Rabbi Yishmael examined a verse about the priests serving at the altar and found a surprising teaching hidden inside what appeared to be a redundancy. The verse warns: "so that your nakedness not be revealed upon it" — referring to the altar's ramp. But Rabbi Yishmael pointed out that this instruction seems unnecessary.
After all, the Torah already commands in (Exodus 28:42): "And make for them trousers of linen." The priests wore linen undergarments specifically designed to prevent any exposure while they performed their duties. If they were already wearing trousers, what additional concern about nakedness could the verse possibly be addressing?
Rabbi Yishmael's answer transforms the verse from a clothing requirement into a lesson about physical deportment. Since the trousers already covered the priests' bodies, the phrase "so that your nakedness not be revealed upon it" must be teaching something else entirely: that the priests should not take broad strides when ascending the altar ramp. Instead, they were to walk heel-by-toe — placing one foot directly in front of the other in small, measured steps.
Broad strides, even with trousers, could create an appearance of immodesty or casual disregard for the sacred space. The altar demanded not just proper clothing but proper movement. Every step taken in the service of God had to reflect reverence, precision, and dignity. The priests approached the altar the way one approaches the divine — slowly, carefully, with every motion deliberate and every stride restrained.