📜 Daily Chumash & Rashi – Parshas Shemini – Chamishi: The goat sin offering is burnt and not eaten (Thursday 22nd Nissan)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Vayikra 10:16–20

10:16 — Moses’ Inquiry

Q1. Which sin‑offering goat is referred to by “שְׂעִיר הַחַטָּאת” according to Rashi?

A: The goat of Rosh Chodesh, one of three sin‑offering goats brought that day.    

Q2. What were the three sin‑offering goats brought on that day?

A:

1. The goat of the installation rites
2. The goat donated by Nachshon
3. The goat of Rosh Chodesh

Q3. Which of these was burned?

A: Only the goat of Rosh Chodesh.

 Q4. Why do the sages say it was burned?

A:

• Some say because a ritually defiled entity touched it
• Others say because Aaron and his sons were onenim, and this sacrifice applied to all generations     

Q5. Why were the other two goats eaten despite their mourning?

A: Because they were one‑time offerings, and Aaron relied on Moses’ instruction: “eat them as unleavened loaves.”

10:16 — “דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ”                                 

Q6. What does the double phrase “דָּרֹשׁ דָּרַשׁ” indicate?

A: Moses made two inquiries.

Q7. What were the two questions Moses asked?

A:

1. Why was this sin‑offering burned?
2. Why were the other two eaten?

10:16 — Moses’ Anger

Q8. Why does the verse say Moses was angry with Eleazar and Itamar?

A: Out of respect for Aaron, Moses directed his anger toward the sons, though he was mainly upset with Aaron.

Q9. What does “לֵאמֹר” mean here according to Rashi?

A: “Respond to my questions.”

10:17 — Why Was It Not Eaten?

Q10. How does Rashi explain Moses’ question about eating “in the holy place”?

A: Moses was asking whether the goat had been taken outside the Courtyard, which would disqualify it.

Q11. How did Aaron and his sons answer this concern?

A: They told him it had not been taken outside.

Q12. What further question did Moses then ask?

A: If it was not taken outside, why was it not eaten?

Q13. What does “לָשֵׂאת אֶת־עֲוֹן הָעֵדָה” teach according to Rashi?

A: That the priests’ eating of the sacrifice brings atonement for the community.

Q14. What proof does Rashi give that this goat was the Rosh Chodesh offering?

A: Because it atoned for the sin of the community, unlike the other two goats.

10:18 — Blood Not Brought Inside

Q15. What argument does Moses make regarding the blood?

A: Since the blood was not brought into the Sanctuary, the goat should not have been burned.

Q16. What does “אָכֹל תֹּאכְלוּ” mean according to Rashi?

A: You should have eaten it, even though you are onenim.

Q17. What does “כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוֵּיתִי” refer to?

A: Moses’ earlier instruction regarding eating the grain‑offering while mourning.

10:19 — Aaron’s Response

Q18. Why does the verse say “וַיְדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן”?

A: Because Aaron spoke firmly, though respectfully.

Q19. Why did Eleazar and Itamar themselves not answer Moses?

A: Out of respect—a son should not speak in his father’s presence, nor a disciple before his teacher.

Q20. How do we know Eleazar was capable of answering?

A: Because elsewhere he does speak in the presence of Moses and the leaders.

10:19 — The Core Argument

Q21. What does Aaron mean by “הֵן הַיּוֹם הִקְרִיבוּ”?

A: He was answering Moses’ implied question about officiating while onenim.

Q22. What distinction does Aaron make between himself and his sons?

A:

• Ordinary priests invalidate service if they officiate while onenim
• The High Priest may officiate while an onen
•  

Q23. What does “וַתִּקְרֶאנָה אֹתִי כָּאֵלֶּה” mean?

A: Even if the deceased were other close relatives, for whom Aaron would also be obligated to mourn.

Q24. What does “הַיּוֹם” emphasize in Aaron’s argument?

A: That the prohibition applies on the day of burial, not the following night.

Q25. What is Aaron’s final reasoning?

A: That although one‑time offerings were permitted to be eaten while mourning, offerings prescribed for all generations are not.

10:20 — Moses’ Acceptance

Q26. What does “וַיִּיטַב בְּעֵינָיו” mean according to Rashi?

A: Moses accepted Aaron’s reasoning.

Q27. What admirable trait does Rashi highlight about Moses here?

A: That he was not ashamed to admit publicly:

“I did not hear it.”