Torah Portion: Tetzaveh
They — who received atonement through them, to inaugurate them, to sanctify them — shall eat them (Shemos 29:33).
It is a positive commandment upon the kohanim-priests to eat the meat of certain offerings, such as the Burnt offering or the Guilt offering, as it is written, They — who received atonement through them, to inaugurate them, to sanctify them — shall eat them (Shemos 29:33). Our Sages explain: “The kohenim eat and the people [who brought the offerings] receive their atonement.”
Among the roots of the mitzvah is the recurring principle that we have set forth, that all of the actions associated with the offerings are designed to develop our thoughts and turn our intentions to the good; to subdue the lusting soul that is within us; and to increase and fortify the soul of intelligence that it [be focused] towards mitzvos. We were therefore commanded to behave with regard to all the affairs of the Temple and the offerings in a manner of stature, greatness and dignity so that awe, humility and submissiveness will be instilled in our hearts — both while we are physically there and when we recall them from wherever we may be.
One way of treating atoning-offerings with their proper respect is by having the offering consumed by the attending ministers themselves instead of simply feeding them to their servants or dogs or instead of selling it to anyone willing to purchase it. It is also an aspect of respect that it be consumed in a holy place and that the consumption is not delayed so much that the meat becomes spoiled and repulsive. All this points to greatness and exaltedness.
This commandment applies when the Holy Temple stands, to kohanim-priests. One who transgresses this and does not eat the portion he received during the allotted time to do so, violates this positive commandment. He also receives further punishment as a result of [ruining] the atonement of the person who brought the offering.
