And the Book of Jubilees, a text not included in the standard Hebrew Bible but valued in some Jewish traditions, certainly has something to say about it.
Jubilees chapter 30, in particular, hits hard. It speaks of a time when offerings won’t matter, when good deeds won’t be enough to cover up wrongdoing. Imagine offering the most perfect korban (sacrifice), the most fragrant incense, only to have it rejected!
The text is stark: "And there will be no respect of persons...and no receiving at his hands of fruits and offerings and burnt-offerings and fat, nor the fragrance of sweet savour, so as to accept it."
Ouch.
So, what triggers this divine rejection? According to Jubilees, it's the defilement of the sanctuary. In other words, desecrating what is holy. It's about violating the sacred space, both literally and figuratively. "And so fare every man or woman in Israel who defileth the sanctuary."
But it's not just a general warning. The Book of Jubilees brings a specific example to drive the point home: the story of Shechem and the sons of Jacob. Remember that one? It's a pretty intense tale. Shechem, son of Hamor, violates Dinah, Jacob's daughter. Then, Jacob's sons, Simeon and Levi, exact a brutal revenge, deceiving and slaughtering the men of Shechem's city.
The Book of Jubilees uses this dark episode as a cautionary tale. "For this reason I have commanded thee, saying: 'Testify this testimony to Israel: see how the Shechemites fared and their sons: how they were delivered into the hands of two sons of Jacob, and they slew them under tortures...'"
It's a harsh lesson, isn’t it? The text suggests that actions have consequences, and defiling what's sacred, whether it's through personal violation or societal injustice, will ultimately lead to a reckoning. It's a reminder that true atonement requires more than just outward acts of piety. It demands a commitment to upholding justice and protecting what is holy.
What does this mean for us today? Maybe it’s a call to examine our own actions, to consider how we treat sacred spaces and, more importantly, how we treat each other. Are we contributing to a world where justice prevails, or are we, in some way, defiling the sanctuary? The Book of Jubilees challenges us to choose wisely.