The eighth day of the Mishkan’s inauguration should have been the most straightforward moment in the Torah. After seven days of preparation, Aharon brings every korban exactly as commanded, blesses the nation, and everyone waits for the Shechinah to descend. But nothing happens. Why would the climax of the Mishkan fail? And why does Rashi say that Moshe suddenly went into the Ohel Moed to teach Aharon the ketoret? What ketoret was left to teach? The daily incense should have been done hours earlier. Why would it matter now?

In this episode I trace one of the strangest narrative puzzles in Sefer Shemot and Sefer Vayikra. The Torah describes the inauguration twice, once from Moshe’s perspective and once from Aharon’s. The instructions for the ketoret appear in an unexpected place. The first true korban tamid is separated from the seven days that came before it. And the pesukim describing God’s presence settling on the Mishkan seem to contradict the timing described in the next chapter. What is really happening here? And why did Moshe have to be the first to perform every avodah of the Mishkan before Aharon could take over?

I explore how Rashi and the Midrash reveal a hidden layer of meaning behind this moment. The missing ketoret, the unexpected delay, the embarrassment of the people, and Moshe’s sudden tefillah all come together to explain the exact moment God allowed His presence to return to Israel after the sin of the egel.

World of Medrash uncovers the deeper story behind Rashi and the Midrash and shows how the Torah’s narratives contain layers of meaning waiting to be uncovered.