Difference between revisions of "Purpose and Placement of the Incense Altar/2"
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<page type="Approaches"> | <page type="Approaches"> | ||
| − | <h1> | + | <h1>Purpose of the Incense Altar</h1> |
<div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | <div><b><center><span class="highlighted-notice">This topic has not yet undergone editorial review</span></center></b></div> | ||
<approaches> | <approaches> | ||
| + | <category>Atonement | ||
| + | <p>The incense played an important role in attaining atonement and abating the wrath of Hashem.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambanShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TzerorHaMorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">R. Avraham Saba</a><a href="TzerorHaMorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Tzeror HaMor Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Avraham Saba (Tzeror HaMor)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Saba (Tzeror HaMor)</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="VilnaGaonGRAShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Vilna Gaon (GR"A)</a><a href="VilnaGaonGRAShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Eliyahu of Vilna (Vilna Gaon – GR" a)"="" data-aht="parshan">About R. Eliyahu of Vilna</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
| + | <point><b>Evidence of this atoning role</b> – R. Saba points to the incense brought by Aharon to stop the plague in the aftermath of Korach's rebellion (<a href="Bemidbar17-9-13" data-aht="source">Bemidbar 17:9-13</a>). He further suggests that the statement "וְכִפֶּר אַהֲרֹן עַל קַרְנֹתָיו אַחַת בַּשָּׁנָה מִדַּם חַטַּאת הַכִּפֻּרִים" proves that the atonement of Yom HaKippurim was dependent upon it.<fn>The Golden Altar is the only vessel besides the <i>kaporet</i> (the cover of the ark) on which blood is sprinkled, suggesting that it played a unique role in the atonement of Yom HaKippurim. Moreover, part of the Yom HaKippurim service entailed bringing incense into the Holy of Holies, further suggesting that the incense might have some special atoning powers.</fn></point> | ||
| + | </category> | ||
| + | <category>Protective Screen | ||
| + | <p>The cloud of incense created a protective buffer between the Divine presence and the priests.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot>modern scholars<fn>See R"M Leibtag, <a href="https://tanach.org/shmot/tzaveh/tzavehs1.htm">"Parshat Tezaveh -The Special Structure of Parshiot HaMishkan"</a>, R"Y Grossman, <a href="https://etzion.org.il/he/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%AA%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%94-%D7%A1%D7%93%D7%A8-%D7%9B%D7%9C%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%9B%D7%9F-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%9E%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%AA%D7%95">"סדר כלי המשכן ומשמעותו"</a> and R"E Samet, <a href="https://etzion.org.il/he/%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%AA-%D7%AA%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%94-%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%91%D7%97-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%AA-%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%95-%D7%91%D7%9E%D7%A9%D7%9B%D7%9F-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%95-%D7%91%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%94">"מזבח הקטורת - מקומו במשכן ומקומו בפרשה"</a>.</fn></mekorot> | ||
| + | </category> | ||
| + | <category>Deodorizer | ||
| + | <p>The Incense Altar functioned as a deodorizer for the Mishkan. The odors of the animal slaughter and blood would have been overwhelming if they were not countered by the fragrance of the incense.</p> | ||
| + | <mekorot><multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim</a><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">3 45</a><a href="Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
| + | </category> | ||
<category>Exalted Status | <category>Exalted Status | ||
<p>The Incense Altar is mentioned at the end of the discussion of the Mishkan and its vessels to highlight its exalted status, being second only to the Ark in importance.</p> | <p>The Incense Altar is mentioned at the end of the discussion of the Mishkan and its vessels to highlight its exalted status, being second only to the Ark in importance.</p> | ||
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<mekorot><multilink><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim</a><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">3 45</a><a href="Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MeshekhChokhmahShemot30-1" data-aht="source">R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk</a><a href="MeshekhChokhmahShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Meshekh Chokhmah Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (Meshekh Chokhmah)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (Meshekh Chokhmah)</a></multilink></mekorot> | <mekorot><multilink><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">Moreh Nevukhim</a><a href="MorehNevukhim345" data-aht="source">3 45</a><a href="Moreh Nevukhim" data-aht="parshan">About Moreh Nevukhim</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MeshekhChokhmahShemot30-1" data-aht="source">R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk</a><a href="MeshekhChokhmahShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Meshekh Chokhmah Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (Meshekh Chokhmah)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Meir Simcha of Dvinsk (Meshekh Chokhmah)</a></multilink></mekorot> | ||
<point><b>Last is least</b> – This approach assumes that the vessels are listed in order of their significance. Thus, if an object found at the end of the list, this implies that it is less important.</point> | <point><b>Last is least</b> – This approach assumes that the vessels are listed in order of their significance. Thus, if an object found at the end of the list, this implies that it is less important.</point> | ||
| − | <point><b>Function of the Incense Altar</b> – | + | <point><b>Function of the Incense Altar</b> – Rambam asserts that the Incense Altar functioned as a deodorizer for the Mishkan.  The odors of the animal slaughter and blood would have been overwhelming if they were not countered by the fragrance of the incense.<fn>See also<multilink><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot30-1" data-aht="source"> R"Y Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYosefBekhorShorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>  who compares the incense to the "מוגמר" of a king, incense brought at the end of  a festive meal to fill the room with fragrance.</fn>  He adds that it was necessary to ensure that there was a pleasant fragrance for, otherwise, the people would not properly honor the Mikdash.</point> |
<point><b>Context</b> – Discussion of the Incense Altar is followed by a description of the water basin (כיור), also a secondary vessel which played no role in any cultic rite, and only served to clean and prepare the priests for service.  This context, thus, supports this approach's position that the Incense Altar also played merely a technical role.</point> | <point><b>Context</b> – Discussion of the Incense Altar is followed by a description of the water basin (כיור), also a secondary vessel which played no role in any cultic rite, and only served to clean and prepare the priests for service.  This context, thus, supports this approach's position that the Incense Altar also played merely a technical role.</point> | ||
<point><b>Morning and evening</b> – The incense was burned both in the morning and evening, around the time of the daily sacrificial offerings whose scent it was meant to counter.<fn>It should be noted, however, that the verse does not make this association, instead connecting the timing of the incense burning with the lighting of the Menorah. (See verses 7-8: "בַּבֹּקֶר בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת יַקְטִירֶנָּה. וּבְהַעֲלֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַנֵּרֹת בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם יַקְטִירֶנָּה").</fn></point> | <point><b>Morning and evening</b> – The incense was burned both in the morning and evening, around the time of the daily sacrificial offerings whose scent it was meant to counter.<fn>It should be noted, however, that the verse does not make this association, instead connecting the timing of the incense burning with the lighting of the Menorah. (See verses 7-8: "בַּבֹּקֶר בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת יַקְטִירֶנָּה. וּבְהַעֲלֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַנֵּרֹת בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם יַקְטִירֶנָּה").</fn></point> | ||
Version as of 10:56, 14 February 2019
Fatal 41: Specification mandates value for attribute a
11: <mekorot><multilink><a href="RambanShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe b. Nachman</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="TzerorHaMorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">R. Avraham Saba</a><a href="TzerorHaMorShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Tzeror HaMor Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Avraham Saba (Tzeror HaMor)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Saba (Tzeror HaMor)</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="VilnaGaonGRAShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Vilna Gaon (GR"A)</a><a href="VilnaGaonGRAShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Eliyahu of Vilna (Vilna Gaon – GR" a)"="" data-aht="parshan">About R. Eliyahu of Vilna</a></multilink></mekorot>