Dvar Torah for Parshas Tetzaveh

Parshas Tetzaveh continues with Hashem’s commanding of Moshe on the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its utensils. This week’s parshah deals specifically with the Kohanim’s clothing and duties. These were the final details Moshe had to learn before the actual construction of the Mishkan could begin.

There is however, one object mentioned in this week’s parshah which seems to be written out of order. The last ten pesukim of the parshah deal with the building of the מזבח הזהב, the Golden Mizbe’ach (Alter), which was placed in the Kodesh and was used for the Ketores, the twice daily incense offering brought in the Mishkan and later the Beis Hamikdash. The question is why is the Mizbe’ach mentioned over here? Shouldn’t it be discussed in Parshas Terumah along with the other utensils which are placed inside the Kodesh, i.e. the Menorah, the Aron and the Shulchan?

The Ohr HaChaim answers simply that only the utensils which were also used in the Beis Hamikdash were mentioned together in Parshas Terumah. However, the Golden Mizbe’ach from the Mishkan was replaced in the Beis Hamikdash by one of solid gold as opposed to the original which was gold- covered wood.  

The Ramban and the Seforno say a similar idea which the Seforno takes even further. The point of the other utensils (and the entire Mishkan building for that matter) was to allow the Shechinah to rest in the Mishkan amongst the people. This was not the purpose of the מזבח הזהב. The laws and responsibilities of the Kohanim along with their korbanos, which are discussed in this week’s parshah, are to show how the Shechinah was resting in the Mishkan. This also was not the purpose of the מזבח הזהב. Rather, the purpose of the מזבח הזהב was once Hashem’s Shechinah was resting in the Mishkan, the Kohanim lit the Ketores once in the morning and once at night in order to give kavod to Hashem so that the korbanos should be accepted eagerly. This is why the Mizbe’ach is written at the end, because it was the last step between the Mishkan being just a beautiful building and a connection between us and Hashem. It was the final necessity for Hashem to be able to bring his presence into this world. Because of that, it is listed separate from everything else.

May we all see the day when we bring the Ketores and with that have our korbanos and tefillos answered by Hashem.

Shabbat Shalom!

and remember AIMeM!!!!!