Texts in Conversation
In Leviticus, Moses asks Aaron why he did not eat a sin offering, noting that its blood was not taken into the sanctuary. The Hebrew text mentions “the blood” without qualification, but the Aramaic translation in Targum Onkelos changes this to “some of the blood,” to avoid an unrealistic request.
Share:
Leviticus 10:18
Hebrew Bible
17 “Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sanctuary? For it is most holy, and he gave it to you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement on their behalf before the Lord. 18 See here! Its blood was not brought into the Holy Place within! You should certainly have eaten it in the sanctuary just as I commanded!” 19 But Aaron spoke to Moses, “See here! Just today they presented their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord, and such things as these have happened to me! If I had eaten a sin offering today, would the Lord have been pleased?”
Date: 5th Century B.C.E. (Final composition) (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Onkelos Leviticus 10:18
Targum
17 Why have you not eaten of the sin offering in the holy place, because it is most holy; and He hath delivered it unto you for pardoning mercy upon the sin of the congregation to make atonement for them before the Lord? 18 Behold, some of its blood was not brought in within the sanctuary: eating you should have eaten it within the holy (precinct), as I had commanded. 19 And Aharon said to Mosheh, Behold, this day they have brought their sin offering and their burnt offering before the Lord; but such griefs as these having come upon me, if I had eaten of the sin offering to-day, would it have been right before the Lord?
Date: 100-200 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Source
Search:
Notes and References
"... The Bible (as well as the Talmud and Midrashim) frequently makes what some scholars consider exaggerated statements to highlight a point, for dramatic effect, or to present an idea poetically or metaphorically. An example is God promising that the Israelites would equal the number of stars and grains of sand when what was meant is that they will be very numerous and not necessarily equal in number to the stars and grains. So, too, here, Onkelos, Sifra, the Babylonian Talmud (Zevachim 82a), Pseudo-Jonathan, and the Septuagint recognize that Moses did not mean all of the blood, as the wording of the Pentateuch seems to imply when it states “the blood,” and clarify the poetic or metaphoric hyperbole by substituting “some of the blood” ..."
Drazin, Israel, and Stanley M. Wagner
Onkelos on the Torah, Leviticus: Understanding the Bible Text
(pp. 68-69) Gefen, 2006
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.