Difference between revisions of "Purpose of the Shulchan and Lechem HaPanim/1/he"
| Line 10: | Line 10: | ||
</q> | </q> | ||
<p>Though these verses describe the appearance of the Shulchan in great detail, they provide scant information about why there was a need for either it or the bread which was placed on it.  As Hashem has no need for food, why put a table and bread in His sanctuary?  This difficulty was noted by <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim3-45" data-aht="source">רמב"ם במורה נבוכים</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim3-45" data-aht="source">מורה נבוכים ג׳:מ״ה</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן מיימון</a></multilink>, and he leaves it as an unexplained mystery:</p> | <p>Though these verses describe the appearance of the Shulchan in great detail, they provide scant information about why there was a need for either it or the bread which was placed on it.  As Hashem has no need for food, why put a table and bread in His sanctuary?  This difficulty was noted by <multilink><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim3-45" data-aht="source">רמב"ם במורה נבוכים</a><a href="RambamMorehNevukhim3-45" data-aht="source">מורה נבוכים ג׳:מ״ה</a><a href="R. Moshe b. Maimon (Rambam, Maimonides)" data-aht="parshan">אודות ר' משה בן מיימון</a></multilink>, and he leaves it as an unexplained mystery:</p> | ||
| − | + | <q class="" dir="rtl" lang="he"> | |
| − | <q | + | <p>הצורך במזבח הקטורת ובמזבח העולה וכלי הקיבול שלהם ברור. אבל איני יודע טעם לשולחן והיות הלחם עליו תמיד. עד היום לא מצאתי למה לייחס אותו. </p> |
| − | + | </q> | |
| − | |||
<h2>השולחן</h2> | <h2>השולחן</h2> | ||
<p>In investigating the purpose of the Shulchan, it may be helpful to take a closer look at both its place within the Mishkan and the details of its construction:</p> | <p>In investigating the purpose of the Shulchan, it may be helpful to take a closer look at both its place within the Mishkan and the details of its construction:</p> | ||
<ul> | <ul> | ||
| − | <li><b>Relationship to other vessels </b>– The laws of the Table are sandwiched between those of | + | <li><b>Relationship to other vessels </b>– The laws of the Table are sandwiched between those of הארון והמנורה, suggesting that they serve as a threesome.  מצד שני, מיקום השולחן בהיכל connects it instead למנורה ומזבח הקטורת.</li> |
<li><b>Secondary utensils</b> – Hashem instructs that the Table should have: "קְּעָרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו".  What are the identities and functions of each of these?  Do they form part of the structure of the Table, or are they accompanying utensils used to set the Table or bake the Showbread?  Any which way, what light do they shed on the role of the Table? </li> | <li><b>Secondary utensils</b> – Hashem instructs that the Table should have: "קְּעָרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו".  What are the identities and functions of each of these?  Do they form part of the structure of the Table, or are they accompanying utensils used to set the Table or bake the Showbread?  Any which way, what light do they shed on the role of the Table? </li> | ||
| − | <li><b>Materials and decorations</b> – The Table was constructed from | + | <li><b>Materials and decorations</b> – The Table was constructed from עצי שטים מצופים זהב ומוקפים "זֵר זָהָב" ו"מִסְגֶּרֶת".<fn>The Torah also mentions (פסוק כ"ה) that there was a gold decorative molding around the frame.  Commentators dispute whether or not this is the same gold molding as the one around the Table noted in the previous verse (כ"ד).</fn>  Do the molding and frame contribute to the Table's function or are they merely artistic flourishes?<fn>Interestingly, the Ark and Incense Altar are made of the same materials and also have a golden decorative molding. Does this suggest any intrinsic connection between these three vessels?</fn> </li> |
</ul> | </ul> | ||
Version as of 16:49, 22 July 2019
מטרת השולחן ולחם הפנים
הקדמה
"תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן"
פרשת תרומה מתארת את הציווי לבנות את המשכן וכליו. הציווי הראשון הוא לעשות ארון הברית, כפורת, וכרובים, ומיד לאחר מכן מופיע הציווי על עשיית השולחן ולחם הפנים:
(כג) וְעָשִׂיתָ שֻׁלְחָן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים אַמָּתַיִם אׇרְכּוֹ וְאַמָּה רׇחְבּוֹ וְאַמָּה וָחֵצִי קֹמָתוֹ. (כד) וְצִפִּיתָ אֹתוֹ זָהָב טָהוֹר וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ זֵר זָהָב סָבִיב. (כה) וְעָשִׂיתָ לּוֹ מִסְגֶּרֶת טֹפַח סָבִיב וְעָשִׂיתָ זֵר זָהָב לְמִסְגַּרְתּוֹ סָבִיב...
(כט) וְעָשִׂיתָ קְּעָרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ בָּהֵן זָהָב טָהוֹר תַּעֲשֶׂה אֹתָם. (ל) וְנָתַתָּ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן לֶחֶם פָּנִים לְפָנַי תָּמִיד.
Though these verses describe the appearance of the Shulchan in great detail, they provide scant information about why there was a need for either it or the bread which was placed on it. As Hashem has no need for food, why put a table and bread in His sanctuary? This difficulty was noted by רמב"ם במורה נבוכים, and he leaves it as an unexplained mystery:
הצורך במזבח הקטורת ובמזבח העולה וכלי הקיבול שלהם ברור. אבל איני יודע טעם לשולחן והיות הלחם עליו תמיד. עד היום לא מצאתי למה לייחס אותו.
השולחן
In investigating the purpose of the Shulchan, it may be helpful to take a closer look at both its place within the Mishkan and the details of its construction:
- Relationship to other vessels – The laws of the Table are sandwiched between those of הארון והמנורה, suggesting that they serve as a threesome. מצד שני, מיקום השולחן בהיכל connects it instead למנורה ומזבח הקטורת.
- Secondary utensils – Hashem instructs that the Table should have: "קְּעָרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו". What are the identities and functions of each of these? Do they form part of the structure of the Table, or are they accompanying utensils used to set the Table or bake the Showbread? Any which way, what light do they shed on the role of the Table?
- Materials and decorations – The Table was constructed from עצי שטים מצופים זהב ומוקפים "זֵר זָהָב" ו"מִסְגֶּרֶת".1 Do the molding and frame contribute to the Table's function or are they merely artistic flourishes?2
לחם הפנים
The laws regarding the Showbread are discussed in ויקרא כ״ד:ה׳-ט׳:
(ה) וְלָקַחְתָּ סֹלֶת וְאָפִיתָ אֹתָהּ שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה חַלּוֹת שְׁנֵי עֶשְׂרֹנִים יִהְיֶה הַחַלָּה הָאֶחָת. (ו) וְשַׂמְתָּ אוֹתָם שְׁתַּיִם מַעֲרָכוֹת שֵׁשׁ הַמַּעֲרָכֶת עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן הַטָּהֹר לִפְנֵי י"י. (ז) וְנָתַתָּ עַל הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת לְבֹנָה זַכָּה וְהָיְתָה לַלֶּחֶם לְאַזְכָּרָה אִשֶּׁה לַי"י. (ח) בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת יַעַרְכֶנּוּ לִפְנֵי י"י תָּמִיד מֵאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרִית עוֹלָם. (ט) וְהָיְתָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו וַאֲכָלֻהוּ בְּמָקוֹם קָדֹשׁ כִּי קֹדֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁים הוּא לוֹ מֵאִשֵּׁי י"י חׇק עוֹלָם.
These verses raise a host of questions, the answers to which might shed further light on the vessel and its service as a whole:
- "לֶחֶם פָּנִים" – ויקרא כ"ד refers to the loaves as "חַלּוֹת", while שמות כ"ה calls them "לֶחֶם פָּנִים". What is the meaning of each term and what does it teach about the nature of this bread?
- "שְׁתַּיִם מַעֲרָכוֹת שֵׁשׁ הַמַּעֲרָכֶת עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן" – Is there any significance to the fact that there are specifically twelve loaves or that they are arranged in two sections?
- "בְּרִית עוֹלָם" – None of the other rites that take place in the Tabernacle are described as a "בְּרִית עוֹלָם".3 What does the term mean and why is it used only by the Lechem HaPanim?
- "וְהָיְתָה לַלֶּחֶם לְאַזְכָּרָה" – The לְבֹנָה (frankincense) is designated to be a memorial ("אַזְכָּרָה"). But what is it supposed to commemorate?
- "בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת יַעַרְכֶנּוּ" – Why are the loaves arranged on Shabbat specifically?
- "וְהָיְתָה לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו" – Why is the bread eaten by the priests rather than being sacrificed to Hashem? Moreover, what is meant by the explanation "כִּי קֹדֶשׁ קׇדָשִׁים הוּא"?
