Saadia's Tafsir on Shemot 29 (Parashat Tetzaveh)

Shemot 29:1

וְזֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר-תַּעֲשֶׂה לָהֶם לְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתָם--לְכַהֵן לִי לְקַח פַּר אֶחָד בֶּן-בָּקָר וְאֵילִם שְׁנַיִם--תְּמִימִם

. . .

And this is the thing which you shall do for them, to consecrate them that they may serve as imāms for Me: take a young bull from the cattle, and two rams without blemish;

Shemot 29:2

וְלֶחֶם מַצּוֹת וְחַלֹּת מַצֹּת בְּלוּלֹת בַּשֶּׁמֶן וּרְקִיקֵי מַצּוֹת מְשֻׁחִים בַּשָּׁמֶן סֹלֶת חִטִּים תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם

. .

and unleavened bread, and unleavened loaves kneaded with oil, and unleavened wafers spread with oil — from fine wheat flour you shall make them;

Shemot 29:3

וְנָתַתָּ אוֹתָם עַל-סַל אֶחָד וְהִקְרַבְתָּ אֹתָם בַּסָּל וְאֶת-הַפָּר--וְאֵת שְׁנֵי הָאֵילִם

. .

and place them in one basket, and present them in it, together with the young bull and the two rams.

Shemot 29:4

וְאֶת-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת-בָּנָיו תַּקְרִיב אֶל-פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְרָחַצְתָּ אֹתָם בַּמָּיִם

. .

Then bring Aaron and his sons forward to the entrance of the tent of the appointed gathering, and wash them with water.

Shemot 29:5

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת-הַבְּגָדִים וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ אֶת-אַהֲרֹן אֶת-הַכֻּתֹּנֶת וְאֵת מְעִיל הָאֵפֹד וְאֶת-הָאֵפֹד וְאֶת-הַחֹשֶׁן וְאָפַדְתָּ לוֹ בְּחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפֹד

. . .

And take the garments, and clothe Aaron with the tunic, and the robe, and the breastpiece, and the ephod, and fasten him with its binding-straps.

Shemot 29:6

וְשַׂמְתָּ הַמִּצְנֶפֶת עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ וְנָתַתָּ אֶת-נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ עַל-הַמִּצְנָפֶת

.

And set the turban upon his head, and place the crown of holiness beneath the turban.

Shemot 29:7

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת-שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְיָצַקְתָּ עַל-רֹאשׁוֹ וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתוֹ

. .

And take from the anointing oil, and pour it upon his head, and anoint him.

Shemot 29:8

וְאֶת-בָּנָיו תַּקְרִיב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּם כֻּתֳּנֹת

.

Then bring his sons forward, and clothe them with tunics.

Shemot 29:9

וְחָגַרְתָּ אֹתָם אַבְנֵט אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וְחָבַשְׁתָּ לָהֶם מִגְבָּעֹת וְהָיְתָה לָהֶם כְּהֻנָּה לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם וּמִלֵּאתָ יַד-אַהֲרֹן וְיַד-בָּנָיו

. . . .

And bind them with sashes — Aaron and his sons — and put headwear upon them; and the imāmate shall be theirs as an ordinance forever. And complete the required duty of Aaron and the required duty of his sons.

Shemot 29:10

וְהִקְרַבְתָּ אֶת-הַפָּר לִפְנֵי אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְסָמַךְ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת-יְדֵיהֶם עַל-רֹאשׁ הַפָּר

. . .

And bring the young bull forward before the tent of the appointed gathering, and Aaron and his sons shall lean their hands upon its head.

Shemot 29:11

וְשָׁחַטְתָּ אֶת-הַפָּר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד

.

And slaughter it before God, at the entrance of the tent of the appointed gathering.

Shemot 29:12

וְלָקַחְתָּ מִדַּם הַפָּר וְנָתַתָּה עַל-קַרְנֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּאֶצְבָּעֶךָ וְאֶת-כָּל-הַדָּם תִּשְׁפֹּךְ אֶל-יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ

. .

And take from its blood, and place it upon the horns of the altar with your finger, and pour the remainder of it at the base of the altar.

Shemot 29:13

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת-כָּל-הַחֵלֶב הַמְכַסֶּה אֶת-הַקֶּרֶב וְאֵת הַיֹּתֶרֶת עַל-הַכָּבֵד וְאֵת שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת-הַחֵלֶב אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶן וְהִקְטַרְתָּ הַמִּזְבֵּחָה

. . .

And take from it the fat-membrane covering the belly, and the appendage of the liver, and the two kidneys with the fat that is upon them, and burn these upon the altar.

Shemot 29:14

וְאֶת-בְּשַׂר הַפָּר וְאֶת-עֹרוֹ וְאֶת-פִּרְשׁוֹ תִּשְׂרֹף בָּאֵשׁ מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה חַטָּאת הוּא

. .

But the flesh of the young bull, and its hide, and its dung — burn with fire outside the camp, for it is a purification-offering.

Shemot 29:15

וְאֶת-הָאַיִל הָאֶחָד תִּקָּח וְסָמְכוּ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת-יְדֵיהֶם--עַל-רֹאשׁ הָאָיִל

. .

Then bring forward one of the rams, and Aaron and his sons shall lean their hands upon its head.

Shemot 29:16

וְשָׁחַטְתָּ אֶת-הָאָיִל וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת-דָּמוֹ וְזָרַקְתָּ עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב

.

And slaughter it, and take from its blood, and sprinkle it upon the altar all around.

Shemot 29:17

וְאֶת-הָאַיִל--תְּנַתֵּחַ לִנְתָחָיו וְרָחַצְתָּ קִרְבּוֹ וּכְרָעָיו וְנָתַתָּ עַל-נְתָחָיו וְעַל-רֹאשׁוֹ

. . .

And cut it into its members, and wash its belly and its shanks, and add them upon the altar.

Shemot 29:18

וְהִקְטַרְתָּ אֶת-כָּל-הָאַיִל הַמִּזְבֵּחָה עֹלָה הוּא לַיהוָה רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה הוּא

. .

For it is an ascending-offering to God — accepted and pleasing; it is an offering to God.

Shemot 29:19

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֵת הָאַיִל הַשֵּׁנִי וְסָמַךְ אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת-יְדֵיהֶם עַל-רֹאשׁ הָאָיִל

. .

And bring forward the second ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lean their hands upon its head.

Shemot 29:20

וְשָׁחַטְתָּ אֶת-הָאַיִל וְלָקַחְתָּ מִדָּמוֹ וְנָתַתָּה עַל-תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן אַהֲרֹן וְעַל-תְּנוּךְ אֹזֶן בָּנָיו הַיְמָנִית וְעַל-בֹּהֶן יָדָם הַיְמָנִית וְעַל-בֹּהֶן רַגְלָם הַיְמָנִית וְזָרַקְתָּ אֶת-הַדָּם עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב

. . . . . .

And slaughter it, and take from its blood and place it upon the cartilage of the earlobe of Aaron, and upon the cartilages of the earlobes of his sons on the right side, and upon the thumbs of their right hands; and sprinkle the remainder of the blood upon the altar all around.

Shemot 29:21

וְלָקַחְתָּ מִן-הַדָּם אֲשֶׁר עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וּמִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְהִזֵּיתָ עַל-אַהֲרֹן וְעַל-בְּגָדָיו וְעַל-בָּנָיו וְעַל-בִּגְדֵי בָנָיו אִתּוֹ וְקָדַשׁ הוּא וּבְגָדָיו וּבָנָיו וּבִגְדֵי בָנָיו אִתּוֹ

. . . .

And take from the blood that is upon the altar and from the anointing oil, and sprinkle it upon the altar and upon Aaron and his garments, and upon his sons and the garments of his sons with him — so that he and his garments shall be consecrated, and his sons and the garments of his sons with him.

Shemot 29:22

וְלָקַחְתָּ מִן-הָאַיִל הַחֵלֶב וְהָאַלְיָה וְאֶת-הַחֵלֶב הַמְכַסֶּה אֶת-הַקֶּרֶב וְאֵת יֹתֶרֶת הַכָּבֵד וְאֵת שְׁתֵּי הַכְּלָיֹת וְאֶת-הַחֵלֶב אֲשֶׁר עֲלֵיהֶן וְאֵת שׁוֹק הַיָּמִין כִּי אֵיל מִלֻּאִים הוּא

. . . . . .

And take from the ram the fat and the fat-tail, and all the fat-membrane covering the belly, and the appendage of the liver and the two kidneys, and the fat that is upon them, and the right shank — for it is the ram of completion.

Shemot 29:23

וְכִכַּר לֶחֶם אַחַת וְחַלַּת לֶחֶם שֶׁמֶן אַחַת--וְרָקִיק אֶחָד מִסַּל הַמַּצּוֹת אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. . . . .

And from each kind — one loaf of bread, and one thick loaf with oil, and one spread wafer — from the basket of unleavened bread that is before God.

Shemot 29:24

וְשַׂמְתָּ הַכֹּל--עַל כַּפֵּי אַהֲרֹן וְעַל כַּפֵּי בָנָיו וְהֵנַפְתָּ אֹתָם תְּנוּפָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה

. .

And place all of it upon the palms of Aaron and the palms of his sons, and wave it in a waving motion before God.

Shemot 29:25

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֹתָם מִיָּדָם וְהִקְטַרְתָּ הַמִּזְבֵּחָה עַל-הָעֹלָה לְרֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אִשֶּׁה הוּא לַיהוָה

. . .

Then take it from their hands, and burn it upon the altar together with the ascending-offering — accepted and pleasing before God; it is an offering to God.

Shemot 29:26

וְלָקַחְתָּ אֶת-הֶחָזֶה מֵאֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים אֲשֶׁר לְאַהֲרֹן וְהֵנַפְתָּ אֹתוֹ תְּנוּפָה לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְהָיָה לְךָ לְמָנָה

. . .

And take the breast from the ram of completion that belongs to Aaron, and wave it in a waving motion before God, and it shall be a portion for you.

Shemot 29:27

וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֵת חֲזֵה הַתְּנוּפָה וְאֵת שׁוֹק הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר הוּנַף וַאֲשֶׁר הוּרָם מֵאֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים--מֵאֲשֶׁר לְאַהֲרֹן וּמֵאֲשֶׁר לְבָנָיו

. . . .

And consecrate the breast of the waving and the shank of the elevation — that which was waved and that which was raised — from the ram of completion that belongs to Aaron and to his sons.

Shemot 29:28

וְהָיָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו לְחָק-עוֹלָם מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי תְרוּמָה הוּא וּתְרוּמָה יִהְיֶה מֵאֵת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִזִּבְחֵי שַׁלְמֵיהֶם--תְּרוּמָתָם לַיהוָה

. . . .

And it shall be for Aaron and for his sons an ordinance forever from the sons of Israel; for they are an elevation — so shall they be an elevation from the sons of Israel from their peace-offerings; they are their elevation to God.

Shemot 29:29

וּבִגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר לְאַהֲרֹן יִהְיוּ לְבָנָיו אַחֲרָיו לְמָשְׁחָה בָהֶם וּלְמַלֵּא-בָם אֶת-יָדָם

. . .

And the holy garments that belong to Aaron shall be for his sons after him, that they may be anointed in them and that their required duty may be completed by them.

Shemot 29:30

שִׁבְעַת יָמִים יִלְבָּשָׁם הַכֹּהֵן תַּחְתָּיו--מִבָּנָיו אֲשֶׁר יָבֹא אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ

. . . .

Seven days shall the imām who comes after him from his sons wear them, when he enters the tent of the appointed gathering to serve in the holy place.

Shemot 29:31

וְאֵת אֵיל הַמִּלֻּאִים תִּקָּח וּבִשַּׁלְתָּ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בְּמָקֹם קָדֹשׁ

.

And take the ram of completion, and cook its flesh in a consecrated place.

Shemot 29:32

וְאָכַל אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו אֶת-בְּשַׂר הָאַיִל וְאֶת-הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר בַּסָּל פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד

. .

And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram, together with the bread that is in the basket, at the entrance of the tent of the appointed meeting.

Shemot 29:33

וְאָכְלוּ אֹתָם אֲשֶׁר כֻּפַּר בָּהֶם לְמַלֵּא אֶת-יָדָם לְקַדֵּשׁ אֹתָם וְזָר לֹא-יֹאכַל כִּי-קֹדֶשׁ הֵם

. .

And those for whom atonement was made with them shall eat them, to complete their required duty and to consecrate them; but a stranger shall not eat, for they are holy.

Shemot 29:34

וְאִם-יִוָּתֵר מִבְּשַׂר הַמִּלֻּאִים וּמִן-הַלֶּחֶם--עַד-הַבֹּקֶר וְשָׂרַפְתָּ אֶת-הַנּוֹתָר בָּאֵשׁ לֹא יֵאָכֵל כִּי-קֹדֶשׁ הוּא

. . .

And if any of the flesh of the completion-offering or of the bread remains until the morning, it shall be burned with fire — it shall not be eaten, for it is holy.

Shemot 29:35

וְעָשִׂיתָ לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו כָּכָה כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוִּיתִי אֹתָכָה שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תְּמַלֵּא יָדָם

. .

And do thus for Aaron and his sons — according to all that I have commanded you; seven days you shall complete their required duty.

Shemot 29:36

וּפַר חַטָּאת תַּעֲשֶׂה לַיּוֹם עַל-הַכִּפֻּרִים וְחִטֵּאתָ עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּכַפֶּרְךָ עָלָיו וּמָשַׁחְתָּ אֹתוֹ לְקַדְּשׁוֹ

. . .

And a young bull of the purification-offering you shall make each day for atonement; and thereby purify the altar, and seek atonement at it, and anoint it and consecrate it.

Shemot 29:37

שִׁבְעַת יָמִים תְּכַפֵּר עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ אֹתוֹ וְהָיָה הַמִּזְבֵּחַ קֹדֶשׁ קָדָשִׁים כָּל-הַנֹּגֵעַ בַּמִּזְבֵּחַ יִקְדָּשׁ

. . .

Seven days you shall seek atonement at it and consecrate it; and the altar shall become of the especial class of the most holy things — whoever approaches anything of it shall be consecrated.

Shemot 29:38

וְזֶה אֲשֶׁר תַּעֲשֶׂה עַל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי-שָׁנָה שְׁנַיִם לַיּוֹם תָּמִיד

. .

And this is what you shall offer upon the altar: two yearling lambs, each day, continually.

Shemot 29:39

אֶת-הַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד תַּעֲשֶׂה בַבֹּקֶר וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם

.

One of them in the morning, and the other between the two sunsets.

Shemot 29:40

וְעִשָּׂרֹן סֹלֶת בָּלוּל בְּשֶׁמֶן כָּתִית רֶבַע הַהִין וְנֵסֶךְ רְבִיעִת הַהִין יָיִן--לַכֶּבֶשׂ הָאֶחָד

. . .

And a tenth-measure of fine flour kneaded with a quarter of a qisṭ of pressed olive oil, and a libation of a quarter of a qisṭ of wine — with each lamb.

Shemot 29:41

וְאֵת הַכֶּבֶשׂ הַשֵּׁנִי תַּעֲשֶׂה בֵּין הָעַרְבָּיִם כְּמִנְחַת הַבֹּקֶר וּכְנִסְכָּהּ תַּעֲשֶׂה-לָּהּ לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ אִשֶּׁה לַיהוָה

. .

And when you offer the second between the two sunsets, as the gift-offering of the morning and its libation you shall make it — accepted and pleasing; an offering to God.

Shemot 29:42

עֹלַת תָּמִיד לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם פֶּתַח אֹהֶל-מוֹעֵד לִפְנֵי יְהוָה אֲשֶׁר אִוָּעֵד לָכֶם שָׁמָּה לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ שָׁם

. . .

A perpetual ascending-offering for your generations, at the entrance of the tent of the appointed gathering before God — where I shall be present for you there, and shall address you there.

Shemot 29:43

וְנֹעַדְתִּי שָׁמָּה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִקְדַּשׁ בִּכְבֹדִי

.

And when I am present there for the sons of Israel, the house shall be consecrated by My light.

Shemot 29:44

וְקִדַּשְׁתִּי אֶת-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת-בָּנָיו אֲקַדֵּשׁ לְכַהֵן לִי

.

And I shall consecrate by it the tent of the appointed gathering and the altar, and I shall consecrate Aaron and his sons that they may serve as imāms for Me.

Shemot 29:45

וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים

.

And I shall make My light dwell among the sons of Israel, and I shall be their God.

Shemot 29:46

וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְשָׁכְנִי בְתוֹכָם אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיהֶם

. . .

And they shall know that I am God their Lord, who brought them out from the land of Egypt, that I might make My light dwell among them. I am God their Lord — I shall fulfil this.