Difference between revisions of "Purpose and Placement of the Incense Altar/1/en"
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Outside the context of the construction of the Tabernacle, the incense is mentioned several times.  The various passages might shed light on its function:<br/> | Outside the context of the construction of the Tabernacle, the incense is mentioned several times.  The various passages might shed light on its function:<br/> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li>The Service of Yom HaKippurim –</li> | + | <li>The Service of Yom HaKippurim – Whena toning for the </li> |
<li>Rebellion of Korach</li> | <li>Rebellion of Korach</li> | ||
<li>Nadav and Avihu</li> | <li>Nadav and Avihu</li> | ||
Version as of 23:25, 14 February 2019
Purpose of the Incense Altar
Introduction
רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ - What For?
Parashat Tetzaveh concludes with the command to build the Incense Altar:
(א) וְעָשִׂיתָ מִזְבֵּחַ מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתוֹ... (ו) וְנָתַתָּה אֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַפָּרֹכֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻת לִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל הָעֵדֻת אֲשֶׁר אִוָּעֵד לְךָ שָׁמָּה. (ז) וְהִקְטִיר עָלָיו אַהֲרֹן קְטֹרֶת סַמִּים בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת יַקְטִירֶנָּה. (ח) וּבְהַעֲלֹת אַהֲרֹן אֶת הַנֵּרֹת בֵּין הָעַרְבַּיִם יַקְטִירֶנָּה קְטֹרֶת תָּמִיד לִפְנֵי י״י לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם.
(1) “You shall make an altar to burn incense on. You shall make it of acacia wood... (6) You shall put it before the veil that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy seat that is over the testimony, where I will meet with you. (7) Aaron shall burn incense of sweet spices on it every morning. When he tends the lamps, he shall burn it. (8) When Aaron lights the lamps at evening, he shall burn it, a perpetual incense before Hashem throughout your generations.
While the verses describe the altar's appearance and placement in the Outer Sanctuary, and mandate the twice daily burning of its incense, they do not share the purpose of the ritual. Why is the nation commanded to offer incense to Hashem?
Connection to Other Vessels
How does the Incense Altar compare to the other vessels of the Mishkan? To which is it most similar, and what might the comparison teach regarding its purpose?
- Location in the Ohel Moed –The Incense Altar is located in the Outer Sanctum, suggesting that it might share some common purpose with both the Menorah and Table. It is not at all clear, though, what the three share in common. Moreover, in describing the altar's location, Shemot 30 mentions only that it is to face the Ark, omitting mention of it proximity to either the Menorah or Table. Does this imply that the Incense Altar had more in common with the Ark than with the other vessels?
- Two Altars –The vessel is referred to as an altar, though no sacrifices are brought upon it. Might the title suggest that it is somehow parallel in function to the Copper Altar and sacrificial service? After all, they are the only two vessels used for offering something to Hashem, each offering being given twice daily, in both the morning and evening.1
- Placement of the command – Despite all these potential connections to the various vessels, Hashem appears to distinguish the Incense Altar from all of them. The command regarding its construction comes only at the very end of the discussion of the Mishkan,2 several chapters after the discussion of the other vessels. What does this imply about the altar's role and how it relates to the Tabernacle as a whole? Why is it disconnected from the rest?
Other Mentions of the Incense
Outside the context of the construction of the Tabernacle, the incense is mentioned several times. The various passages might shed light on its function:
- The Service of Yom HaKippurim – Whena toning for the
- Rebellion of Korach
- Nadav and Avihu
