Difference between revisions of "Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood/2"
(Original Author: Yonatan Novetsky, Yehuda Novetsky, Neima Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
(Original Author: Yonatan Novetsky, Yehuda Novetsky, Neima Novetsky, Rabbi Hillel Novetsky) |
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<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="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="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. | + | <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. Gershon</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="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="SefornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="SefornoShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, | <multilink><a href="SefornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Seforno</a><a href="SefornoShemot27-8" data-aht="source">Shemot 27:8</a><a href="SefornoShemot30-1" data-aht="source">Shemot 30:1</a><a href="R. Ovadyah Seforno" data-aht="parshan">About R. Ovadyah Seforno</a></multilink>, |
Version as of 03:11, 4 January 2015
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.