Purpose and Placement of the Incense Altar/1/en

Purpose and Placement of the Incense Altar

Introduction

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Out of Place

Shemot 25-29 contain a detailed account of teh instructions to build the tabernacle.  On the whole the order is fairly logical, proceeding from inside to out.  The commands regarding the inne vessels of the

רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ - What For?

Parashat Tetzaveh concludes with the command to build the Incense Altar:

EN/HEע/E

(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 its 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 – As part of the day's service, the High Priest takes a censer of incense into the Holy of Holies, where the cloud of incense covers the kaporet so that the priest "will not die".  What is the import of this action, and why does it prevent death? Later, the priest is instructed to sprinkle blood and make atonement on the altar, a rite unique to it and the kaporet. Does this suggest that the altar played a role in achieving atonement, or only that it needed to be expiated?
• Rebellion of Korach – During Korach's rebellion, the rebels are told to offer incense as a test by which Hashem would indicate whom he had chosen to serve Him. What can be learned from the fact that it was this ritual specifically which was chosen as the test?³
• Stopping plague – In the aftermath of the rebellion, a plague is brought and Aharon is commanded to stop it via the bringing of incense.  Does this suggest that the incense had some inherent powers of protection and atonement? Or, was the incense chosen merely because of its role in the earlier part of the story?

¹ Although the incense is only a fragrance, this need not lessen its significance, for the animal offerings are meant to be "לְרֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ" as well.

² In fact, Shemot 29 (which immediately precedes our unit) ends with what appears to be several concluding statements regarding the entire Tabernacle building project.   The command to build the Incense Altar, thus, is not found in the main body of instructions at all and comes only as as part of the appendix to the unit.  It is followed by other instructions related to more minor vessels and tools of the Tabernacle, including the commands to bring 1/2 shekel donations, to build the Water Basin, and make the anointing oil.

³ One might similarly ask why King Uziyahu, when he arrogantly thought to usurp some of the priestly functions, chose specifically the offering of incense. [See Divrei HaYamim II 26:16-20.]