Blessing Lulav and Etrog

§ ...Rav Yehuda said that Shmuel said: With regard to all the mitzvot, one recites a blessing over them prior to [over] their performance. The Gemara asks: From where may it be inferred that the word over is the language of priority? It is as Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said that it is written: “And Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain and overtook [vaya’avor] the Cushite” (II Samuel 18:23). Abaye said: It is derived from here: “And he passed [avar] before them” (Genesis 33:3). And if you wish, say instead that the proof is from here: “And their king passed [vaya’avor] before them and the Lord at their head” (Micah 2:13).

The Sages taught that he is exempt only in a case where he did not yet fulfill his obligation. However, if he already fulfilled his obligation and he carries the lulav out, he is liable to bring a sin-offering. The Gemara asks: Is it possible to carry the lulav without fulfilling one’s obligation? Didn’t he, from the moment that he lifted it, fulfill his obligation with it? Abaye said: It is referring to a case where he overturned it and lifted it. One fulfills his obligation only when lifting it in the manner in which it grows.

And one needs to be specific with regard to when one blesses the lulav. If one blesses (the lulav) after they picked it up in their hands, thus it is said about it that he lifted it (lit: by way of it) and fullfilled (his obligation) with it. And in fact one should bless all mitzvot before performing them, and thus it seems that one should bless (the lulav) prior to taking it up in their hand....it is good to bless from when one begins to take the lulav, before one takes up the etrog, since you bless before doing the action, and one needs the other, unless you flip one of them until you bless it as it is stated: you should only [perform a mitzvah] the way it grows/it's natural position.