Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21-24)
Leviticus 21
21:1 And the LORD said unto Moses, Speak unto the priests the sons of Aaron, and say unto them, There shall none be defiled for the dead among his people:
2026 Comment: “the priests the sons of Aaron”: They did not have a formal family name when Aaron was anointed as the first High Priest at Mount Sinai, how can we know who are Aaron’s likely descendants nowadays?
Many of his descendants use the Hebrew word for “priest” as the family name. For example, Cohen, Kohen, Kahn, Kohn. One of my academic collaborators is named Kohn, who is probably Aaron’s descendant. We coauthored two papers together with some other colleagues.
Who are Moses’ likely descendants nowadays?
I do not know who Moses’ biological descendants are. However, it is more important that he has many generations of students for bible study extending to nowadays. I am one of them.
21:13 And he shall take a wife in her virginity.
Comment: “he”: the high priest. From here we can derive that the high priest must be married. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Priest_of_Israel
This is unlike in some other religions which consider holiness to be related to being single. However, the high priest can only marry a virgin. There are more commandments required for the high priest, than which are required for an ordinary priest, than which are required for ordinary Jews, than which are required for non-Jews. At the face value, one could see the more requirements negatively, as being more restrictive, since, e.g., a non-high-priest can freely choose to marry and can choose to marry a virgin also, and a non-Jew can eat kosher food also. However, I could also argue that being required is a positive thing, since any stated benefits (such as having a wife, or eating healthier kosher food) become more *guaranteed* for the observants of those requirements.
Leviticus 22
22:32 Neither shall ye profane my holy name; but I will be hallowed among the children of Israel: I am the LORD which hallow you,
Comment: This verse talks about the very important commandment of sanctifying the Name (kiddush Hashem). See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiddush_Hashem, which explains that “The ultimate act of sanctification of the Name is a Jew who is prepared to sacrifice his life rather than transgress any of God’s three cardinal laws: banning serving idols, committing certain sexual acts (such as incest or adultery) or committing murder.” This way he would fulfill part of the most important commandment, of loving his Gd with all his soul (life) (Deuteronomy 6:5).
Leviticus 23
23:36 Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein.
Comment: “the eighth day”: This is the Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day Assembly), the last biblical holiday in the biblical year (on the 22nd of the 7th month, in the autumn season). The number eight symbolizes a new beginning after an ending, since the eighth day is the first day after a seven-day week. The Israelites nowadays use this day as the time to finish and restart the annual Torah reading. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shemini_Atzeret
All the spring biblical holidays have already been realized in the New Testament (Passover by the time of Jesus’s death and resurrection, Pentecost by the time of receiving the Holy Spirit as described in Acts 2), but the autumn biblical holidays have not yet been realized, and they may be realized in the time foretold by the Book of Revelation, for example, Feast of Trumpets by the second coming of the Christ, Day of Atonement by the repentance of the Jews and their acceptance of the Christ. The Feast of Tabernacles and the connected Eighth Day Assembly may symbolize the time when Gd dwells together with mankind, when comes the new heaven, the new earth, and the new Jerusalem, which will be forever. Related concepts may be seen at, e.g.,
https://www.gotquestions.org/Jewish-feasts.html
https://www.hebrew4christians.com/Holidays/Fall_Holidays/fall_holidays.html
23:37 These are the feasts of the LORD, which ye shall proclaim to be holy convocations, to offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD, a burnt offering, and a meat offering, a sacrifice, and drink offerings, every thing upon his day:
2026 Comment: “every thing upon his day’’; What is a related Hebrew proverb?
“(If) its day passed, its offering was annulled”
avar yomo batel korbano
עָבַר יוֹמוֹ בָּטֵל קָרְבָּנוֹ
See
https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Leviticus.23.37.3?lang=bi
Some related links:
https://www.hebrewpod101.com/blog/2021/06/10/best-hebrew-proverbs/
https://m.economictimes.com/us/news/hebrew-proverb-of-the-day-its-day-passed-its-sacrifice-was-annulled-a-lesson-on-the-irreplaceable-value-of-the-right-moment/articleshow/130436039.cms
This proverb emphasizes the importance of doing a thing at its right time.
Biblical holidays emphasize this concept. Many of the holidays are related to biblical events, for example, the timing of Passover is related to the Exodus from Egypt， when the L-rd saved His people.
“every thing upon his day’’: Does this verse also have some application?
I think this urges us to do our duty for G-d every day. G-d gives us daily duty. Even though sometimes it may feel burdensome due to our human weakness or sinful nature, it is really due to His grace and is our privilege. The phrase ““every thing upon his day’’ in Hebrew is “Dvar Yom B’Yomo ”, the same phrase was used in Exodus 6:13,19, when Egyptians pressed Israelites to do slavery work on time, to finish making daily quota of bricks, from straws that were no longer provided but had to be gathered by themselves. It is better to work hard for G-d than to work hard for the Egyptians.
Leviticus 24
24:15 And thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Whosoever curseth his Gd shall bear his sin.
Comment: No one comes to live on the earth by himself. His creator is behind all things about him: who will be his parents, at what point of history and in which country will he be born, from what food will he be sustained, …. Cursing his own creator (who is also the creator of his parents, and his parents’ parents…) is a grave sin, even for non-Jews, under the seven commandments for the children of Noah, according to the Jewish tradition. See, e.g., https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_Laws_of_Noah