Purpose of the Mishkan/2/en

Purpose of the Mishkan

Exegetical Approaches

Overview

An Ideal

Dwelling for the Divine Presence

The Mishkan was built so that God would dwell amongst the people, thereby extending the experience of revelation at Mt. Sinai.

Home for Tablets of Covenant

Sources: TanchumaNaso 11About the Tanchuma, Tanchuma (Buber)Naso 19Naso 22About Tanchuma (Buber), R. Shemuel b. Chofni GaonIbn Ezra Shemot Long Commentary 19:13About R. Shemuel b. Chofni Gaon, RambanShemot 25:2Shemot 40:34Introduction to VayikraIntroduction to BemidbarAbout R. Moshe Nachmanides, U. CassutoIntroduction to Shemot 25About U. Cassuto

Chronology – According to this approach, the command to build the Mishkan is in its rightful place. It preceded and is unrelated to the sin of the Golden Calf, and stems instead from God's desire to reside within the camp of the Nation of Israel.

Parallels – Ramban points to a number of linguistic and conceptual parallels between the description of the giving of the Decalogue at Mt. Sinai and the construction of the Mishkan.¹ These highlight how the Tabernacle was meant to enable a continuation of the Sinai experience, changing the initial transitory connection that was created on the mountain into a constant one.²

Does Hashem need a house – Tanchuma Naso 19 emphasizes that Hashem did not command the Tabernacle's construction because He had need of a house. Rather, from His love for the nation, God decided to leave his "temple on high" so as to reside amongst them. Cassuto adds that though God can dwell amongst the people without the existence of any physical structure, it is the nation who needs to see a tangible building so as to feel and be sure of God's presence.

"וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם" – This position maintains that these words provide God's explanation of the purpose of the building.

Focal point – The aron and the Tablets it houses are the primary focus of the Mishkan, for it is here where God descends to speak to Moshe and commune with the nation. Ramban points out that for this reason, the aron is the first vessel commanded to be made.³ This, too, is the source for referring to the Tabernacle as משכן העדות.

Ancient Near Eastern parallels – In the Ancient Near East, copies of treaties were often stored in the Temple of the nations' god. One might see the Mishkan functioning similarly. It served to safeguard the tablets containing the covenant between man and Hashem.

Why now? –

Crux of the position –

Honor for Hashem

The Mishkan was a way for the people to give to and show respect for Hashem, by dedicating the first of their creative work to Him.

Sources: Midrash Aggadah (Buber)Shemot 27:1About Midrash Aggadah (Buber), BiurBiur End of ShemotAbout the Biur,

Chronology –

Parallels – The Biur compares this commandment to that of bikkurim, the giving of first fruits. Just as one must give the first of one's womb, land, and animals, so too they must consecrate the first of their creative work to Hashem.

Does Hashem need a house –

• Midrash Aggadah asserts that it is the nation, not Hashem, who desires to build a "palace" for God. Looking to human models of relationship, the nation desired to honor God in the way that subjects glorify a king, by building him a palace with a candelabrum, table, and incense.⁴
• According to the Biur, Hashem commands a house for the good of the nation. Making a house for Hashem (and giving the first of anything) helps the nation recognize God's hand in all they do and make.

"וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם" –

Focal point – This approach does not focus on any particular vessel or section of the mishakn, but rather on the edifice as a whole.

Why now? – Before the nation is about to enter the land and to begin building an infrastructure, homes, and other institutions, it is

Crux of the position –

Communal Center

Sources: ShadalShemot 25:1About R. S.D. Luzzatto,

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Crux of the position –

A Corrective Measure

Atonement

Sources: SifreDevarim 1About Sifre, TanchumaTerumah 8About the Tanchuma, Lekach TovBeginning of Parsahat VayakhelAbout R. Toviah b. Eliezer, R. BachyaShemot 25:6About R. Bachya b. Asher, R. Yosef Bekhor Shor

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Crux of the position –

Sign of Forgiveness

Sources: TanchumaTerumah 8Pekudei 2About the Tanchuma, RashiShemot 31:18Shemot 38:21Vayikra 9:23About R. Shelomo Yitzchaki,

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Crux of the position –

Concession to Human Foibles

Sources: R. Yehuda HaLeviKuzari 1:97About R. Yehuda HaLevi, RambamHilkhot Beit HaBechirah 1:1About R. Moshe Maimonides,

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Crux of the position –

Compromise

Shift in Purpose

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Crux of the position –

Dual Focus

Mishkan / Sacrifices, Mishkan / Incense Altar

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Crux of the position –

Sources: R. Saadia GaonHaNivchar BaEmunot UvaDeiot 3About R. Saadia Gaon, AbarbanelShemot 35Yirmeyahu7About R. Yitzchak Abarbanel, SefornoShemot 24:18Vayikra 11:2Kavanot HaTorah 6,13About R. Ovadyah Seforno, BiurBiur End of ShemotAbout the Biur, U. CassutoIntroduction to Shemot 25About U. Cassuto,

¹ He points to the mention of God's glory both descending on Mt. Sinai and filling the Mishkan, the prohibition against coming too close, and the boundaries that are set around each.

² See Cassuto similarly.

³ He explains that the different ordering in Parashat VaYakhel is pragmatic. One cannot build the aron until there is a house to place it in; thus the physical structure is built first

⁴ Compare R. Yosef Bekhor Shor Shemot 30:1 who similarly sees the Mishkan as modeled after a human palace. The outside altar and sacrifices are like a kitchen, the table and menorah are the inner rooms of the palace while the inner sanctum with the ark is comparable to the king's own bedroom.