Five-fold Repetition

      Perhaps the primary difficulty with Parashot Vayakhel – Pekudei is the apparent redundancy of the description of making the Tabernacle. Indeed, the Torah provides a fivefold description of the Tabernacle and its appliances [Parashot Teruma, T’tzaveh, Ki Tissa, twice in vaYakhel (35:4-19; 36:8 – 38:20) and Pekudei].

       Rabbeinu Beḥayye writes that the repetitions reflect the lofty level of the Tabernacle and the fact that it is so dear to God. Rabbeinu Beḥayye notes that, in a similar manner, there is a single verse which mentions the Children of Israel five times, as an expression of how dearly God loves His nation:

I have given the Levites from the Children of Israel for Aaron and his sons to perform the service for the Children of Israel in the meeting tent and to atone for the Children of Israel, so that there will not be a plague on the Children of Israel when the Children of Israel approach the sanctuary.              Numbers 8:19

      Tzror haMor  writes that each of the five mentions of the construction of the Tabernacle and preparing its vessels has a particular purpose: the first, of course, conveys God’s command; the second describes Moses’ relating the Divine command to the nation; the third is Moses’ explanation to the artists and artisans who are responsible in practice for creating the Tabernacle; the fourth describes the diligence and precision of the artisans’ work, corresponding exactly to God’s instructions; the final repetition conveys Moses’ confirmation that all the work was done in accordance with the Divine plan. Thus, the final repetition concludes with the summary:

Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as God commanded, and Moses blessed them.                                                                      Exodus 39:43

      Perhaps Tzror haMor ‘s words can be seen as an expansion and specification of Rabbeinu Beḥayye’s comment that the repetitions convey God’s affection for the Tabernacle and for those engaged in its construction.

    Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch explains the need for the repetitions in Parashot vaYakhel – Pekudei and the practical lesson to be learned from these repetitions in light of the sin of the golden calf. As grave as the sin of the golden calf was, “the highest grace of God was regained” when God said to Moses “I forgive them, as you have requested,” [Numbers 14:20] and this was accomplished “without Temple and without offering.” This taught the truth “that Temple and offering do not themselves bring about the grace of God, but are only means of showing the way to gain the grace of God.” Thus, each repetition of the matter of the Tabernacle serves as a reminder that the Shechina resting with Israel is independent of the Temple/Tabernacle and of the service therein and Israel’s ability to achieve atonement is a function of the Israelites’ behavior and repentance of their sins.

           Rabbi Hirsch’s comment hints at Jeremiah’s words:

Do not trust deceitful words, chanting: This is the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord.                                  7:4

The classical commentaries explain that the Israelites relied on the assumption that God would not destroy His Temple in response to the nation’s sins, and the people felt that the very existence of the Temple insulated them from retribution for their sins. Jeremiah’s message to the people was that the true “temple of God” is not the Temple in Jerusalem, but the Israelites themselves, “for when they are righteous, they themselves are the temple.” [Alshikh, Jeremiah 7:4]

          Indeed, the verse states explicitly: “They are to make a sanctuary for Me so that I may dwell among them.”

         Though our souls yearn for the construction of the Third Temple, we must realize that the true Temple resides within the hearts of the Children of Israel.