Parshat Teruma The Mishkan Before or After Chet

Parshat Teruma: The Mishkan: Before or After Chet Ha’Egel? Shiur by Menachem Leibtag Presentation by Ronni Libson

Second half of Sefer Shmot Four Units Chapters Topic (A) 19 -24 Ma’amad Har Sinai (the first Luchot) (B) 25 -31 The commandment to build the Mishkan (C) 32 -24 Chet Ha’egel (the second Luchot) (D) 35 -40 Building the Mishkan Ramban: Second half of Sefer Shmot - proper chronological order Rashi: God ordered construction of Mishkan only after chet ha’egel

What do the words “torah” and “mitzvah” refer to? Based on units above: Mention of “torah” and “mitzvah” in 24: 12 must refer to Unit B – the commandment to build the Mishkan Moshe ascends Har Sinai to receive Luchot, to be placed in Aron Logical that “torah” and “mitzvah” refer to Mishkan, where Aron is housed Laws of Mishkan are first and only set of laws transmitted to Moshe during those 40 days

Strict chronological order: Moshe ascends Har Sinai for the first forty days to receive Luchot and mitzvot involving building of the Mishkan that will house the Luchot Problems with this approach: v It would not require forty days for God to teach Moshe laws of Mishkan –something else must have also been taught v Other sources imply Moshe learned many other mitzvot on Har Sinai: Why specifically are laws of Mishkan recorded at this point in Sefer Shmot? Many other mitzvot were given during those 40 days!

Ramban: Mishkan is vehicle to perpetuate experience of Ma’amad Har Sinai First mizvah Moshe receives on Har Sinai Focus of Shmot on Mishkan: Reflects unique level Bnei Yisrael attained when they accepted God’s covenant at Har Sinai Focal point of Mishkan: Luchot inside Symbol of covenant at Har Sinai Keruvim on top From there God will convey remaining mitzvot to Moshe Aron Explains why unit opens with details of Aron and Keruvim

Rashi: Commandment to build Mishkan came after and as a result of chet ha’egel Parshiot – out of chronological order During first 40 days – Moshe received all mitzvot except laws of Mishkan Principle: Arrangement of parshiot in Chumash does not necessarily reflect chronological order Torah conveys message by intentionally juxtaposing certain parshiot

Rashi Similarities between construction of Mishkan and chet ha’egel v Bnei Yisrael must collectively donate their gold to build the Mishkan v Bezallel, Chur’s grandson, is chosen to build Mishkan (Midrash – Chur was killed since he refused to allow Bnei Yisrael to build the egel) v Opening pasuk describing Mishkan Appears to rectify consequences of chet ha’egel v Aharon must bring a par (bull) for a chatat offering during Mishkan’s dedication ceremony (which implies a sin was committed)

Ramban: Mishkan is “l’chatchila” [ideal] Rashi: Is Mishkan “b’diavad” [a compromise] ? Chet ha’egel showed Bnei Yisrael’s need for a physical representation If not for chet ha’egel, would there ever have been a mitzvah to build a Mikdash? Sanctuary: symbol of God’s shchina dwelling with Bnei Yisrael Mishkan – temporary Sanctuary Mikdash – permanent Sanctuary

Concept of a Sanctuary is “l’chatchila”: v Avraham builds a mizbayach in Bet El and calls out in God’s name: v Yaakov has a dream there vows to make that site a “Bet-Elokim”: v In “shirat ha’yam”, Bnei Yisrael sing of future Mikdash in the land: v Parshat Mishpatim (all agree it was given to Moshe during the first 40 days, before chet ha’egel) contains mitzvah of “aliya l’regel”: v Parshat Mishpatim contains mitzvah of bikkurim, which must be brought to the “House of God”:

Rashi must agree: Need for a Bet-Elokim has nothing to do with chet ha’egel Dispute between Rashi and Ramban concerns need for a temporary Sanctuary before entering Eretz Canaan Rashi: Had Bnei Yisrael not sinned at chet ha’egel: Would have conquered land through Divine intervention No need for temporary Mishkan since after short time would build permanent Mikdash After chet ha’egel: God removes shchina from camp Must bring shchina back Conquest takes much longer Need for temporary Mishkan

Rashi: Torah places comandment to build Mishkan out of chronological order Emphasizes conceptual connection between Matan Torah and Mishkan/Mikdash Ramban: Immediate need for temporary Sanctuary before chet ha’egel Mishkan, with Aron and Keruvim at center, is medium through which God can convey remaining mitzvot to Moshe Once shchina descended on Har Sinai, need vehicle to ‘carry it’ with them as they travel from Har Sinai to Eretz Canaan