What is written before this matter? “The Lord said to Moses: Speak to Aaron your brother” (Leviticus 16:2). Rabbi Avin said: He said to him: ‘Go and console him with words,’ just as it says: “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2). “He shall not come at all times” (Leviticus 16:2), Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses had great anguish regarding this matter.
He said: ‘Woe is me. Has Aaron my brother been expelled from His proximity?’ “At all times” – “time” can connote one hour; “he shall not come at all times.”14This verse may be interpreted to mean that if Aaron enters the Holy of Holies and exits, he may not enter again right away (Etz Yosef). “Time” can connote one day; “[Your food that you will eat will be twenty shekels a day by weight; you shall eat it from set time until set time.]
You shall drink water by measure, [one-sixth of a hin; you shall drink from time to time]” (Ezekiel 4:10–11). “Time” can connote one year, as it is stated: “It was at the turn of the year, [at the time when kings go out]” (II Samuel 11:1). “Time” can connote twelve years: “Until the time His word came to pass” (Psalms 105:19).15This is a reference to the liberation of Joseph from the Egyptian prison.
He was incarcerated there for twelve years. “Time” can connote seventy years, as it is stated: “To complete the term of the desolations of Jerusalem was seventy years” (Daniel 9:2), and it says: “until the time of his land comes” (Jeremiah 27:7).16The verse cited from Daniel states that it would be seventy years from the destruction of the first Temple until Jerusalem would be rebuilt. The second verse employs the word time in reference to the fall of Babylon, which coincided with the rebuilding of Jerusalem.
Thus, there is a connection between usage of the word time and the passage of seventy years. “Time” can connote eternity: “You placed joy in my heart from the time of their grain” (Psalms 4:8).17Grain is always produced; consequently, the word time in this verse is not limited to a particular point in time. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘It is not as you think. It is not the time that connotes an hour, nor the time that connotes a day, nor the time that connotes a year, nor the time that connotes twelve years, nor the time that connotes seventy years, nor the time that connotes eternity.
Rather, at any time that he wishes to enter, he may enter, provided that he enters with this protocol.’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: With thirty-six bells and thirty-six pomegranates. The Rabbis said: With seventy-two bells and seventy-two pomegranates.18The reference is to decorative components at the bottom of the robe of the High Priest. It should be noted, however, that the High Priest did not wear his usual vestments when entering the Holy of Holies; he instead entered in four white linen garments.
Nonetheless this is mentioned here because included in the protocol of the High Priest when he enters the Holy of Holies are certain offerings that are given in the Sanctuary, and the High Priest performs the services of those offerings in his regular vestments (Etz Yosef).