Sugya Series,
Building the Third Beis Hamikdash
The Mitzvah
1. They shall make a Mikdash / Sanctuary for Me and I shall dwell among them. Like all that I have shown you, the form of the Sanctuary and its vessels; and so you shall do [for generations]. (Shimos 25:8-9, with Talmud Sanhedrin 16b)
2. When Dovid drew up the plans for the first Bais Hamikdash he did so “all from the understanding which Hashem granted”. Likewise the third Bais Hamikdash will be based on the prophecy of Yechezkel. The mitzvah is: To build the Mikdash of each generation “according to all that I will show you,” even though each one is somewhat different than the others.
(Chasam Sofer, Yoreh Deah 236, Divrei Hayomim 1- 28:19, Yechezkel 40)
3. If the generation is poor then they may build the Mikdash out of tin. If they become wealthy they should make it out of gold. It is proper to make the Mikdash to make it as beautiful as possible.
(Rambam Bais Habichira 1:19 and 11)
4. This is the essence of the Mikdash. It has a Kodesh, a Kodesh Kadashim, and a hallway in front of the Kodesh; this total area is called the Heichal. There is then an enclosure which is somewhat distant from the Heichal; this is called the Azarah / courtyard. The entire area is called the Mikdash. (Rambam Bais Habichira 1:5)
History
5. You will cross over the Jordan and you will settle in the land that Hashem will grant you. He will give you rest from your enemies and you will dwell securely. It will be that the place that Hashem chooses to dwell there shall be the place where you will bring your offerings. (Devorim 12:10-11)
6. The Torah describes the Mishkan that Moshe made. When the Jews entered the Land, they built a Mishkan in Gilgal, and later moved it to Shiloh. When the Mishkan in Shiloh was destroyed they built a Mishkan in Nov, and later in Givon. From Givon they moved to the permanent structure in Yerusholayim. (Rambam Bais Habichira 1:1-2)
The Present
7. When they will do wrong against You- for there is no one who doesn’t do wrong- you will place them in the hands of the enemy and they will be captured and taken close or far. They will reconsider, and they will entreaty You saying, “We have done wrong”. They will return to You with all their heart, and they will pray to You in the direction of their Land that You granted their ancestors. You shall listen to their entreaties and You shall do justice for them and forgive them.
(Prayer of Shlomo upon inauguration of Bais Hamikdash, Melochim 1-8:46-50, see Doniel 6:11 and Shulchan Aruch 94:1)
8. The Divine Presence does not leave the Western Wall as the verse states, “Behold He remains behind our Wall.” (Medrash Rabboh Shimos 2:2)
The Future
9. My servant Dovid shall be king over them; there will be one shepherd to them all. They will follow my ordinances, and they will guard my laws and observe them. They will settle on the land that I gave to My servant Yakov, where your forefathers dwelled, and they will settle on it- they, their children and grandchildren forever- and my servant Dovid will be prince over them forever. I shall forge a covenant with them of everlasting peace, and I shall grant them this and multiply them, and I will place my Mikdash among them forever. (Yechezkel 37:24-26; see also Rambam Melochim 1:1-3, Ch. 11)
10. The world is sustained by the breath of children who study Torah. We may not interrupt them even for building the Bais Hamikdash. (Talmud Shabbos 119b)
11. The reason that the Mishnah describes the dimensions of the Bais Hamikdash is so that we will know how to build the third Bais Hamikdash.
(Rambam in introduction to Mishnah)
12. The Talmud suggests that the Bais Hamikdash might be built on the first day of Pesach or at night. This would seem to contradict the rule that it may not be built on Shabbos or Yom Tov, or at night. The answer is that the third Bais Hamikdash is built by Heaven. (Rashi, Rosh Hashanah 30a; see also Rashi Succah 41a, consider Nefesh HaChayim 1)
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