raw Flour lWhen a person presents an offering of cereal to YHWH, his offering shall be of semolina; he shall pour oil upon it, lay frankincense on it, ?and present it to Aaron’s sons, the priests. [The pricst] shall scoop out therefrom a handful of its semolina and oil, as well as all of its frankincense; and this token portion the priest shall turn into smoke on the altar, as a food gift of pleasing aroma to YHWH. ?And the remainder of the cercal offering shall be for Aaron and his sons, a most sacred portion from YHWII's food gifts. Cooked: Baked, Toasted, Fried 4When you present an offering of cereal baked in an oven, [it shall be of] semolina: unlcavened cakcs mixed with oil, or unleavened wafers smeared with oil. 3 If your offering is a cereal offering (toasted| on a griddle, it shall be a semolina mixed with oil, unleavened. “Crumble it into bits and pour oil upon it; it is a cereal offering. 7i€ your offering is a cereal offering [fried] in a pan, it shall be made of semolina in oil. SIf you bring to YIIWH a cereal offering prepared in any of these ways, it shall be presented to the priest, who shall deliver it to the altar. °The priest shall set aside the token portion from the cereal offering and turn it into smoke on the altar as a food gift of pleasing aroma to YIIWH. !°And the remainder of the ce- real offering shall be for Aaron and his sons, a most sacred portion from YHWH’s food gifts. Injunctions Concerning Leaven, Honey, and Salt "No cercal offering that you offer to YHWH shall be made leavened, for you must not turn into smoke any leaven or any honey as a food gift to YHWH. You may offer them to YIWH as a first-processed offering; but they shall not be offered up on the altar as a pleasing aroma. "You shall season all your ce- real offerings with salt; you shall not omit from your cereal offering the salt of your covenant with your God: on all your offerings you must offer salt. Natural Grain If you bring a cereal offering of first-ripe fruits to YHWH, you shall bring milky grain parched with fire, groats of the fresh ear, as a ccreal offering of1898 TRANSLATION 2:15-3:16 your first-ripe fruits. !5You shall add oil to it and lay frankincense on it: it is a cereal offering. '*And the priest shall turn into smoke its token portion: some of its groats and oil, with all of its frankincense, as a food gift to YHWH. 3, The Well-Being Offering (3:1-17) Uf his offering is a sacrifice of well-being— From the Herd If he offers from the herd, whether male or female, he shall present it without blemish before YHWH 7and lean his hand upon the head of his offering. It shall be slaughtered at the entrance of the Tent of Mecting, and Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall dash the blood against all sides of the altar. *He shall then present from the sacrifice of well-being a food gift to YHWH: the suet that covers the entrails and all the suet that is around the entrails; *the two kidneys and the suet that is around them, that is on the sinews; and the caudate lobe on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. *Aaron’s sons shall turn it (this food gift) into smoke on the altar, with the burnt offering that is upon the wood that is on the fire, as a food gift of pleasing aroma to YHWH. From the Flock And if his offering for a sacrifice of well-being to YHWII is from the flock, whether male or female, he shall offer it without blemish. “If he offers a sheep as his offering, he shall present it before YHWH Sand lean his hand upon the head of his offering. It shall be slaughtered before the ‘Tent of Meeting, and Aaron’s sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. He shall then pre- sent, as a food gift to YIIWH from the sacrifice of well-being, its suet: the broad tail completely removed close to the sacrum; the suet that covers the entrails and all the suet that is around the entrails; "the two kidneys and the suet that is around them on the sinews; and the caudate lobe on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. ''The priest shall turn it into smoke on the altar as food, a food gift to YHWH. "2And if his offering is a goat, he shall present it before YHWH "and Jean his hand upon its head. It shall be slaughtered before the Tent of Meeting, and Aaron's sons shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. '*He shall then present as his offering from it, as a food gift to YHWH, the suet that covers the entrails and all the suet that is around the entrails; the two kidneys and the suet that is around them on the sinew; and the caudate lobe on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys. '“The pricst shall turn these into smoke on the altar as food, a food gift of pleasing aromaTRANSLATION 3:17-4:15 1899 The Law of Suet and Blood All suet is YHWH’s. '7it is a law for all time throughout your generations, in all your settlements: you must not eat any suet or any blood.* 4. The Purification Offering (4:1-35) Introduction 'YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: *Speak to the Israelites thus: When a person inadvertently does wrong in regard to any of YHWH’s pro- hibitive commandments by violating any one of them— Of the High Priest 3If it is the anointed priest who so does wrong to the detriment of the people, he shall offer for the wrong he has done a bull of the herd without blemish as a pu- tification offering to YHWH. *He shall bring the bull to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting before YHWH, lean his hand upon the head of the bull, and slaugh- ter the bull before YHWH. *The anointed priest shall take some of the bull's blood and bring it into the Tent of Meeting. “The priest shall dip his finger in the blood, and sprinkle some of the blood seven times before YHWH against the veil of the shrine. ’The priest shall put some of the blood on the horns of the altar of per- fumed incense, which is in the Tent of Meeting, before YI{WH,; and all the rest of the bull's blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of bumt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. "Ile shall set aside all of the suet from the bull of the purification offering: the suet that covers the entrails and all of the suet that is around the entails; “the two kidneys and the suct that is around them, that is on the sinews; and the caudate lobe on the liver, which he shall remove with the kidneys— 'just as it is set aside from the ox of the well-being offering. ‘The priest shall turn them into smoke on the altar of burnt offering. ''But the hide of the bull, and all its flesh, together with its head and shins, its entrails and dung— "all the rest of the bull—shall be taken away to a pure place outside the camp, to the ash dump, and burned with wood; it shall be bumed on the ash dump. Of the Community SIF it is the whole community of Israel that has erred inadvertently and the mat- ter escapes the notice of the congregation, so that they violate one of YHWH's prohibitive commandments, and they feel guilt ''when the wrong that they com- mitted in regard to it becomes known, the congregation shall offer a bull of the herd as a purification offering and bring it before the Tent of Meeting. "The elders of the community shall lean their hands upon the head of the bull be- “Italic block type here through page 1922 (Chaps. 3-16) stands for H.1900 TRANSLATION = 4:16-35 fore YIIWU, and the bull shall be slaughtered before YHWH. 'The anointed pricst shall bring some of the bull’s blood into the Tent of Mecting, 'and the priest shall dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle some of it seven times be- fore YIIWI, against the veil. '’Some of the blood he shall put on the horns of the altar that is before YIIWH in the Tent of Mecting, and all the rest of the blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering, which is at the entrance of the Tent of Mceting. !°lc shall set aside all of its suct from it and turn it into smoke on the altar. 2°He shall treat the bull as he treated the [first] bull of the purification offering; he shall treat it the same way. Thus the priest shall effect purgation for them that they may be forgiven. ?!The bull shall be taken away outside the camp, and it shall be burned as the first bul] was burned; it is the purification offering of the congregation. Of the Chieftain 22When the chieftain does wrong by violating any of YHWH’s prohibitive com- mandments inadvertently, and he feels guilt or he is informed of the wrong he committed, he shall bring as his offering a male goat without blemish. *#Ic shall lean his hand upon the goat's head, and it shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered, before YHWH it is a purification offering. ?*The priest shall take some of the blood of the purification offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering; and (the rest of) its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar of burnt offering. *°All of its suet he shall tur into smoke on the altar, like the suet of the well-being offering. Thus shall the priest effect purgation on his behalf for his wrong, that he may be forgiven. Of the Commoner "If any person from among the populace does wrong inadvertently by violating any of YHWH's prohibitive commandinents and he feels guilt or he is informed of the wrong he committed, he shall bring as his offering a female goat without blemish for the wrong he committed. ?°He shall lean his hand upon the head of the purification offering, and the purification offering shall be slaughtered at the spot (of the slaughter) of the burnt offering. *”I'he priest shall take some of its blood with his finger and put it on the homs of the altar of bumt offering; and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. *!All of its suet he shall remove, just as the suet was removed from the well-being offering; and the priest shall turn (it) into smoke on the altar as a pleasing aroma to YHWH. Thus the priest shall effect purgation on his behalf, that he may be forgiven. 321f the offering he brings is a sheep, he shall bring a female without blem- ish. 31e shall lean his hand upon the head of the purification offering, and it shall be slaughtered for purification purposes at the spot where the burnt offer~ ing is slaughtered. **Vhe priest shall take some of the blood of the purification offering with his finger and put it on the horns of the altar of burnt offering, and all the rest of its blood he shall pour out at the base of the altar. >And all of its = cbaM carsnea inet ac the cnet of the sheen of the well-being offering isTRANSLATION = 5:1-13 1901 removed; and the priest shall turn it (lit., them) into smoke on the altar, with the food gifts of YHWH. Thus the priest shall effect purgation on his behalf for the wrong he committed, that he may be forgiven. 5. The Graduated Purification Offering (5:1-13) The Four Cases 1if.a person does wrong When he has heard a public imprecation (against withholding testimony) — and although he was a witness, either having seen or known (the facts) —yet docs not testify, then he must bear his punishmen 2Or when a person touches any impure thing—be it the carcass of an impure wild quadruped or the carcass of an impure domesticated quadruped or the car- cass of an impure swarming creature—and, though he has become impure, the fact escapes him but (thereafter) he feels guilt; 30r when he touches human impurity—any such impurity whereby one be- comes impure—and, though he has known it, the fact escapes him but (there- after) he feels guilt, Or when a person blurts out an oath to bad or good purpose—whatever any- one may utter in an oath—and, though he has known it, the fact escapes him but (thereafter) he feels guilt in any of these matters — Resolution: Confession and Sacrifice 5When he feels guilt in any of these matters, he shall confess that wherein he did wrong. “And he shall bring as his reparation to YHWUL, for the wrong that he committed, a female from the flock, sheep or goat, as a purification offering; and the priest shall effect purgation on his behalf for his wrong. But if his means do not suffice for a sheep, he shall bring to YIIWH as his Teparation for what he has done wrong, two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a purification offering and the other for a burnt offering. He shall bring them to the priest, who shall offer first the one for the purification offering, pinching the head at its nape without severing it. °He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the purification offering on the side of the altar, and what remains of the blood shall be drained at the base of the altar; it is a purification offering. "And the second he shall sacrifice as a burnt offering, according to regulation. Thus the priest shall effect purgation on his behalf for the wrong that he committed so that he may be forgiven. "And if his means do not suffice for two turtledoves or two pigeons, he shall bring as his offering for what he had done wrong one-tenth of an ephah of semolina for a purification offering; he shall not put oil upon it or place frank- icense on it, for it is a purification offering. '*He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall scoop out a handful as a token portion of it and turn it into smoke on the altar, with YHWHs food gifts; it is a purification offering. "Thus € priest shall effect purgation on his behalf for the wrong he committed in1902 TRANSLATION 5:14-6:2 any of these matters so that he may be forgiven. It shall belong to the priest, like the cereal offering. The Reparation Offering (5:14~26) For Sacrilege Against Sancta S'YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: ''When a person commits a sacrilege by be- ing inadvertently remiss with any of YHWH's sancta, he shall bring as his penalty to YHWH a ram without blemish from the flock, convertible into payment in silver by sanctuary weight, as a reparation offering, '°and he shall make restitu- tion for that item of the sancta wherein he was remiss and shall add one-fifth to it. When he gives it to the priest, the priest shall effect expiation on his behalf with the ram of the reparation offering so that he may be forgiven. For Suspected Sacrilege Against Sancta “If, however, a person errs by violating any of YHWH’s prohibitive command- ments without knowing it and he feels guilt, he shall bear his responsibility 'Sby bringing to the priest an unblemished ram from the flock, or its assessment, as a reparation offering, The pricst shall effect expiation on his behalf for the er- ror he committed without knowing it so that he may be forgiven. "It is a repa~ ration offering; he has incurred liability to YHWH. For Sacrilege Against Oaths 20YH1WH spoke to Moses, saying: !When a person sins by committing a sacri- lege against YHWH in that he has dissembled to his fellow in the matter of a deposit or investment or robbery; or having withheld from his fellow 22or hav- ing found a lost object he has dissembled about it, and he swears falsely about any one of the things that a person may do and sin thereby—?*when one has thus sinned, and feeling guilt, he shall return that which he robbed or that which he withheld, or the deposit that was entrusted to him, or the lost object he found, *4or anything else about which he swore falsely; he shall restore it in its entirety and add one-fifth to it. He shall pay it to its owner as soon as he feels guilt, Then he shall bring to the priest, as his reparation to YHWH, an unblemished ram from the flock, or its assessment, as a reparation offering. The priest shall effect expiation on his behalf before YHWH so that he may be forgiven for what- ever he has done to feel guilty thereby. 6. Sacrifices: The Administrative Order (6:1-23) Introduction 'YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: ?Command Aaron and his sons thus:TRANSLATION 6:3-19 1903 The Burnt Offering This is the ritual for the burnt offering—that is, the burnt offering that stays on the altar hearth all night until morning, while the altar fire is kept burning on it. The priest, having put on linen raiment, with linen breeches next to his body, shall remove the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar. ‘He shall then remove his vestments and put on other vestments, and take the ashes outside the camp to a pure place. 5The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it (the hearth]; it shall not go out. Every morning the priest shall feed wood to it, lay out the burnt offering upon it, and on top turn into smoke the fat parts of the well-being offerings. °A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out. The Cereal Offering 7This is the ritual for the cereal offering. Aaron’s sons shall present it before YHWH, in front of the altar. SA handful of the semolina and oil of the cereal offering shall be set aside from it, with all of the frankincense that is on the ce- real offering, and this token of it shall be turned into smoke on the altar as a pleasing aroma to YHWH. I'he remainder Aaron and his sons shall cat; it shall be eaten unleavened in a holy place; they shall eat it in the court of the Tent of Mecting. !It shall not be baked with Ieaven; | have assigned it as their por tion from my food gifts; it is most sacred like the purification offering and the reparation offering. ''!Any male of Aaron’s descendants may eat of it, as a duc for all time throughout your generations from YHWH's food gifts. Whatever touches them shall become holy. The High Priest’s Daily Cereal Offering "YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: '?This is the offering that Aaron and his sons shall present to YHWH from the time of his anointment: one-tenth of an ephah of semolina as a regular cereal offering, half of it in the morning and half of it in the evening. '4it shall be prepared with oil on a griddle. You shall bring it well soaked, and present it as tGpiné, a cereal offering of crumbled bits, of pleasing aroma to YHWH. "And so shall the priest, anointed from among his sons to succeed him, sacrifice it; it is YHWH’s due for all time; it shall entirely 80 up in smoke. '°So every cereal offering of a priest shall be a total offering; it shall not be eaten. The Purification Offering “YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: 'Speak to Aaron and his sons thus: this is the ritual for the purification offering. The purification offering shall be slaugh- teted before YLIWH, at the spot where the burt offering is slaughtered; it is Most sacred. "The priest who offers it as a purification offering shall enjoy it; i1904 TRANSLATION 6:20-7:15 shall be eaten in a holy place, in the court of the Tent of Meeting. 2"Whatever touches its flesh shall become holy; and if any of its blood is spattered upon a garment, the bespattered part shall be laundered in a holy place. ?!An earthen vessel in which it is boiled shall be broken; if it has been boiled in a copper ves- sel, that shall be scoured and flushed with water. Any male among the priests may cat of it: it is most sacred. ?>No purification offering, however, may be eaten from which any blood is brought into the Tent of Meeting to effect purgation in the shrine; it shall be consumed in fire. 7. Sacrifices: The Administrative Order (Continued) (7:1-38) The Reparation Offering 'This is the ritual for the reparation offering: it is most sacred. 7The reparation offering shall be slaughtered at the spot where the burnt offering is slaughtered, and he [the priest] shall dash its blood against all sides of the altar. 3All of its suet shall be presented: the broad tail, the suet that covers the entrails; *the two kidneys and the suet that is around them on the sinews; and the caudate lobe on the liver, which shall be removed with the kidneys. *The priest shall tum them into smoke on the altar as a food gift to YHWH; it is a reparation offer- ing. “Any male among the priests may eat of it; it shall be eaten in a holy place, it is most sacred The Priestly Prebends from the Most Holy Offerings The reparation offering is like the purification offering. There is a single rule for both: it shall belong to the priest who performs expiation therewith. *The priest who sacrifices a person’s burnt offering shall keep the hide of the burnt offering that he sacrificed. Any cereal offering that is baked in an oven, and any that is prepared in a pan or on a griddle shall belong to the priest who of- fers it. “Any cereal offering, whether mixed with oil or dry, shall belong to all the sons of Aaron alike. The Well-Being Offering This is the ritual for the sacrifice of well-being that onc may offer to YHWH. LIF he offers it for thanksgiving, he shall offer together with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mixed with oil, unleavened wafers smeared with oil, and well-soaked cakes of sernolina mixed with oil. '?This offering, with cakes of leavened bread added, he shall offer together with his thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being. Out of this he shall present one of cach [kind of] offering as a contribution to YHWH,; it shall belong to the priest who dashes the blood of the well-being offering. 'SAnd the flesh of his thanksgiving sacrifice of well-being shall be eaten on the day that it is offered; none of it shal] be put aside unti) morning.TRANSLATION 7:16-36 1905 16If the sacrifice he offers is a votive or freewill offering, it shall be eaten on the day he offers his sacrifice, and what is left of it shall be eaten on the mor- row. '’What is then left of the sacrificial flesh shall be consumed in fire on the third day. '*If any of the flesh of his sacrifice of well-being is eaten on the third day, it shall not be acceptable; it shall not be accredited to him who of fered it. It is desecrated meat, and the person who eats of it shall bear his pun- ishment. 19Flesh that touches anything impure shall not be eaten; it shall be consumed in fire. As for other flesh, anyone who is pure may eat such flesh. 2?But the per- son who, while impure, eats flesh from YHWH’s sacrifice of well-being, that per- son shall be cut off from his kin. 2!When a person touches anything impure, be it human impurity or an impure quadruped or any impure detestable creature, and eats flesh from YHWHs sacrifice of well-being, that person shall be cut off from his kin. No Suet or Blood May Be Eaten 22And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: ??Speak to the Israelites thus: you shall not eat the suet of any ox, sheep, or goat. *4The suet of an animal that died or was mauled by beasts may be put to any use, but you must not eat it. >If any- ‘one eats the suet of an animal from which a food gift is presented to YHWH, that person shall be cut off from his kin. ?&And you must not ingest any blood, whether of bird or animal, in any of your settlements. 27Any person who in- gests any blood shall be cut off from his kin. The Priestly Prebends from the Well-Being Offering ?8And YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: 2?Speak to the Israelites thus: the one who presents his sacrifice of well-being to YHWH shall bring his offering to YHWH from his sacrifice of well-being. **His own hands shall bring YIIWH’s food gifts: he shall bring the suet together with the breast, the breast to be el- evated as an elevation offering before YHWIL. >!The priest shall turn the suet into smoke at the altar, but the breast shall belong to Aaron and his sons. ?And the right thigh from your sacrifices of well-being you shall give to the Priest as a gift; *the one among Aaron’s sons who offers the blood of the well- being offering and the suet shall receive the right thigh as his prebend. **For Thave taken the breast of the elevation offering and the thigh of the contri- bution from the Israelites, from their sacrifices of well-being, and have as- signed them to Aaron the pricst and to his sons as a due from the Israelites for all time. **This shall be the perquisite of Aaron and the perquisite of his sons ftom YHWH’s food gifts once they have been inducted to serve YIIWH as priests, which YHWH commanded to be assigned to them, once they ‘ad been anointed, as a due from the Israelites for all time throughout their _Senerations.1906 TRANSLATION 7:37-8:19 Summary S°This is the ritual for the burnt offering, the cereal offering, the purification of- fering, the reparation offering, the ordination offering, and the sacrifice of well-be- ing, “which YHWH commanded Moses on Mount Sinai, when he commanded the Israelites to present their offerings to YHWH, in the Wilderness of Sinai. Part II. THE INAUGURATION OF THE CULT (CHAPTERS 8-10) 8. The Consecration of the Priests (8:1-36) IYHWH spoke to Moses, saying: “Take Aaron and his sons with him, the vest- ments, the anointing oil, the bull of purification offering, the two rains, and the basket of unleavened bread, ‘and assemble the whole community at the en- trance to the Tent of Mecting. “Moses did as YHWI commanded him. And when the community was assembled at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, >Moses said to the community, “This is what YHWH has commanded to be done.” Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and had them washed with wa- ter. 7He put the tunic on him, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and girded him with the decorated band, which he tied to him. *He put the breastpiece on him, and put into the breastpiece the Urim and Thummim. °And he set the turban on his head; and on the tur- ban, in front, he put the gold plate, the holy diadem—as YHWH had com- manded Moses. ‘Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, thus consecrating them. ''He sprinkled some of it on the altar seven times, and he anointed the altar, all of its utensils, and the laver with its stand, to con- secrate them. !7I¢ poured some of the anointing oil upon Aaron’s head, thereby anointing him to consecrate him. !*Then Moses brought Aaron's sons forward, clothed them in tunics, girded them with sashes, and tied caps on them—as YHWH had commanded Moses. “He had the bul of purification offering brought forward. Aaron and his sons leaned their hands on the bull of purification offering, 'and it was slaughtered. Moses took the blood and with his finger put [some] on the hors around the altar, decontaminating the altar; then he poured out the blood at the base of the altar. Thus he consecrated it to effect atonement upon it. '°All of the suet that was about the entrails, and the caudate lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their suet, were then taken up and Moses turned [them] into smoke upon the altar; '’but the |rest of the} bull—its hide, its flesh, and its dung—was put to fire outside the camp—as YHWH had commanded Moses.TRANSLATION — 8:20-9:2 1907 the blood against all sides of the altar. 2”The ram was cut up into its quarters, and Moses tumed the head, the quarters, and the suet into smoke. ?!The en- trails and shins were washed in water, and Moses turned all of the ram into smoke on the altar. This was a burnt offering for a pleasing aroma, a food gift to YHWH—as YHWII had commanded Moses. 22Then the second ram, the ram of ordination, was brought forward. Aaron and his sons leaned their hands upon the ram's head, and it was slaughtered Moses took some of its blood and put [it] on the lobe of Aaron’s right ear, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. *Then the sons of Aaron were brought forward, and Moses put some of the blood on the lobes of their right cars, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right fect; and Moses dashed the [rest of the] blood against all sides of the altar. 25He took the suet—the broad tail, all of the suet about the entrails, the caudate lobe of the liver, and the two kidneys and their suet—and the right thigh. ?°From the basket of unleavened bread that was before YHWH, he took one cake of unleavened bread, one cake of oil bread, and one wafer, and placed [them] on the suet picces and on the right thigh. ?7[Te placed all of these on the palms of Aaron and on the palms of his sons, and presented them as an cl- evation offering before YHWH. 2°T'hen Moses took them from their palms and turned [them] into smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. This was an or- dination offering for a pleasing aroma, a food gift to YHWH. ??Moses took the breast and presented it as an elevation offering before YHWH, it was Moses’ por- tion of the ram of ordination—as YHWII had commanded Moses. 30Then Moses took some of the anointing oi] and some of the blood that was on the altar and sprinkled [it] upon Aaron’s vestments, upon his sons, and upon his sons’ vestments with him. Thus he consecrated Aaron’s vestments, his sons, and his sons’ vestments with him. 31And Moses said to Aaron and his sons: Boil the flesh at the entrance of the Tent of Mecting and eat it there with the bread that is in the baskct of ordina- tion—as I commanded: “Aaron and his sons shall cat it.” **The remainder of the flesh and the bread you shall destroy by fire. “You shall not go outside the entrance of the ‘Tent of Meeting for seven days, until the day that your period of ordination is completed; for your ordination will require seven days. “Kvery- thing done today, YHWH has commanded to be done, to make atonement for you. *°You shall stay at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days, observing YHWH's prohibitions, so that you do not die—for so | have been commanded. *And Aaron and his sons did all of the things that YHWII had commanded through Moses. 9. The Inaugural Service (9:1-24) The Sacrificial Procedure 1 : * “On the eighth day, Moses summoned Aaron and his sons and the elders of Is- iBel. ?He said to Aaron. “Take a calf of the herd for a purification afforine and1908 TRANSLATION 9:3-24 a ram for a burnt offering, both without blemish, and bring [them] before YHWH. *And speak to the Israelites, saying, “Take a he-goat for a purification offering; a calf and a lamb, both yearlings without blemish, for a burnt offering; 4and an ox and a ram for a well-being offering to sacrifice before YHWH; and a cereal offering mixed with oil. For today YHWH will appear to you."” 5They brought what Moses had commanded to the front of the Tent of Meet- ing, and the whole community came forward and stood before YHWH. “Moses said, “This is what YHWH commanded that you do, that the Glory of YHWH may appear to you.” 7Then Moses said to Aaron, “Come forward to the altar and sacrifice your purification offering and your burt offering and make atone- ment for yourself and for the people; and sacrifice the people’s offering and make atonement for them—as YHWH has commanded.” SAaron came forward to the altar and slaughtered his calf of purification of- fering. “Aaron's sons presented the blood to him; he dipped his finger in the blood and put [it] on the horns of the altar; and he poured out [the rest of] the blood at the base of the altar. '“The suet, the kidneys, and the caudate lobe of the liver from the purification offering he turned into smoke on the altar—as YHWH had commanded Moses; !!and the flesh and the skin were consumed in fire outside the camp. '*Then he slaughtered the burnt offering. Aaron’s sons passed the blood to him, and he dashed it against all sides of the altar. "They passed the burnt offering to him in sections, and the head, and he turned {them] into smoke on the altar. '*He washed the entrails and the legs, and turned {them] into smoke on the altar with the burnt offering. Then he brought forward the people’s offering. He took the he-goat for the people's purification offering, and slaughtered it, and performed the purifica- tion rite with it, as with the previous [purification offering}. '"He brought for- ward the burnt offering and sacrificed it in the prescribed manner. '7He then brought forward the cereal offering and, taking a handful of it, he turned [it] into smoke on the altar—in addition to the burnt offering of the morning. '*He slaughtered the ox and the ram, the people’s sacrifice of well-being. Aaron’s sons passed the blood to him—which he dashed against all sides of the altar— and the suet pices of the ox and the ram: the broad tail, the covering [suet], the kidneys, and the caudate lobes. ?"They laid these suet pieces upon the breasts; and he turned the suet pieces into smoke upon the altar. ?!Aaron presented the breasts and the right thigh as an elevation offering before YHWH—as Moses had commanded. Blessing and Theophany 22Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he came down after sacrificing the purification offering, the bumt offering, and the well- being offering. 7*Moses and Aaron then entered the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the Glory of YHWH appeared to all of the people. **Fire came forth from before YHWH and consumed the burnt offering and the suet pieces on the altar. And the people saw, and shouted forTRANSLATION § 10:1-17 1909 10. The Tragic Aftermath of the Inaugural Service (10:1-20) Nadab and Abihu 1Now Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his pan, put coals in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before YHWH unauthorized coals, which he had not commanded them. ?And fire came forth from YHWH and consumed them; thus they died before YHWH. *Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what YHWIH meant when he said: ‘Through those near to me I shall sanctify myself, and be- fore all of the people I shall glorify myself’ ” And Aaron was silent. 4Moses called Mishael and Flzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come forward and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sacred precinct [to a place] outside the camp.” *They came forward and carried them out of the camp by their tunics, as Moses had ordered. “And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons, Fleazar and Ithamar, “Do not dishevel your hair and do not rend your clothes, lest you die and anger strike the whole community. But your kinsmen, all the house of Israel, shall bewail the burning that YHWH has wrought. ’You must not go outside the entrance of the Tent of Mceting, lest you die, for YHWH's anointing oil is upon you.” And they did as Moses had or- dered. The Conduct and Function of the Priests 8nd YHWH spoke to Aaron, saying: °Drink no wine or ale, you or your sons af- ter you, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die; it is a law for all time throughout your generations. !°You must distinguish between the sacred and the common, and between the impure and the pure. ''And you must teach the Israelites all of the laws that YHWH has imparted to them through Moses. On Eating the Priestly Portions "Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: “Take the cereal offering that remains from YHWI1's food gifts and cat it unleavened be- side the altar, for it is most holy. 'You shall eat it in the sacred precinct, inas- much as it is your due and your sons’ due from YHWH!'s food gifts; for so [ have been commanded. 'But the breast of the elevation offering and the thigh of con- tribution you, and your sons and daughters after you, may eat in any pure place, for they have been assigned as a due to you and your children from the Israelites’ sacrifices of well-being. '*Together with the food gifts of suet, they must present the thigh of contribution and the breast of the clevation offering, which shall be elevated as an elevation offering before YHWH, and which shall be a due to you and to your children after you for all time—as YHWH has commanded.” en Moses insistently inquired about the goat of the purification offering, and it had already been bumed! He was angry with Fleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's Temaining sons, and said, '™“Why did you not eat the purification offering in ithe sacred precinct? For it is most holy, and he has assigned it to you to remove ithe iniquity of the community to effect pureation on their behalf before YHWH1910 TRANSLATION 10:18~11:16 'Becausc its blood was not brought into the interior of the sacred precinct, you certainly ought to have caten it in the sacred precinct, as | commanded.” '?And Aaron spoke to Moses, “Sce, this day they brought their purification offering and bumt offering before YHWH, and such things have befallen me! Had J caten the purification offering today, would YHWI have approved?” 2”And when Moses heard this, he approved. PART JIL. THE IMPURITY SYSTEM (CHAPTERS 11-16) 11. Diet Laws (11:1-47) Introduction !YIIWH spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying to them: *Speak to the Israclites thus: Quadrupeds These are the creatures that you may eat from among all of the quadrupeds on the land: ‘any quadruped that has hoofs, with clefts through the hoofs, and that chews the cud—such you may cat. *The following, however, of those that chew the cud or have hoofs, you shall not eat: the camel —although it chews the cud, it has no hoofs: it is impure for you; *the rock badger—although it chews the cud, it has no hoofs: it is impure for you; “the hare—although it chews the cud, it has no hoofs: it is impure for you; “and the pig—although it has hoofs, with the hoofs cleft through, it docs not chew the cud: it is impure for you. *You shall not eat of their flesh or touch their carcasses; they are impure for you. Fish “These you may eat of all that live in water: anything in water, whcther in the seas or in the streains, that has fins or scales—these you may cat. !But anything in the seas or in the streams that has no fins and scales, among all of the swarming crea- tures of the water and among all of the [other] living creatures that are in the wa- ter—they are an abomtination for you "and an abomination for you they shall re- main: you shall not eat of their flesh and you shall abominate their carcasscs. 2B verything in water that has no fins and scales shall be an abomination for you. Birds 'The following you shall abominate among the birds; they shall not be caten, they are an abomination: the cagle, the black vulture, the bearded vulture, “the kite, and falcons of every variety; '*all varieties of raven; '*the eagle owl, theTRANSLATION = 11:17-39 1911 short-eared owl, and the long-eared owl; hawks of every variety; '’the tawny owl, the fisher owl, the screech owl, '*the white owl, and the scops owl; the osprey, 19the stork, and herons of every variety; the hoopoe, and the bat. Flying Insects 20Al1 winged swarming creatures, that walk on all fours, shall be an abomina- tion for you. ?!But these you may eat arnong all the winged swarming creatures that walk on all fours: all that have, above their fect, jointed legs to leap with on the ground. ??Of these you may eat the following: locusts of every variety; all varietics of bald locust; crickets of every varicty; and all varieties of grasshopper. 2But all other winged swarming creatures that have four legs shall be an abom- ination for you. Purification Procedures 24And you shall make yourselves impure with the following—whoever touches their carcasses shall be impure until evening, >and whoever carries any part of their carcasses shall wash his clothes and be impure until evening—*every quadruped that has hoofs but without clefts through the hoofs, or does not chew the cud. They arc impure for you; whoever touches them shall be impure. 27Also all animals that walk on flat paws, among those that walk on all fours, are im- pure for you; whoever touches their carcasses shall be impure until evening. 28And anyone who carries their carcasses shall wash his clothes and remain im- pure until evening. ‘They are impure for you. "The following shall be impure for you from among the creatures that swarm on the carth: the rat, the mouse, and large lizards of every variety; *’the gecko, the spotted lizard, the lizard, the skink, and the chameleon. *!Those are for you the impure among all the swarming creatures; whoever touches them when they are dead shall be impure until evening. #And anything on which one of them falls when they are dead shall be impure: be it any article of wood, or fabric, or skin, or sackcloth—any such article that can be put to use shall be immersed in water, and it shall remain impure until evening; then it shall be pure. **And if any of those falls into any earthen vessel, everything inside it shall be impure and |the vessel] itself you shall break. “Any food that might be eaten shall become impure when it comes into contact with water; and any liquid that might be drunk shall become impure if it was inside any vessel. *5verything else on which the carcass of any of them falls shall be im- Pure. An oven or a stove shall be smashed; they are impure, and impure they shall remain for you. >A spring or cistern in which water is collected shall re- main pure, however, but whoever touches such a carcass [in it] shall be im- Pure. *7If such a carcass falls upon seed grain that is to be sown, it remains Pure; **but if water is put on the sced and such a carcass falls upon it, it shall impure for you. “If a quadruped that you may eat has died, anyone who touches it shall be1912 TRANSLATION = 11:40-12:8 impure until evening; “and anyone who eats of its carcass shal] launder his clothes and remain impure until evening; and anyone who carries its carcass shall launder his clothes and remain impure until evening. Land Swarmers ‘VAI creatures that swarm upon the earth are an abomination; they shall not be eaten, “You shall not eat anything that crawls on its belly, or anything that walks on all fours, or anything that has many legs, comprising all creatures that swarm on the earth, for they are an abomination. 4?You shall not defile your throats with any creature that swarms. You shall not make yourselves impure there- with and thus become impure, *#for | YHWH am your God. You shall sanctify yourselves and be holy, for | am holy. You shall not contaminate your throats with any swarming creature that moves upon the earth. “°For | YHWH am he who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God; you shall be holy, for | am holy. Summary These are the instructions concerning quadrupeds, birds, all living creatures that move in the water, and all creatures that swarm on the carth, *7for dis- criminating between the impure and the pure, between creatures that may be eaten and creatures that may not be eaten. 12. Childbirth (12:1-8) 'YHWII spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelites thus: When a woman at childbirth bears a male, she shall be impure for seven days; she shall be im- pure as during the period of her menstrual infirmity.—*On the eighth day the foreskin of his member shall be circumcised.— "She shall remain in {a state of] blood purity for thirty-three days; she shall not touch any consecrated thing, nor enter the sacred precinct until the period of her purification is complete. *If she bears a female, she shall be impure for two weeks, as at her menstruation, and she shall remain in a state of] blood purity for sixty-six days. On the completion of her period of purification, for either son or daughter, she shall bring a yearling lamb for a burnt offering, and a pigeon or turtledove for a purification offering to the priest, at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. 7He shall offer it before YHWH and effect expiation on her behalf, and then she shall be pure from her source of blood. ‘This is the ritual for the woman who bears a child, male or female. &/f, however, her means do not suffice for a sheep, she shall take two turtledoves or two pigeons, one for a burnt offering and the other for a purification offering. The priest shall effect expiation on her behalf, and she shall be pure.TRANSLATION | 13:1-19 1913 13. Scale Disease (13:1-59) Introduction IYHWH spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: Shiny Marks 2When a person has on the skin of his body a discoloration, a scab, or a shiny mark, and it develops into a scaly affection on the skin of his body, it shall be reported to Aaron the priest or to one of his sons, the priests. *The priest shall examine the affection on the skin of his body: if hair in the affection has turned white and the affection appears to be deeper than the skin of his body, it is scale disease; when the priest sees it, he shall pronounce him impure. *But if it is a white shiny mark on the skin of his body that does not appear deeper than the skin and its hair has not turned white, the priest shall quarantine [the person with] the affection for seven days. *On the seventh day, the priest shall examine him, and if the affection has retained its color and the affection has not spread on the skin, the priest shall quarantine him for another seven days. “On the sev- enth day, the priest shall examine him again: if the affection has faded and has not spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him pure. It is a scab; he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be pure. 7But if the scab should spread on the skin after he has presented himself to the priest and been pronounced pure, he shall present himself again to the priest. "And if the priest sees that the scab has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is scale disease. Discolorations When a person has a scaly affection, it shall be reported to the priest. 'If the priest, on examining [him], finds on the skin a white discoloration and it has tumed some hair white, with a patch of raw flesh in the discoloration, ! it is chronic scale disease on the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him impure; he shall not quarantine him, for he is impure. '*But if the scales break out over the skin so that they cover all of the skin of the affected person from head to foot, wherever the priest can see—'if the priest sees that the scales have covered the whole body—he shall pronounce the affected person pure; because he has turned all white, he is pure. “But as soon as raw flesh appears in it, he shall be impure; 'Swhen the priest sees the raw flesh, he shall pronounce him impure. The raw flesh is impure; it is scale discase. ‘If the raw flesh again tums white, however, he shall come to the priest, '’and the priest shall examine him: if the affection has turned white, the priest shall pronounce the affected person pure; he is pure. Boils '8When a boil appears on the skin of one’s body and it heals, and a white dis- coloration or a reddish-white shiny mark develops where the boil was, he shall1914 TRANSLATION 13:20-37 present himself to the priest. ?°The priest shall examine {it]; if it appears lower than his skin and the hair in it has turned white, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is scale disease that has broken out in the [site of the] boil. 2/But if the priest on examining it finds that there is no white hair in it, and it is not lower than his skin, and it is faded, the priest shall quarantine him for seven days, “If it has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is an affection, ?*But if the shiny mark remains stationary, not having spread, it is the scar of the boil; the priest shall pronounce him pure. Burns ?4When the skin of one’s body sustains a burn by fire, and the patch of the burn becomes a reddish-white or white shiny mark, **the priest shall examine it. [f some hairs in the shiny mark have turned white and it appears deeper than the skin, it is scale disease that has broken out in the burn. The priest shall pro- nounce him impure; it is scale disease. *But if the priest on examining it finds that there is no white hair in the shiny mark, and it is not lower than the skin, and it is faded, the priest shall quarantine him for seven days. 2’On the seventh day, the priest shall examine him: if it has spread on the skin, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is scale disease. **But if the shiny mark has remained stationary, not having spread on the skin, and it is faded, it is the discoloration from the burn. ‘The priest shall pronounce him pure, for it is the scar of the burn. Scalls 291f a man or a woman has an affection on the head or in the beard, “the priest shall examine the affection. If it appears deeper than the skin and the hair in it is yellow and sparse, the priest shall pronounce him impure; it is a scall, scale disease of the head or jaw. *!But when the priest examines the scall affection and finds that it does not appear to go deeper than the skin, yet there is no black hair in it, the priest shall quarantine (the person with] the scall affection for seven days. On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the affection. If the scall has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the scall does not ap- pear deeper than the skin, “the person [with the scall] shall shave himself, with- out shaving the scall; the priest shall quarantine him for another seven days. 4On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the scall. If the scall has not spread on the skin, and does not appear deeper than the skin, the priest shall pronounce him pure; he shall wash his clothes, and he shall be pure. **If, how- evcr, the scall should spread on the skin after he has been pronounced pure, 3the priest shall examine him. If the scall has spread on the skin, the priest nced not look for yellow hair; he is impure. *“But if [subsequently] the scall has re- tained its color, and black hair has grown in it, the scall has healed; he is pure. ‘The priest shall pronounce him pure.TRANSLATION 13:38-56 1915 Tetters 8When a man or wornan has numerous shiny marks on the skin of the body and they are white, **the priest shall examine [them]. If the shiny marks on the skin of the body are dull white, it isa tetter that has broken out on the skin; he is pure. Baldness “When a man’s hair falls out from his head, he is bald [on the crown] but pure. 4ILf the hair falls out from the front of his head, he is bald on the forehead but pure. But if a reddish-white affection appears on the bald crown or forehead, it is scale disease that is breaking out on his bald crown or forehead. **1'he priest shall cxamine him: if the discolored affection on his bald crown or forehead is reddish white, like scale disease of fleshy skin in appearance, “the man has scale disease; he is impure. ‘The pricst shall not fail to pronounce him impure; he has an affected head. The Comportment of a Certified Carrier 45s for the person stricken with scale disease, his clothes shall be rent, his hair shall be disheveled, he shall cover his mustache, and he shall call out, “Impure! impure!” *I}e shall be impure as long as the affection is on him. He is impure: he shall dwell apart; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. Fabrics #?When mold disease occurs in a fabric, either a wool or a linen fabric, *or in the warp or woof of the linen or the wool, or in a skin or in anything made of skin: **if the affection in the fabric or the skin, in the warp or the woof, or in any article of skin, is bright green or bright red, it is mold disease. It shall be shown to the priest. °The priest shall examine the affection and shall quarantine the {article with the] affection for seven days. *!On the seventh day, he shall exam- ine the affection: if the affection has spread in the fabric, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, for whatever function the skin serves, the affection is ma- lignant mold disease; it is impure. °*T'he fabric, or the warp, or the woof, whether in wool or linen, or any article of skin that contains the affection, shall be burned, for it is a malignant mold; it shall be destroyed by fire. **But if the priest sees that the affection in the fabric, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any article of skin, has not spread, *the priest shall order the affected material to be washed, and he shall quarantine it for another seven days. *And if, after the affected mater- ial has been washed, the priest sees that the affection has not changed its color and that it has not spread, it is impure. You shall destroy it by fire; it is a fret, whether on its inner side or on its outer side. But if the priest examines {it] and finds the affection faded after it has been washed, he shall cut it out from the1916 TRANSLATION 13:57-14:16 fabric, or from the skin, or from the warp, or from the woof, *7and if it reappears in the fabric, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in any article of skin, it is break- ing out afresh; you shall destroy the affected material by fire. **1f, however, the affection disappears from the fabric, or warp, or woof, or any article of skin that has been washed, it shall be washed once more, and it shall be pure. 5°This is the procedure for mold disease of fabric, woolen or linen, or of warp, or of woof, or of any article of skin, for pronouncing it pure or impure. 14. Purification after Scale Disease (14:1-57) Rite of Passage 'YHWH spoke to Moses, saying: “This shall be the ritual for a scale-diseased person at the time of his purification. When it is reported to the priest, *the priest shall go outside the camp. If the priest sees that the scale-diseased person has been healed of scale disease, ‘the priest shall order two wild pure birds, cedar wood, crimson yarn, and hyssop to be brought for the one to be purified. *The priest shall order one bird slaughtered into an earthen vessel over spring water; 6and he shall take the live bird, along with the cedar wood, the crimson yarn, and the hyssop, and dip them together with the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slaughtered over the spring water. He shall then sprinkle {the blood] seven times on the one to be purified of the scale disease. When he has thus purified him, he shall rclease the live bird over the open country. ®The one to be purified shall launder his clothes, shave off all of his hair, and bathe in wa- ter; then he shall be pure. After that he may enter the camp, but must remain outside his tent for seven days. °On the seventh day, he shall shave off all of his hair—of his head, chin, and cyebrows—indecd, he shall shave off all of his hair. He shall launder his clothes and bathe in water; then he shall be pure. Purification Sacrifices ‘On the eighth day, he shall take two male lambs without blemish, one year- ling ewe without blemish, three-tenths [of an ephah] of semolina mixed with oil for a cereal offering, and one log of oil. !!The priest who performs the pu- rification shall place the one to be purified, together with these [offerings), be- fore YHWH at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. !*The priest shall take one of the male lambs and present it as a reparation offering, together with the log of oil, and offer it as an elevation offering before YHWH. '*The lamb shall be slaughtered at the spot in the sacred precinct where the purification offering and the burt offering are slaughtered. For the reparation offering is like the purifi- cation offering; it [goes] to the priest; it is most holy. The priest shalll take some of the blood of the reparation offering, and the priest shall put [it] on the lobe of the right ear of the one who is being purified, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot. )*The pricst shall then take some of the log of oil and pour [it] into the palm of his own left hand. 'And the priest