Saadia's Tafsir on Vayikra 16 (Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim)

Vayikra 16:1

וַיְדַבֵּר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אַחֲרֵי מוֹת שְׁנֵי בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן--בְּקָרְבָתָם לִפְנֵי-יְהוָה וַיָּמֻתוּ

. .

And God spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron — when they had drawn near before God in a manner that became clear, and they died.

Vayikra 16:2

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָה אֶל-מֹשֶׁה דַּבֵּר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ וְאַל-יָבֹא בְכָל-עֵת אֶל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִבֵּית לַפָּרֹכֶת--אֶל-פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֹן וְלֹא יָמוּת כִּי בֶּעָנָן אֵרָאֶה עַל-הַכַּפֹּרֶת

. . . . . . .

And He said to him: 'Command Aaron your brother that he shall not enter at many times into the sanctuary from within the veil, near the covering which is upon the ark, lest he die — for I am continually revealing Myself in the cloud above the covering.'

Vayikra 16:3

בְּזֹאת יָבֹא אַהֲרֹן אֶל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ בְּפַר בֶּן-בָּקָר לְחַטָּאת וְאַיִל לְעֹלָה

. .

With these matters shall Aaron enter into the sanctuary: by presenting a bull from the cattle for the purification-offering, and a ram for the ascending-offering.

Vayikra 16:4

כְּתֹנֶת-בַּד קֹדֶשׁ יִלְבָּשׁ וּמִכְנְסֵי-בַד יִהְיוּ עַל-בְּשָׂרוֹ וּבְאַבְנֵט בַּד יַחְגֹּר וּבְמִצְנֶפֶת בַּד יִצְנֹף בִּגְדֵי-קֹדֶשׁ הֵם וְרָחַץ בַּמַּיִם אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ וּלְבֵשָׁם

. . .

And that he shall wear a tunic of fine linen, consecrated; after there are upon his body breeches of fine linen, and he shall gird himself with a sash of pure fine linen, and shall wind upon his head a turban likewise — these are the garments of the sanctuary; he shall wash his body with water and put them on.

Vayikra 16:5

וּמֵאֵת עֲדַת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל יִקַּח שְׁנֵי-שְׂעִירֵי עִזִּים לְחַטָּאת וְאַיִל אֶחָד לְעֹלָה

. .

And he shall take from the assembly of the sons of Israel two he-goats from the goats for the purification-offering, and a ram for the ascending-offering.

Vayikra 16:6

וְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן אֶת-פַּר הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ

. .

And he shall begin first, and present the bull of the purification-offering which is his, and seek forgiveness for himself and for his household.

Vayikra 16:7

וְלָקַח אֶת-שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם וְהֶעֱמִיד אֹתָם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד

. .

Then he shall take the two he-goats and station them before God at the entrance of the tent of the assembly.

Vayikra 16:8

וְנָתַן אַהֲרֹן עַל-שְׁנֵי הַשְּׂעִירִם גֹּרָלוֹת--גּוֹרָל אֶחָד לַיהוָה וְגוֹרָל אֶחָד לַעֲזָאזֵל

. .

And he shall cast upon them two lots — one of the two for the house of God, and the other for Mount Azazel.

Vayikra 16:9

וְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר עָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַיהוָה וְעָשָׂהוּ חַטָּאת

. .

And he shall present the he-goat upon which the lot fell for the house of God, and make it a purification-offering.

Vayikra 16:10

וְהַשָּׂעִיר אֲשֶׁר עָלָה עָלָיו הַגּוֹרָל לַעֲזָאזֵל יָעֳמַד-חַי לִפְנֵי יְהוָה לְכַפֵּר עָלָיו--לְשַׁלַּח אֹתוֹ לַעֲזָאזֵל הַמִּדְבָּרָה

. . . . .

And the he-goat upon which the lot fell for Mount Azazel shall be left standing alive before God, to seek forgiveness thereby; then he shall release it on Mount Azazel in the wilderness.

Vayikra 16:11

וְהִקְרִיב אַהֲרֹן אֶת-פַּר הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ וְשָׁחַט אֶת-פַּר הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ

. . .

And Aaron shall present a second time the bull of the purification-offering which is his, and seek forgiveness for himself and for his household; then he shall slaughter it.

Vayikra 16:12

וְלָקַח מְלֹא-הַמַּחְתָּה גַּחֲלֵי-אֵשׁ מֵעַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ מִלִּפְנֵי יְהוָה וּמְלֹא חָפְנָיו קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים דַּקָּה וְהֵבִיא מִבֵּית לַפָּרֹכֶת

. . . . .

Then he shall take a firepan full of glowing coals of fire from atop the altar before God, and two handfuls of finely ground resinous incense, and bring them all within the veil.

Vayikra 16:13

וְנָתַן אֶת-הַקְּטֹרֶת עַל-הָאֵשׁ לִפְנֵי יְהוָה וְכִסָּה עֲנַן הַקְּטֹרֶת אֶת-הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָעֵדוּת--וְלֹא יָמוּת

. . . .

And he shall place that incense upon the fire before God, until the cloud of the incense covers the covering which is upon the ark — and so he shall not die.

Vayikra 16:14

וְלָקַח מִדַּם הַפָּר וְהִזָּה בְאֶצְבָּעוֹ עַל-פְּנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת קֵדְמָה וְלִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת יַזֶּה שֶׁבַע-פְּעָמִים מִן-הַדָּם--בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ

. . .

Then he shall take some of the blood of the bull and sprinkle from it with his finger facing the covering on the east side, once; then he shall sprinkle before it from it seven times.

Vayikra 16:15

וְשָׁחַט אֶת-שְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר לָעָם וְהֵבִיא אֶת-דָּמוֹ אֶל-מִבֵּית לַפָּרֹכֶת וְעָשָׂה אֶת-דָּמוֹ כַּאֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה לְדַם הַפָּר וְהִזָּה אֹתוֹ עַל-הַכַּפֹּרֶת וְלִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת

. . . . .

Then he shall slaughter the he-goat of the purification-offering which is for the people, and bring some of its blood within the veil, and do with it as he did with the blood of the bull; and he shall sprinkle from it facing the covering and before it.

Vayikra 16:16

וְכִפֶּר עַל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְכָל-חַטֹּאתָם וְכֵן יַעֲשֶׂה לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד הַשֹּׁכֵן אִתָּם בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם

. . . . . .

And he shall seek forgiveness in the sanctuary for the transgressions of the sons of Israel, their offenses and all their sins; and likewise he shall do with the two bloods in the tent of the assembly, which is dwelling among them amid their transgressions.

Vayikra 16:17

וְכָל-אָדָם לֹא-יִהְיֶה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּבֹאוֹ לְכַפֵּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ--עַד-צֵאתוֹ וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד בֵּיתוֹ וּבְעַד כָּל-קְהַל יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . .

And no one from the people shall be in the tent of the assembly when he enters to seek forgiveness in the sanctuary, until he comes out, having sought forgiveness for himself and for his household and for the entire assembly of the house of Israel.

Vayikra 16:18

וְיָצָא אֶל-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ אֲשֶׁר לִפְנֵי-יְהוָה--וְכִפֶּר עָלָיו וְלָקַח מִדַּם הַפָּר וּמִדַּם הַשָּׂעִיר וְנָתַן עַל-קַרְנוֹת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ סָבִיב

. . .

Then he shall go out to the altar which is before God and seek forgiveness for it — by taking from the blood of the bull together with the blood of the he-goat combined, and placing it upon its horns all around.

Vayikra 16:19

וְהִזָּה עָלָיו מִן-הַדָּם בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ שֶׁבַע פְּעָמִים וְטִהֲרוֹ וְקִדְּשׁוֹ מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. .

And he shall sprinkle upon its surface from it with his finger seven times, and purify it and sanctify it from the transgressions of the sons of Israel.

Vayikra 16:20

וְכִלָּה מִכַּפֵּר אֶת-הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶת-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְהִקְרִיב אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר הֶחָי

. .

And when he has finished the seeking of forgiveness in the sanctuary, and in the tent of the assembly, and at the altar, he shall present the living he-goat.

Vayikra 16:21

וְסָמַךְ אַהֲרֹן אֶת-שְׁתֵּי יָדָו עַל רֹאשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר הַחַי וְהִתְוַדָּה עָלָיו אֶת-כָּל-עֲו‍ֹנֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְאֶת-כָּל-פִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְכָל-חַטֹּאתָם וְנָתַן אֹתָם עַל-רֹאשׁ הַשָּׂעִיר וְשִׁלַּח בְּיַד-אִישׁ עִתִּי הַמִּדְבָּרָה

. . . .

And he shall lean his hand upon its head, and confess the sins of the sons of Israel, their offenses and all their transgressions; and when he has recited them at the head of the he-goat, he shall send it away with a man appointed for this, into the wilderness.

Vayikra 16:22

וְנָשָׂא הַשָּׂעִיר עָלָיו אֶת-כָּל-עֲו‍ֹנֹתָם אֶל-אֶרֶץ גְּזֵרָה וְשִׁלַּח אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר בַּמִּדְבָּר

. .

And it shall bear upon its neck all their sins to a cut-off land; and then he shall release it in the wilderness.

Vayikra 16:23

וּבָא אַהֲרֹן אֶל-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּפָשַׁט אֶת-בִּגְדֵי הַבָּד אֲשֶׁר לָבַשׁ בְּבֹאוֹ אֶל-הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהִנִּיחָם שָׁם

. . . .

Then Aaron shall enter the tent of the assembly and bring out the firepan; then he shall remove there the garments of fine linen which he had worn upon his entry into the sanctuary, and leave them there.

Vayikra 16:24

וְרָחַץ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בַמַּיִם בְּמָקוֹם קָדוֹשׁ וְלָבַשׁ אֶת-בְּגָדָיו וְיָצָא וְעָשָׂה אֶת-עֹלָתוֹ וְאֶת-עֹלַת הָעָם וְכִפֶּר בַּעֲדוֹ וּבְעַד הָעָם

. . . .

Then he shall wash his body with water in a consecrated place and put on his known garments; then he shall go out and offer his ascending-offerings and the ascending-offerings of the people, and seek forgiveness for himself and for them.

Vayikra 16:25

וְאֵת חֵלֶב הַחַטָּאת יַקְטִיר הַמִּזְבֵּחָה

And the fats of the purification-offerings he shall burn as smoke upon the altar.

Vayikra 16:26

וְהַמְשַׁלֵּחַ אֶת-הַשָּׂעִיר לַעֲזָאזֵל--יְכַבֵּס בְּגָדָיו וְרָחַץ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בַּמָּיִם וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן יָבוֹא אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה

. . .

And the one who releases the he-goat on Mount Azazel shall wash his garments and bathe his body with water; and after that he shall enter the camp.

Vayikra 16:27

וְאֵת פַּר הַחַטָּאת וְאֵת שְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת אֲשֶׁר הוּבָא אֶת-דָּמָם לְכַפֵּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ--יוֹצִיא אֶל-מִחוּץ לַמַּחֲנֶה וְשָׂרְפוּ בָאֵשׁ אֶת-עֹרֹתָם וְאֶת-בְּשָׂרָם וְאֶת-פִּרְשָׁם

. . . .

And as for the bull of the purification-offering and the he-goat of the purification-offering, whose blood was brought in to seek forgiveness in the sanctuary — he shall bring them out to outside the camp, and they shall be burned with fire: their hides and their flesh and their dung.

Vayikra 16:28

וְהַשֹּׂרֵף אֹתָם--יְכַבֵּס בְּגָדָיו וְרָחַץ אֶת-בְּשָׂרוֹ בַּמָּיִם וְאַחֲרֵי-כֵן יָבוֹא אֶל-הַמַּחֲנֶה

. . .

And the one who burns them shall wash his garments and bathe his body with water; and after that he shall enter the camp.

Vayikra 16:29

וְהָיְתָה לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם בַּחֹדֶשׁ הַשְּׁבִיעִי בֶּעָשׂוֹר לַחֹדֶשׁ תְּעַנּוּ אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם וְכָל-מְלָאכָה לֹא תַעֲשׂוּ--הָאֶזְרָח וְהַגֵּר הַגָּר בְּתוֹכְכֶם

. . . . .

And this shall be for you a perpetual ordinance: on the tenth day of the seventh month you shall afflict yourselves, and no work whatsoever shall you do — the native-born and the stranger who sojourns among you.

Vayikra 16:30

כִּי-בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי יְהוָה תִּטְהָרוּ

. . .

For on this day he shall seek forgiveness for you to purify you, as I have declared; from all your sins before God you shall be purified.

Vayikra 16:31

שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן הִיא לָכֶם וְעִנִּיתֶם אֶת-נַפְשֹׁתֵיכֶם--חֻקַּת עוֹלָם

. .

And it is a Sabbath — a complete rest for you — when you afflict yourselves: a perpetual ordinance.

Vayikra 16:32

וְכִפֶּר הַכֹּהֵן אֲשֶׁר-יִמְשַׁח אֹתוֹ וַאֲשֶׁר יְמַלֵּא אֶת-יָדוֹ לְכַהֵן תַּחַת אָבִיו וְלָבַשׁ אֶת-בִּגְדֵי הַבָּד בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ

. . .

And likewise shall the imām who is anointed and completes his obligation to officiate in place of his father seek forgiveness; and he shall put on the garments of fine linen, the garments of the sanctuary.

Vayikra 16:33

וְכִפֶּר אֶת-מִקְדַּשׁ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֶת-אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת-הַמִּזְבֵּחַ יְכַפֵּר וְעַל הַכֹּהֲנִים וְעַל-כָּל-עַם הַקָּהָל יְכַפֵּר

. . . .

And he shall seek forgiveness in the innermost of the sanctuaries, and in the tent of the assembly, and at the altar he shall seek forgiveness therein — for the imāms and for the rest of the assembly.

Vayikra 16:34

וְהָיְתָה-זֹּאת לָכֶם לְחֻקַּת עוֹלָם לְכַפֵּר עַל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכָּל-חַטֹּאתָם--אַחַת בַּשָּׁנָה וַיַּעַשׂ כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . . .

And this shall be for you a perpetual ordinance, that forgiveness be sought thus for the sons of Israel from all their sins, once a year.' And he did as God had commanded Moses.