Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the meaning of offering a lamb in the morning and evening in Exodus 29:39?
A: This verse refers to the daily Tamid offering in the Beit HaMikdash (Holy Temple), where one lamb was sacrificed in the morning and another in the afternoon. Rashi explains that this was a constant mitzvah (commandment) to maintain a continuous connection between the Jewish people and Hashem through daily sacrifices.
Q: Why were two lambs offered daily in the Temple?
A: The two daily lambs (Tamid) symbolized the Jewish people's unwavering devotion to Hashem, morning and evening. The Rambam (Hilchot Temidim uMusafim 1:1-3) teaches that these offerings atoned for sins and maintained holiness in the world, showing that service to Hashem is constant and not limited to specific times.
Q: How does Exodus 29:39 apply to Jewish prayer today?
A: The Talmud (Berachot 26b) connects the Tamid offerings to the three daily prayer services (Shacharit, Mincha, and Maariv). Just as the morning and evening lambs were offered, we pray Shacharit (morning) and Mincha (afternoon) at corresponding times, continuing the tradition of regular divine service even without the Temple.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the daily sacrifices in Exodus 29:39?
A: The Midrash (Tanchuma Tzav 14) teaches that consistency in serving Hashem is key—just as the daily offerings never stopped, we must also maintain regular Torah study, prayer, and mitzvot. The morning and evening sacrifices remind us to begin and end each day with holiness.
Q: What time is 'between the evenings' (bein ha'arbayim) when the second lamb was offered?
A: Rashi (on Exodus 12:6) explains 'bein ha'arbayim' as the afternoon, starting from about 6 hours into the day (noon) until evening. The Mishnah (Pesachim 5:1) states the second Tamid was offered around the 9th hour (approximately 3 PM), which is why Mincha prayer is ideally recited then.
The Daily Tamid Offering
The verse (Shemot 29:39) describes the mitzvah of the Korban Tamid, the continual daily offering in the Beit HaMikdash. Rashi explains that this offering was brought twice daily - once in the morning (boqer) and once in the afternoon (bein ha'arbayim). The Rambam (Hilchot Temidin uMusafin 1:1-3) elaborates that this was a fundamental obligation, never to be omitted, even on Shabbat or Yom Tov.
Significance of the Timing
The Talmud (Berachot 26b) teaches that the daily offerings correspond to the Avot (forefathers):
The Midrash Tanchuma (Tetzaveh 14) explains that these two times represent constant devotion - beginning and ending each day with service to Hashem.
Halachic Details
The Mishnah (Yoma 3:1) describes the precise procedures:
Spiritual Significance
The Kli Yakar notes that the two offerings represent the dual nature of divine service:
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that this mitzvah teaches that our relationship with Hashem must be constant, not just during moments of inspiration.