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The Sabbath
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35:1 |
Moses assembled the entire Israelite community and said to them, 'These are the words that God has commanded for [you] to do: |
35:2 |
'You may do work during the six weekdays, but Saturday must be kept holy as a Sabbath of Sabbaths to God. Whoever does any work on [that day] shall be put to death. |
35:3 |
Do not ignite any fire on the Sabbath, no matter where you may live.' |
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Materials for the Tabernacle
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35:4 |
Moses said to the entire Israelite community, 'This is the word that God has commanded: |
35:5 |
'Collect among yourselves an elevated offering to God. If a person feels like giving an offering to God, he can bring any of the following: gold, silver, copper, |
35:6 |
sky-blue [wool], dark red [wool], [wool died with] the crimson worm, fine linen, goats' wool, |
35:7 |
reddened ram's skins, blue processed hides, acacia wood, |
35:8 |
oil for the lamp, fragrances for the anointing oil and perfume incense, |
35:9 |
as well as sardonyxes and other precious stones for the ephod and the breastplate. |
35:10 |
'Every naturally talented individual among you shall come forth and make all that God has ordered: |
35:11 |
The tabernacle along with its over-tent, roof, fasteners, beams, crossbars and pillars; |
35:12 |
the ark and its carrying poles, the ark cover, the cloth partition; |
35:13 |
the table along with its carrying poles, all its utensils and the showbread; |
35:14 |
the menorah lamp along with its utensils, lights and illuminating oil; |
35:15 |
the incense altar and its carrying poles; the anointing oil, the perfumed incense, the drape for the tabernacle's entrance; |
35:16 |
the sacrificial altar along with its carrying poles and all its utensils; the washstand and its base; |
35:17 |
the hangings for the enclosure, its pillars and bases, the drape for the enclosure's entrance; |
35:18 |
the stakes for the tent, the stakes for the enclosure, the tying ropes; |
35:19 |
the packing cloths for sacred use, the sacred vestments for Aaron the priest, and the vestments that his sons will wear to serve.' |
35:20 |
The entire Israelite community left Moses' presence. |
35:21 |
Each person who was ready to volunteer then came forward. [Also] each one who wanted to give brought a donation to God for the making of the Communion Tent, all its necessities, and the sacred vestments. |
35:22 |
The men accompanied the women, and those who wanted to make a donation brought bracelets, earrings, finger rings, and body ornaments, all made of gold. There were also all the ones who donated a wave offering of gold to God. |
35:23 |
Every person who had sky-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, fine linen, goats' wool, reddened rams' skins or blue processed hides, brought these items. |
35:24 |
Whoever donated silver or copper brought it as a divine offering, and anyone who had acacia wood that could be used for the dedicated work, also brought it. |
35:25 |
Every skilled woman put her hand to spinning, and they [all] brought the spun yarn of sky-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool and fine linen. |
35:26 |
Highly skilled women volunteers also spun the goats' wool. |
35:27 |
The tribal leaders brought the sardonyxes and other precious stones for the ephod and breastplate, |
35:28 |
as well as the fragrances and olive oil for the lamp, the anointing oil, and the perfumed incense. |
35:29 |
Every man and woman among the Israelites who felt an urge to give something for all the work that God had ordered through Moses, brought a donation for God. |
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Appointing the Architects
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35:30 |
Moses said to the Israelites: God has selected Betzalel son of Uri son of Chur, of the tribe of Judah, |
35:31 |
and has filled him with a divine spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and [a talent for] all types of craftsmanship. |
35:32 |
[He will thus be able] to devise plans, work in gold, silver and copper, |
35:33 |
cut stones to be set, and do carpentry and other skilled work. |
35:34 |
'[God] also gave to him and Oholiav son of Achisamakh, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach [others]. |
35:35 |
He has granted them a natural talent for all craftsmanship, to form materials, to brocade or embroider patterns with sky-blue, dark red and crimson wool and fine linen, and to weave. They will thus be able to do all the necessary work and planning. |
Commentary:
These are the words... See Exodus 31:12-17.
| This is the word... See Exodus 25:1-7.
| tying ropes To tie the stakes to the poles and hangings (Rashi). See Exodus 27:19. Also see Numbers 3:26,37, 4:26,32.
| packing cloths See Exodus 31:10.
| who was ready to volunteer (Targum ; Ibn Janach). Literally, 'whose heart lifted him up.' Or, 'whose natural talents were awakened' (Ibn Ezra; Ramban; see Exodus 35:26). Or, 'each person brought according to the dictates of his heart' (Saadia).
| bracelets (Rashi; Midrash HaGadol). Chach in Hebrew. Or, 'earrings' (Ibn Ezra; Ibn Janach; Chizzkuni), 'nose rings' (Rabbenu Meyuchas, from Isaiah 37:29), 'lip rings' (Radak, Sherashim, from Ezekiel 38:4, or 'brooch' (Minchah Belulah; MeAm Lo'ez; Hirsch). Some say that the chach is a plain gold ring, while the 'earrings' and 'finger rings' mentioned below are ornamented (Lekach Tov).
| earrings (Rabbenu Meyuchas, from Exodus 32:2). Nezem in Hebrew. Or, 'nose rings' (Ibn Ezra; Lekach Tov; from Genesis 24:47, Isaiah 3:21).
| finger rings (Midrash HaGadol).
| body ornaments Kumaz in Hebrew. According to some, the jeweled belt (Saadia; Peshitah). According to others, a gold genital shield for women (Shabbath 84a; Rashi), possibly a chastity belt (Rabbenu Ephraim; Maskil LeDavid; Maaseh Toviah, Gan Naul 3). Others say that it is a gold brassiere (Yerushalmi, Shabbath 6:4), an arm band (Chizzkuni), or a pornographic sculpture (Rabbi Aaron Alrabi, Kenzal). The Septuagint translates kumaz as emplokion, something that holds a garment, possibly a brooch or belt (cf. Hirsch; Pliny 11:50; Diodorus Siclus 3:44).
| wave offering See Exodus 29:24 (cf. Sforno). This consisted of gold coins and bullion (Ramban).
| tribal leaders See Exodus 16:22.
| Moses said... Quoting Exodus 31:2-11.
| skilled work (Targum; Rashi, Betza 13b). Malekheth machasheveth in Hebrew. Or, 'carefully planned work' (Chagigah 10b, top).
| They will thus be able... (Hirsch). Or, 'along with everyone who did work and planning' (Targum); or, 'doing ordinary work and skilled craftsmanship' (Malbim).
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