Parashat Tzav

Parashat: Tzav

Haftarah: Veareva

Shabbat Hagadol

The midrash says that on that first of Nisan, Hashem gave Moshe and Aharon additional mitzvot.

"Tell B’nai Yisrael today, Hashem commanded that on the tenth of Nisan, the head of each family shall take a lamb.  

It must be a male without blemish and in its first year.  He shall tie it to his bedpost for four days to examine it and determine that it is without blemish and fit for a korban (sacrifice).  In the afternoon of the fourteen’s of Nisan, slaughter the lamb for the Pesach sacrifice.  

"Master of the universe," objected Moshe, "how can I command the Jewish people to slaughter sheep, which are idolized by the Egyptians?" 

Hashem answered, "I swear that they will not leave this land, unless they first slaughter the gods of Egypt," demonstrating the helplessness of the deities of the nation.

By forcing them to sacrifice a lamb, as the lamb was a idol god worshiped by Egyptians and B'nai Israel, Hashem knew this would cause them to find atonement for their sins of idolatry in Egypt.  

Furthermore, seeing the "idols" of Egypt tied to their bedposts and bleeding helplessly, while the Egyptians were powerless to take action against them, would strengthen their emuna (faith) in Hashem.

Hashem gave Moshe and Aharon detailed instructions about the mitzvah of Korban Pesach (the Passover sacrifice) commanding upper slaughtering.

"The lamb you should let its blood flow into a basin, dip a bundle of hyssop grass into it, and place some of the blood on the doorpost and liner of the house, in which the Korban Pesach will be eaten."

--- from the Midrash

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Benhamu