Comentario sobre Levítico 8:34

צוה ה' לעשת [AS HE HATH DONE THIS DAY, SO] THE LORD HATH COMMANDED TO DO all the seven days). But our Rabbis explained as follows: לעשת, “so hath the Lord commanded to do” — this refers to the “Red Heifer” (Numbers ch. XIX.); and לכפר, “to perform a cleansing ceremony” — this refers to Yom-Kippur. And thus these words, they say, are intended to intimate that the High Priest requires separating from his family during seven days before Yom-Kippur, and similarly the priest who burns the Red Heifer (Sifra, Tzav, Mechilta d'Miluim 1 37; Yoma 2a; Yoma 3b).

כאשר עשה ביום הזה צוה ה' לעשות לכפר עליכם, as he did on this day, the Lord commanded to be done to provide atonement for you.” Our sages in Yuma 2 interpreted these words to mean that the day referred to as ‘this day” was the eighth day of the consecration rites; G’d referred to the seven days the Priests had observed prior to that day. The lesson is that the procedure involving the red heifer which needs to be isolated for seven days before it is burned is derived from a similarity in the Torah’s expression (גזרה שוה) i.e. the word צוה used both here and in Numbers 19,2. [Such comparisons have halachic significance only when the word itself is not necessary in the context in which it appears. Ed.] Here the Torah (repeated) the words צוה ה', something which we knew already; in Numbers too it was clear without these words that G‘d had commanded the procedure. The additional words לכפר עליכם, “when arranging atonement for you,” refer to the Day of Atonement procedures prior to which the High Priest is to isolate himself as stated in Yuma 2. He leaves his private residence and takes up quarters in an office adjoining the Sanctuary just as he does for seven days prior to the burning of the red heifer (compare Parah 3,1 and quoted in Yuma 2). The meaning of our verse then is: “this day on which the High Priest is instrumental in obtaining atonement for the people has been preceded by seven days of isolation” (and spiritual preparation for that eighth day).

All seven days. Meaning: This is a truncated verse, and it should have said: “Just as he did on this day, Hashem commanded him to do all seven days.” This is because if the phrase, “Just as he did on this day” was meant to be connected with the verse above: “because for seven days your hands will be filled.” If so, the phrase, “Hashem commanded him to do” would remain by itself, without being understandable. However, our Rabbis expounded: “To do” — this refers to the ritual of the Red Heifer, “to bring about atonement,” — this [refers] to the ritual of Yom Kippur. If so, according to what they expounded, we must say that the phrase, “Just as you have done on this day” is connected with the previous phrase. And the statement, “Hashem commanded him to do” is a separate statement — that Hashem commanded to do the ritual of the Red Heifer; and [commands] the Kohein Godol “to bring about atonement for you” on Yom Kippur by the means of seclusion for seven days.

Seclusion seven days before Yom Kippur. [I.e.,] just as these laws are required here they are also required there.