Hagaon
Rav Ovadia
Sforno zt”l on Parshat Pekudei
(from
Sforno
on Shemot)
Counting
the Gold of the Mishkan
Print Version
The Torah counts all of the precious metals that
went into the building of the Mishkan, listing exactly
how much gold, silver, and copper was used. The
Sforno makes a powerful observation.
The amount of precious metals that went into the
Mishkan pales in comparison to the wealth that went
into the First Temple (see Melakhim I, 6:20-35 and
7:48-50). The grandeur of the First Temple was itself
eclipsed by the lavish Second Temple built by Herod.
Ironically, there was an inverse relationship between
the amount of gold, silver, and copper that went
into each of the Temples and the Divine Presence
that was revealed in each. In the Mishkan, the most
humble of the three, the Glory of G-d appeared more
constantly than in Shlomo's Temple. In the Second
Temple the Divine Presence was drastically reduced,
only a hint of the First.
This teaches a powerful lesson, says the Sforno.
"The amount of wealth and the size of the building
do not determine whether the Divine Presence will
rest within Israel. G-d desires the souls and actions
of those who are in awe of Him and will dwell in
their midst."
[prepared
by Eliezer Kwass]
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