Parshat Teruma:

1
Parshat Teruma
The Mishkan Before or After Chet HaEgel?
Shiur by Menachem Leibtag
Presentation by Ronni Libson
2
Second half of Sefer Shmot
Four Units
Chapters Topic (A) 19-24 Maamad Har Sinai (the
first Luchot) (B) 25-31 The commandment to build
the Mishkan (C) 32-24 Chet Haegel (the second
Luchot) (D) 35-40 Building the Mishkan
Second half of Sefer Shmot - proper chronological
order
Ramban
God ordered construction of Mishkan only after
chet haegel
Rashi
3
What do the words torah and mitzvah refer to?
Based on units above
Mention of torah and mitzvah in 2412 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
4
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

• It would not require forty days for God to teach
  Moshe laws of Mishkan something else must have
  also been taught

• 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!
5
Ramban
Mishkan is vehicle to perpetuate experience of
Maamad Har Sinai
First mizvah Moshe receives on Har Sinai
Focus of Shmot on Mishkan
Reflects unique level Bnei Yisrael attained when
they accepted Gods covenant at Har Sinai
Focal point of Mishkan
Luchot inside
Symbol of covenant at Har Sinai
Aron
Keruvim on top
From there God will convey remaining mitzvot to
Moshe
Explains why unit opens with details of Aron and
Keruvim
6
Rashi
Commandment to build Mishkan came after and as a
result of chet haegel
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
7
Rashi
Similarities between construction of Mishkan and
chet haegel

• Bnei Yisrael must collectively donate their gold
  to build the Mishkan

• Bezallel, Churs grandson, is chosen to build
  Mishkan (Midrash Chur was killed since he
  refused to allow Bnei Yisrael to build the egel)

• Opening pasuk describing Mishkan

Appears to rectify consequences of chet haegel

• Aharon must bring a par (bull) for a chatat
  offering during Mishkans dedication ceremony
  (which implies a sin was committed)

8
Ramban
Mishkan is lchatchila ideal
Rashi
Is Mishkan bdiavad a compromise ?
Chet haegel showed Bnei Yisraels need for a
physical representation
If not for chet haegel, would there ever have
been a mitzvah to build a Mikdash?
Sanctuary symbol of Gods shchina dwelling with
Bnei Yisrael
Mishkan temporary Sanctuary
Mikdash permanent Sanctuary
9
Concept of a Sanctuary is lchatchila

• Avraham builds a mizbayach in Bet El and calls
  out in Gods name

• Yaakov has a dream there vows to make that site
  a Bet-Elokim

• In shirat hayam, Bnei Yisrael sing of future
  Mikdash in the land

• Parshat Mishpatim (all agree it was given to
  Moshe during the first 40 days, before chet
  haegel) contains mitzvah of aliya lregel

• Parshat Mishpatim contains mitzvah of bikkurim,
  which must be brought to the House of God

10
Rashi must agree
Need for a Bet-Elokim has nothing to do with chet
haegel
Dispute between Rashi and Ramban concerns need
for a temporary Sanctuary before entering Eretz
Canaan
Rashi
Had Bnei Yisrael not sinned at chet haegel
Would have conquered land through Divine
intervention
No need for temporary Mishkan since after short
time would build permanent Mikdash
After chet haegel
God removes shchina from camp
Need for temporary Mishkan
Must bring shchina back
Conquest takes much longer
11
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 haegel
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