Bamidbar 8: Light Duty

“Speak to Aaron and say to him, ‘When you mount lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the lampstand’ (Bamidbar 8:2 =דַּבֵּר אֶל־אַהֲרֹן וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹת אֶל־מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה יָאִירוּ שִׁבְעַת הַנֵּרוֹת׃). Rashi explains that this commandment appears after the inauguration ceremony because Aaron was upset after the princes gave their inaugural korbanot. Levi and the kohanim were not part of the parade of sacrifices and Aaron felt slighted. God responds that the menorah service is daily and that is better than the inaugural ceremony. The Or Hachayim asks a very good question on this Rashi. Why the lighting of the Menora? God should have explained that Aaron would get the opportunity to perform daily sacrifices and not just the inaugural sacrifices that the princes brought. The Or HaChayim explains that the bulbs of the menorah needed to be disassembled after it was lit in order for it to be cleaned properly, and then reassembled before being lit again. In this way, Aaron was performing a new inauguration/completion of the Mishkan every day. This is why the menorah is used as the way to calm Aaron. Why is Aaron upset at all? The princes give the dedication amounts, but the kohanim are the ones who actually do the sacrifices. Furthermore, the kohanim have already had their own special inauguration ceremony. The answer may be something more practical then. During the inauguration ceremony, the princes brought many sacrifices. This would mean that most of the Mishkan was in use— the two altars, the laver, the various utensils, etc. The one daily thing that is not part of the ceremony is the menorah. (The shew bread was once a week). Perhaps this chapter should have been after the first prince brings his gift, but thematically, it made sense to put them all together. After the list, the Torah then explains the other daily ritual that took place— the lighting of the menorah. BONUS— This is also one of the many hints for Chanukah in the Torah. The reading of the princes in the previous chapter is the reading for the eight days of Chanukah. Immediately after, Aaron is instructed to light the menorah.