Vayakheil Pekudei, Parshas Hachodesh
Is the Torah Written in Order?
There are different Medrashim as to whether the Torah is in written in order or not. Rashi (Shmos 31:18) and the Seforno (Kavanos Hatorah) are of the opinion that the Torah is not in order. Even though we read about the Mishkan before hearing about the Eigel Hazahav, according to Rashi and the Seforno, the Mishkan was first commanded to Moshe after the cheit HaEigel. (1)
Kli Chemda writes something amazing. The many prohibitions regarding Shabbos are derived from the construction of the Mishkan. The Mishkan only came after the cheit HaEigel, so the many Melachos of Shabbos are actually intended to correct the cheit HaEgel! This is not only according to Rashi et. al., but according to everyone, the 39 Melachos of Shabbos are only presented after the cheit HaEigel (Parshas Vayakheil).
The Cheit HaEigel
No one would be so foolish as to think that this golden calf took them out of Egypt. What was the meaning of the words, “This is your god who took you out of Egypt?” The Ramban says it was not actually intended as an idolatrous image. They were hoping to embody one of Hashem’s forces to have something concrete in their service of Hashem. (Later, some people really did get carried away and committed terrible crimes.)
Nonetheless, the Kuzari points out that they transgressed the basic command not to make a molten image. Moshe Rebbenu shattered the luchos, containing the Ten Commandments, in an attempt to nullify the Bris Hatorah, thereby exempting the people.
When is it Forbidden to Bow Down?
Is it forbidden to bow to a person? No (Sanhedrin 61b). Yet, Mordechai refused to bow before Homon. Although it was extremely dangerous to disobey the king’s command, he knew that the Jews were in trouble for bowing before the statue that Nebuchadnezzar had erected, years before.
There is a debate regarding Avoda Zara not served out of belief, but rather from fear (Sanhedrin 61b). Rava says one who does so is exempt. The Talmud quotes a Beraisa that one is guilty “like Homon.” No one believed that Homon was a deity! It was only from fear that they prostrated to Homon! So you see that even bowing to Homon out of fear is culpable!
Rava says the quote “like Homon,” is not referring exactly to Homon, but something similar to Homon in one aspect. Homon made himself into a deity! If you believe this and then you bow, you’re in trouble. But no one believed that Homon was a deity…Their actions were only from fear. Therefore, one who bows to Homon should be exempt.
Tosafos asks, why didn’t Mordechai bow to Homon according to Rava’s opinion? No one believed that Homon was a deity! They answer with the famous medrash that Homon wore idolatrous images. (2)
So there are two aspects. One is that Homon claimed himself to be a deity. The other is that he wore images. If he only wore images, but did not make himself into a deity, there are two opinions in Ramah in Shulchan Aruch (O.C. 150:3) if it is actually forbidden to bow before him. But if he claimed to be a deity, and he wore idolatrous images as well, it would be forbidden to bow before him.
Regarding the statue of Nebuchadnezzar, even though the people only bowed to a likeness of the king, and only due to fear — even so, bowing to a statue is certainly out of line. The very appearance is improper. Mordechai had to atone for the Jews’ improper conduct in prostrating before the statue.
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- Ramban disagrees strongly with Rashi’s view, as he states at the beginning of Vayakheil (Shmos 35:1) and other places. [Why did Yaakov tell the sons to bring cedar wood from the trees which he had planted in Egypt? Rashi himself writes that Yaakov understood that there would be a Mishkan (Shmos 25:5).]
- Magein Geborim says there is no question about Mordechai. Fear did not apply to him!