"they shal make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high"
The introduction to the command of building the Aron differs from the commands to build the other vessels. The pasuk states "ועשו ארון”,
“They are to construct an Ark”. Why is this commandment given in plural? Why does it say "They shal construct" rather than “You should construct”?
According to Data Zkenim, the reason is because the Aron is so tremendously holy and therefore every Jewish person should feel like he had a part in making the construction possible.
The Tur Haroch says that the Torah said "they should" as opposed to "you should" so as to encourage Bnai Yisroel to partake in the building of the Mishkan by givining money. I didn't really like this explanation because this pasuk is part of the conversation between Hashem and Moshe so Hashem saying "they" does not necessarily mean it would be passed onto Bnai Yisroel.
ReplyDeleteDa'at Zekeinim comments on this question. He addresses the fact that instead of saying "you shall construct" as Hashem did for the other keilim in the Beit Hamikdash, He instead says "THEY shall construct" when referring to the Aron. He goes on to explain that the reason for this was because Hashem wanted every Jew to take part in constructing the ark that holds the Luchot. If inert objects deserve respect, kal vechomer the Aron should be given that much honor from each Jew.
ReplyDeleteRamban comments on this and says that in every other place it says "and you shall make" in reference to Moshe, meaning that Moshe was considered eaqual to benei yisrael. Ramban thinks that this means that benei yisrael should have joined in more with Aaron to make the ark. Then they would have also been eaqual to Aron
ReplyDeleteThe Ramban further explains his reasoning for why the pasuk says, "ועשו ארון." He quotes a midrash which says that the command to build the ark is in plural because it is only with regard to its aim, that it will store the Torah, and there is an expectation that all Jewish people should join in to carry out this task- to acquire a share in Torah.
ReplyDeleteAccording to Chabad.org, the reason why the commandment to build the Aron is plural is to show it importance to the Jewish people. Although only specific Jews at specific times were able to take part in the building of the Beit HaMikdash, the Aron was seen as the holiest klei that all of Bnei Yisrael could enjoy. Adena-in Navi, King Dovid is seen dancing in a large parade with the Aron. Dovid's wife was embarrassed of him and said he should not be making a mockery of himself in that way, but Dovid insisted the way he was rejoicing was in fact honoring Hashem. David's action with the Aron not only shows its importance, but also its integral role in Bnei Yisrael.
ReplyDeleteIt is possible the ארון is in plural because since it's so holy every Jew should be a part of building it. The Language used to describe it can be compared to תפילה because and how most of it is written plural as well. Perhaps the use of plural language rather than singular is to signify that we are a community and have equal parts in building a connection with god. We learnt this year in bible class of a woman on rosh hashana that she didn't want to have a blessing and be singled out on judgment day. So too rather than having it built individually and having all are impurities before hashem, we should build it as one joint congregation so we seem strong and pure.
ReplyDeleteThe chizkuni takes the words above in a different way. He claims that the ו is telling us that the building that was going to house the Aron was already made. He goes on to explain that this must be true because without a house, the Aron has no place to go. The chizkuni They now have to build the Aron after all else has been prepared. The chizkuni never implies why it says "they" but I believe that (fitting in with what he said) the word is referring to they who originally built the house for the Aron, because it's now their time to finish the job and build the Aron.
ReplyDelete