Saadia's Tafsir on Shemot 36 (Parashat Vayakhel)

Shemot 36:1

וְעָשָׂה בְצַלְאֵל וְאָהֳלִיאָב וְכֹל אִישׁ חֲכַם-לֵב אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה חָכְמָה וּתְבוּנָה בָּהֵמָּה לָדַעַת לַעֲשֹׂת אֶת-כָּל-מְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ--לְכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָה

. .

And Bezalel and Oholiab and the rest of the skilled men, in whom God had placed wisdom and understanding — that they might know and perform all the craft of the work of the sanctuary, as God had commanded — were to do it.

Shemot 36:2

וַיִּקְרָא מֹשֶׁה אֶל-בְּצַלְאֵל וְאֶל-אָהֳלִיאָב וְאֶל כָּל-אִישׁ חֲכַם-לֵב אֲשֶׁר נָתַן יְהוָה חָכְמָה בְּלִבּוֹ--כֹּל אֲשֶׁר נְשָׂאוֹ לִבּוֹ לְקָרְבָה אֶל-הַמְּלָאכָה לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָהּ

. . .

And Moses called out to them and to the rest of the skilled men in whom God had placed wisdom — every one who had seen fit in his own view to come forward to the craft to perform it.

Shemot 36:3

וַיִּקְחוּ מִלִּפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה אֵת כָּל-הַתְּרוּמָה אֲשֶׁר הֵבִיאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לִמְלֶאכֶת עֲבֹדַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ--לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָהּ וְהֵם הֵבִיאוּ אֵלָיו עוֹד נְדָבָה--בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר

. . . .

And they received from before Moses all the tribute which the sons of Israel had brought for the craft of the work of the sanctuary, to be made from it; and the people kept bringing freewill offerings every morning.

Shemot 36:4

וַיָּבֹאוּ כָּל-הַחֲכָמִים הָעֹשִׂים אֵת כָּל-מְלֶאכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ--אִישׁ-אִישׁ מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר-הֵמָּה עֹשִׂים

. .

Until all the skilled men — those performing all the craft of the sanctuary, each man in his craft which they were performing — came forward.

Shemot 36:5

וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר מַרְבִּים הָעָם לְהָבִיא מִדֵּי הָעֲבֹדָה לַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָה לַעֲשֹׂת אֹתָהּ

. . .

And they said to Moses: 'Behold, the people are bringing more than enough for the craft of the work which God has commanded to be made.'

Shemot 36:6

וַיְצַו מֹשֶׁה וַיַּעֲבִירוּ קוֹל בַּמַּחֲנֶה לֵאמֹר אִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה אַל-יַעֲשׂוּ-עוֹד מְלָאכָה לִתְרוּמַת הַקֹּדֶשׁ וַיִּכָּלֵא הָעָם מֵהָבִיא

. . . . .

And Moses commanded, and it was proclaimed by voice throughout the camp, saying: 'Let no man or woman bring anything further for the tribute of the sanctuary.' And so the people ceased from bringing anything.

Shemot 36:7

וְהַמְּלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָּם לְכָל-הַמְּלָאכָה--לַעֲשׂוֹת אֹתָהּ וְהוֹתֵר

. . .

For what they had brought was sufficient for all the craft to be made from it — and there was surplus.

Shemot 36:8

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ כָל-חֲכַם-לֵב בְּעֹשֵׂי הַמְּלָאכָה אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן--עֶשֶׂר יְרִיעֹת שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי--כְּרֻבִים מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב עָשָׂה אֹתָם

. . . . .

And every skilled man among the craftsmen made the tabernacle itself: ten panels of fine linen twisted, with blue and purple and scarlet dye, fashioned with figures — the work of a skilled craftsman who made them.

Shemot 36:9

אֹרֶךְ הַיְרִיעָה הָאַחַת שְׁמֹנֶה וְעֶשְׂרִים בָּאַמָּה וְרֹחַב אַרְבַּע בָּאַמָּה הַיְרִיעָה הָאֶחָת מִדָּה אַחַת לְכָל-הַיְרִיעֹת

. . .

The length of each panel was twenty-eight cubits, and its width four cubits — one measure for all the panels.

Shemot 36:10

וַיְחַבֵּר אֶת-חֲמֵשׁ הַיְרִיעֹת אַחַת אֶל-אֶחָת וְחָמֵשׁ יְרִיעֹת חִבַּר אַחַת אֶל-אֶחָת

.

And he sewed every five panels, one with the other.

Shemot 36:11

וַיַּעַשׂ לֻלְאֹת תְּכֵלֶת עַל שְׂפַת הַיְרִיעָה הָאֶחָת מִקָּצָה בַּמַּחְבָּרֶת כֵּן עָשָׂה בִּשְׂפַת הַיְרִיעָה הַקִּיצוֹנָה בַּמַּחְבֶּרֶת הַשֵּׁנִית

. . . . .

And he made loops of blue upon the border of the one panel at the joining edge; and likewise he made at the edge of the border, at the outermost edge of the second joined panel.

Shemot 36:12

חֲמִשִּׁים לֻלָאֹת עָשָׂה בַּיְרִיעָה הָאֶחָת וַחֲמִשִּׁים לֻלָאֹת עָשָׂה בִּקְצֵה הַיְרִיעָה אֲשֶׁר בַּמַּחְבֶּרֶת הַשֵּׁנִית מַקְבִּילֹת הַלֻּלָאֹת--אַחַת אֶל-אֶחָת

. . . .

And he made fifty loops in the one panel, and fifty loops at the edge of the panel of the second joining; and he set the loops facing one another, one with the other.

Shemot 36:13

וַיַּעַשׂ חֲמִשִּׁים קַרְסֵי זָהָב וַיְחַבֵּר אֶת-הַיְרִיעֹת אַחַת אֶל-אַחַת בַּקְּרָסִים וַיְהִי הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶחָד

. . .

And he made fifty clasps of gold, and bound the panels one with the other by the clasps; and so the tabernacle became one.

Shemot 36:14

וַיַּעַשׂ יְרִיעֹת עִזִּים לְאֹהֶל עַל-הַמִּשְׁכָּן עַשְׁתֵּי-עֶשְׂרֵה יְרִיעֹת עָשָׂה אֹתָם

. .

And he made panels of fine goat's wool — a tent over the tabernacle; eleven panels he made them.

Shemot 36:15

אֹרֶךְ הַיְרִיעָה הָאַחַת שְׁלֹשִׁים בָּאַמָּה וְאַרְבַּע אַמּוֹת רֹחַב הַיְרִיעָה הָאֶחָת מִדָּה אַחַת לְעַשְׁתֵּי עֶשְׂרֵה יְרִיעֹת

. . .

The length of each panel was thirty cubits, and its width four cubits — one measure for the eleven panels.

Shemot 36:16

וַיְחַבֵּר אֶת-חֲמֵשׁ הַיְרִיעֹת לְבָד וְאֶת-שֵׁשׁ הַיְרִיעֹת לְבָד

And he sewed five panels by themselves and six panels by themselves.

Shemot 36:17

וַיַּעַשׂ לֻלָאֹת חֲמִשִּׁים עַל שְׂפַת הַיְרִיעָה הַקִּיצֹנָה בַּמַּחְבָּרֶת וַחֲמִשִּׁים לֻלָאֹת עָשָׂה עַל-שְׂפַת הַיְרִיעָה הַחֹבֶרֶת הַשֵּׁנִית

. . . .

And he made fifty loops on the border of the outermost joining panel, and fifty loops on the border of the second joining panel.

Shemot 36:18

וַיַּעַשׂ קַרְסֵי נְחֹשֶׁת חֲמִשִּׁים לְחַבֵּר אֶת-הָאֹהֶל לִהְיֹת אֶחָד

.

And he made fifty clasps of copper, to join the tent so that it should become one.

Shemot 36:19

וַיַּעַשׂ מִכְסֶה לָאֹהֶל עֹרֹת אֵילִם מְאָדָּמִים וּמִכְסֵה עֹרֹת תְּחָשִׁים מִלְמָעְלָה

. . .

And he made a covering for the tent of tanned ram skins, and a covering of fine leather above.

Shemot 36:20

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַקְּרָשִׁים לַמִּשְׁכָּן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים עֹמְדִים

.

And he made the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright.

Shemot 36:21

עֶשֶׂר אַמֹּת אֹרֶךְ הַקָּרֶשׁ וְאַמָּה וַחֲצִי הָאַמָּה רֹחַב הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד

.

Ten cubits was the length of each board, and a cubit and a half its width.

Shemot 36:22

שְׁתֵּי יָדֹת לַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד מְשֻׁלָּבֹת אַחַת אֶל-אֶחָת כֵּן עָשָׂה לְכֹל קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן

. . .

And it had two tongue-shaped pegs, one facing the other — so he made for all the boards of the tabernacle.

Shemot 36:23

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַקְּרָשִׁים לַמִּשְׁכָּן עֶשְׂרִים קְרָשִׁים לִפְאַת נֶגֶב תֵּימָנָה

.

And he made for the tabernacle twenty boards on the side toward the direction of the south wind.

Shemot 36:24

וְאַרְבָּעִים אַדְנֵי-כֶסֶף--עָשָׂה תַּחַת עֶשְׂרִים הַקְּרָשִׁים שְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים תַּחַת-הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד לִשְׁתֵּי יְדֹתָיו וּשְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים תַּחַת-הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד לִשְׁתֵּי יְדֹתָיו

. .

And he made forty silver bases under the twenty boards — two bases under each board for its two pegs.

Shemot 36:25

וּלְצֶלַע הַמִּשְׁכָּן הַשֵּׁנִית לִפְאַת צָפוֹן עָשָׂה עֶשְׂרִים קְרָשִׁים

. .

And for the second side of the tabernacle, on the side toward the direction of the north wind, he made twenty boards,

Shemot 36:26

וְאַרְבָּעִים אַדְנֵיהֶם כָּסֶף--שְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים תַּחַת הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד וּשְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים תַּחַת הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד

.

with forty bases of silver for them — two bases under each board.

Shemot 36:27

וּלְיַרְכְּתֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן יָמָּה עָשָׂה שִׁשָּׁה קְרָשִׁים

.

And for the rear of the tabernacle toward the west, he made six boards.

Shemot 36:28

וּשְׁנֵי קְרָשִׁים עָשָׂה לִמְקֻצְעֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן--בַּיַּרְכָתָיִם

. .

And two boards he made for the corners of the tabernacle at the two corners.

Shemot 36:29

וְהָיוּ תוֹאֲמִם מִלְּמַטָּה וְיַחְדָּו יִהְיוּ תַמִּים אֶל-רֹאשׁוֹ אֶל-הַטַּבַּעַת הָאֶחָת כֵּן עָשָׂה לִשְׁנֵיהֶם לִשְׁנֵי הַמִּקְצֹעֹת

. . .

And they were aligned from below, and together were aligned from above with one ring — so he made for both corners, for the two of them.

Shemot 36:30

וְהָיוּ שְׁמֹנָה קְרָשִׁים וְאַדְנֵיהֶם כֶּסֶף שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר אֲדָנִים--שְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים שְׁנֵי אֲדָנִים תַּחַת הַקֶּרֶשׁ הָאֶחָד

. .

And there came to be eight boards, and their bases of silver: sixteen bases, two bases under each board.

Shemot 36:31

וַיַּעַשׂ בְּרִיחֵי עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים--חֲמִשָּׁה לְקַרְשֵׁי צֶלַע-הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָאֶחָת

. .

And he made bars of acacia wood — five for the boards of one side of the tabernacle,

Shemot 36:32

וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְרִיחִם לְקַרְשֵׁי צֶלַע-הַמִּשְׁכָּן הַשֵּׁנִית וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְרִיחִם לְקַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן לַיַּרְכָתַיִם יָמָּה

. . .

and five bars for the boards of the second side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the tabernacle at its rear toward the west.

Shemot 36:33

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַבְּרִיחַ הַתִּיכֹן לִבְרֹחַ בְּתוֹךְ הַקְּרָשִׁים מִן-הַקָּצֶה אֶל-הַקָּצֶה

. . .

And he made the middle bar to pass through the interior of the boards from end to end.

Shemot 36:34

וְאֶת-הַקְּרָשִׁים צִפָּה זָהָב וְאֶת-טַבְּעֹתָם עָשָׂה זָהָב--בָּתִּים לַבְּרִיחִם וַיְצַף אֶת-הַבְּרִיחִם זָהָב

. . .

And the boards he overlaid with gold; and he made their rings of gold as places for the bars; and he overlaid the bars with gold as well.

Shemot 36:35

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַפָּרֹכֶת תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב עָשָׂה אֹתָהּ כְּרֻבִים

. . .

And he made the veil of blue and purple and scarlet dye and fine linen twisted — the work of a skilled craftsman he made it, with figures.

Shemot 36:36

וַיַּעַשׂ לָהּ אַרְבָּעָה עַמּוּדֵי שִׁטִּים וַיְצַפֵּם זָהָב וָוֵיהֶם זָהָב וַיִּצֹק לָהֶם אַרְבָּעָה אַדְנֵי-כָסֶף

. . . .

And he made for it four columns of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold; their hooks were of gold; and he cast for them four bases of silver.

Shemot 36:37

וַיַּעַשׂ מָסָךְ לְפֶתַח הָאֹהֶל תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר מַעֲשֵׂה רֹקֵם

. . .

And he made a curtain for the entrance of the tent, of blue and purple and scarlet dye and fine linen twisted — the work of an embroiderer.

Shemot 36:38

וְאֶת-עַמּוּדָיו חֲמִשָּׁה וְאֶת-וָוֵיהֶם וְצִפָּה רָאשֵׁיהֶם וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶם זָהָב וְאַדְנֵיהֶם חֲמִשָּׁה נְחֹשֶׁת

. . .

And its columns were five, with their hooks; and he overlaid their tops and coated them with gold; and their bases were five, of copper.