Dear Rabbi Kornfeld and the Kollel,
Thank you for the responses to my questions; I have a follow-up:
According to Tosafot d"h Emesh, The Tamid was not offered because the Aron was being moved around.
(a) What does the Aron's movement have to do with bringing the Tamid?
(b) If the Aron's movement precludes the Tamid being offered, then why is the lashon"Bitatltem" used, implying that the Kohanim could and should have brought the offering?
(c) And knowing this, why would Yehoshua ask the angel, "For which of these 2 items are you rebuking me? It would be obvious already that it is only for the Bittul Torah, since the Tamid could not be offered due to the Aron's movement
Looking forward to your reply
Thank you
Dear Stephane
Thanks for your questions.
(a) The Meshech Chochmah in Parshas Re'ei proves that the Aron is what makes it permissible to bring Korbanos.
(b) The issue was that they were supposed to have returned the Aron in time for offering the Tamid, something which they did not do.
(c) The angel is visibly upset at Bnei Yisroel for both wrongdoings. The issue was what prompted him to come and reprimand them. What was done was irreversible, but now they must repent and learn the lesson for the next time.
Kol tuv,
Y. Landy