The Torah Is Not a History Book
One of the challenges in reading the Torah is that we read its stories in chronological order. Because something is reported in Exodus, for example, we assume it occurred before those things detailed in Deuteronomy. We bring our modern view of history and time to ancient words.
Perhaps this is not the best approach. The Torah is not a history book. Instead, its purpose is to provide meaning.
The rabbis understood this and read our sacred book’s words searching for meaning. They were guided by the principle that there is no early or late in the Torah. In other words, despite the order of events, all of the Torah was given in one moment. This worldview allows us to read an ancient text in new and novel ways.
Take for example, the command to build a tabernacle, detailed in this week’s portion. The Lord commands the Israelites to build a sanctuary and to locate it within a “tent of witness.” And to what will this grand building project witness? That our wrongs will be forgiven. How do we come to this interpretation? Because our tradition argues—despite the chapters’ order—the instructions for building a sanctuary follow, rather than precede, the sin of the golden calf.
The rabbis continue. According to tradition, the command to build this tabernacle was given on Yom Kippur, the day we believe God forgives our wrongs if we but acknowledge them and work to rectify them. Even though we continually fall short, and disappoint, God always remains in our midst. God forever remains by our side.
The Torah declares: “Build for Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them.” (Exodus 25) The tabernacle assuages and provides meaning. It is as if to say, “Even after you sin and build an idol, God forgives us. All we have to do is direct our prayers in the proper direction.”
Reading the command to build a tabernacle after the sin of the golden calf makes more sense. It offers needed reassurance and concrete tasks. Otherwise, we only see God’s anger.
This week, and its commands, comes as a response to our failures and a salve to God’s wrath. God does not need a sanctuary. We need it. God is constantly learning how to teach the Israelites and realizes after the golden calf that people cannot pray to some abstract being.
Moses leaves them alone for several weeks and they panic and start building an idol. “Better they should build what I tell them to build,” God reasons. “Better that they should build the right thing.” The Torah states, “Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose hearts so move them.”
People need to be able to see something with their own eyes. They need to be invested in building something with their own hands.
By doing away with the chapters’ order, the rabbis invest new meaning into the Torah’s words.
Order does not always provide meaning.
History, and its endless timelines, do not always provide the greatest lessons.
God never abandons us.