Parshas Yisro: The Three Halachos After Matan Torah

AI summary (may contain mistakes)

Why does the Torah follow Matan Torah with three halachos about the mizbeach that seem random? The Midrash has Hashem offering the Torah to the nations, who refused over mitzvos they already had as Bnei Noach. Keeping a set of rules is different from accepting the Torah as a whole way of life. Once Klal Yisrael became one with the Torah, even steps, metal and copied keruvim touch the three cardinal sins.

Key points

• Rashi explains that the mizbeach lengthens life, so metal, which shortens life, stays off it.
• The sheva mitzvos bnei Noach are rules to keep, while Torah aligns a person's will with Hashem's.
• The three halachos extend avodah zarah, giluy arayos and shefichas damim even to the mizbeach.

In this shiur

1. 0:00Three halachos after Matan Torah
2. 2:00No metal on the mizbeach
3. 3:57No steps up to the mizbeach
4. 5:06Offering the Torah to the nations
5. 7:08Why answer with sheva mitzvos bnei Noach?
6. 8:06Two ways to accept a mitzvah
7. 11:44The three halachos and the cardinal sins

Topics

• Matan Torah
• Mizbeach
• Sheva Mitzvos Bnei Noach