Texts in Conversation
Leviticus 9 says Aaron blessed the people after the offerings, yet versions differ on how he raised his hand. The Masoretic text says he lifted both hands and the Samaritan Pentateuch says he lifted one, perhaps reflecting competing traditions.
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2500 BCE
1000+ CE
Leviticus 9:22
Hebrew Bible
21 Finally Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering before the Lord just as Moses had commanded. 22 Then Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them and descended from making the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the peace offering. 23 Moses and Aaron then entered into the Meeting Tent. When they came out, they blessed the people, and the glory of the Lord appeared to all the people.
Date: 750–400 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
Samaritan Leviticus 9:22
Samaritan Penteteuch
Samaritan
21 and Aaron waved the breasts and the right thigh as a wave offering in the presence of Shema, as Shema commanded Moses. 22 And Aaron raised his hand toward the people, and blessed them; and he came down from offering the sin offering, and the burned offering, and the peace offerings. 23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and came out, and blessed the people; and the glory of Shema appeared to all the people.
Date: 130–120 BCE (based on scholarly estimates)
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Notes and References
"... The passage of Leviticus 9:22 mentions the blessing of the people by Aaron after he offered sacrifices. The posture of the one giving the blessing is particularly notable, as the textual witnesses are not in agreement. According to the reading of one textual witness or another, it is possible to understand that Aaron raised either one hand (ידו) or both hands (ידיו). The textual difference is very minor, involving the presence or absence of the second yod (י). However, this question holds significant interest as it contributes to the understanding of the priest's posture while blessing the people. The divergences between textual witnesses suggest that either the posture evolved over time or it varied among communities. Rabbinic traditions often describe the priestly blessing with two hands raised, which appears to be the standard practice. Conversely, the Samaritan Pentateuch implies that Aaron raised only one hand ..."
Innocent Himbaza, “La Bénédiction d’Aaron en Lévitique 9,22 et le Pentateuque Samaritain,” in The Text of Leviticus: Proceedings of the Third International Colloquium of the Dominique Barthélemy Institute, ed. Innocent Himbaza (Leuven: Peeters, 2020), 69–81.
* 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.
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