The Right Hand for Receiving and the Finger for Placing

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 469:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"With his finger... and he shall take" (Leviticus 4:25): that the receiving be only with the right. "With his finger... and he shall place": teaching that the placing be only with the right. Rabbi Shimon said: but was "hand" stated regarding the receiving? Since "hand" was not stated regarding the receiving, if he received with the left it is valid. Abaye said: they disagree over [whether] a verse is expounded before it and after it. Abaye said: this teaching of Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon diverges from his father and diverges from the rabbis, for it is taught: Rabbi Elazar son of Rabbi Shimon says, every place where "finger" is stated regarding receiving, if he changed in the receiving it is invalid, but in the placing it is valid; and every place where "finger" is stated regarding placing, if he changed in the placing it is invalid, but in the receiving it is valid. And where is "finger" stated regarding placing? As it is written, "And you shall take of the blood of the bull and place it upon the horns of the altar with your finger" (Exodus 29:12). And he holds that a verse is expounded before it, but not before what is before it, nor after it.

Themes

Oral TorahSacrificePriesthood

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