IN THE PARSHA:
In this week’s Parsha we learn about the 4 בגדים worn by the regular כהנים, and the 8 בגדים worn by the כהן גדול.
If a כהן did the עבודה without all of his required בגדים, he would be חייב מיתה (בידי שמים).
According to רש"י, the כהן גדול would be חייב מיתה if he entered the אוהל מועד without the אפוד or the חושן or the מעיל, even if he did not perform any עבודה without them.
QUESTION:
Why are the other בגדי כהונה only needed to perform the עבודה, but the אפוד and the חושן and the מעיל are needed even to enter the אוהל מועד?
ANSWER:
Unlike the other בגדים, we find that the פסוק states a specific purpose that these 3 בגדים have:
- The names of the 12 שבטים engraved on 2 Shoham stones, on the shoulder-straps of the אפוד (6 on each stone). So אהרן carried the names of בני ישראל on his shoulders as a remembrance before Hashem (see פרק כח, פסוק יב).
- The names of the שבטים were also engraved on the stones of the חושן. So אהרן carried the names of בני ישראל on his heart, as a remembrance before Hashem (see פרק כח, פסוק כט).
- There were bells on the bottom of the מעיל, and their sound was heard when אהרן entered and left the משכן (see פרק כח, פסוק לה).
Since these have a specific stated function, the כהן גדול was not even allowed to enter without them.
However, the other בגדים qualified the כהנים to do the עבודה, so they were only absolutely required at those times.
Further discussion:
Why were the names of בני ישראל included both on the אפוד and on the חושן?
(See אות יא in the שיחה)
Although the effect of the ציץ is also stated, it is not dependent on the כהן גדול wearing it.
