Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Tetzaveh – Revi’i: The inauguration procedure (Wednesday, 8th Adar)

📘 Rashi Q&A — Shemot 29:1–18

29:1 — The Inauguration Offerings

Q1. What does “לְקַח” mean according to Rashi?

A: It has the same meaning as קַח (“take”); both roots mean the same.

Q2. Why is one bull required?

A: To atone for the Golden Calf, which was a young bull.

29:2 — The Unleavened Breads

Q3. How many types of unleavened bread were brought?

A: Three: scalded bread, loaves, and flat cakes.

Q4. What is “לֶחֶם מַצּוֹת” according to Rashi?

A: Scalded bread, later called “חַלַּת לֶחֶם שֶׁמֶן.”

Q5. How many loaves were made of each type?

A: Ten of each type.

Q6. What does “בְּלוּלֹת בַּשֶּׁמֶן” mean?

A: Oil was mixed into the flour before baking.

Q7. What does “מְשֻׁחִים בַּשֶּׁמֶן” mean?

A: Oil was smeared after baking, in the shape of a Greek כ (Λ).

29:3 — Bringing the Offerings

Q8. What does “וְהִקְרַבְתָּ אֹתָם” mean?

A: Bring them into the Courtyard on the day the Mishkan is erected.

29:4 — Immersion

Q9. What does “וְרָחַצְתָּ” mean here?

A: Full-body immersion in a mikveh.

29:5 — Dressing Aaron

Q10. What does “וְאָפַדְתָּ” mean?

A: To adorn him by arranging the apron and belt properly.

29:6 — The Holy Diadem

Q11. What is “נֵזֶר הַקֹּדֶשׁ”?

A: The Forehead-plate (Tzitz).

Q12. How is the Forehead-plate placed “over the Turban”?

A: By means of the three cords tied behind the head, as explained earlier by Rashi.

29:7 — Anointing Aaron

Q13. How was Aaron anointed with oil?

A: In the shape of a Greek כ, placed on his head and between his eyelashes and joined with a finger.

29:8–9 — Aaron’s Sons

Q14. What garments were placed on Aaron’s sons?

A: Tunics, sashes, and hats.

Q15. What does “וְהָיְתָה לָהֶם” mean?

A: This inauguration grants them an eternal right to the priesthood.

Q16. What does “וּמִלֵּאתָ” mean?

A: You must install them into their office.

29:10 — Laying Hands

Q17. What does leaning hands on the bull signify?

A: Identification and transfer prior to slaughter, as part of the sin-offering rite.

29:11 — Slaughtering the Bull

Q18. What does “פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד” mean?

A: In the Courtyard, in front of the entrance to the Tent of Meeting.

29:12 — Applying the Blood

Q19. Where was some of the blood placed?

A: On the horns of the Altar, above.

Q20. What does “וְאֶת כָּל הַדָּם” mean?

A: All the remaining blood.

Q21. What is the “יְסוֹד הַמִּזְבֵּחַ”?

A: A one-cubit-high base projection around the Altar.

29:13 — Burning the Fat

Q22. What is “הַחֵלֶב הַמְכַסֶּה אֶת הַקֶּרֶב”?

A: The membrane covering the stomach (“tyle” in Old French).

Q23. What is “הַיֹּתֶרֶת”?

A: The diaphragm (“ebres” in Old French).

Q24. What does “עַל הַכָּבֵד” mean?

A: Take part of the liver together with the diaphragm.

29:14 — Burning the Bull Outside

Q25. Why is this bull burned outside the camp?

A: Because it is a sin-offering, and no other such offering with blood on the Outer Altar is burned.

29:15–16 — The First Ram

Q26. What was done before slaughtering the first ram?

A: Aaron and his sons leaned their hands on its head.

Q27. What does “וְזָרַקְתָּ” mean?

A: Dash the blood with a vessel, not with the finger.

Q28. Why is the blood dashed and not applied with the finger?

A: Only sin-offerings require finger application on the horns.

Q29. What does “סָבִיב” mean regarding the blood?

A: Two applications that become four, covering all sides of the Altar.

29:17 — Cutting the Ram

Q30. What does “עַל נְתָחָיו” mean?

A: Place the washed innards and legs together with the other pieces.

29:18 — Burning the Ram

Q31. What does “רֵיחַ נִיחוֹחַ” mean?

A: It gives Hashem pleasure that His will was fulfilled.

Q32. What does “אִשֶּׁה” mean?

A: A fire-offering, referring to burning the limbs on the fire.