Tanakhתנ״ך

The Sforno on the Mishkan's Divine Presence

The Sforno explores how the Mishkan functions as a dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites, establishing a continuous connection that allows Him to receive their prayers and service. These sources emphasize the Mishkan's role in making God accessible and present to the people.

וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם

2 sources · all verified

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What the sources say

The Sforno reads the Divine command to build the Mishkan as serving a relational and communicative purpose: the Sforno (Shemot 25:8) explains that God's promise to "dwell among them" means He will reside in their midst to receive their prayers and their service, in the very manner He reveals His presence on the mountain — above the ark-cover, between the two cherubim — according to the pattern of the Mishkan and all its vessels.

The Sforno (Shemot 29:45) deepens this by tying God's indwelling to direct, unmediated providential guidance: dwelling among Israel means receiving their service with goodwill, hearkening to their prayers, and governing their affairs without any intermediary — unlike the celestial bodies, whose governance flows only through agents — a distinction that the Sforno takes as the very ground of Israel's eternal existence.

Source 1 · Rishonim

Verified

Sforno on Exodus

Sforno on Exodus 29:45

The Mishkan establishes a continuous connection between God and the Israelites, ensuring His presence remains with them.

וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. לְקַבֵּל עֲבוֹדָתָם בְּרָצוֹן וְלִשְׁמוֹעַ אֶת תְּפִלָּתָם. וְהָיִיתִי לָהֶם לֵאלֹהִים. מַנְהִיג עִנְיָנָם בִּלְתִי אֶמְצָעִי, וּמֵאוֹתוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם לֹא יֵחָתּוּ, לִהְיוֹתָם נִכְבָּדִים לְפָנַי יוֹתֵר מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם שֶׁהַנְהָגָתָם עַל יְדֵי מְנִיעֵיהֶם, וּמִזֶּה יִתְחַיֵּב נִצְחִיּוּתָם:

ושכנתי בתוך בני ישראל. There to receive their service with goodwill and in order to listen to their prayers. והייתי להם לאלוקים, and I will supervise their affairs without resorting to an intermediary. They will have no reason to be afraid of what astrology portends, seeing that they (the Jewish people) are far more honoured by Me than are the celestial planets, etc. The very fact that I guide others’ fate only by means of agents, intermediaries, testifies to the eternal existence of the Jewish people.

Full text on Sefaria ↗

Source 2 · Rishonim

Verified

Sforno on Exodus

Sforno on Exodus 25:8

The Mishkan serves as a dwelling place for God's presence among the Israelites, emphasizing His closeness and accessibility.

וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם. אֶשְׁכּוֹן בֵּינֵיהֶם לְקַבֵּל תְּפִלָּתָם וַעֲבוֹדָתָם בְּאוֹתוֹ הָאֹפֶן שֶׁאֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתְךָ שְׁכִינָתִי בָּהָר עַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת בֵּין שְׁנֵי הַכְּרוּבִים, עִם תַּבְנִית הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְעִם תַּבְנִית כָּל כֵּלָיו.

Full text on Sefaria ↗

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