“I see that this is a stiffnecked people"

THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE

“I see that this is a stiffnecked people" 

 

(Exodus 32:9)

 

Adar 14 - Purim, 5785/March 14, 2025

 

Moshe's forty days and nights on Mount Sinai are just about over and G-d is still focussed solely on the details of the Tabernacle. How He seems to love this subject so! HaShem shares with Moshe the need for a Half Shekel offering from every man of Israel for the building of the Tabernacle. Following this, HaShem instructs Moshe to see to the construction of a copper laver for the sanctification of the hands and feet of the kohanim each morning of their service. 

Then HaShem hands over the ingredients for the anointing oil and the ketoret incense offering. Finally HaShem tells Moshe, "See, I have called by name Betzalel ben Uri ben Hur, of the tribe of Yehudah. I have endowed him with a divine spirit of skill, ability, and knowledge in every kind of craft; to make designs for work in gold, silver, and copper, to cut stones for setting and to carve wood—to work in every kind of craft."(Exodus 31:2-3) HaShem has left no stone unturned, even appointing the work foreman and his assistant Ohaliav ben Achisamach. Lest there be a misunderstanding, HaShem adds one further note:

"Speak to the children of Israel and say: Nevertheless, you must keep My sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout the ages, that you may know that I HaShem have consecrated you. You shall keep the sabbath, for it is holy for you. One who profanes it shall be put to death: whoever does work on it, that person shall be cut off from among kin." (ibid 31:13-14) In other words, as important and as sacred and as close to HaShem's heart the national project of the Tabernacle is, Israel's labor laws, embedded in the keeping of Shabbat, must be observed.

Perhaps HaShem would have gone on sharing with Moshe more about the Tabernacle had He not taken note of happenings down below, exhorting Moshe to “Hurry down, for your people, whom you brought out of the land of Egypt, have acted basely." (ibid 32:7) It seems that just as G-d was inscribing with His own finger the two stone tables held by Moshe, the Israelites below, having grown increasingly nervous in light of Moshe's extended disappearance and have demanded of Aharon to "Come, make us a god who shall go before us, for that fellow Moshe — the man who brought us from the land of Egypt — we do not know what has happened to him.” (ibid 32:1) G-d, in His anger, attached to Israel an epithet that would stick forever: "I see that this is a stiffnecked people." (ibid 32:9)

G-d was clearly aware of all that was transpiring down below at the foot of Mount Sinai even before the idolatrous mayhem erupted. He certainly could have shortened His transmission to Moshe, even by one day, and avoided the disastrous episode of the golden calf. It seems as if G-d was timing things just so he could test Israel, a test they were destined to fail. There is no greater stain on the nation of Israel's character as that of the golden calf. And while the incident exposed an ugly side of Israel, it all could be attributed to a matter of timing. Nevertheless, timing is everything, and there was a serious price to be paid for Israel's transgression.

Many opine that Israel's apparent need for a material representation of G-d is the reason behind the Tabernacle, which could redirect this primal need in a positive direction. Yet the Torah is very clear that the commandment to "Build for Me a Sanctuary" (ibid 25:8) was given to Moshe atop Mount Sinai before the dancing around the golden calf, even if the Israelites below remained unaware. It was HaShem's desire to dwell amongst His people that informed the building of the Tabernacle, and not as a remedy for the nation's proclivity to idolatry. Nevertheless, the incident of the golden calf is sandwiched squarely between HaShem's private instructions to Moshe to build a Sanctuary and Moshe's sharing of HaShem's instructions with the nation. Why?

G-d has described to Moshe an exquisite floor plan for His dwelling place. But as lovely as it seems, it remains lifeless until HaShem places Aharon and his sons to serve as kohanim in the Tabernacle and bring it to life. Yet the distance between G-d and the people amongst whom He wished to dwell remained immense. He brought them out of Egypt and He cared for their every need. 

They agreed to accept upon themselves the responsibility to keep the covenant of the Torah. But what was G-d's responsibility to the people? As long as their behavior was within the boundaries of the acceptable, all was fine. But what happens when Israel screws up? This is the crucial test of the golden calf. Now it is HaShem's turn to make clear His commitment to Israel, even when she strays. And this He does. G-d surmounts His own anger and delivers to Moshe His formula for forgiveness:

“HaShem! HaShem a G-d compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in kindness and faithfulness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin...” (ibid 34:6-7) Now there is a two way relationship between a G-d beyond description and a fallible, human people. Even when Israel falls to the deepest depths G-d will keep open the gates of repentance. It is this expression of eternal love by G-d for His people that is the final ingredient necessary to making the Tabernacle -  a dwelling place for G-d,truly amongst His people, to be a reality.

Four thousand years of experience have taught Israel that "there is nothing as whole as a broken heart." Even the debacle of the golden calf contained within it curative powers. The Tabernacle and later the Holy Temple would be more than a static cathedral. It would be a home, where G-d and His children could come together, all our human failings notwithstanding.