Difference between revisions of "Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood/2"
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− | <category name=""> | + | <category name="">Same Altar |
− | <p> | + | <p>This approach attempts to harmonize the two sets of verses and suggests that the command in Shemot 20 overlaps with the command in Shemot 27 regarding the altar of the Tabernacle.</p> |
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
− | <multilink><aht source=" | + | <multilink><aht source="MekhiltaBaChodesh11">Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael</aht><aht source="MekhiltaBaChodesh11">Yitro BaChodesh 11</aht><aht parshan="Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael" /></multilink>, |
+ | <multilink><aht source="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20">Mekhilta DeRashbi</aht><aht source="MekhiltaDeRashbi20-20">Shemot 20:20</aht><aht parshan="Mekhilta DeRashbi" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="BavliZevachim58a">Bavli Zevachim</aht><aht source="BavliZevachim58a">Zevachim 58a</aht><aht source="BavliZevachim61b">Zevachim 61b</aht><aht source="BavliZevachim62a">Zevachim 61b-62a</aht><aht parshan="Talmud Bavli">About the Bavli</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="NeofitiShemot20-20">Targumim</aht><aht source="NeofitiShemot20-20">Targum Neofiti Shemot 20:20</aht><aht source="PsJShemot27-8">Targum Pseudo-Jonathan Shemot 27:8</aht><aht source="TargumYerushalmi20-20">Targum Yerushalmi Shemot 20:20</aht><aht parshan="Neofiti">About Targum Neofiti</aht><aht parshan="Targum Pseudo-Jonathan" /><aht parshan="Targum Yerushalmi" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RasagTafsirShemot20-20">R. Saadia Gaon</aht><aht source="RasagTafsirShemot20-20">Tafsir Shemot 20:20</aht><aht source="RasagTafsirShemot27-8">Tafsir Shemot 27:8</aht><aht source="IbnEzraShemotLong20-20">Ibn Ezra Shemot Long Commentary 20:20</aht><aht parshan="R. Saadia Gaon" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RashiShemot20-20">Rashi</aht><aht source="RashiShemot20-20">Shemot 20:20</aht><aht source="RashiShemot20-21">Shemot 20:21</aht><aht source="RashiShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht source="RashiShemot30-3">Shemot 30:3</aht><aht parshan="Rashi">About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RashbamShemot27-8">Rashbam</aht><aht source="RashbamShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="Rashbam">About R. Shemuel b. Meir</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RYBSShemot27-8">R. Yosef Bekhor Shor</aht><aht source="RYBSShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="R. Yosef Bekhor Shor" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13">Rambam</aht><aht source="RambamBeitHaBechirah1-13">Hilkhot Beit HaBechirah 1:13</aht><aht parshan="Rambam">About R. Moshe Maimonides</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="ChizkuniShemot27-8">Chizkuni</aht><aht source="ChizkuniShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="Chizkuni">About R. Chizkiyah b. Manoach</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RAvrahamShemot20-20">R. Avraham b. HaRambam</aht><aht source="RAvrahamShemot20-20">Shemot 20:20</aht><aht parshan="R. Avraham Maimonides" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RambanShemot20-20">Ramban</aht><aht source="RambanShemot20-20">Shemot 20:20</aht><aht source="RambanShemot20-21">Shemot 20:21</aht><aht parshan="Ramban">About R. Moshe Nachmanides</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="RalbagShemot20P20">Ralbag</aht><aht source="RalbagShemot20P20">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 20:20-21</aht><aht source="RalbagShemot27P8">Beiur Divrei HaParashah Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="Ralbag">About R. Levi b. Gershon</aht></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="SefornoShemot27-8">Seforno</aht><aht source="SefornoShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="R. Ovadyah Seforno" /></multilink>, | ||
+ | <multilink><aht source="NetzivShemot27-1">Netziv</aht><aht source="NetzivShemot27-1">Shemot 27:1</aht><aht source="NetzivShemot27-8">Shemot 27:8</aht><aht parshan="Netziv">About R. Naftali Z"Y Berlin</aht></multilink> | ||
</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה | + | <point><b>מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה</b> – The earthen altar is identical to the altar in the Tabernacle. It is so called in Shemot 20 either because the altar was connected to the earth or because it was filled with earth. Neziv attempts to bring evidence for this position by pointing to the definite article which precedes the word מזבח in Shemot 27, hinting to the reader that this is the altar that was already referred to in Shemot 20. |
− | <point><b> | + | </point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים</b> – Most of these commentators associate this altar with the successor to the altar of the tabernacle: the altars in Shilo, Nov, Giveon, and the Temple, which were built from or filled with stones. Rashi and Ralbag, though, suggest that it refers to the stone altar built on Mt. Eival.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <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> | + | <point><b>Would not the wood burn?</b> – As the altar was filled with earth, there was no fear of burning.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי</b> – </point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>...וְאִם מִזְבַּח</b> – </point> |
− | <point><b>The | + | <point><b>No steps for modesty</b> The Mekhiltas reinterpret the prohibition to refer to taking large steps. The priests are not to use stairs so that they do not approach Hasem with a פסיעה גסה. Rashi, instead, maintains that even clothed in pants, there is some immodesty in walking up stairs.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>The Altar at Mt. Sinai</b> – </point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Location of command</b> – Ramban</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>The roof of the altar</b> – </point> |
+ | <!-- | ||
+ | <point><b></b> – </point> | ||
<point><b>Crux of the position</b> – </point> | <point><b>Crux of the position</b> – </point> | ||
+ | --> | ||
</category> | </category> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
− | <category name=""> | + | <category name="">Different Eras |
− | <p> | + | <p>The commands in Shemot 20 and 27 refer to different time periods. Before the sin of the Golden Calf, when there were private altars, they were made out of earth or stone. After the sin of the Golden Calf, when the altar was only in the Mishkan, it was made out of wood and brass.</p> |
<mekorot> | <mekorot> | ||
− | <multilink><aht source=" | + | <multilink><aht source="HoilShemot20-20">Hoil Moshe</aht><aht source="HoilShemot20-20">Shemot 20:20</aht><aht parshan="Hoil Moshe">About R. Moshe Yitzchak Ashkenazi</aht></multilink> |
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</mekorot> | </mekorot> | ||
− | <point><b>מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה</b> – | + | <point><b>מִזְבַּח אֲדָמָה and מִזְבַּח אֲבָנִים</b> – According to the Hoil Moshe, until the Sin of the Golden Calf, anyone was allowed to build an altar wherever they wanted. The verses in Shemot 20 give the requirements for these altars: they must be made of either earth or uncut stones, and cannot have steps.</point> |
− | + | <point><b>The Altar in the Tabernacle</b> – Once the Israelites sinned with the Golden Calf, Hashem prohibited personal worship, and required all sacrifices to be made in one centralized location, on the altar in the Tabernacle. The requirements for an altar from Shemot 20 do not apply to this altar.</point> | |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר אַזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי</b> – The Hoil Moshe suggests that this verse should be read as if written "בְּכָל הַמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר תַּזְכִּיר אֶת שְׁמִי". Before the sin, one was allowed to build an earthen or stone altar in any place that one desired to call out in the name of Hashem.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>...וְאִם מִזְבַּח</b> – This approach views the earthen and stone altars as two equal options given to the individual sacrificer. He might build an earthen one, or if he wants, he might build a stone one.<fn>The verses then elaborates on the extra requirements for one who takes the stone option.</fn> The word "וְאִם" is understood simply to mean, "and if".</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>No steps for modesty</b> – Since the command in Shemot 20 applies to all individuals, (and not just the priests dressed in pants), it was necessary to include a warning not to use steps so as not be immodestly revealing when clothed in robes or the like.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>נְבוּב לֻחֹת</b> – The Hoil Moshe does not explain this term.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Would not the wood burn?</b> – The Hoil Moshe might suggest that there was no fear that the wood of the tabernacle's altar would burn since it was coated with brass. Further, he suggests that there was a circuitous roof of brass around the wooden altar (his understanding of "כַּרְכֹּב הַמִּזְבֵּחַ") which might have further separated the fire from the wood.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>The Altars at Mt. Sinai and Mt. Eival</b> – These two altars are unconnected to the commands of either Shemot 20 or Shemot 27.</point> |
− | <point><b>The | + | <point><b>Changes in plans</b> – This position assumes that sacrificial worship in the Tabernacle was not God's original plan. Originally, Hashem did not want to limit sacrifices to any individual group or place, as His glory is found all over and is accessible to all. After the nation's sin, though, Hashem realized that the nation was not worthy of such worship and needed limits and guards. The Hoil Moshe does not explain why the sin required that different materials be used when building the centralized altar in the Tabernacle. One might propose that once there was to be just one altar, Hashem desired it be built with more precious materials.<fn>For individuals building numerous altars, this would not be practical.</fn> </point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Location of command</b> – The command of Shemot 20 is found in its chronological place.</point> |
− | <point><b> | + | <point><b>Chronology and the Tabernacle </b> – This position assumes that the chapters discussing the command to build the Tabernacle are out of order, and were really only first given after the sin of the Golden Calf.</point> |
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− | <point><b></b> – </point> | ||
<point><b>Crux of the position</b> – </point> | <point><b>Crux of the position</b> – </point> | ||
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</category> | </category> | ||
Version as of 02:40, 29 January 2014
Altars of Earth, Stone, and Wood
Exegetical Approaches
Same Altar
This approach attempts to harmonize the two sets of verses and suggests that the command in Shemot 20 overlaps with the command in Shemot 27 regarding the altar of the Tabernacle.
Different Locations
The commands to build an earthen or stone altar in Shemot 20 refer to altars which could co-exist with the altar in the Tabernacle but which were to be built outside the Tabernacle. These are distinct from the altar in the Tabernacle which is spoken about in Shemot 27. Commentators divide regarding which altars are referred to:
One-time Command to Build Specific Altars
The commandments to build earthen and stone altars constitute an individual directive to Moshe to build two specific altars, one at the foot of Mt Sinai, and one on Mt. Eival.
General Use of Bamot
The verses which speak of earth and stone altars refer to individual altars (bamot) used by non-priests outside the Tabernacle and the Temple for either sacrificial worship or slaughtering of meat.
- Bamot for individual sacrificial worship – Yefet asserts that the altars for individual sacrifice could be made from either earth or stone and that this verse, too, is a directive allowing such temporary altars.
- Slaughtering בשר תאוה – 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, where Shaul commands his soldiers to slaughter their sheep and cattle on a large stone, instead of pouring the blood on the ground.8
- Permament altars – R. D"Z Hoffman suggests that this command refers to the permanent and centralized altars of Mt. Eival, Shiloh and the Beit HaMikdash. According to R. Hoffmann, the earthen altars were allowed during periods of insecurity and unrest but during eras of peace, only one centralized, altar was to be used. As this was meant to be a permanent structure, it was made of stone.9
Different Eras
The commands in Shemot 20 and 27 refer to different time periods. Before the sin of the Golden Calf, when there were private altars, they were made out of earth or stone. After the sin of the Golden Calf, when the altar was only in the Mishkan, it was made out of wood and brass.