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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 24

Translation and Transliteration of 

1The divisions of the Aaronites were:The sons of Aharon: Nadav and Avihu, Elazar and Itamar.

v'-liv-NAY a-ha-RON makh-l'-ko-TAM, b'-NAY a-ha-RON, na-DAV va-a-vee-HU, el-a-zaR v'-ee-ta-MAR.

אוְלִבְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן מַחְלְקוֹתָ֑ם בְּנֵ֣י אַהֲרֹ֔ן נָדָב֙ וַאֲבִיה֔וּא אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִיתָמָֽר׃

2Nadav and Avihu died in the lifetime of their father, and they had no children, so Elazar and Itamar served as Kohanim.

va-YA-mot na-DAV va-a-vee-HU lif-NAY a-vee-HEM u-va-NEEM lo ha-YU la-HEM vai-kha-ha-NU el-a-ZAR v'-ee-ta-MAR

בוַיָּ֨מׇת נָדָ֤ב וַֽאֲבִיהוּא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וּבָנִ֖ים לֹא־הָי֣וּ לָהֶ֑ם וַֽיְכַהֲנ֔וּ אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וְאִיתָמָֽר׃

 24:2   Nadav and Avihu died in the lifetime of their father

Rabbi Naftali Z.Y. Berlin, the Netziv (1816-1893)

The Torah tells us that Nadav and Avihu died during the joyous dedication ceremony of the Mishkan. After a heavenly fire descended and consumed the sacrificial offerings, revealing the Divine Presence, the verse states that these two of Aharon’s sons “offered before Hashem alien fire, which He had not enjoined upon them” (Leviticus 10:1). The severe consequence of this act was that they were then consumed as well, also by heavenly fire. The Netziv suggests that their moti­vation for bringing the forbidden fire was the closeness that they felt to God at the moment of revelation; they were so overcome with this feeling that they desired to get even closer with an offering of their own, which they brought into the Holy of Holies. Though their intentions were pure, the offering was unauthorized and entry into the Holy sanctuary was forbidden, so they were pu­nished. Nadav and Avihu were indeed close to God, as Moshe says of them “Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, and gain glory before all the people” (Leviticus 10:3), but such closeness does not grant a license to bend the rules. Nadav and Avihu teach us that holy places must be approached with awe and trepidation, and that holy people are held to a higher standard. One of the lessons for our generation is that the Children of Israel, living in the Land of Israel, must be especially careful to respect its sanctity and to behave in a way that will bring glory to God’s name.

3David, Tzadok of the sons of Elazar, and Achimelech of the sons of Itamar divided them into offices by their tasks.

v'-ye-cha-l'-KEM da-VID v'-tza-DOK min b'-NAY el-a-ZAR va-a-KHEE-m'-LEKH min b'-NAY ee-ta-MAR lif-ku-da-TAM ba-a-vo-da-TAM

גוַיֶּחָלְקֵ֣ם דָּוִ֔יד וְצָדוֹק֙ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אֶלְעָזָ֔ר וַאֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ מִן־בְּנֵ֣י אִיתָמָ֑ר לִפְקֻדָּתָ֖ם בַּעֲבֹדָתָֽם׃

4The sons of Elazar turned out to be more numerous by male heads than the sons of Itamar, so they divided the sons of Elazar into sixteen chiefs of clans and the sons of Itamar into eight clans.

vai-yi-ma-TZE-u v'-nay el-a-ZAR ra-BEEM l'-ra-SHAY ha-ge-va-REEM min b'-NAY i-ta-MAR va-ya-KH'-luM li-v'-NAY el-a-ZAR ra-SHEEM li-vayt a-VOT shi-SHA a-SAR v'-li-v'-NAY i-ta-MAR li-vayt a-vo-TAM sh'-MO-na

דוַיִּמָּצְא֣וּ בְֽנֵי־אֶלְעָזָ֡ר רַבִּ֞ים לְרָאשֵׁ֧י הַגְּבָרִ֛ים מִן־בְּנֵ֥י אִיתָמָ֖ר וַֽיַּחְלְק֑וּם לִבְנֵ֨י אֶלְעָזָ֜ר רָאשִׁ֤ים לְבֵית־אָבוֹת֙ שִׁשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר וְלִבְנֵ֧י אִיתָמָ֛ר לְבֵ֥ית אֲבוֹתָ֖ם שְׁמוֹנָֽה׃

5They divided them by lot, both on an equal footing, since they were all sanctuary officers and officers of Hashem—the sons of Elazar and the sons of Itamar.

vai-YAKH-l'-KHEM b'-go-RA-lot AY-leh im AY-leh, kee-HA-yu sa-RAY ko-DAYSH v'-sa-RAY ha-e-lo-HEEM mi-b'-NAY el-a-ZAR u-vi-v'-NAY ee-ta-MAR. (SA)

הוַיַּחְלְק֥וּם בְּגוֹרָל֖וֹת אֵ֣לֶּה עִם־אֵ֑לֶּה כִּֽי־הָי֤וּ שָׂרֵי־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ וְשָׂרֵ֣י הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים מִבְּנֵ֥י אֶלְעָזָ֖ר וּבִבְנֵ֥י אִיתָמָֽר׃

6Shemaya son of Nathanel, the scribe, who was of the Leviim, registered them under the eye of the king, the officers, and Tzadok the Kohen, and Achimelech son of Evyatar, and the chiefs of clans of the Kohanim and Leviim—one clan more taken for Elazar for each one taken of Itamar.

vai-yik-t'-VEM sh'-ma-YA ben ne-ta-NAYL ha-SO-fer min ha-LE-vee lif-NAY ha-ME-lekh v'-ha-sa-REEM v'-tza-DOK ha-ko-HAYN va-a-KHEE-mekh ben ev-ya-TAR v'-ra-SHAY ha-a-VOT la-ko-ha-NEEM v'-la-le-vee-YIM bayt-AV e-KHAD a-KHUZ l'-el-a-ZAR v'-a-KHUZ a-KHUZ l'-ee-ta-MAR.

ווַֽיִּכְתְּבֵ֡ם שְֽׁמַעְיָה֩ בֶן־נְתַנְאֵ֨ל הַסּוֹפֵ֜ר מִן־הַלֵּוִ֗י לִפְנֵ֨י הַמֶּ֤לֶךְ וְהַשָּׂרִים֙ וְצָד֣וֹק הַכֹּהֵ֗ן וַאֲחִימֶ֙לֶךְ֙ בֶּן־אֶבְיָתָ֔ר וְרָאשֵׁי֙ הָאָב֔וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם בֵּֽית־אָ֣ב אֶחָ֗ד אָחֻז֙ לְאֶלְעָזָ֔ר וְאָחֻ֥ז ׀ אָחֻ֖ז לְאִיתָמָֽר׃

7The first lot fell on Jehoiarib; the second on Jedaiah;

vai-YAY-tzay ha-go-RAL ha-ree-SHON li-y'-ho-y'-ra-V, li-da-YA-yah ha-SHE-nee

זוַיֵּצֵ֞א הַגּוֹרָ֤ל הָֽרִאשׁוֹן֙ לִיה֣וֹיָרִ֔יב לִידַֽעְיָ֖ה הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

8the third on Harim; the fourth on Seorim;

l'-kha-RIM ha-sh'-lee-SHEE, l'-s'-o-REEM ha-r'-vi-EE

חלְחָרִם֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י לִשְׂעֹרִ֖ים הָרְבִעִֽי׃

9the fifth on Malchijah; the sixth on Mijamin;

l'-mal-ki-YAH ha-cha-MI-shee, l'-mi-YA-min ha-shi-SHEE

טלְמַלְכִּיָּה֙ הַחֲמִישִׁ֔י לְמִיָּמִ֖ן הַשִּׁשִּֽׁי׃

10the seventh on Hakkoz; the eighth on Aviya;

l'-ha-KOTZ ha-sh'-vi-I, la-a-vee-YA ha-sh'-mi-NI

ילְהַקּוֹץ֙ הַשְּׁבִעִ֔י לַאֲבִיָּ֖ה הַשְּׁמִינִֽי׃

11the ninth on Yeshua; the tenth on Shechanya;

l'-ye-SHU-a ha-t'-shi-EE, lish-khan-YA-hu ha-a-si-REE

יאלְיֵשׁ֙וּעַ֙ הַתְּשִׁעִ֔י לִשְׁכַנְיָ֖הוּ הָעֲשִׂרִֽי׃

12the eleventh on Elyashiv; the twelfth on Jakim;

l'-el-ya-SHEEV a-SH'-tay a-SAR, l'-ya-KEEM sh'-NAYM a-SAR

יבלְאֶלְיָשִׁיב֙ עַשְׁתֵּ֣י עָשָׂ֔ר לְיָקִ֖ים שְׁנֵ֥ים עָשָֽׂר׃

13the thirteenth on Huppah; the fourteenth on Jeshebeab;

l'-khu-PAH sh'-lo-SHA a-SAR, l'-ye-SHEV-av ar-ba-AH a-SAR.

יגלְחֻפָּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְיֶשֶׁבְאָ֖ב אַרְבָּעָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

14the fifteenth on Bilgah; the sixteenth on Immer;

l'-vil-GAH kha-mi-SHA a-SAR l'-i-MER shi-SHA a-SAR

ידלְבִלְגָּה֙ חֲמִשָּׁ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְאִמֵּ֖ר שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

15the seventeenth on Hezir; the eighteenth on Happizzez;

l'-khe-ZEER shiv-AH a-SAR l'-ha-pi-TZETZ sh'-MO-nah a-SAR

טולְחֵזִיר֙ שִׁבְעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לְהַפִּצֵּ֖ץ שְׁמוֹנָ֥ה עָשָֽׂר׃

16the nineteenth on Pethahiah; the twentieth on Jehezkel;

li-f'-ta-KHA-yah tish-AH a-SAR li-y'-khez-KAYL ha-e-s'-REEM

טזלִֽפְתַחְיָה֙ תִּשְׁעָ֣ה עָשָׂ֔ר לִֽיחֶזְקֵ֖אל הָעֶשְׂרִֽים׃

17the twenty-first on Jachin; the twenty-second on Gamul;

l'-ya-KHEEN e-KHAD v'-es-ree-EEM, l'-ga-MOOL sh'-na-YEEM v'-es-ree-EEM.

יזלְיָכִין֙ אֶחָ֣ד וְעֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְגָמ֖וּל שְׁנַ֥יִם וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃

18the twenty-third on Delaiah; the twenty-fourth on Maaziah.

li-d'-la-YA-hu sh'-lo-SHA v'-es-riM l'-ma-a-ZYA-hu ar-ba-AH v'-es-riM

יחלִדְלָיָ֙הוּ֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֔ים לְמַעַזְיָ֖הוּ אַרְבָּעָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִֽים׃

19According to this allocation of offices by tasks, they were to enter the House of Hashem as was laid down for them by Aharon their father, as God of Yisrael had commanded him.

AY-leh f'-ku-da-TAM la-a-vo-DA-tam la-VO l'-vayt a-do-NAI k'-mish-PA-tam b'-yad a-ha-RON a-vee-HEM ka-a-SHER tzi-VA-hu a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY yis-ra-AYL.

יטאֵ֣לֶּה פְקֻדָּתָ֞ם לַעֲבֹדָתָ֗ם לָב֤וֹא לְבֵית־יְהֹוָה֙ כְּמִשְׁפָּטָ֔ם בְּיַ֖ד אַהֲרֹ֣ן אֲבִיהֶ֑ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוָּ֔הוּ יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

20The remaining Leviim: the sons of Amram: Shubael; the sons of Shubael: Jehdeiah;

v'-li-v'-NAY l'-vee ha-no-ta-REEM, li-v'-NAY a-m'-RAM, shu-va-A-EL, li-v'-NAY shu-va-A-EL, y'-kh'-d'-YA-hu. (S)

כוְלִבְנֵ֥י לֵוִ֖י הַנּוֹתָרִ֑ים לִבְנֵ֤י עַמְרָם֙ שֽׁוּבָאֵ֔ל לִבְנֵ֥י שׁוּבָאֵ֖ל יֶחְדְּיָֽהוּ׃

21Rehabiah. The sons of Rehabiah: Isshiah, the chief.

li-r'-kha-vi-YA-hu, li-v'-nay r'-kha-vi-YA-hu, ha-ROSH yi-shi-YA. (Selah)

כאלִרְחַבְיָ֑הוּ לִבְנֵ֣י רְחַבְיָ֔הוּ הָרֹ֖אשׁ יִשִּׁיָּֽה׃

22Izharites: Shelomoth. The sons of Shelomoth: Jahath

la-yitz-ha-REE sh'-lo-MOT li-v'-nay sh'-lo-MOT ya-KHAT. (S)

כבלַיִּצְהָרִ֣י שְׁלֹמ֔וֹת לִבְנֵ֥י שְׁלֹמ֖וֹת יָֽחַת׃

23and Benai, Jeriah; the second, Amariah; the third, Yachaziel; the fourth, Jekameam.

u-v'-NA-yi ye-ri-YA-hu, a-mar-YA-hu ha-she-NI, ya-cha-zi-EL ha-she-lee-SHI, ye-ka-ma-AM ha-re-vee-EE. (S)

כגוּבְנָ֖י יְרִיָּ֑הוּ אֲמַרְיָ֙הוּ֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔י יַחֲזִיאֵל֙ הַשְּׁלִישִׁ֔י יְקַמְעָ֖ם הָרְבִיעִֽי׃

24The sons of Uzziel: Micha. The sons of Micha: Shamir.

b'-NAY u-ZEE-a-EL mi-KHA li-v'-NAY mi-KHA (SH'-MEER) [SHA-meer]

כדבְּנֵ֤י עֻזִּיאֵל֙ מִיכָ֔ה לִבְנֵ֥י מִיכָ֖ה (שמור) [שָׁמִֽיר]׃

25The brother of Micha: Isshiah. The sons of Isshiah: Zecharya.

a-khi mi-KHA yish-SHI-yah, liv-NAY yish-SHI-yah, ze-khar-YA-hu.

כהאֲחִ֤י מִיכָה֙ יִשִּׁיָּ֔ה לִבְנֵ֥י יִשִּׁיָּ֖ה זְכַרְיָֽהוּ׃

26The sons of Merari: Mahli and Mushi. The sons of Jaazaiah, his son—

b'-NAY m'-ra-REE ma-KHE-lee u-mu-SHEE, b'-NAY ya-a-zi-YA-hu b'-NO.

כובְּנֵ֤י מְרָרִי֙ מַחְלִ֣י וּמוּשִׁ֔י בְּנֵ֖י יַעֲזִיָּ֥הוּ בְנֽוֹ׃

27the sons of Merari by Jaazaiah his son: Shoham, Zakkur, and Ibri.

b'-NAY m'-ra-REE, l'-ya-a-zi-YA-hu b'-NO, v'-SHO-ham v'-za-KUR v'-iv-REE. (s)

כזבְּנֵ֖י מְרָרִ֑י לְיַעֲזִיָּ֣הוּ בְנ֔וֹ וְשֹׁ֥הַם וְזַכּ֖וּר וְעִבְרִֽי׃

28Mahli: Elazar; he had no sons.

l'-ma-KHA-lee el-a-za, v'-lo ha-YA lo ba-NEEM. (s)

כחלְמַחְלִי֙ אֶלְעָזָ֔ר וְלֹא־הָ֥יָה ל֖וֹ בָּנִֽים׃

29Keesh: the sons of Keesh: Jerahmeel.

l'-KISH b'-nay-KISH y'-ra-KH'-m'-AYL. (S)

כטלְקִ֖ישׁ בְּנֵי־קִ֥ישׁ יְרַחְמְאֵֽל׃

30The sons of Mushi: Mahli, Eder, and Jerimoth. These were the sons of the Leviim by their clans.

u-v'-NAY mu-SHEE ma-KHE-lee v'-AY-der vi-ree-MOT, AY-leh b'-NAY ha-LE-vee-YIM l'-VAYT a-vo-TAY-hem

לוּבְנֵ֣י מוּשִׁ֔י מַחְלִ֥י וְעֵ֖דֶר וִירִימ֑וֹת אֵ֛לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לְבֵ֥ית אֲבֹתֵיהֶֽם׃

31These too cast lots corresponding to their kinsmen, the sons of Aharon, under the eye of King David and Tzadok and Achimelech and the chiefs of the clans of the Kohanim and Leviim, on the principle of “chief and youngest brother alike.”

vai-ya-pi-LO gam-HAYM go-RA-lot l'-u-MAT a-KHE-hem b'-NAY a-ha-RON lif-NAY da-VEED ha-ME-lekh v'-tza-DOK va-a-KHEE-mekh v'-ra-SHAY ha-a-VOT la-ko-ha-NEEM v'-lal-vi-YEEM a-VOT ha-ROSH l'-u-MAT a-KHEE-v ha-ka-TAN. (S)

לאוַיַּפִּ֩ילוּ֩ גַם־הֵ֨ם גּוֹרָל֜וֹת לְעֻמַּ֣ת ׀ אֲחֵיהֶ֣ם בְּנֵי־אַהֲרֹ֗ן לִפְנֵ֨י דָוִ֤יד הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ וְצָד֣וֹק וַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְרָאשֵׁי֙ הָאָב֔וֹת לַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים וְלַלְוִיִּ֑ם אָב֣וֹת הָרֹ֔אשׁ לְעֻמַּ֖ת אָחִ֥יו הַקָּטָֽן׃