Vessels of the Sanctuary and Those Who Serve Therein Chapter 10

כֵּיצַד סֵדֶר לְבִישַׁת הַבְּגָדִים. לוֹבֵשׁ הַמִּכְנָסַיִם תְּחִלָּה וְחוֹגֵר אֶת הַמִּכְנָסַיִם לְמַעְלָה מִטִּבּוּרוֹ מֵעַל מָתְנָיו. וְאַחַר כָּךְ לוֹבֵשׁ הַכֻּתֹּנֶת. וְאַחַר כָּךְ חוֹגֵר אֶת הָאַבְנֵט כְּנֶגֶד אַצִּילֵי יָדָיו וּמַקִּיפוֹ כֶּרֶךְ עַל כֶּרֶךְ עַד שֶׁגּוֹמֵר וְקוֹשֵׁר:

What is the order in which the priestly garments should be put on? [The priest] should put on the leggings first, tying them above his navel, over his loins. Afterwards, he puts on the tunic and then puts on the sash at elbow height. He should wind it fold after fold until it ends and then tie it.

וְעַל הָאַבְנֵט מְפֹרָשׁ בַּקַּבָּלָה (יחזקאל מד יח) "וְלֹא יַחְגְּרוּ בַּיָּזַע" בְּמָקוֹם שֶׁמְּזִיעִין. וְכָךְ קִבֵּל יוֹנָתָן בֶּן עוּזִיאֵל מִפִּי הַנְּבִיאִים וְתִרְגֵּם עַל לְבָבֵיהוֹן יֵסְרוּן. וְאַחַר כָּךְ צוֹנֵף בַּמִּצְנֶפֶת כְּמִין כּוֹבַע:

With regard to the sash, [where it should be placed can be understood from] the received tradition. [Ezekiel 44:18] states: "They shall not gird themselves bayeza, [interpreted to mean] "in a place where one perspires." Yonason, the son of Uziel, received the same tradition from the prophets and translated the phrase: "They will gird themselves over the heart." Afterwards, he should arrange the headpiece as a hat.

כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אַחַר שֶׁחוֹגֵר בְּאַבְנֵט לוֹבֵשׁ הַמְּעִיל. וְעַל הַמְּעִיל הָאֵפוֹד וְהַחֹשֶׁן וְחוֹגֵר בְּחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפוֹד עַל הַמְּעִיל מִתַּחַת הַחֹשֶׁן וּלְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא (שמות כח לא) (שמות כט ה) (שמות לט כב) "מְעִיל הָאֵפוֹד" שֶׁחוֹגְרוֹ בָּאֵפוֹד. וְאַחַר כָּךְ צוֹנֵף בַּמִּצְנֶפֶת וְקוֹשֵׁר הַצִּיץ לְמַעְלָה מִן הַמִּצְנֶפֶת וּשְׂעָרוֹ הָיָה נִרְאָה בֵּין צִיץ לַמִּצְנֶפֶת וְשָׁם הָיָה מֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין בֵּין צִיץ לַמִּצְנֶפֶת:

After the High Priest girds himself with the sash, he puts on the cloak, and on the cloak, the ephod and the breastplate. He girds himself with the belt of the ephod over the cloak, below the breastplate. Therefore [the cloak] is called "the cloak of the ephod," the cloak that is girded closed with the ephod. Afterwards, he winds the headgear like a turban. He ties the forehead plate [behind his head,] above the turban. His hair was visible between the forehead plate and the turban and it is in that place that he would wear his tefillin between the forehead plate and the turban.

מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּגָדִים אֵלּוּ וְלִהְיוֹת הַכֹּהֵן עוֹבֵד בָּהֶן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כח ב) "וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי קֹדֶשׁ". (שמות כט ח) "וְאֶת בָּנָיו תַּקְרִיב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּם כֻּתֳּנֹת". וְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁמוֹנָה בְּגָדִים אֵלּוּ אוֹ כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ בְּפָחוֹת מֵאַרְבָּעָה בְּגָדִים אֵלּוּ הוּא הַנִּקְרָא מְחֻסַּר בְּגָדִים וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ פְּסוּלָה וְחַיָּב מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם כְּזָר שֶׁשִּׁמֵּשׁ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כט ט) "וְחָגַרְתָּ אֹתָם אַבְנֵט" (שמות כט ט) "וְהָיְתָה לָהֶם כְּהֻנָּה". בִּזְמַן שֶׁבִּגְדֵיהֶם עֲלֵיהֶן כְּהֻנָּתָן עֲלֵיהֶן. אֵין בִּגְדֵיהֶן עֲלֵיהֶן אֵין כְּהֻנָּתָם עֲלֵיהֶן אֶלָּא הֲרֵי הֵם כְּזָרִים וְנֶאֱמַר (במדבר א נא) (במדבר ג י) (במדבר ג לח) (במדבר יח ז) "וְהַזָּר הַקָּרֵב יוּמָת":

It is a positive commandment to make these garments and for the priests to serve in them, as [Exodus 28:2] states: "And you shall make holy garments," and [ibid. 29:8] states: "And drew near his sons and dress them in tunics." When a High Priest serves with less than these eight garments or an ordinary priest serves with less than these four garments, he is called lacking garments. His service is invalid and he is liable for death at the hand of Heaven, like a non-priest who serves. [This is indicated by ibid.:9 which states:] "And you shall gird them with a sash... and their priesthood shall be for them...." [Implied is that] when their garments are upon them, their priesthood is upon them. [Conversely,] if their garments are not upon them, they are like non-priests, concerning whom [Numbers 1:51] states: "A non-priest who draws close [to the service of the Sanctuary] shall die."

כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהַמְּחֻסַּר בְּגָדִים חַיָּב מִיתָה וּפוֹסֵל הָעֲבוֹדָה. כָּךְ הַיָּתֵר בְּגָדִים כְּגוֹן שֶׁלָּבַשׁ שְׁתֵּי כֻּתֳּנוֹת אוֹ שְׁנֵי אַבְנֵטִים אוֹ כֹּהֵן הֶדְיוֹט שֶׁלָּבַשׁ בִּגְדֵי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל וְעָבַד הֲרֵי זֶה מְחַלֵּל הָעֲבוֹדָה וְחַיָּב מִיתָה בִּידֵי שָׁמַיִם:

Just like a priest who is lacking garments is liable to die and invalidates the service he performs, so too, one who wears extra garments - e.g., he wears two tunics, two sashes, or an ordinary priest who wears the garments of the High Priest and performs service - profanes his service and is liable for death at the hand of Heaven.

נֶאֱמַר בְּבִגְדֵי כְּהֻנָּה (ויקרא טז ד) "עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ" (ויקרא טז ד) "וּלְבֵשָׁם". מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה דָּבָר חוֹצֵץ בֵּין בְּשָׂרוֹ לַבְּגָדִים. אֲפִלּוּ נִימָא אַחַת אוֹ עָפָר אוֹ כִּנָּה מֵתָה אִם הָיְתָה בֵּין בָּשָׂר לַבֶּגֶד הֲרֵי זוֹ חֲצִיצָה וַעֲבוֹדָתוֹ פְּסוּלָה. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין הַכֹּהֵן יָכוֹל לַעֲבֹד בִּתְפִלִּין שֶׁל יָד שֶׁהֲרֵי חוֹצֶצֶת. אֲבָל שֶׁל רֹאשׁ אֵינָהּ חוֹצֶצֶת. וְאִם רָצָה לַהֲנִיחָם בִּשְׁעַת הָעֲבוֹדָה מֵנִיחַ:

It is said with regard to the priestly garments: "on his flesh and he shall wear them." [Implied is that] nothing should intervene between his flesh and the garments. Even if there is one thread, earth, or a dead louse between his flesh and the [priestly] garment, it is considered an intervening substance and his service is invalid. Therefore a priest cannot serve [in the Temple wearing] his arm tefillin, because they intervene. The head tefillin, by contrast, do not intervene and if he desires to wear them at the time of his Temple service, he may.

וְצָרִיךְ לְהִזָּהֵר בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁלּוֹבֵשׁ שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה אָבָק בֵּין בִּגְדוֹ לִבְשָׂרוֹ וְלֹא כִּנָּה אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהִיא בַּחַיִּים. וְשֶׁלֹּא תִּכָּנֵס הָרוּחַ בִּשְׁעַת הָעֲבוֹדָה בֵּין בְּשָׂרוֹ לְבִגְדוֹ עַד שֶׁיִּתְרַחֵק הַבֶּגֶד מֵעָלָיו. וְלֹא יַכְנִיס יָדוֹ תַּחַת חֲלוּקוֹ לַחֵיק. וְלֹא יֵצֵא שְׂעָרוֹ מִן הַבֶּגֶד. וְלֹא יִהְיֶה בַּבֶּגֶד נִימָא מְדֻלְדֶּלֶת. וְאִם הָיָה שָׁם אֶחָד מִכָּל אֵלּוּ עֲבוֹדָתוֹ כְּשֵׁרָה:

[A priest] must be careful at the time that he puts on [the priestly garments] that there be no dust, nor a louse - even if it is alive - between his flesh and the garment. Nor should air enter between his flesh and his garment during the time of service so that the garment will become distant from his flesh. He should not place his hand in his bosom under his tunic. He should not remove his hair from the garment, nor should there be a strand hanging loose from the garment. [Although] one these factors occurs, his service is acceptable.

כָּרַךְ עַל בְּשָׂרוֹ בֶּגֶד שֶׁלֹּא בִּמְקוֹם בְּגָדִים כְּגוֹן שֶׁכְּרָכוֹ עַל אֶצְבָּעוֹ אוֹ עַל עֲקֵבוֹ אִם הָיָה בּוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת עַל שָׁלֹשׁ אֶצְבָּעוֹת הֲרֵי זֶה חוֹצֵץ וּפוֹסֵל. פָּחוֹת מִכָּאן אֵינוֹ חוֹצֵץ. וְאִם הָיָה צִלְצוּל קָטָן הוֹאִיל וְהוּא חָשׁוּב בֶּגֶד בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה פּוֹסֵל וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ:

[The following rules apply if a priest] wrapped a cloth on his flesh in a place [untouched by the priestly] garments, e.g., he wrapped it on his finger or on his heel. If it is three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths, it is considered as an intervening substance and it invalidates [the service]. If it is smaller than that, it is not considered as an intervening substance. A small belt, since it is considered as an independent garment, invalidates [one's service] even if it is not three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths in area.

כֹּהֵן שֶׁלָּקָה בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ מֻתָּר לִכְרֹךְ עָלֶיהָ גֶּמִי בְּשַׁבָּת אוֹ בֶּגֶד שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ עַל שָׁלֹשׁ וְעוֹבֵד. וְאִם נִתְכַּוֵּן לְהוֹצִיא דָּם אָסוּר. וְהוּא שֶׁלֹּא יָחֹץ הַגֶּמִי אוֹ הַבֶּגֶד בֵּין בְּשָׂרוֹ לַכְּלִי בִּשְׁעַת עֲבוֹדָה:

When the finger of a priest is wounded, he is permitted to tie a reed or a cloth that is not three fingerbreadths by three fingerbreadths around it on the Sabbath and perform his service. If he intends to release blood, it is forbidden. [Leniency is granted,] provided the reed or the cloth does not intervene between his flesh and a sacred utensil at the time of service.

עָשׂוּ בְּבַיִת שֵׁנִי אוּרִים וְתֻמִּים כְּדֵי לְהַשְׁלִים שְׁמוֹנָה בְּגָדִים וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ נִשְׁאָלִין בָּהֶן. וּמִפְּנֵי מָה לֹא הָיוּ שׁוֹאֲלִין בָּהֶן מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלֹּא הָיְתָה שָׁם רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְכָל כֹּהֵן שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְאֵין שְׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה עָלָיו אֵין נִשְׁאָלִין בּוֹ:

In the Second Temple, they made the Urim and the Tumim to complete the eight garments [of the High Priest] even though inquiry was not made of them. Why was inquiry not made of them? Because the Holy Spirit was not vested there. And whenever a priest does not speak with the Holy Spirit and the Divine Presence does not rest there, inquiry is not made.

וְכֵיצַד שׁוֹאֲלִין. עוֹמֵד הַכֹּהֵן וּפָנָיו לִפְנֵי הָאָרוֹן וְהַשּׁוֹאֵל מֵאַחֲרָיו. פָּנָיו לְאַחֲרֵי הַכֹּהֵן. וְאוֹמֵר הַשּׁוֹאֵל אֶעֱלֶה אוֹ לֹא אֶעֱלֶה. וְאֵינוֹ שׁוֹאֵל בְּקוֹל רָם וְלֹא מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ אֶלָּא בְּקוֹל נָמוּךְ כְּמִי שֶׁמִּתְפַּלֵּל בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ. וּמִיָּד רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ לוֹבֵשׁ אֶת הַכֹּהֵן וּמַבִּיט בַּחֹשֶׁן וְרוֹאֶה בּוֹ בְּמַרְאֵה הַנְּבוּאָה עֲלֵה אוֹ לֹא תַּעֲלֶה בָּאוֹתִיּוֹת שֶׁבּוֹלְטוֹת מִן הַחֹשֶׁן כְּנֶגֶד פָּנָיו. וְהַכֹּהֵן מְשִׁיבוֹ וְאוֹמֵר לוֹ עֲלֵה אוֹ לֹא תַּעֲלֶה:

How was inquiry made? The [High] priest would stand facing the Ark. The person making inquiry was behind him, facing the [High] Priest's back. The inquirer would ask: "Should I go up [to war] or not?" He would not ask in a loud voice, nor would he merely think about the matter in his heart. Instead, [he would speak] in a low voice, like someone praying to himself. Immediately, the Holy Spirit will enclothe the [High] Priest. He will look at the breastplate and with the spirit of prophecy see "Go up" or "Do not go up" written in letters emerging from the breastplate toward his face. The [High] Priest would then answer [the inquirer], telling him: "Go up" or "Do not go up."

וְאֵין שׁוֹאֲלִין עַל שְׁנֵי דְּבָרִים כְּאֶחָד. וְאִם שָׁאַל מְשִׁיבִין עַל הָרִאשׁוֹן בִּלְבַד. וְאֵין נִשְׁאָלִין בָּהֶן לְהֶדְיוֹט אֶלָּא אוֹ לְמֶלֶךְ אוֹ לְבֵית דִּין אוֹ לְמִי שֶׁצֹּרֶךְ הַצִּבּוּר בּוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כז כא) "וְלִפְנֵי אֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן יַעֲמֹד וְגוֹ'. "הוּא" זֶה הַמֶּלֶךְ. "וְכָל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" זֶה הוּא מְשׁוּחַ מִלְחָמָה אוֹ מִי שֶׁצֹּרֶךְ הַצִּבּוּר בִּשְׁאֵלָתוֹ. "וְכָל הָעֵדָה" אֵלּוּ בֵּית דִּין הַגָּדוֹל:

Two matters should not be asked about at once. If they are, one replies only to the first. Inquiry should not be made [of the Urim and Tumim] by an ordinary person, only by a king, the court, or one who the community at large requires. [This is derived from Numbers 27:21:] "Before Elazar the priest shall he stand... [he and all the children of Israel with him, and the entire congregation]." "He" refers to the king; "all the children of Israel" to the priest anointed to lead the people in war, or someone whom the people need to make inquiry for them; and "all the congregation" refers to the High Court.

זֶה שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּדִבְרֵי נְבִיאִים שֶׁהַכֹּהֲנִים הָיוּ חוֹגְרִין אֵפוֹד בַּד לֹא הָיוּ כֹּהֲנִים גְּדוֹלִים. שֶׁאֵין הָאֵפוֹד שֶׁל כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל אֵפוֹד בַּד. וְאַף הַלְוִיִּם הָיוּ חוֹגְרִין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁהֲרֵי שְׁמוּאֵל הַנָּבִיא לֵוִי הָיָה וְנֶאֱמַר בּוֹ (שמואל א ב יח) "נַעַר חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד". אֶלָּא אֵפוֹד זֶה הָיוּ חוֹגְרִים אוֹתוֹ בְּנֵי הַנְּבִיאִים וּמִי שֶׁהוּא רָאוּי שֶׁתִּשְׁרֶה עָלָיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְהוֹדִיעַ כִּי הִגִּיעַ זֶה לְמַעֲלַת כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל שֶׁמְּדַבֵּר עַל פִּי הָאֵפוֹד וְהַחֹשֶׁן בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ:

The statements found in the words of the prophets that the priests would wear an ephod of linen does not mean that they were High Priests. For the High Priest's ephod was not of linen [alone]. For the Levites would also wear such a garment, for the prophet Samuel was a Levite, and [I Samuel 2:18] describes him as "a youth, girded with a linen ephod." Instead, this ephod was worn by the students of the prophets and those who were fit to have the Holy Spirit rest upon them to make it known that such a person reached a rung equivalent to that of the High Priest who speaks with the Holy Spirit via the medium of the ephod and the breastplate. Blessed be the Merciful One Who grants assistance.