Purpose of the Service of Vayikra 16/2

The Service of Acharei Mot

Exegetical Approaches

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Overview

Commentators debate what was the main goal of the Yom HaKippurim service. While R. Saadia Gaon puts the people at the center, suggesting that all aspects of the rite aimed to achieve atonement for Israel's sins, the Hoil Moshe views the rite as aimed at the Mikdash itself, understanding it to be a purification ceremony meant to cleanse the Mikdash of impurities. Shadal takes a middle position, suggesting that the ritual had a dual focus, to both purge the Mikdash of impurity and to expiate the sins of the nation.

Atonement for the People

The central goal of the service described in Vayikra 16 is to achieve atonement for the nation's sins.

Sources:Sifra16:1616:33About the Sifra Vayikra, R. Saadia GaonCommentary Vayikra 16About R. Saadia Gaon, RashiShemot 30:10Vayikra 16:1-3, 11, 15-16, 34About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki, RambamHilkhot Shegagot 11:9About R. Moshe b. Maimon, ?RambanVayikra 16:1Vayikra 16:2Vayikra 16:4Vayikra 16:18Vayikra 16:21About R. Moshe b. Nachman, RalbagVayikra 16About R. Levi b. Gershom, AbarbanelVayikra 16:5About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoVayikra 16:4-5, 11-12, 24, 30About R. Ovadyah Seforno, HaKetav VeHaKabbalahVayikra 16:3Vayikra 16:15About R. Yaakov Mecklenburg, Reggio

Focus of the ceremony: "לְכַפֵּר עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל מִכׇּל חַטֹּאתָם" – This approach looks to this description of the goal of the ritual as evidence that the rite was aimed at achieving absolution and that the ceremony was focused on the people rather than the Mikdash.¹

Reaction to the Sin of the Golden Calf – This approach might suggest that Yom HaKippurim was instituted in reaction to the Sin of the Golden Calf, either to commemorate the pardon granted or to facilitate future penitence:

• Commemorative – TanchumaKi Tisa 31About the Tanchuma asserts that the day that Hashem forgave the people for the sin was the tenth of Tishrei² and, in commemoration, Hashem set it to be a day of forgiveness for all future generations as well.
• Corrective – The sin might have further demonstrated the nation's general need for vehicles of repentance and atonement, leading to both the construction of the Tabernacle, a means to atone for transgressions throughout the year, and to the institution of Yom HaKippurim, a national, annual day of atonement. In fact, the very first Yom HaKippurim might have even been meant to atone for the Sin of the Calf specifically.

The Sin Offerings – The sin offerings of Aharon and the nation appear to be patterned after two other unique sin offerings which share a similar protocol:³ the bull of the anointed priest who has inadvertently transgressed and the goat of the nation who has sinned inadvertently in the realm of idolatry. This would support the suggestion that the service of Vayikra 16 was intended to atone for both Aharon's role and the nation's sin in the episode of the Golden Calf.⁴

White clothing – R. Chisda in Bavli Rosh HaShanah suggests that the choice of white clothing is also related to the Sin of the Calf.  The priest does not perform the rituals in his normal golden garb so as not recall the sin ("for a prosecutor cannot become a defender").

Why three sacrifices?

"וְכִפֶּר עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" – This verse is somewhat difficult for this position as it implies that the blood of the sin offerings not only atoned for the people but also played a role in purifying the Mikdash from impurities. These sources explain it in one of two ways:

• In the "קדש" – R. Saadia reinterprets both the phrase "עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ" to mean "in the Kodesh" rather than "on the Kodesh" and the word "טֻּמְאֹת" to mean not impurity, but sins or rebellious actions.  As such, the verse does not mean that the Mikdash itself is being purged from impurities, but that the priest is atoning in the Mikdash for the nation's sins.
• For sins of the "קדש" –

Why start with Nadav and Avihu? This position might suggest one of two explanations:

• Commanded then – It is possible that these laws were commanded right after the deaths of Nadav and Avihu. This day marked the completion of the Tabernacles's construction, the first vehicle for the nation's atonement.  On that very day, Hashem introduced teh second vehicle, Yom HaKippuriim.
• Warning – To achieve atonement for the people, it is required for Aharon to go into the Holy of Hollies. Since according to R. Saadia Gaon¹ Nadav and Avihu were killed for going into the Holy of Hollies, Hashem used them as an example for what could happen if you go into the Holy of Hollies without the accompanying service.

When and how often was the ritual enacted?

What sins are being atoned for? The atonement from the service is for all of the sins of Israel.

Role of blood

Is the purification for the people or the place? The purification is for the people exclusively. Any reference to purifying the Kodesh or any part of the Mikdash is not to be understood as purifying the place or objects themselves; instead these objects are facilitating the atonement through the service of the day.

What is the function of various rituals of the service? All the rituals are for the atonement of the people, and even the text says that specific actions, for example:

EN/HEע/E

וְכִפֶּר עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמִפִּשְׁעֵיהֶם לְכׇל חַטֹּאתָם וְכֵן יַעֲשֶׂה לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד הַשֹּׁכֵן אִתָּם בְּתוֹךְ טֻמְאֹתָם.

And he shall make atonement for the holy place, because of the uncleannesses of the children of Israel, and because of their transgressions, even all their sins; and so shall he do for the tent of meeting, that dwelleth with them in the midst of their uncleannesses.

The blood libations, which come to purify the sanctuary, really use the sanctuary and the utensils to purify the sins of Israel

Purification of the Temple

The various rituals were instituted as a means of purifying the Mikdash from impurity.

Sources:Hoil MosheVayikra 16:1Vayikra 16:2Vayikra 16:3Vayikra 16:11Vayikra 16:16Vayikra 16:23Vayikra 16:32Vayikra 16:34About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki

Why start with Nadav and Avihu? Since the death of Nadav and Avihu caused the Midash and certain utensils to be impure, there is a need to purify them through this service.

What sins are being atoned for? It depends on whether the impurity is a Halakhic or Metaphoric one: 

• Halakhic - There is only atonement for sins directly dealing with the laws of impurity of the Mikdash. (come back) i.e., Entering the Mikdash impure, eating sacrifices in an impure state, etc.⁵ 
• Metaphoric - When Israel sins they are causing a  There must be atonement for all the sins of Israel that are causing the Mikdash to be 'impure'.⁶ 

Is the purification for the people or the place? The purification is for the Mikdash that has become impure. Any reference to the atonement of Israel's sins is a means to purify the temple.

Is there a greater atonement? The biggest issue with claiming the service on Yom Kippur is solely about purification of the temple is a later verse of the chapter (16:30):

כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי י"י תִּטְהָרוּ.

For on this day shall atonement be made for you, to cleanse you; from all your sins shall ye be clean before the Lord.

 The verse seems to say that there is a universal atonement that happens on this day which is connected to the service of the day. One way of solving this issue is to say that there is a separate aspect of atonement on Yom HaKippur that has nothing to do with the service done by the Kohen Gadol.⁷ 

What is the function of various rituals of the service? The function of the various rituals of the service depends on whether the purification of impurity was on a metaphoric or Halakhic level. According to the Hoil Moshe all of the sacrifices, including the Azazel, were to get rid of Halakhic Tumah and did not atone for any sins. Milgram, on the other hand, says that there was atonement in specific offerings like the Azazel that would facilitate purification of the Mikdash from the metaphoric impurity

Purity and Atonement

The service was dual focused, meant both to purge the Temple from impurity and to attain atonement for the nation.

Sources:perhaps R"Y Bekhor Shor, perhaps Chizkuni, Shadal, RDZH, J. Milgrom⁸

"וְכִפֶּר עַל הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִטֻּמְאֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל"

"וְהִתְוַדָּה עָלָיו אֶת כׇּל עֲוֺנֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל "

Connection to Nadav and Avihu?

בְּטַמְּאָם אֶת מִשְׁכָּנִי אֲשֶׁר בְּתוֹכָם

When and how often was the ritual enacted?

Meaning of "כפרה"

Choice of animals

Goat to Azazel

What sins are being atoned for? The sins being atoned for are sins of impurity of the Mikdash and the rest of the sins of Israel.

Is there a purification of the people or the place? The purification is for the Mikdash and the utensils and for the people of Israel

ANE parallels

¹ The summary statement of verse 30, too, (כִּי בַיּוֹם הַזֶּה יְכַפֵּר עֲלֵיכֶם לְטַהֵר אֶתְכֶם מִכֹּל חַטֹּאתֵיכֶם לִפְנֵי י"י תִּטְהָרוּ) focuses on purification of the nation rather than a purging of the Temple.  Moreover, the verse emphasizes that this is a purification is from sin.

² The Midrash assumes that there were three sets of "forty days".  During the first set, Moshe received the initial tablets.

³ The blood of these offerings is similarly sprinkled in the sanctum and on the incense altar, while their flesh is burned outside the camp. This stands in contrast to most sin offerings whose blood is sprinkled on the outer altar and whose flesh is eaten by the priests.

⁴ For various understandings of the sin, and whether or not it constituted idolatry, see Sin of the Golden Calf.

⁵ Hoil MosheVayikra 16Vayikra 16About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi

⁶ Milgram believes that the metaphorical Tumah manifested itself because of the sins of Israel. He supports his view with different illusion throughout Tanakh of God being unable or unwilling to reside in the Mikdash because of an impurity. caused by the sins of Israel

⁷ Support for this understanding can be seen in the verses as the mention of the service has to be done on Yom Kippur comes after the service itself. The Meshekh Chokhmah points this out and posets from the Gra that the service was able to be done on other days besides Yom Kippur to purify the temple.1
Another proof to this is the Mishna Yoma where R. Akiva lauds Israel for being purified by Hashem. Rav Soloveitchik2 understood this as R. Akiva telling the people, in a post-second temple world Israel still gets atonement from Hashem without the service of Yom Kippur. Seemingly, in this understanding, the day of Yom Kippur itself atones for the sins of Israel and the above verse is a declaration of that and not connected to the purification of the Mikdash.

⁸ See J. Milgrom, The Anchor Bible, Leviticus 1-17 (New York, 1991): 1009-1079.