Our tradition grapples with these questions all the time, especially when it comes to seemingly disparate commandments. Let's dive into one such conundrum, found in Sifrei Devarim, concerning the wiping out of Amalek and the building of the Beit Hamikdash, the Temple.
Imagine you're faced with two crucial tasks: eliminating the descendants of Amalek, that ancient enemy of the Israelites, and establishing the kingship. Which one takes priority? It's not immediately clear, is it? That's precisely the question the sages pondered. The answer, according to the Sifrei Devarim, lies in the verse from Shemot (Exodus 17:16): "For a hand upon the throne of the L-rd: The L-rd shall war against Amalek." The key here is "the throne of the L-rd."
The text explains that when the king sits upon the throne of the L-rd, then you cut off the seed of Amalek. But how do we know that "the throne of the L-rd" even refers to the king? The answer is in I Chronicles 29:23: "And Solomon sat on the throne of the L-rd as a king." Aha! So, establishing the kingship, the "throne of the L-rd," precedes the commandment to wipe out Amalek.
Okay, so we know kingship comes before wiping out Amalek. But what about the Temple? Does building the Beit Hamikdash come before or after dealing with Amalek? The Sifrei Devarim doesn't leave us hanging. It refers to the verse in Deuteronomy: “…and you will dwell in the land that the L-rd your G-d causes you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all of your foes roundabout and you will dwell secure (only then) (11) the place that the L-rd your G-d shall choose (i.e., the Temple) etc.”
This implies that security from enemies—which includes dealing with Amalek—must come before building the Temple. We also find support for this idea in II Samuel 7:1-2: "And it was, when the king (David) dwelt in his house and the L-rd had given him rest roundabout from all of his foes, that the king said to Nathan the prophet: See now, I am living in a house of cedar while the ark of G-d dwells within the curtain, etc." David only considers building the Temple after he's achieved peace and security.
So, to recap: First, secure the land and defeat your enemies, including wiping out Amalek. Then, establish the kingship. And finally, build the Temple. It's a fascinating glimpse into the priorities of our ancestors, isn't it? It suggests that physical security and justice are foundational before we can truly create lasting sacred spaces. It makes you wonder, what "temples" are we trying to build in our own lives before we've addressed the underlying issues that truly need our attention?