Adapted from Likkutei Sichos, Parshas Terumah, 5750
In his description of the dimensions of the
Beis HaMikdash, the
Rambam states:
[1]
The First Beis [HaMikdash] had a wall which was one cubit thick that separated between the Sanctuary (Kodesh) and the Holy of Holies (Kodesh Hakadashim).
When constructing the Second Beis [HaMikdash], [the people] were unsure whether the thickness of that wall was included in the measure of the Sanctuary or of the Holy of Holies. Therefore, they made the Holy of Holies a full twenty cubits long, and they made the Sanctuary a full forty cubits long, leaving an additional cubit between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies.
They did not build a wall in the Second Beis [HaMikdash]. Instead, they hung two curtains, one on the side of the Holy of Holies, and one on the side of the Sanctuary, with a cubit between them, equal to the thickness of the wall in the First Beis HaMikdash.
In the First [Beis] Mikdash, by contrast, there was only one curtain as implied by the verse,[2] "And the curtain shall divide for you [between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies]."
The
Kesef Mishneh[3] states that the
Rambam's statements are based on the Jerusalem Talmud,
[4] which explains that an additional cubit was added to the structure of the
Beis HaMikdash, because of an unresolved question: In the dimensions of which chamber - the Sanctuary or the Holy of Holies - should the thickness of the wall be included? Significantly, this same subject is also discussed by the Babylonian Talmud,
[5] which states:
Rav Nosson said: "The Sages did not determine whether the cubit of traksin[6] was part of the inner chamber (the Holy of Holies) or whether it was part of the outer chamber (the Sanctuary).
Ravina objected to his statement: "What is the reason [for the doubt]? One might think that it results from [the apparent contradiction between the following verses]. It is written:[7] "And the house which King Shlomo built for G-d was sixty cubits long...," and it is written:[8] "And the house, that is the Sanctuary, was forty cubits...," and it is written,[9] "Before the dvir, twenty cubits in length...." [Why say that the Sages] did not know whether the cubit of traksin [was to be deducted] from the twenty or from the forty? Perhaps it was not to be deducted from either the twenty or the forty and [the verses] are considering [merely] the open space [of the chambers] without including their walls?
As proof, see that whenever walls are mentioned, they are mentioned as a separate entity....[10] Instead, [the doubt is concerning the status of this cubit]: [Does it have the sanctity] of the inner [chamber] or of the outer [chamber]?
Thus, the Babylonian Talmud teaches us that in the First
Beis HaMikdash as well, the cubit of
traksin was not part of the twenty cubits of the Holy of Holies, nor part of the forty cubits of the Sanctuary, but rather a separate space. The question facing the Sages who constructed the Second
Beis HaMikdash related to the degree of sanctity this space possessed, and not to which chamber in whose measure it was to be included. Because the issue of the place's sanctity remained unresolved, two curtains were made.
The Jerusalem Talmud, by contrast explains that the doubt involved the size of the chambers of the First Beis HaMikdash: Was the Holy of Holies 19 or 20 cubits long? And was the Sanctuary 39 or 40 cubits long?
Generally, when there is a difference of opinion between the Babylonian Talmud and the Jerusalem Talmud, it is the Babylonian Talmud which is followed. And yet, as the Kesef Mishnah states, the Rambam appears to follow the Jerusalem Talmud. Moreover, in this instance, to follow the explanation of the Jerusalem Talmud[11] invites a difficult question. The dimensions of the Beis HaMikdash were revealed by G-d through prophetic insight.[12] How could these dimensions be changed and the size of these chambers be increased?[13]
There are several other questions that are raised by the
Rambam's statements in this
halachah. Among them: In the Second
Beis HaMikdash, why was it necessary to hang two curtains with an empty space between them? Why, instead, did they not hang a single curtain which was a cubit thick, thus bearing a greater resemblance to the wall which had existed in the First
Beis HaMikdash.
Tosafos[14] explains that a single curtain would not be sufficient, because, as reflected in the above verse, the outer side of the curtain served as a divider between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. Were there to have been only one curtain, the length of the Holy of Holies would have been extended.
According to the Rambam, however, it appears that the division between the two chambers was not brought about by the curtains,[15] but by the space itself. If so, why was one thick curtain not sufficient?
The conception of a curtain as a divider provokes a further question. The
Rambam concludes this
halachah with the statement: "In the First
Mikdash, by contrast, there was only one curtain as implied by the verse, 'And the curtain shall divide for you [between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies.' "
The Kesef Mishneh explains that the word Mikdash refers to the Sanctuary in the desert as reflected by the prooftext used. It does not refer to the First Beis HaMikdash, because there the division between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies was brought about by the wall.[16] As mentioned several times, the Mishneh Torah is not a text of history. And therefore, the question arises: What is the purpose of this reference? What is its relevance in regard to the construction of the Second Beis HaMikdash, the subject the Rambam is focusing on.[17]
This later reference, however, carries the key to the understanding of the
Rambam's conception of the cubit of
traksin. With this reference, the
Rambam intends to contrast the cubit of
traksin with the curtain used in the Sanctuary. In the Sanctuary, the curtain performed two functions. It distinguished the Sanctuary from the Holy of Holies and it served as a covering for the ark as implied by the verse:
[18] "And you shall place the ark of testimony there and shield the ark with the curtain."
These two purposes were also fulfilled by the wall constructed in the First Beis HaMikdash. Nevertheless, a careful appreciation of the continuation of the passage in the Babylonian Talmud introduces a third function for the cubit of traksin. The cubit of traksin served as a transition between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies. Indeed, it was given a special name, the dvir,[19] to indicate its separate status.
Why was this space necessary? Because the sanctity of the Holy of Holies was radically different from the rest of the Beis HaMikdash. It was not merely on a higher rung of holiness; it was the resting place for the Divine Presence, and thus in another category entirely. Therefore, the use of a curtain as a divider was not sufficient. It was necessary for there to be an intermediate area set aside for a specific purpose: to distinguish the Holy of Holies because of its uniqueness.
In particular, the existence of this intermediate area was significant for the High Priest who would enter the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. To enter directly into the Holy of Holies would be too radical a transition. It was necessary to pass through this intermediate area first.[20]
Although most of the portions of the
Beis HaMikdash had parallels in the Sanctuary in the desert, this was not true in regard to the cubit of
traksin. There was no such intermediary in the Sanctuary. Since the Sanctuary was only a temporary dwelling for the Divine Presence,
[21] it lacked certain facets that were present in the
Beis HaMikdash. To cite a similar example: Although the
Ulam, the entrance hall, was one of the fundamental elements of the
Beis HaMikdash,[22] there was no parallel to it in the Sanctuary in the desert.
[23]
The Beis HaMikdash, by contrast, was "[G-d's] eternal home," the ultimate - and permanent[24] - resting place for the Divine Presence.[25] Therefore, all of its elements reflected consummate perfection. As such, there was also an intermediate area for transition before the Holy of Holies.
Based on the above, we can resolve the questions mentioned at the outset. According to the
Rambam, it was preferable for there to be two curtains, rather than one thick curtain. For these two curtains left a full cubit of open space, thus distinguishing the
dvir as a separate entity. In contrast, were there to have been only a single curtain, there would not have been a permanent distinction within the structure of the building where this space existed as a separate entity. In the First
Beis HaMikdash, this distinction was made by the wall. In the Second
Beis HaMikdash, this distinction was made by setting off the cubit of empty space by two curtains.
[26]
To create this distinction, it was necessary to alter the structure of the Beis HaMikdash from its original design. There was, however, no alternative. The Sages did not know whether to include the cubit of traksin in the Sanctuary or in the Holy of Holies. Including it in either chamber could possibly have reduced the size of that chamber. Therefore, the Sages decided that it was preferable to make the inner space of the chambers equal to the dimensions mentioned in the verses, and thus add a cubit to the total size of the structure, rather than take the risk of reducing the desired size of either chamber.
May we merit the coming of the time when "the Tishbite [Eliyahu] will resolve all questions and difficulties," with the coming of the Redemption. And may this come about in the immediate future.
Notes:
- (Back to text) Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 4:2.
- (Back to text) Shmos 26:33.
- (Back to text) In his gloss to Hilchos Beis HaBechirah, loc. cit.
- (Back to text) Kilayim 8:4.
- (Back to text) Yoma 52a.
- (Back to text) A Greek word combining the roots for "inner" and "outer" (Rashi, Yoma, loc. cit.). Thus its very name pointed to the unresolved question concerning its status: Was it comparable to the inner chamber (the Holy of Holies) or comparable to the outer chamber (the Sanctuary)?
- (Back to text) I Melachim 6:2.
- (Back to text) Ibid.,17.
- (Back to text) Ibid.,20.
- (Back to text) As proof of his position, Ravina continues and cites the Mishnah, Middos 4:6-7.
- (Back to text) Note Siach Yitzchak, Yad David, and Har HaMoriah who attempt to explain that the Rambam's ruling also follows the Babylonian Talmud. The Kesef Mishneh, however, clearly states that the Rambam's source is the Jerusalem Talmud, implying a conflict.
- (Back to text) See I Divrei HaYomim 28:19. Although this verse speaks of the design for the First Beis HaMikdash, it is relevant in the present context, for the Second Beis HaMikdash was built primarily according to the design of the First (Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 1:4).
There were certain differences between the two structures, but these differences stemmed from direct prophetic revelation. For example, the height of the Second Beis HaMikdash was increased from thirty cubits to one hundred cubits. This, however, came as a result of the prophecy (Chaggai 2:9), "The honor of this later house will be greater than the first" (Bava Basra 3a).
- (Back to text) According to the Rambam, there are two significant differences between the dimensions of the First Beis HaMikdash and that of the Second. In the Second Beis HaMikdash: a) A cubit was added to the combined length of the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies; b) The length of one of these chambers, either the Sanctuary or the Holy of Holies was increased by a cubit.
We are forced to say that the desire not to deviate from G-d's design for the Beis HaMikdash was a factor in the construction of the Second Beis HaMikdash. For this reason two curtains were used for the cubit of traksin, rather than a wall as in the First Beis HaMikdash. The First Beis HaMikdash was only thirty cubits high and so a wall one cubit wide would be able to stand. The Second Beis HaMikdash, by contrast, was one hundred cubits high and for the wall to have been architecturally sound, it would have had to have been wider than a cubit. This alternative was not accepted, because it would have required shortening the dimensions of either the Sanctuary or the Holy of Holies, or increasing the combined length of both structures and this would have been a deviation from the Divinely inspired design for the Beis HaMikdash. (See Bava Basra 3a; Rashi, Yoma 51b; Rashi, Kesuvos 106a.) Just as a wall was not built, for doing would be a deviation from the original Divine design, seemingly, other changes - adding to the length of the structure as the Rambam implies was done - should also not have been made.
- (Back to text) Yoma 51b.
- (Back to text) This is indicated by the fact that the Rambam states that there was a full cubit between the curtains. According to Tosafos, by contrast, since the curtain(s) brought about the distinction between the chambers, the outer curtain was placed at the beginning of the cubit of traksin. Thus there was not an entire cubit of empty space.
- (Back to text) There was also a curtain on the wall of the cubit of traksin in the First Beis HaMikdash, as mentioned in II Divrei HaYomim 3:14, Yoma 54a, and the Rambam's Commentary on the Mishnah (Middos 4:7, Yoma 5:1). Nevertheless, according to the Kesef Mishneh, the Rambam maintains that this curtain was there merely for the purpose of modesty, as a covering for the entrance to the Holy of Holies (see Rashi, Menachos 98a, Yoma 54a). The distinction between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies was made by the wall.
- (Back to text) There are other commentaries which interpret this statement as a reference to the First Beis HaMikdash. According to these commentaries, the reference is also problematic. Because of the introductory nature of this statement, it would appear more appropriate to put it at the beginning of the Rambam's treatment of this subject, and not at the conclusion.
- (Back to text) Shmos 40:3.
- (Back to text) See Rashi, Yoma 52a, Tosefta, Yoma 2:11. There are sources where the term dvir clearly applies to the Holy of Holies itself. This, however, does not represent a contradiction, for it is possible for a single term to have two definitions, each appropriate for a different context.
- (Back to text) The concept of the cubit of traksin as a place of transition contributes a dimension of depth to the explanation of the manner in which the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies. He would enter the cubit of traksin near the south wall, walk across the entire span, and enter the Holy of Holies near the north wall (Yoma 52b).
- (Back to text) Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 1:1.
- (Back to text) Ibid.:5.
- (Back to text) Note the commentary of the Ritvah to Eruvin 2b which also explains that the Ulam served as an entranceway to the Sanctuary. Thus it was also a transitional area and the comparison between it and the dvir is closer.
- (Back to text) The concept of permanence is also reflected in the difference between the divider used in the Sanctuary, a curtain, and that used in the First Beis HaMikdash, a wall. For a wall is a permanent structure, while a curtain is not.
- (Back to text) See Hilchos Beis HaBechirah 1:3.
- (Back to text) This adds significance to the distinction between the Rambam's approach and that of Tosafos mentioned in note 15. According to the Rambam, there was a full cubit of space between the curtains, while according to Tosafos, the space was reduced by the width of the curtains themselves.
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