Following the construction of the Tabernacle and the sanctification of the priests, the structure's ultimate purpose in the life of the Israelites is revealed. It serves as a permanent meeting place between God and the nation, maintained through the daily service of sacrifices.
The continual burnt offering is meant to be brought day after day, without a single interruption [רש״י, מזרחי, ביאור יש״ר]. However, a practical question arises regarding the forty years the Israelites spent wandering in the desert. Some commentators argue that maintaining a daily, unbroken chain of sacrifices was impossible in the wilderness. The nation simply lacked the massive resources of sheep, fine flour, oil, and wine required for the standard daily offerings, let alone the additional ones. Therefore, according to this view, this sacrifice was only offered at Mount Sinai and on the Day of Atonement during the second year of their journey. It only became a strict, daily obligation once the Israelites entered the land of Canaan, where abundant resources were available [אבן עזרא, חזקוני]. Conversely, others suggest that the requirement for a continual offering primarily highlights the deep affection and enduring bond between God and His people, a relationship sustained through mutual love and devotion [העמק דבר].
The sacrifices are offered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, specifically in the courtyard directly facing the open doorway [רלב״ג, פענח רזא]. Standing at this entrance carries deep symbolic weight, representing the nation's readiness and total commitment to God's laws [רש״ר הירש].
Ultimately, the highest spiritual goal of these sacrifices is to achieve a profound level of prophecy and to experience the revelation of the Divine Presence [רלב״ג, קאסוטו]. God establishes a set time and place for this encounter with the explicit and singular purpose of speaking to His people [מזרחי, שפתי חכמים].
During this encounter, God's address shifts from the entire nation to a single individual. The commentators agree that the Divine Presence rests upon the Tabernacle solely because of the devotion of the entire Israelite nation. Thanks to the collective merit of the people, God comes to dwell among them. Yet, the actual prophetic speech is directed to Moses alone. Moses stands as the representative of the nation. The words spoken to Him are ultimately meant for everyone, serving to teach the entire nation the laws of the Torah [רש״ר הירש, מלבי״ם, קאסוטו, ברכת אשר, העמק דבר, אבן עזרא הקצר].
A debate exists regarding the exact location from which God's voice originates. Some maintain that God spoke to Moses from above the copper altar located in the outer courtyard, while others believe the voice emerged from deep within the Holy of Holies, speaking from above the cover of the Ark [רש״י, תורה: פירושן של נשים]. To resolve these differing perspectives, an integrated approach suggests that under normal circumstances, the Divine voice descended to the cover of the Ark. However, during times when the cloud of the Divine Presence completely filled the tent, making it impossible for Moses to enter, God would speak to him from outside the tent, directly above the copper altar [משכיל לדוד].