One of King David's greatest — albeit unfilled — dreams was to build the Beit Hamikdash, a central house of worship, in Jerusalem. It is therefore astounding to hear the Talmud's interpretation of his cryptic declaration, "For better a day in Your courtyard than a thousand" (Ps. 84:11). Better than a thousand what?

"One day that you [David] sit and study Torah is better than a thousand sacrifices that your son Solomon will offer on the altar."  (Shabbat 30)

If David's Torah study was preferable to the Temple service, why did he so keenly yearn to build the Temple?

The Divine Service of David and Solomon

This Talmudic statement contrasts two widely divergent forms of worship: David's service of God as a righteous individual, the sweet psalmist of Israel; and his son Solomon's public offerings as king, dedicating the new Temple. These two forms differ in several ways. David's service was a private avodat Hashem, while Solomon's represented the entire nation. Furthermore, David's personal service was the culmination of a righteous individual's lifetime efforts to advance morally and spiritually. Solomon's impressive dedication of the Temple, on the other hand, was the inauguration of a new stage and a new medium for the spiritual advancement of the nation.

The advantage of the community (the klal) over the individual is a quantitative one. The community is made up of many individuals, so that progress on the communal level is more significant than the comparable progress of a single person. But in the final analysis, the goal of the community is to benefit and advance its members. So if we need to compare the relative value of a new beginning in communal progress, versus the pinnacle of individual achievement, we must acknowledge that the very purpose of the community lies in the success of its members.

"One day in Your courtyards." A single day of a holy individual, whose pure soul is filled with Torah and prophetic inspiration — this is the ultimate perfection of the individual. Such a day is greater than a multitude of activities that are in essence preparatory acts, meant to lead the masses to live a higher, holier life.

What is the purpose of Temple offerings? Generally speaking, the Temple service serves to impress upon us the value of God's honor - kevod shamayim. This is particularly true with regard to the mass offering of many offerings, like those performed by Solomon at the Temple's dedication. In these instances, the benefit for lofty individuals is limited.

For this reason we sometimes come across verses that appear to minimize the importance of sacrifices — "I did not rebuke you for not offering sacrifices"  (Ps. 50:8), "I did not speak to your fathers about burnt-offerings and sacrifices" (Jer. 7:22).) For the nation, the Temple service is a very important service of God. But the righteous and holy, have already assimilated the inner message of this form of worship.

The nation as a whole needs God's house standing in all its glory, every detail expressing God's awe and reverence. Through its holy services and offerings, the people come to appreciate the stirring emotions of God's honor. They acquire the foundation of a pure morality, based on the growing desire in all hearts to follow God's ways. In this way, Solomon's myriad offerings contributed greatly to the nation's spiritual advance.

But for the holy individuals like King David, fully developed in their love of God and knowledge of Torah, dedicated toward all holy aspirations — they are the fruit, they are the goal of all preparatory efforts to uplift the nation. "Better a day in Your courtyard, than a thousand [Temple offerings]." 

(Adapted from Ein Eyah vol. III, pp. 91-92)

Copyright © 2006 by Chanan Morrison