LOTS גורלות
שְׁנֵי הַשְׁעִירִ ם גֹּרָלוֹת גוֹרָל אֶחָד לַה' וְׁגוֹרָל אֶחָד לַעֲזָאזֵל (ויקרא טז, ח)-וְׁנָתַן אַהֲרֹּן עַל And Aharon should place lots upon the two he-goats: one lot for HaShem and one lot for Azazel.
The Gemara (Yoma 37a) derives four points from this Pasuk:
- The verse could have written גרלות לה' ולעזאזל (lots for HaShem and for Azazel) using less words and seem to get the same point across; however, one might have then derived that double-lots (two attached lots) upon each animal.
- The verse could have written גרלות גורל לה' וגורל לעזאל (lots, a lot for HaShem and a lot for Azazel) leaving out the word אחד twice; however, one might have derived that after the “HaShem” lot is placed on one goat and the “Azazel” lot is placed on the other, they should be switched so that each goat has two lots placed on it. The extra words אחד teach that only one lot is placed on one goat.
- The verse could have been written גורל אחד לה' וגורל אחד לאזאזל (one lot for HaShem and one lot for Azazel, omitting the word גרלות twice; however, one might derive that the lots could be different from each other (one gold and the other silver; or one small and the other large). Thus the word גרלות teaches that the two lots must be identical.
- The verse could have been written גורלות אחד לה' ואחד לעזאזל (lots, one for HaShem and one for Azazel) omitting the word גורל twice; however, one might derive that the “HaShem” lot must be of gold similar to the Tzitz. Thus, the word גורל teaches that each lot may be fashioned from any material.
THE FATEFUL LOTTERY
Great anticipation and feelings of repentance mark the entire Yom Kippur service. One of the most dramatic moments is the lottery selecting the scapegoat which acts as an atonement for Israel's sins. This High Priest is seen above, flanked by the Deputy High Priest on his right, and the head of the family on duty, on his left.
DRAWING THE LOTS
Flanked by the two men on either side of him, the High Priest thrusts his hands into the lottery box and stirs the two lots within, in order to ascertain that he has no notion of which is inscribed "For the L-rd." It was considered an auspicious sign from Heaven if that lot were to be drawn by his right hand; thus he mixes the lots about so that he will not recognize them, and thereby raise that lot in his right hand. Tradition does in fact record that for a period of many years, it actually transpired that the High Priest's right hand did arbitrarily come up holding the lot marked "For the L-rd." This phenomena ceased a number of years before the Temple's destruction.
Other opinions maintain that he drew the lots very quickly from their box, demonstrating that he acts without forethought or hesitation as to which lot he is raising.
In this manner, the High Priest raised up the two lots from the box, one in his right hand and one in his left. Only once he held them up did he learn which hand held each lot:
"RAISE UP YOUR RIGHT HAND!"
If his right hand held the lot of "For the Lord," the assistant would declare "Master! High Priest! Raise up your right hand!" And hearing this cry, all those assembled would receive the tiding, and know that this favorable sign has indeed transpired. But if his left hand was seen to contain this lot, the head of the family clan cried out "Master! High Priest! Raise up your left hand!" And thus the deed would be known.
PLACING THE LOTS
The High Priest then places these lots upon the heads of the goats, between their horns: that which he raised up in his right hand is placed upon the animal to his right, and of the left, to his left. When placing the lot of "For the Lord" upon the sacrifice, he recites aloud the words "For the Lord, a sin offering," once again pronouncing the holy Ineffable Name of God. All the priests and Israelites present who hear this name repeat the verse "Blessed is the name... ," as above.
