The Lord Spake Unto Moses, Saying, on the First Day of the First Month

Chapter 7. "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: On the first day of the first month you shall set up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting. You shall place there..." and "you shall bring in the table..." (Exodus 40:2-3). The seven days of ordination began on the twenty-third of Adar, and on the first of Nisan they were completed. During all seven days of ordination, Moses would set up the Tabernacle every morning, offer sacrifices upon it, and dismantle it. On the eighth day he set it up and did not dismantle it. Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Yehudah says: Even on the eighth day he set it up and dismantled it. "Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket," and "at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting you shall sit day and night for seven days..." and "Aaron and his sons did..." (Leviticus 8:35). "It came to pass on the eighth day..." (Leviticus 9:1), after the seven days of ordination. It was the first day of the week and the new moon of Nisan. On that very day Aaron and his sons stood, washed their hands and feet from the basin, performed all the services, and arranged them in order. On that day the tribal princes began to bring their offerings, as it is said, "The one who brought his offering on the first day..." (Numbers 7:12). It was first in the act of creation, first for the princes, first for the Shekhinah dwelling in Israel, as it is said, "I will dwell among the children of Israel" (Exodus 29:45), first for the prohibition of private altars, first for the priesthood, first for blessing, first for service, first for the months, first for slaughtering in the north, first for eating consecrated foods, and first for the descent of fire, as it is said, "Fire came out..." (Leviticus 9:24). On that day Israel brought daily offerings, vows, voluntary offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, firstborn offerings, and tithes. About that day Scripture says, "Awake, north wind, and come, south wind; blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow" (Song of Songs 4:16). "Awake, north wind" refers to the burnt offering slaughtered in the north. "Come, south wind" refers to peace offerings slaughtered in the south. "Blow upon my garden" refers to the Tent of Meeting. "That its spices may flow" refers to the incense of spices. "Let my beloved come into his garden" (Song of Songs 4:16) refers to the Shekhinah. "And eat its choice fruits" refers to the sacrifices. "I have come into my garden, my sister, my bride" (Song of Songs 5:1) refers to the eighth day. "I have gathered my myrrh with my spice" refers to incense, frankincense, and the meal offerings. "I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey" refers to the limbs of the burnt offering and the sacrificial portions of the most holy offerings. "I have drunk my wine with my milk" refers to the libations and the sacrificial portions of offerings of lesser sanctity. "Eat, friends" refers to Moses and Aaron. "Drink, and become drunk, beloved ones" refers to the congregation of Israel. On that day Elisheba daughter of Amminadab was greater than Israel in four joys and one mourning: her brother-in-law was a king, her husband was the High Priest, her brother was a prince, her sons were deputy priests, and her mourning was for her two sons, Nadab and Abihu. Some say that even her grandson was the priest anointed for war, namely Phinehas. On the second of Nisan, Eleazar the priest burned the red heifer of sin offering, and all Israel were sprinkled and repeated the sprinkling. On the fourteenth of that month Israel slaughtered their Passover offerings, and it was Shabbat.