Biblical Hebrew Forum

[JBarach AT aol.com]

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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