[Picture: Moses’ humility is evinced anew in his realization that even though he orchestrated and oversaw the building of the Sanctuary or the Tent of meeting, the structure was not his and he had no special standing therein... free bible images]

[For articles on the “Sabbath of Pekudey" in Hebrew, click here]

Updated on March 14, 2023

Rabbi Dr. Yossi Feintuch was born in Afula and holds a Ph.D. in American history from Emory University in Atlanta. He taught American history at Ben-Gurion University.

Author of the book US Policy on Jerusalem (JCCO).

He now serves as rabbi at the Jewish Center in central Oregon. (JCCO).

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Moses’ humility is evinced anew in his realization that even though he orchestrated and oversaw the building of the Sanctuary, or the Tent of meeting, the structure was not his and he had no special standing therein; not unlike a long-serving rabbi who must realize that the synagogue, where he has long been in dedicated service, wasn’t his after all. Indeed, our weekly portion ‘’Pekudey’’ that concludes the Book of Exodus informs us that Moses could not come into the edifice that he had erected because ‘’the cloud and the glory of God filled the Sanctuary” (Exodus 40:35).

[Picture: Moses’ humility is evinced anew in his realization that even though he orchestrated and oversaw the building of the Sanctuary or the Tent of meeting, the structure was not his and he had no special standing therein... free bible images]

To be sure God calls Moses from the tent at the beginning of the segueing (third) book of the Torah (Leviticus) to inform him about the priestly and sacrificial offerings protocols. Even then Moses would not enter the Tabernacle and he would have to suffice with hearing out God’s voice whilst he is outside the tent. The Hebrew word for ‘’And [God] called’’ (unto Moses) ends with a minimized letter, namely, ‘’And [God] called”, which might symbolize Moses’ minimizing his stature as the chief contractor of the Sanctuary, who, nonetheless, would not enter it without God’s summoning because of the presence of God’s glory over and in it.

Like Moses who had to forsake his self-pride and facilitate for his brother Aaron and his sons, whom God had designated for their exclusively priestly roles in the Sanctuary, so was David (as we read in this weekly Haftarah). Though desirous to build a house (or a Temple), where God’s name may be praised, God told David that he was not the one who would build that house, his grand merits notwithstanding. David could not build the shrine-house that he was keenly eager to build, even in Jerusalem D.C. (David’s Capital), because as a warrior his hands spilled much blood, but not only in war.

[Picture: David could not build the shrine-house that he was keenly eager to build, even in Jerusalem D.C. (David’s Capital), because as a warrior his hands spilled much blood, but not only in war.The copyright holder in this photo has not been found. Therefore, the use is made under section 27A of the Copyright Law. The main rights holder, please contact yehezkeally@gmail.com]

It goes without saying that in wars collateral innocent blood is shed as well, not to mention the blood of Uriah, whose heroic death in battle that David nefariously conspired for, would pave the way for his marriage with Bat Sheba, Uriah’s widow.  A Sanctuary (or Temple) to serve God represents the concept of peace, and a man of war was not a suitable person for the task ahead which will be executed by David’s succeeding son, Solomon.

Both Moses and King David respectively learned that even with their hefty merits they were not qualified in God’s eyes to either enter God's Sanctuary at will, or even build one. Neither Moses nor David could transcend their fallibility as humans, even as both – despite their distinguished status and standing – exemplified human humility before God.

[For articles on the “Sabbath of Pekudey" in Hebrew, click here]