Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah

Ramban on Exodus 30:1/רמב"ן על שמות ל׳:א׳

אוְעָשִׂיתָ מִזְבֵּחַ מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת הִנֵּה מִזְבַּח הַקְּטֹרֶת מִן הַכֵּלִים הַפְּנִימִיִּים הָיָה, רָאוּי שֶׁיַּזְכִּירֶנּוּ עִם הַשֻּׁלְחָן וְהַמְּנוֹרָה שֶׁהוּא מֻנָּח עִמָּהֶם, וְכֵן הִזְכִּירָם בַּמַּעֲשֶׂה בְּפָרָשַׁת וַיַּקְהֵל (שמות ל"ז:כ"ה), אֲבָל הַטַּעַם לְהַזְכִּירוֹ כָּאן אַחַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְכָל כֵּלָיו וְהַקָּרְבָּנוֹת, בַּעֲבוּר שֶׁאָמַר בְּתַשְׁלוּם הַכֹּל "וְנִקְדַּשׁ בִּכְבוֹדִי" (שמות כ"ט:מ"ג), "וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל" (שם מה), אָמַר כִּי עוֹד יִתְחַיֵּב לָהֶם שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ מִזְבֵּחַ מִקְטַר קְטֹרֶת לְהַקְטִיר לִכְבוֹד הַשֵּׁם. וְזֶהוּ רָז שֶׁנִּמְסַר לְמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ שֶׁהַקְּטֹרֶת עוֹצֶרֶת הַמַּגֵּפָה (שבת פט.), כִּי הַקְּטֹרֶת בְּמִדַּת הַדִּין (זוה"ק ויקרא יח), שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "יָשִׂימוּ קְטוֹרָה בְּאַפֶּךָ" (דברים לג י), מִן "וְחָרָה אַפִּי" (שם לא יז), וְהוּא מַה שֶׁאָמַר בִּקְטֹרֶת זָרָה "וְעַל פְּנֵי כָל הָעָם אֶכָּבֵד" (ויקרא י ג), שֶׁיֵּדְעוּ כְּבוֹדִי כִּי לֹא יִשָּׂא לְפִשְׁעֲכֶם וְיִזָּהֲרוּ בִּכְבוֹדִי. וּלְכָךְ אָמַר כָּאן (שמות ל':ו') "וְנָתַתָּ אֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי הַפָּרֹכֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל אֲרֹן הָעֵדֻת לִפְנֵי הַכַּפֹּרֶת אֲשֶׁר עַל הָעֵדֻת אֲשֶׁר אִוָּעֵד לְךָ שָׁמָּה", כִּי מַה צֹרֶךְ לְהַאֲרִיךְ בְּכָל אֵלֶּה, וְלֹא אָמַר וְנָתַתָּ אוֹתוֹ לִפְנֵי אֲרוֹן הָעֵדֻת בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, כַּאֲשֶׁר אָמַר בְּפָרָשַׁת פְּקוּדֵי (שמות מ':ה'), אֲבָל הוּא לְהוֹרוֹת עַל עִנְיָנוֹ:

1AND THOU SHALT MAKE AN ALTAR TO BURN INCENSE UPON. Now the altar of incense being one of the articles in the inner part of the Sanctuary, it should have been mentioned with the table and the candelabrum together with which it was placed, as indeed they are mentioned at the actual construction in the section of Vayakheil.²³² But the reason for mentioning it here after the Tabernacle and all its vessels and the sacrifices [for the seven days of consecration], is because of what He said at the completion of them all, and the Tent shall be sanctified by My Glory;²³³ and I will dwell among the children of Israel.²³⁴, Verse 45. Therefore He now said that they will yet be obliged to make an altar for the burning of incense — to burn it for the glory of G-d. This was a secret which was transmitted to Moses our Teacher,²³⁵ that the incense checks the plague.²³⁶ For the incense is of the attribute of justice, as it is said, they shall put incense ‘b’apecha’,²³⁷ is of the root aph (anger). which is of the root v’charah api (My wrath shall wax hot).²³⁸ It is for this reason that He said of strange incense, and before all the people I will be glorified,²³⁹ meaning that they will know My glory, for He will not pardon your transgression.²⁴⁰ For this reason too He said here [of the altar of incense], And thou shalt put it before the veil that is by the ark of the Testimony, before the ark-cover that is over the Testimony, where I will meet with thee.²⁴¹ For why is it necessary to speak at length of all these matters, and why did He not say briefly, “and thou shalt put it before the ark of the Testimony in the Tent of Meeting,” as He said in the section of Vayakheil?²⁴² (further, 40:5). But the extended form of the verse here indicates the purport [of the altar of incense].