RE’EH: The Mysterious Temple Location

By Laurent Leber, delivered Aug. 30, 2008

In today’s Parshah the word Jerusalem and the future location of the Temple are not mentioned.

This is what the Torah says:
Vehaia amakom acher ivrhar adonai eloerhemme bo lechakenne chemo cham

It can be translated as:
. . .the place which the Lord your God shall choose from all your tribes, to set His Name there.

We all know what Jerusalem represents to Judaism. It seems rather strange that is not mentioned in the Torah when we all know that the word Jerusalem will be mentioned 600 times later in the holy writings.

This also seems strange because we could have imagined that right after Joshua entered the Land of Israel, all Jews would be eager to erect the Temple.

Part of the answer to this question is found in the following verse from the Torah:
Vehenia lerhem mikol ioveikem misaviv vichavetem betarh

This can be translated as:
And he will give you rest from all your enemies all around and you will dwell securely.

This indicates that the revelation of the location of the Temple would occur when the land of Israel is fully conquered and peace established. It suggests that the construction of the Temple would occur only when Jews dwell securely.

The quest for this security took 440 years.

The Mishkan was at Guilgal during 14 years, in Shilo during 369 years, in Nov for 13 years, and in Guiebon for 44 years.
During all this time, sacrifices and donations were made on a voluntary basis. The pilgrimages did not exist because the Temple was not erected.

Then, 440 years after the entry of Joshua in the Land of Israel, the prophet Gad revealed that Mount Moria was the site for the Temple,

When the Mishkan arrived at the Temple, all the laws regarding sacrifices and pilgrimages became mandatory.

Rabbenou Ba’Hya suggests three explanations to justify the choice of Hashem.

1. If the nations had known the location, they would have tried to conquer it to take advantage of the fact that prayers and sacrifices made in the Temple are accepted by Hashem.
2. If the Canaanites had known the location, they would have spoiled the place to de-sacralize it.
3. If the 12 tribes had known the location, they would have fought for it among themselves to have the honour of having the Temple in their territory.

In conclusion, we should all thank G-d to have given us Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the spiritual center of the Jewish people and we pray daily that it remain the united spiritual and political capital of our people. May we live to see Jerusalem as a true city of peace.