Chukas 19:13 · unit 5 — both Mishkan and Mikdash are needed

Parashas Chukas · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 13

The Complete Passuk

כָּֽל־הַנֹּגֵ֡עַ בְּמֵ֣ת בְּנֶ֩פֶשׁ֩ הָֽאָדָ֨ם אֲשֶׁר־יָמ֜וּת וְלֹ֣א יִתְחַטָּ֗א אֶת־מִשְׁכַּ֤ן יְהֹוָה֙ טִמֵּ֔א וְנִכְרְתָ֛ה הַנֶּ֥פֶשׁ הַהִ֖וא מִיִּשְׂרָאֵ֑ל כִּי֩ מֵ֨י נִדָּ֜ה לֹא־זֹרַ֤ק עָלָיו֙ טָמֵ֣א יִהְיֶ֔ה ע֖וֹד טֻמְאָת֥וֹ בֽוֹ׃

Whoever touches a dead body, the body of a human being who dies, and does not purify himself, defiles the Mishkan of the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from Yisrael; because the water of sprinkling was not thrown upon him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is still upon him.

Chabad.org — 19:13

Source Citation

Torah Temimah: Shevuos 16b — Rabbi Elazar says: If “Mishkan” is said, why is “Mikdash” said (v. 20)? And if “Mikdash” is said, why is “Mishkan” said? Rather, had only “Mishkan” been said I would have thought one is liable only for the Mishkan because it was anointed with the anointing oil; and had only “Mikdash” been said I would have thought one is liable only for the Mikdash because its holiness is eternal. Therefore both “Mishkan” and “Mikdash” are said.

Sefaria — Shevuos 16b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אִם נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ, וְאִם נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ לָמָּה נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן, אֶלָּא אִלּוּ נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן לְחוּד הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר עַל מִשְׁכָּן הוּא חַיָּב שֶׁכֵּן מָשׁוּחַ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, וְאִם נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ לְחוּד הָיִיתִי אוֹמֵר עַל מִקְדָּשׁ הוּא חַיָּב שֶׁכֵּן קְדֻשָּׁתוֹ קְדֻשַּׁת עוֹלָם, לָכָךְ נֶאֱמַר מִשְׁכָּן וְלָכָךְ נֶאֱמַר מִקְדָּשׁ.

English: If “Mishkan” is said, why is “Mikdash” said? And if “Mikdash” is said, why is “Mishkan” said? Rather, had only “Mishkan” been said I would have thought one is liable only for the Mishkan because it was anointed with the anointing oil; and had only “Mikdash” been said I would have thought one is liable only for the Mikdash because its holiness is eternal. Therefore both are said.

Type of Learning

Mutual necessity of the two terms to cover both temporary and permanent sanctuaries.

What Is Learned

The kares penalty for entering while impure applies both to the portable Mishkan and to the permanent Mikdash.