Tabernacle Logistics

[CV75]

I’ve asked a couple of Jewish acquaintances who said they would ask their rabbis or knowledgeable members, but it’s been a few weeks and I haven’t heard back from them.

How were the peace offerings (that could be eaten by the offerers), and the other offerings (burnt, sin, guilt, meal) accommodated for such a large congregation? With so many reasons and opportunities for offerings, I would think meeting the demand for priestly service would be rather great.

I'm thinking in terms of scheduling, queueing, "triage", drop-off or storage of offerings, etc.

Thank you --

[volgadon]

The short answer? Nobody knows for sure. Even such a preeminent authority as Elijah, the Vilna Gaon, encouraged the study of Josephus and travelled to Amsterdam in search of old manuscripts which would help fill the gaps in his knolwedge of the temple.
There are rabbinic sources descriing some aspects of temple logistics, but here are some possible answers.

 

1. The Bible portrays an ideal.
2. There was more than one cultic worship center.
3. Many people lived at a distance from Jerusalem, and did not always travel there.
4. The priestly courses and families were situated throughout the land, so they might have prioritised offerings based on geography.

[CV75]

 

The short answer? Nobody knows for sure. Even such a preeminent authority as Elijah, the Vilna Gaon, encouraged the study of Josephus and travelled to Amsterdam in search of old manuscripts which would help fill the gaps in his knolwedge of the temple.

There are rabbinic sources descriing some aspects of temple logistics, but here are some possible answers.

 

1. The Bible portrays an ideal.
2. There was more than one cultic worship center.
3. Many people lived at a distance from Jerusalem, and did not always travel there.
4. The priestly courses and families were situated throughout the land, so they might have prioritised offerings based on geography.

 

Thank you very much!

 

The only thing that kept me from supposing #2 was Leviticus 17, unless these loctions were "set apart' as surrogate tabernacles. I can see #4 applying to the logistics of community "temple trips" both in the wilderness and the temple of Jerusalem. This would allow people to plan and schedule their offerings... and in conjunction with #3, (and #1) rely on the principle of grace 2 Nephi 25:23 with the attitude of "I would if I could" (similar to Mosiah 4:24).

 

Thanks again,