The Yalkut Shimoni questions the reason for atonement. What had Bnei Yisroel done that would have been considered sinful? Moshe was concerned that perhaps during the collecting for the Mishkan, undue pressure might have been applied upon people, causing them to contribute out of shame. This can be viewed as gezel, theft. Although a gift given under duress, out of embarrassment, is halachically valid, this gift cannot be considered b’ratzon, willful, as emanating from a total nedivus ha’lev, heartfelt contribution. In order for the kedushah, holiness, of the Mishkan to be pervasive, it was essential that it be built in…
