Difference between revisions of "Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood/2"
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<p>This approach harmonizes the two sets of verses, suggesting that both refer to the altar of the Tabernacle, and the command in Shemot 20 is merely presenting additional aspects which are not mentioned in Shemot 27.</p> | <p>This approach harmonizes the two sets of verses, suggesting that both refer to the altar of the Tabernacle, and the command in Shemot 20 is merely presenting additional aspects which are not mentioned in Shemot 27.</p> | ||
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
− | <multilink><a href="MekhiltaBaChodesh11" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael</a><a href="MekhiltaBaChodesh11" data-aht="source">Yitro BaChodesh 11</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRashbi</a><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRashbi" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRashbi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BavliZevachim58a" data-aht="source">Bavli Zevachim</a><a href="BavliZevachim58a" data-aht="source">Zevachim 58a</a><a href="BavliZevachim61b" data-aht="source">Zevachim 61b</a><a href="BavliZevachim62a" data-aht="source">Zevachim 61b-62a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="NeofitiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Targumim</a><a href="NeofitiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti) Shemot 20:20</a><a href="PsJShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan) Shemot 27:8</a><a href="TargumYerushalmi20-20" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary) Shemot 20:20</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary)</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RasagTafsirShemot20-20" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RasagTafsirShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Tafsir Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RasagTafsirShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Tafsir Shemot 27:8</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotLong20-20" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra Shemot Long Commentary 20:20</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RashiShemot20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:21</a><a href="RashiShemot20-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:22</a><a href="RashiShemot27-5" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:5</a><a href="RashiShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:3</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSShemot27-8" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Beit HaBechirah 1:13</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ChizkuniShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahamShemot20-20" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahamShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RambanShemot20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:21</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagShemot20P20" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagShemot20P20" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 20:20-21</a><a href="RalbagShemot27P8" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelShemot27" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot27" data-aht="source">Shemot 27</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href=" | + | <multilink><a href="MekhiltaBaChodesh11" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael</a><a href="MekhiltaBaChodesh11" data-aht="source">Yitro BaChodesh 11</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20" data-aht="source">Mekhilta DeRashbi</a><a href="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="Mekhilta DeRashbi" data-aht="parshan">About Mekhilta DeRashbi</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="BavliZevachim58a" data-aht="source">Bavli Zevachim</a><a href="BavliZevachim58a" data-aht="source">Zevachim 58a</a><a href="BavliZevachim61b" data-aht="source">Zevachim 61b</a><a href="BavliZevachim62a" data-aht="source">Zevachim 61b-62a</a><a href="Bavli" data-aht="parshan">About the Bavli</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="NeofitiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Targumim</a><a href="NeofitiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti) Shemot 20:20</a><a href="PsJShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan) Shemot 27:8</a><a href="TargumYerushalmi20-20" data-aht="source">Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary) Shemot 20:20</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Neofiti)</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Yonatan)</a><a href="Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary)" data-aht="parshan">About Targum Yerushalmi (Fragmentary)</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RasagTafsirShemot20-20" data-aht="source">R. Saadia Gaon</a><a href="RasagTafsirShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Tafsir Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RasagTafsirShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Tafsir Shemot 27:8</a><a href="IbnEzraShemotLong20-20" data-aht="source">Ibn Ezra Shemot Long Commentary 20:20</a><a href="R. Saadia Gaon" data-aht="parshan">About R. Saadia Gaon</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RashiShemot20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:21</a><a href="RashiShemot20-22" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:22</a><a href="RashiShemot27-5" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:5</a><a href="RashiShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:3</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RashbamShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Rashbam</a><a href="RashbamShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Shemuel b. Meir (Rashbam)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RYBSShemot27-8" data-aht="source">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a><a href="RYBSShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13" data-aht="source">Rambam</a><a href="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13" data-aht="source">Hilkhot Beit HaBechirah 1:13</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="ChizkuniShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Chizkuni</a><a href="ChizkuniShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach (Chizkuni)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RAvrahamShemot20-20" data-aht="source">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</a><a href="RAvrahamShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="R. Avraham Maimonides" data-aht="parshan">About R. Avraham Maimonides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RambanShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Ramban</a><a href="RambanShemot20-20" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:20</a><a href="RambanShemot20-21" data-aht="source">Shemot 20:21</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Nachman (Ramban, Nachmanides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="RalbagShemot20P20" data-aht="source">Ralbag</a><a href="RalbagShemot20P20" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 20:20-21</a><a href="RalbagShemot27P8" data-aht="source">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Levi b. Gershom (Ralbag, Gersonides)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Levi b. Gershom</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="AbarbanelShemot27" data-aht="source">Abarbanel</a><a href="AbarbanelShemot27" data-aht="source">Shemot 27</a><a href="R. Yitzchak Abarbanel" data-aht="parshan">About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="SfornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Sforno</a><a href="SfornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="SfornoShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Sforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Sforno</a></multilink>, <multilink><a href="NetzivShemot27-1" data-aht="source">Netziv</a><a href="NetzivShemot27-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:1</a><a href="NetzivShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin (Netziv)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin</a></multilink> |
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
<point><b>"מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה"</b> – The earthen altar is identical to the wooden altar in the Tabernacle, and it is called an "earthen altar" in Shemot 20 either because the wooden altar was connected to the earth, or because it was filled with earth. Thus, the verse in Shemot 20 is read as if it said: "a [wooden] altar [connected to or filled with] earth you shall make for me".<fn>Ibn Ezra notes the difficulty in this reading – see below.</fn> The Netziv attempts to support this position by noting that the definite article ("הַ") affixed to the word "מִּזְבֵּחַ" in Shemot 27 hints to the reader that this altar is already known from the earlier verse in Shemot 20.</point> | <point><b>"מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה"</b> – The earthen altar is identical to the wooden altar in the Tabernacle, and it is called an "earthen altar" in Shemot 20 either because the wooden altar was connected to the earth, or because it was filled with earth. Thus, the verse in Shemot 20 is read as if it said: "a [wooden] altar [connected to or filled with] earth you shall make for me".<fn>Ibn Ezra notes the difficulty in this reading – see below.</fn> The Netziv attempts to support this position by noting that the definite article ("הַ") affixed to the word "מִּזְבֵּחַ" in Shemot 27 hints to the reader that this altar is already known from the earlier verse in Shemot 20.</point> | ||
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<point><b>"וְאִם מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים"</b> – R. Yishmael in the Mekhilta contends that this is one of three cases in which the word "וְאִם" should be construed as mandating an obligatory action,<fn>According to him, the verse refers to the altar at Mt. Eival which was obligatory.</fn> rather than merely providing an option.</point> | <point><b>"וְאִם מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים"</b> – R. Yishmael in the Mekhilta contends that this is one of three cases in which the word "וְאִם" should be construed as mandating an obligatory action,<fn>According to him, the verse refers to the altar at Mt. Eival which was obligatory.</fn> rather than merely providing an option.</point> | ||
<point><b>"נְבוּב לֻחֹת"</b> – These commentators explain this phrase to mean that the altar was made of wooden boards with a hollow inside (which was filled with earth).</point> | <point><b>"נְבוּב לֻחֹת"</b> – These commentators explain this phrase to mean that the altar was made of wooden boards with a hollow inside (which was filled with earth).</point> | ||
− | <point><b>Would a wooden altar not burn?</b> According to <multilink><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:3</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, the wooden altar was hollow and filled with earth to its top, and was thus less flammable.<fn>This is explicitly noted by Abarbanel; cf. | + | <point><b>Would a wooden altar not burn?</b> According to <multilink><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Rashi</a><a href="RashiShemot30-3" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:3</a><a href="R. Shelomo Yitzchaki (Rashi)" data-aht="parshan">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</a></multilink>, the wooden altar was hollow and filled with earth to its top, and was thus less flammable.<fn>This is explicitly noted by Abarbanel; cf. Sforno Shemot 30:1. For alternative approaches see <multilink><a href="TanchumaTerumah11" data-aht="source">Tanchuma</a><a href="TanchumaTerumah11" data-aht="source">Terumah 11</a><a href="Tanchuma" data-aht="parshan">About the Tanchuma</a></multilink>, and also see <a href="Raavyah" data-aht="source">Raavyah</a> who suggests that the top of the altar was, in fact, made of wood.</fn></point> |
<point><b>No steps for modesty</b> The Mekhiltas reinterpret this prohibition to refer to taking large steps. The priests are not to use stairs so that they do not approach Hashem with a "haughty step" ("פסיעה גסה"). Rashi, though, maintains that there is some immodesty in walking up stairs, even though the priests are wearing pants, and that therefore a ramp (כבש) was used also in the Tabernacle.</point> | <point><b>No steps for modesty</b> The Mekhiltas reinterpret this prohibition to refer to taking large steps. The priests are not to use stairs so that they do not approach Hashem with a "haughty step" ("פסיעה גסה"). Rashi, though, maintains that there is some immodesty in walking up stairs, even though the priests are wearing pants, and that therefore a ramp (כבש) was used also in the Tabernacle.</point> | ||
<point><b>Location of command in Shemot 20</b> – It is unclear why only some limited aspects of the altar would be mentioned already in Parashat Yitro, separate from the main commandment.<fn>See R. Avraham Maimonides and Ramban who attempt to address this question.</fn></point> | <point><b>Location of command in Shemot 20</b> – It is unclear why only some limited aspects of the altar would be mentioned already in Parashat Yitro, separate from the main commandment.<fn>See R. Avraham Maimonides and Ramban who attempt to address this question.</fn></point> |
Latest revision as of 12:19, 28 January 2023
Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood
Exegetical Approaches
Overview
Shemot 20 and 27 appear to be at odds regarding the materials from which the altar was constructed, and commentators disagree as to how to reconcile the two accounts. The Mekhilta attempts to synthesize them by suggesting that the altar was made of wood, but filled with earth. Many later exegetes, though, understand that the two texts speak of different altars. Ibn Ezra explains that Shemot 20 speaks of the one-time altars at Mt. Sinai and Mt. Eival, while R. D"Z Hoffmann posits that Shemot 20 refers to altars built for private use rather than for the entire nation. Finally, the Hoil Moshe suggests that the two chapters reflect a change in plans which occurred as a result of the sin of the Golden Calf.
Two Aspects of the Same Altar
This approach harmonizes the two sets of verses, suggesting that both refer to the altar of the Tabernacle, and the command in Shemot 20 is merely presenting additional aspects which are not mentioned in Shemot 27.
Different Altars
The commands to build an earthen or stone altar in Shemot 20 refer to altars which were distinct from the wooden altar of the Tabernacle in Shemot 27. Commentators divide regarding the identities of the altars mentioned in Shemot 20:
One-time National Altars
The commandments to build earthen and stone altars refer to the building of a special altar for each of two unique covenantal ceremonies, one of which took place at the foot of Mt Sinai, and the other on Mt. Eival.
Private Altars
The verses which speak of earth and stone altars refer to private altars (במות), used by non-priests outside of the Tabernacle and Temple, for both private sacrificial worship and the ritual slaughtering of meat for personal consumption (בשר תאווה).
- Bamot for private sacrificial worship – Yefet asserts that the altars for private sacrifice could be made from either earth or stone and that this verse, too, comes to permit such temporary altars.
- Slaughtering בשר תאווה – Two other Karaites, Nahawandi and Hadassi, maintain that this verse is referring to building stone altars for the slaughtering of non-sacrificial meat. They point to Shemuel I 14:32-35 as evidence,20 as there Shaul commands his soldiers to slaughter their sheep and cattle on a large stone, instead of pouring the blood on the ground.21
- Permanent altars – R. D"Z Hoffmann suggests that this command refers to the permanent and centralized altars of Mt. Eival, Shiloh, and the Beit HaMikdash.22 According to R. D"Z Hoffmann, the earthen altars were allowed during periods of insecurity and unrest, but during eras of peace, only one centralized altar was used. As it was meant to be a permanent structure, it was made of stone.23
- According to Yefet, sacrificing on a private altar was allowed only during periods in which the Ark was separated from the Tabernacle. This is perhaps related to the idea that in such periods the Divine presence was diffused among various locations.
- In contrast, R. D"Z Hoffmann asserts that private altars were allowed during periods when a lack of peace and security impeded travel to one centralized location.24
Change in Plans
The commands in Shemot 20 and 27 each refer to different time periods. Before the sin of the Golden Calf, there were private altars which were made out of earth or stone. However, after the sin of the Golden Calf, worship became centralized, and the lone sacrificial altar situated in the Mishkan was constructed of wood and copper.