BAMOS Private Altars

BAMOS (Private Altars)

השמר לך פן תעלה עלתיך בכל מקום אשר תראה ;כי אם במקום אשר יבחר ה' באחד שבטיך שם תעלה עלתיך ושם תעשה כל אשר אנכי מצוך (דברים יב, יג -יד)

MISHKAN IN THE DESERT (2449-2488)PROHIBITEDEntire encampmentNot applicableGILGUL (2488-2502)PERMITTEDAny placeNot applicableSHILO (2502-2871)PROHIBITEDWithin eyesight of the MizbeachWithin eyesight of the MizbeachNOV & GIVON (2871-2928)PERMITTEDAny Jewish city in Eretz YisraelAny Jewish city in Eretz YisraelBAIS HAMIKDASH (2928- )PROHIBITEDWithin the walls of YerushalayimWithin the walls of Yerushalayim

Permission for the Jews to use bamos was only for two periods of time (the 14 years when the Mishkan was in Shiloh and the 57 years that the Mishkan was in Nov and Givon).

Zevachim 112b – Stages of the Mishkan

1. Pre-Mishkan - All bamos were permitted everywhere and the avoda was done by bechorim.
2. Mishkan in the Midbar - Bamos were forbidden and the avodah switched to the Kohanim. Kodshei Kodshim could be eaten inside the curtains and Kodshim Kalim within the camp of Yisrael.
3. Mishkan in Gilgal - For the 14 years that they were dividing and conquering, the Mishkan was in Gilgal. During this period, the Jews were allowed to build private bamos and anyone could sacrifice on them - Kohen, bechor and even a zar. Kodeshi Kodshim had to remain within the curtains of the Mishkan, but Kodshim Kalim could be eaten anywhere. Rashi explains that since the degalim (encampment according to tribe) was no longer intact, and they were scattered around EretzYisrael, the kedusha of the Machaneh Yisrael was lost. Rashi seems to understand that the obligation to eat Kodshim in Machaneh Yisrael only exists when there is status of Machaneh Yisrael. However, the Rambam (Pirush haMishnah) writes that the reason that we don't restrict Kodshim Kalim to be eaten only in Jewish cities (as it does by Nov and Givon) is that they didn't have cities under their control yet. The implication of the Rambam is that since they didn't have specific cities yet, the status that enabled them to eat Kodshim extended throughout Eretz Yisrael wherever they were trying to conquer. This seems very different that Rashi who writes that during the time the status was void thereby allowing them to eat everywhere, presumably even in chutz la'aretz.
4. Mishkan in Shilo - Mishkan stood in Shilo as a stone structure with a curtained roof for 369 years. Bamos were no longer allowed and all korbanos had to be associated with the Mishkan in Shilo. Being that kedusha that emanated from the Mishkan didn't extend to the city Shilo and didn't infuse it with any inherent kedusha status (in this respect it wasn't like Yerushalayim), they were able to eat Kodshim so long as the Mishkan was visible from where they were. The Rambam seems to understand that this requirement was an institution of the nevi'im, not a Torah mandate. They merely use the pasuk as hint to their institution. However, the simple reading is that this is d'oraysa.
5. Mishkan in Nov and Givon - The Mishkan was in Nov and Givon for a combined 57 years. During this time bamos were once again permitted. Kodshim Kalim was able to be eaten in all Jewish cities.
6. Mikdash in Yerushalayim - All bamos became forbidden forever and Kodshim Kalim had to be eaten within the wall of Yerushalayim.