Purpose of the Mishkan/1/en

Purpose of the Mishkan

Introduction

Does Hashem Need a House?

Much of the second half of Sefer Shemot revolves around the building of the Mishkan. When giving the directive to construct the edifice, Hashem says, "וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם,"‎¹ suggesting that the purpose of the Mishkan is to allow God's presence to reside amongst the nation. This, though, begs the question, why does Hashem need a Mishkan for Him to dwell amongst us? If God is infinite and cannot be confined by a finite structure,² why does He request that we build one for Him? Moreover, as He has no need for the physical, what is the purpose of sacrificial offerings,³ the menorah, bread or incense? ⁴

Why Now?

The instructions to build the Mishkan appear at a strange juncture in the narrative. The Children of Israel have just witnessed Hashem's revelation at Mt Sinai and Moshe has ascended the mountain to receive the Tablets of the Covenant. The next stop on the itinerary was supposed to be the Land of Israel. If so, why does God suddenly command a six month detour to build a temporary structure for Him? Additionally, until now, the nation had found it sufficient to travel with Hashem's presence as expressed in the Cloud and Pillar of Fire alone. They were permitted to build altars so as to offer sacrifices to Hashem (Shemot 20:20-22).⁵ Did something change that necessitated the building of an entire edifice?

¹ A similar comment appears at the end of the instructions, where God says, "וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (Shemot 29:45).

² Compare Shelomo HaMelekh's words when building the Beit HaMikdash, "הִנֵּה הַשָּׁמַיִם וּשְׁמֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יְכַלְכְּלוּךָ אַף כִּי הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר בָּנִיתִי " (Melakhim I, 8:27).

³ Later, Yirmiyahu shares with the people the fact that Hashem did not even command such offerings, "כִּי לֹא דִבַּרְתִּי אֶת אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם וְלֹא צִוִּיתִים בְּיוֹם הוציא הוֹצִיאִי אוֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם עַל דִּבְרֵי עוֹלָה וָזָבַח" (Yirmeyahu 7:22).

⁴ Cf. R. Saadia Gaon who writes, "אולי יתמה ממעשה המשכן ויאמר: מה לבורא לאהל ולמסך, ולנרות מודלקות, ולקול נשמע לנגון, וללחם אפוי, ולריח טוב, ולמנחת סולת ויין ושמן ופירות, והדומה לזה?... כי כבר דן לו השכל שאיננו צריך אל דבר, אבל צורך הכל אליו." (Emunot VeDeiot 3)

⁵ For an analysis of the relationship between the altar of the Mishkan and the directive of Shemot 20, see Altars of Earth, Stone and Wood.