Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Shoshanna Walker <rosewalk AT concentric.net>]

"Inaugurate them"

"Rashi and Ramban differ on the origin of this figure of speech. 
Rashi comments that in olden times newly inaugurated officials were 
given a gauntlet as a symbol of their new authority; thus "their 
hands were filled" in the literal sense.  According to Ramban, the 
term is figurative.  One who is not qualified to perform a service 
with a higher status is left "emptyhanded" as it were.  When he is 
invested with authority, his hands "are filled".  Similarly, the 
sacrifical service that conferred sanctity on the Tabernacle and the 
Kohanim (next chapter), was known as "milu'im", literally "becoming 
full", because it invested them with sanctity."

(Stone Chumash commentary)

Shoshanna



Hello,

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

Best regards,
Vadym.