5785/2025
Shevet Levi was given several responsibilities relating to the Beit HaMikdash service, including standing guard in specific locations. As the Pasuk (BeMidbar 5:7) commands “They shall safeguard his charge & the charge of the entire assembly before the Tent of the Meeting, to perform the service of the Mishkan”. This is known as the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash, i.e, the guarding the Mishkan and later the Beit HaMikdash that was performed by the Kohanim and Leviim.
The Mishnah (Tamid 1:1) details the specific locations where the Leviim were required to stand guard. The Mishna says that there were specifically three locations that needed to be guarded; Beit Avtinas, Beit HaNitzotz, and Beit HaMoked.
Several Acharonim, including R’ Moshe Rosen (1870-1957), author of the Nezer HaKodesh on Seder Kodshim, raise a difficulty with the formulation of the Mishna in Tamid. Why does the Mishna not simply just list the names of the places where the Leviim needed to stand guard and then it will be self-evident that this totaled three? Why does the Mishna need to emphasize that the number of locations for Shemirah was three?
This difficulty led R’ Rosen to conclude that the Mishna was coming to teach a chiddush that the prohibition of ‘Bal Tosif’, of not adding on to the details of any Mitzvah, applies to the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash. Therefore the Mitzvah to guard only applied to these three locations and if more places were guarded, this would lead to a violation of ‘Bal Tosif’. R’ Rosen explains that this is sourced in the Pasuk using the word ‘Mishmeret’-guard, three times in the formulation of the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash.
However, R’ Zvi Pesach Frank argues that Bal Tosif should not apply to the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash. When building a Succah, the Halachah LeMoshe Misinai teaches us that one must make a Succah that is two seven Tefachim walls along with a third wall that is a Tefach in size. It’s clear from the Gemara that the requirement of two walls and a Tefach is a minimum amount and one may add a third or fourth full wall. Why does one not violate Bal Tosif when adding a fourth wall if the Halacha only requires two walls and a Tefach? Tosafot (Rosh Hashana 28b d’h Umana) explain that since the nature of the Mitvzah of Succah is ‘Teishvu Ke’in Taduru’, to live in the Succah similarly to how one lives in one’s home, then it is certainly permitted and even encouraged to enhance the living conditions of the Succah and add a fourth wall. Adding a fourth wall is not adding to the Mitzvah but rather enhancing the Mitzvah. A similar line of reasoning, argues R’ Zvi Pesach, can be applied to the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash.
The Rambam writes (Hil. Beis HaBechirah 8:1) “There is a positive mitzvah to guard the Temple. [This mitzvah applies] even though there is no fear of enemies or thieves, for the guarding [of the Temple] is an expression of respect for it. A palace with guards is [much more impressive] than a palace without guards”. And so too in the Sefer HaMitzvot (Mitzvah 22), the Rambam writes, “...That is that He commanded us to guard the Temple and to constantly walk around it, to honor it, to exalt it, and to aggrandize it”.
It’s clear from the Rambam that the nature of the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash is not simply pragmatic, to prevent a non-Kohen from entering. Rather, according to the Rambam, the Mizvah is an expression of respect and honor for the location that serves as the palace of Hashem
Accordingly, there would be no violation of Bal Tosif by standing guard in more than the three locations listed in the Mishna as adding more locations isn’t adding to the MItzvah but rather enhancing the Mitzvah. Through establishing additional watchposts, a greater display of respect is given to the Beis HaMikdash. By this greater display of respect for the Beit HaMikdash the Mitzvah of Shemirat HaMikdash is fulfilled optimally.