Purpose of the Mishkan

Why Does Hashem Want a House?

The second half of Sefer Shemot revolves almost exclusively around the building of the Mishkan, with the thirteen full chapters detailing its planning and implementation interrupted only to recount the sin of the Golden Calf and its aftermath. What was the purpose of this grand edifice? At first glance, the answer appears obvious, as the framing instructions for the Tabernacle's construction create an inclusio which spotlights its role as a dwelling place for Hashem's presence:

וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם. (כ"ה:ח') וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים. וְיָדְעוּ כִּי אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר הוֹצֵאתִי אֹתָם מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם לְשָׁכְנִי בְתוֹכָם אֲנִי ה' אֱלֹהֵיהֶם. (כ"ט:מ"ה-מ"ו)

However, these verses merely beg the question: Given that Hashem is not a corporal being and cannot be contained in a finite framework, why does He request a physical structure to house His presence?1 Moreover, why did He desire that we perform all of the Mishkan's daily rituals such as its sacrificial offerings,2 incense burning, and lamp lighting? This enigma is succinctly formulated by R. Saadia Gaon:

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.

What Suddenly Changed?

The command to build the Mishkan appears as something of a surprise in the context of the Israelites' trek through the Wilderness. The nation had just witnessed Hashem's revelation at Mt. Sinai which was immediately followed by a directive to build altars of earth or stone if a need should arise to offer sacrifices (Shemot 20:20-22).3 They had also been notified of their impending journey to the land of Israel and directed to bring the first fruits of the land to the House of Hashem (Shemot 23:19-33). But there had not even been a hint of any need to build a temporary place of worship in the Wilderness itself. All that apparently remained before the commencement of the awaited journey to the Promised Land was for Moshe to ascend Mt. Sinai and bring down the Tablets of the Covenant.4

Why, then, did Hashem suddenly shift course and issue instructions to launch a massive building project, the implementation of which would delay the journey by at least six months?5 Additionally, until this point, the nation had functioned just fine with Hashem's presence embodied in the Pillars of Cloud and Fire or descending to Moshe's personal tent.6 What required the sudden transformation of the status quo,7 and why was Moshe not informed of this change until he was already atop Mt. Sinai?8

Twin Foci – Revelation and Atonement

The Torah calls the Mishkan both "מִשְׁכַּן הָעֵדֻת" ("Tabernacle of Testimony") and "אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד" ("Tent of Meeting"), suggesting that its primary function was to safeguard the "לֻחֹת הָעֵדֻת" (the concrete testimony to Hashem's revelation) and to facilitate His ongoing communication with Moshe from between the cherubs on the "אֲרוֹן הָעֵדֻת".‎9 The main action in the Tabernacle, though, revolves around its other vessels, in particular the altars and their offerings. These, in contrast to the aron, function as vehicles for atonement.10 What is the relationship between the roles of these various vessels? Is the focal point of the Mishkan its concealed ark and Tablets or its atoning altars?

To read more, click on Approaches.