Our Gemara tells us that there were 10 additional menorahs and 10 additional tables made by Shlomo HaMelech in the Bais HaMikdash. There is a dispute as to whether or not they actually were used, that is kosher for being used, or they were merely ornamental.

Why bother to make these additional sacred objects? And what is the meaning of the dispute?

Rabbenu Bechaye (Shemos 25:10) does not answer this directly though he does point out a problem: How could have Solomon added on to the Temple plans from Moshe? Is this not a violation of Bal Tosif, to make additions to a mitzvah?

He answers that it was hinted in the various ways that the number 10 was hinted in words used in the text, and also part of the structure, such as the 10 coverings, 10 cubits of the beams etc. He also says that there was an oral tradition that in the final structure, there would be 10 extra of each. 

I still wonder as to what is the significance of this act of making additional sacred objects. However, I may offer one small interpretation of the dispute. Perhaps, according to the opinion that it was only ornamental, it was sufficient for it not to be a violation of Bal Tosif. In other words, since they were not used actually in service, he did not hold that there was a tradition from Mount Sinai dictating the 10 duplicates. There was no need since they were merely ornamental. However, the other opinion that held they were actually used, must hold that it was a special oral tradition to build Solomon’s Temple differently, otherwise it surely would have been a violation of Bal Tosif.

I did find a Yalkut Sihmoni (Nach Remez 185) that explains the increase of Menorah, Shulkhan, and Kiyor in the Temple of Solomon in the following manner. In the wilderness, living directly from G-d’s blessings, less concentration of holiness was needed to draw sustenance.  However, in Solomon’s time, a stronger amplifier and larger antenna was needed on the spiritual radio, to pick up G-d’s blessings for food, water and spiritual benefit as symbolized in the Shlukhan, the Kiyor and the Menorah.

You know, when you look at a radio telescope dish from the right angle, it does sort of look like a menorah, and this array pictured below looks like a series of Menorahs lines up. Hmmm, maybe this is too wacky even for Psychology of the Daf.

See image below:

Photo Credit

http://www.scienceimage.csiro.au/pages/about/