Parashat Tetzaveh תצוה ("Command!")
This study guide covers Chapter 29, verses 19 to 21 of the 5th aliyah, the first reading of the third reading cycle. In Chapter 29 we learn of the consecration or ordination ritual (Milu'im) for Aaron and his brothers as priests: an offering of three sacrifices, the placement of blood and the anointing of the priests with oil.
(19) Then take the other ram, and let Aaron and his sons lay their hands upon the ram’s head. (20) Slaughter the ram, and take some of its blood and put it on the ridge of Aaron’s right ear and on the ridges of his sons’ right ears, and on the thumbs of their right hands, and on the big toes of their right feet; and dash the rest of the blood against every side of the altar round about. (21) Take some of the blood that is on the altar and some of the anointing oil and sprinkle upon Aaron and his vestments, and also upon his sons and his sons’ vestments. Thus shall he and his vestments be holy, as well as his sons and his sons’ vestments.
"The daubing of the blood of the sacrifice on the priest’s extremities has its counterpart only in the law of Leviticus 14:14ff., governing one who has recovered from the severe dermatological affliction called tsaraꜥat in Hebrew. There the ceremony has a purificatory function, and it most likely serves the same purpose here. The singling out of the ear, hand, and foot may well symbolize the idea that the priest is to attune himself to the divine word and be responsive to it in deed and direction in life."
Nahum M. Sarna, Exodus, The JPS Torah Commentary; Accordance electronic ed. (Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society, 1991), 189.
(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) זֹ֤את תִּֽהְיֶה֙ תּוֹרַ֣ת הַמְּצֹרָ֔ע בְּי֖וֹם טׇהֳרָת֑וֹ וְהוּבָ֖א אֶל־הַכֹּהֵֽן׃ .... (יד) וְלָקַ֣ח הַכֹּהֵן֮ מִדַּ֣ם הָאָשָׁם֒ וְנָתַן֙ הַכֹּהֵ֔ן עַל־תְּנ֛וּךְ אֹ֥זֶן הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר הַיְמָנִ֑ית וְעַל־בֹּ֤הֶן יָדוֹ֙ הַיְמָנִ֔ית וְעַל־בֹּ֥הֶן רַגְל֖וֹ הַיְמָנִֽית׃
(1) The LORD spoke to Moses, saying: (2) This shall be the ritual for a leper at the time that he is to be cleansed.
.... (14) The priest shall take some of the blood of the guilt offering, and the priest shall put it on the ridge of the right ear of him who is being cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
(א) זֹאת תִּהְיֶה תּוֹרַת הַמְצֹרָע (ויקרא יד, ב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ו, טז): שֶׁשׁ הֵנָּה שָׂנֵא ה' וְשֶׁבַע תּוֹעֲבַת נַפְשׁוֹ, רַבִּי מֵאִיר וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר שֵׁשׁ וָשֶׁבַע הֲרֵי שְׁלשׁ עֶשְׂרֵה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי שֶׁבַע מְקַיְימִין, וְשֶׁבַע דִּכְתִיב זוֹ שְׁבִיעִית שֶׁקָּשָׁה כְּנֶגֶד כֻּלָּם, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה (משלי ו, יט): וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן (משלי ו, יז יט): עֵינַיִם רָמוֹת לְשׁוֹן שָׁקֶר וְיָדַיִם שֹׁפְכוֹת דָּם נָקִי, לֵב חֹרֵשׁ מַחְשְׁבוֹת אָוֶן רַגְלַיִם מְמַהֲרוֹת לָרוּץ לָרָעָה, יָפִיחַ כְּזָבִים עֵד שָׁקֶר וּמְשַׁלֵּחַ מְדָנִים בֵּין אַחִים, וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְכֻלָּן לָקוּ בְּצָרַעַת.
(1) "This will be the law of the metsora" (Leviticus 14:2). This is that which is written (Proverbs 6:16), "Six things the Lord hates; seven are an abomination to His soul"... And these are them: "A haughty bearing, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood; A mind that hatches evil plots, feet quick to run to evil; A false witness testifying lies, and one who incites brothers to quarrel" (Proverbs:17-19). And Rabbi Yochanan said, "And all of them are struck with tsaraat."