Hagaon
Rav Ovadia Sforno
zt”l on Parshat Pekudei
(from
Sforno on Shemot)
Counting the Gold of
the Mishkan
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]
from
Classic Divrei Torah on Parshat Shavua
Print Version of http://www.darchenoam.org/articles/web/parsha/ar_pekudei.htm
Copyright 2003 Darche
Noam Institutions
