Page 185 - GQ 12

46* SUMMARIES

Early Karaites on the day of the week
on which the tabernacle was erected in
the light of the discussion on the first
time the Shewbread (‫ )לחם הפנים‬was
set out

Yoram Erder

Department of Jewish History, Tel Aviv University

According to the prevailing notion of Our Sages, only consecration offerings
were offered during the seven days of the consecration (‫)ימי המילואים‬. The
first of Nissan – the day the tabernacle was erected (Exod. 40: 1, 17) –
was the first day of the beginning of steady cult in the tabernacle, since it
was also considered the eight day after the seven days of consecration. It is
written that the setting of the shewbread was included in the cult of the first
day of the erection (Exod. 40:23), but according to the same notion, it could
not have taken place if the first day of Nissan had fallen on Sunday, and the
setting of the showbread should be made on Saturday (Lev. 24:8).

The Karaites were unanimously of the opinion that the seven consecration
days were numbered from the first of Nissan – the day the tabernacle was
erected. At the same time they were divided about the day of the week on
which the tabernacle was erected and the beginning of the steady cult in it.
The majority asserted that as the setting of shewbread was included in the
cult of the first day of the tabernacle, and this setting can be made only on
Saturday, it should be deduced that in this year the first day of Nissan had
fallen on Friday. Unlike Our Sages, they claimed that the steady cult had
begun during the seven days of consecration.

The minority denied the erection of the tabernacle on Friday. They
assumed it could only have been erected on Monday or on Wednesday. Their
proofs indicate that this notion was actually based on the solar calendar of