Warning Bells – "וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ... וְלֹא יָמוּת"/2
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THIS TOPIC IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED AND UPDATED
Warning Bells – "וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ... וְלֹא יָמוּת"
Exegetical Approaches
Wearing Full Attire
The high priest will not die if he wears all of the required vestments for serving in the Tabernacle, and the bells of the robe play no special role as far as this.
Context of "וְלֹא יָמוּת" – Rashi reads the words "וְלֹא יָמוּת" as referring to the high priest wearing all of the garments described in the entire chapter. He thus separates these words from the rest of the verse and their immediate context of the robe and the sounding of its bells.
Parallel verses – Vayikra Rabbah and Rashi view our verse as parallel to Shemot 28:43 which similarly describes a punishment of death for lack of proper attire.
Who might die? According to this interpretation, it is the high priest himself who might die if he is in violation of the priestly dress code.
Why is only the high priest commanded? According to Vayikra Rabbah and Rashi, the admonition against serving with improper attire applies equally to the high priest and to ordinary priests. Thus, there are two verses: 28:35 which refers specifically to the high priest as it comes in the context of the special vestments of the high priest, and 28:43 which relates to all priests as it follows the instructions regarding the basic priestly garments.
"הַקֹּדֶשׁ" – As this term appears in the first part of the verse speaking of the robe and its bells, it refers to the outer chamber in which the high priest would wear the golden garments. The prohibition of being dressed inappropriately, though, applies in all parts of the Tabernacle including the Holy of Holies, and even in the courtyard.
Function of the bells – Vayikra Rabbah views the ringing of the bells as part of appropriate manners to knock before entering the Tabernacle. The lack of such etiquette, though, might not warrant the death penalty. Rashi adds that when the high priest would enter the Holy of Holies and would not be wearing the robe with its bells, a special metallic attachment to the censer would instead serve to make the ringing entry sound.
Evacuation of the Sanctuary
The bells of the high priest's robe served as a warning call to all those present in the Sanctuary so that they knew to exit prior to the high priests' entry. This evacuation was either for the protection of the high priest himself, or for the protection of the other ordinary priests.
Who might die?
- Rashbam asserts that the concern is lest an ordinary priest die due to his presence in the Sanctuary while the high priest is atoning for the nation.2
- According to Ramban and R. Bachya, it is the high priest himself who is in mortal danger. The Tabernacle is normally filled with God's ministering angels who must evacuate before the high priest enters so that they do not harm him (a seeming intruder) upon entering.
Parallel verses – According to this approach, the verse in Shemot is integrally related to the command of Vayikra 16:17, "כָל אָדָם לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּבֹאוֹ לְכַפֵּר בַּקֹּדֶש". Rashbam assumes the verse refers to ordinary priests while Ramban and R. Bachya understand the phrase "כָל אָדָם " to also include angels who are described in Yehezkel 1:10 as having "פְּנֵי אָדָם".
"הַקֹּדֶשׁ" – Rashbam maintains that "הַקֹּדֶשׁ" refers to the Holy of Holies, which the high priest entered on the Day of Atonement, whereas Ramban and R. Bachya, in contrast, assert that it refers just to the "Holy."
Why is only the high priest commanded?
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Proper Respect or Intentions
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Sources: Bavli Yoma, Bavli Yoma, Vayikra Rabbah, Ibn Ezra, Tosafot Sanhedrin, Chizkuni, R. Avraham b. HaRambam, Abarbanel, Seforno,
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Crux of the position –
