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. Hashem frames the directives for its construction by highlighting its role as a dwelling for His presence:
(כ"ה:ח') וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם.
(כ"ט:מ"ג) וְנֹעַדְתִּי שָׁמָּה לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנִקְדַּשׁ בִּכְבֹדִי. (מ"ד) וְקִדַּשְׁתִּי אֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְאֶת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְאֶת אַהֲרֹן וְאֶת בָּנָיו אֲקַדֵּשׁ לְכַהֵן לִי. (מ"ה) וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים.
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 fixed structure,1 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,2 the menorah, bread, or incense?3
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 embodied 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).4 Did something change that necessitated the building of an entire edifice specifically now?
Safekeeping or Atonement?
The Mishkan is often referred to as "Mishkan HaEdut", suggesting that one of its main roles is to serve as home to the luchot, and to guard these testimonies of God's covenant with His people.5 Shemot 25:22 also highlights that it is through the cherubs atop the aron that God spoke to Moshe. The main action in the Tabernacle, though, revolves around its other vessels, in particular the altar and its sacrifices. These, in contrast to the aron, function as a vehicle for atonement.6 This theme resurfaces with regards to both the Golden Altar, where Aharon atones for the nation, and the monies used to build the Tabernacle, known as "כֶּסֶף הַכִּפֻּרִים". What is the relationship between the roles of the various vessels? Is the focal point of the Mishkan the hidden tablets or the atoning altars?
