Warning Bells – "וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ... וְלֹא יָמוּת"/2

Warning Bells – "וְנִשְׁמַע קוֹלוֹ... וְלֹא יָמוּת"

Exegetical Approaches

THIS TOPIC IS STILL BEING DEVELOPED AND UPDATED

Overview

Commentators disagree on what actions will serve to prevent death from occurring. Vayikra Rabbah and Rashi view the final words of the verse ("וְלֹא יָמוּת") as related to the wearing of all of the priestly garments, the absence of any one of which would have fatal consequences. Rashbam, in contrast, understands the words to refer specifically to the ringing bells of the high priest's robe which would alert the ordinary priests to evacuate the Tabernacle while the purification rite was being performed. Finally, Ralbag also explains that the words relate to the bells, but he posits that the bells served to remind the high priest to mentally prepare for his year round service.

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.

Sources: Vayikra Rabbah20:921:8 (Margulies)21:8 (Vilna)About Vayikra Rabbah, RashiShemot 28:35Shemot 28:43Yoma 44b s.v. "ניאשתיק"About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki

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 priest's entry. This evacuation was either for the protection of other ordinary priests or for the high priest himself.

Sources: RashbamShemot 28:35About R. Shemuel b. Meir,¹ RambanShemot 28:35About R. Moshe Nachmanides, R. BachyaShemot 28:35About R. Bachya b. Asher

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.

Parallel verses – According to this approach, the verse in Shemot is integrally related to the command of Vayikra 16:17, "וְכָל אָדָם לֹא יִהְיֶה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד בְּבֹאוֹ לְכַפֵּר בַּקֹּדֶשׁ". Rashbam assumes the verse refers to ordinary priests, while Ramban and R. Bachya understand the phrase "וְכָל 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?

• According to Rashbam, it is only logical that the high priest alone wear the bells as he is the one who needs to warn the other priests
• According to Ramban and R. Bachya, one might have thought that any priest entering the "Holy" should similarly have to evacuate the ministering angels. Ramban suggests that the command is aimed just at the high priest due to his higher stature and greater service.

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Proper Respect or Intentions

Sources: R. ChananelYoma 52aAbout R. Chananel, R. Yosef Bekhor ShorShemot 28:35About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor, RalbagShemot 28:35About R. Levi b. Gershon

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Sources: Bavli YomaYoma 44bAbout the Bavli, Bavli YomaYoma 52aAbout the Bavli, Vayikra Rabbah21:8 (Margulies)21:8 (Vilna)About Vayikra Rabbah, Ibn EzraShemot Short Commentary 28:35Vayikra 16:4About R. Avraham ibn Ezra, Tosafot SanhedrinSanhedrin 83b s.v. "אין"About Ba'alei HaTosafot, ChizkuniShemot 28:35About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach, R. Avraham b. HaRambamShemot 28:35About R. Avraham Maimonides, AbarbanelShemot 28:35About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoVayikra 24:3About R. Ovadyah Seforno,

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Crux of the position –

¹ This may also be how the Mishna interpreted the verse. See Mishna TamidTamid 6:3About the Mishna and Mishna KeilimKeilim 1:9About the Mishna.

² The fear, perhaps, is that these priests might accidentally see the Divine presence during the high priest's service.