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  • From: JBarach AT aol.com
  • To: b-hebrew AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [b-hebrew] Fill Hand
  • Date: Sun, 3 Jun 2007 03:04:58 EDT




Vadym writes:

> What is the meaning of "to fill hand" (Ex.28:41, 32:29, etc)?



In his doctoral dissertation, _The Priesthood of the Plebs_ (Wipf & Stock,
2003), Peter J. Leithart talks about this phrase (pp. 72-77).

The phrase appears to have to do with ordination and appears in this sense
outside the Bible, as well. In Num. 3:3, YHWH "fills their hands in order
to
priest." In Lev. 21:10 he "fills his hand in order to put on priestly
garments."

Some have suggested that the term refers to payments given to the priest in
return for religious services. In Judges 17:5, 12, Micah "fills the hand"
of
his son and then of the Levite, presumably by offering silver, clothing, and
maintenance (Judg. 17:10). But this filling of the hand is ironic: the
Levite isn't properly ordained as a priest because he's just interested in
filling his hands with gold.

In Exodus 32:29, the Levites "filled their hands" with swords to execute
idolaters. This is what Nelson calls a "rather grim upon on this phrase."
Leithart agrees: "The Levites' reward for resolutely performing this
sacrificial
slaughter was the privilege of helping in another form of slaughter in the
future.

In 1 Chron 29:1-9 and 2 Chron 29:31, "filling the hand" involve bringing
contributions to the house of God: "the people 'filled their hands' to empty
them in homage," Leithart says (p. 74).

In the ordination rite, the priests' hands were literally filled. Portions
of the ram of "filling" are placed, with grain offerings, on the palms
(kaph)
of Aaron and his sons, lifted to Yahweh, and then taken from their hands
(yad) to be turned into smoke on the altar (Lev. 8:26-28). Aaron again
"filled
his palm" with a grain offering during his initial ministry at the altar on
the eighth day (Lev. 9:17). Their hands are filled, not with the portions
they receive as payment, but with the fat, flesh, and entrails of their
service
and so they are enrolled as YHWH's personal attendants and household
servants. "As Potiphar placed the management of his house in Joseph's hands
(Gen.
39:8-9), so Yahweh filled Aaron's hands to take oversight of His palace" (p.
75).

Priests also receive from Yahweh and so "filled the hands" has a double
connotation. "Priestly standing was itself Yahweh's gift (cf. Num. 16:5),
and
Yahweh provided the materials for His own service as well.... Moreover, the
rite of ordination climaxed in a meal (Lev. 8:31), and portions of the ram
of
filling were sanctified as priestly food (Exod. 29:27-28). Aaron's hands
were
thus filled both with the bread of Yahweh and with food for his own
consumption" (p. 75).

Hope this helps!

John







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