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| Ki Tisa: The Recipe for Ketoret (Incense) |
The Torah does not give the exact recipe for the ketoret
(incense) that was burned daily in the Temple. Only in the Oral
Tradition do we find a list of all eleven ingredients.
Why doesn't the Torah explicitly mention all of the ingredients of
the Temple incense?
Rav Kook explained that the ketoret was a link between the
material and spiritual realms. The word ketoret comes from the
root kesher, a tie or knot. The incense rose straight up,
connecting our divided physical world ("alma d'peruda" in
Kabbalistic terminology) to the unified divine realm.
From the sublime standpoint of overall holiness, it is impossible
to distinguish between the separate, distinct fragrances. Each
fragrance represents a particular quality, but at that elevated
level, they are revealed only within the attribute of absolute
unity. Only in our divided world do they acquire separate
identities.
What is the significance of the various amounts of each fragrance?
Each of the major four fragrances explicitly mentioned in the Torah
contributed seventy maneh. The number seven represents the natural
universe, created in seven days. Seven corresponds to the framework
of the physical universe, especially the boundaries of time
with its seven-day week.
Seventy is the number seven in tens. The number ten represents both
plurality and unity, so seventy conveys the idea of unifying the
multitude of forces in the natural world. This is the underlying
message of the ketoret. These holy fragrances illuminate and
uplift the plurality of natural forces.
After the first level of four fragrances sanctified the dimension
of time, the second tier of four fragrances sanctified the
dimension of space. The number six corresponds to space, as any
location is made up of six vectors (the four directions, up and
down).
Time is a less physical aspect, and more receptive to spiritual
elevation. Thus, for the first four fragrances representing the
dimension of time, the number seven was multiplied by ten. Space,
on the other hand, is only influenced by its closeness to holiness.
Therefore, the unifying quality of ten is only added to the six,
so that 16 maneh were used of each of these fragrances.
The final amounts of twelve, nine, and three represent the
limitations of the divided spatial/physical realm. Three is the
first number to demonstrate multitude, and nine is the last
number, before the multitude is once again combined into a unit of
ten.
(adapted from Olat Re'iyah vol. I pp. 136-138)
Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison
"God said to Moses: Take fragrances such as balsam, onycha,
galbanum, and pure frankincense, all of the same weight, as well as
other fragrances. Make the mixture into incense, as compounded by a
master perfumer, well-blended, pure and holy." (Ex. 30:34-5)
Each maneh weighed five pounds. The total weight was 368 maneh —
one measure for each day, plus 3 extra for Yom Kippur, or 1,840
pounds. (A few years back, archeologists discovered near the Dead
Sea what they believe are remnants of the Temple incense. The
spectrum analysis revealed eleven ingredients — just like the
Mishnah!)