How the Priests Sanctified Their Hands and Feet

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 387:3

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Our masters taught: what is the manner of sanctification? He places his right hand upon his right foot and his left hand upon his left foot. Rabbi Yose bar Rabbi Yehudah says: he places his two hands one upon the other and upon his two feet, and sanctifies. They said to him: you have gone too far; it is impossible to do so. They spoke well to him. Rav Yosef said: with a companion assisting him. What is the difference between them? Abaye said: the difference between them is standing to the side. Rav Sama, the teacher of Rav Ashi, said to Ravina: let him sit and sanctify. Scripture said 'to minister,' and ministering is done standing. Our masters taught: if he sanctified his hands and feet by day, he need not do so again at night; if at night, he must sanctify again by day, the words of Rabbi, for Rabbi used to say a night's stay invalidates the sanctification of the hands and feet. Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon says: a night's stay does not invalidate the sanctification of the hands and feet. It was taught elsewhere: if he stood and offered upon the altar all night until daybreak, he requires the sanctification of the hands and feet, the words of Rabbi. Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon says: once he has sanctified his hands and feet at the start of the service, even from now until ten days hence he need not sanctify again. And both teachings are necessary: for had we been taught only the first, you might say Rabbi spoke there because the service was interrupted, but here, where it was not interrupted, he might agree with Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon. And had we been taught only the second, you might say Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon spoke there, but here he might agree with Rabbi. What is the reasoning of Rabbi? It is written 'when they draw near.' And Rabbi Elazar bar Rabbi Shimon relies on 'when they come.' This is the general rule in the Temple: anyone who relieves himself requires immersion, and anyone who passes water requires the sanctification of the hands and feet. They inquired: what is the law concerning sanctifying the hands and feet within the basin itself? Did the Merciful One say 'from it' and not within it, or perhaps even within it is permitted? All vessels may be used for sanctification, provided they are service-vessels. But did the Merciful One not say 'from it'? The word 'and they shall wash' comes to include service-vessels. If so, ordinary vessels too? Abaye said: ordinary vessels you cannot include, by an inference from the basin's pedestal: just as the pedestal, though anointed together with the basin, does not sanctify, an ordinary vessel, which was not anointed with it, all the more so does not sanctify. Rabbi Yohanan said: as for the water of the basin, Rabbi Shimon says it must be spring water, and the sages say it may be other waters. 'When they come into the tent of meeting.' Rabbi Yirmiyah inquired of Rabbi Zeira: if he is inside and his fringe is outside, what is the law? He said to him: do you not say of the firstfruits 'and you shall bring them to the LORD,' meaning until you bring all of it inside? Here too, 'when they come into the tent of meeting' the Merciful One said, meaning until all of him comes into the tent of meeting. Washing of the hands and feet applies at a communal high place and not at a private one, as it is said, 'when they come into the tent of meeting they shall wash with water.' These are the ones liable to death: those who serve without washing their hands and feet, as it is said, 'when they come into the tent of meeting they shall wash with water, that they die not.'

Themes

PriesthoodTempleCommandments

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