When Being Good is not Good Enough

The beginning of Parshat Pekudei reads like a detailed inventory list of the raw materials used in the construction of the Mishkan, the sanctuary in the desert, and their designated uses. All of this, following three previous parshiyot which both lay out comprehensive construction plans and descriptions of the actual artisanal work:

These are the records of the Mishkan, the sanctuary of the covenant, which were drawn up at Moshe’s bidding… (Exodus 38:21…)

The Torah’s seemingly excessive interest in quantities of materials led the rabbinic sages to ponder its purpose, seeking a larger religious or perhaps even a universal message in it, as we can see in the following midrash:

[At the time he erected the Mishkan], Moshe said: I know that the Israelites are quarrelsome [and will hold me accountable], therefore, I shall give them an accounting of the construction of the Mishkan. He began to make the accounting for them: “These are the accounts of the Mishkan.” He accounted for every single thing, the gold, the silver, and the brass: “And the silver of them that were numbered of the congregation was a hundred talents, and a thousand seven hundred … and the hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the Sanctuary … and the brass of the offering was seventy talents.” (Exodus 38:25–29). While he was doing the accounting and going over everything that had been made for inside the Sanctuary, he forgot the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five shekels with which he had fashioned the hooks for the columns because they were not seen. He became distressed and said [to himself]: ‘Now the Israelites will grasp the opportunity to say that I have taken them.’ He began to review each and every aspect of the work. Immediately, the Holy One, blessed be He opened his eyes and caused him to lift them upward, and he saw the hooks of the columns. He called out loudly regarding “the one thousand seven hundred and seventy-five hooks for the columns. Then the Israelites were satisfied.

What prompted him to sit down and give an accounting: “These are the accounts of the Tabernacle?” Why did he trouble to render an accounting, since the Holy One, blessed be He, trusted him, as it is said: ‘He is trusted in all My house’ (Numbers 12:7)? He gave them an accounting because he heard the scoffers of that generation talking behind his back, as is said: “And it came to pass, when Moses entered into the tent … and they looked after Moses” (Exodus 33:8). What were they saying? Rabbi Yitzhak explained in praise [of both Moshe and the people: When one person would praise him,] his companion would retort: “Fool, do you imagine that a man in charge of the work of building a Sanctuary, with weights of silver and gold that are not examined, nor weighed or accounted for, what do you expect will happen, [namely, he most certainly will become wealthy]!” When Moshe heard that he said: “By your life, when the work of the Mishkan is completed, he said to them: “These are the accounts of the Tabernacle.” (Adapted from Tanhuma Pekidei 7)

The sages took what seems to be just an inventory list and turned it into a reflective moral story to illustrate that it is not enough just to be honest, one must also appear to be honest or as coined in Mishlei, the book of Proverbs: “And you will find favor and good regard in the eyes of God and man.” (Proverbs 3:4)