Saadia's Tafsir on Shemot 39 (Parashat Pekudei)

Shemot 39:1

וּמִן-הַתְּכֵלֶת וְהָאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי עָשׂוּ בִגְדֵי-שְׂרָד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ אֲשֶׁר לְאַהֲרֹן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

And from the blue and the purple and the scarlet dye, they made embroidered garments for service in the sanctuary; and they made the sacred garments which are for Aaron — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:2

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הָאֵפֹד זָהָב תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי--וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר

. .

And he made the ephod of gold, and blue, and purple, and scarlet dye, and twisted fine linen.

Shemot 39:3

וַיְרַקְּעוּ אֶת-פַּחֵי הַזָּהָב וְקִצֵּץ פְּתִילִם לַעֲשׂוֹת בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּכֵלֶת וּבְתוֹךְ הָאַרְגָּמָן וּבְתוֹךְ תּוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וּבְתוֹךְ הַשֵּׁשׁ--מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב

. . .

And that was by beating out the sheets of gold thin, and cutting them into threads, and weaving them together with the blue and the purple and the scarlet dye and the fine linen — the work of a skilled craftsman.

Shemot 39:4

כְּתֵפֹת עָשׂוּ-לוֹ חֹבְרֹת--עַל-שְׁנֵי קצוותו (קְצוֹתָיו) חֻבָּר

.

And they made for it two sewn pockets, and sewed them onto its two edges.

Shemot 39:5

וְחֵשֶׁב אֲפֻדָּתוֹ אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו מִמֶּנּוּ הוּא כְּמַעֲשֵׂהוּ זָהָב תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר--כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . . .

And the binding-straps of the ephod which are upon it — like it and of its workmanship — of gold and blue and purple and scarlet dye and twisted fine linen, as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:6

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם מֻסַבֹּת מִשְׁבְּצֹת זָהָב מְפֻתָּחֹת פִּתּוּחֵי חוֹתָם עַל-שְׁמוֹת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

. . .

And they made the crystal stones, with settings of gold encircling them, engraved upon them as the engraving of a signet — the names of the sons of Israel.

Shemot 39:7

וַיָּשֶׂם אֹתָם עַל כִּתְפֹת הָאֵפֹד--אַבְנֵי זִכָּרוֹן לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. .

And he set them upon the two pockets of the ephod — stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:8

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-הַחֹשֶׁן מַעֲשֵׂה חֹשֵׁב כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֵפֹד זָהָב תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי--וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר

. . .

And he made the breastpiece, the work of a skilled craftsman, like the workmanship of the ephod — of gold and blue and purple and scarlet dye and twisted fine linen.

Shemot 39:9

רָבוּעַ הָיָה כָּפוּל עָשׂוּ אֶת-הַחֹשֶׁן--זֶרֶת אָרְכּוֹ וְזֶרֶת רָחְבּוֹ כָּפוּל

.

And it was, when they made it, square and doubled; its length a span, and its width a span.

Shemot 39:10

וַיְמַלְאוּ-בוֹ--אַרְבָּעָה טוּרֵי אָבֶן טוּר אֹדֶם פִּטְדָה וּבָרֶקֶת--הַטּוּר הָאֶחָד

* . .

And they set in it four rows of gems in order: the first row — a red ruby, and an emerald, and a yellow one.

Shemot 39:11

וְהַטּוּר הַשֵּׁנִי--נֹפֶךְ סַפִּיר וְיָהֲלֹם

.

And the second row — a deep-blue one, and a white gleaming one, and a bahraman.

Shemot 39:12

וְהַטּוּר הַשְּׁלִישִׁי--לֶשֶׁם שְׁבוֹ וְאַחְלָמָה

.

And the third row — an agate, and a jet, and a turquoise.

Shemot 39:13

וְהַטּוּר הָרְבִיעִי--תַּרְשִׁישׁ שֹׁהַם וְיָשְׁפֵה מוּסַבֹּת מִשְׁבְּצֹת זָהָב בְּמִלֻּאֹתָם

. .

And the fourth row — a sea-blue, and a crystal, and a jasper; with settings of gold encircling them, in their arrangement.

Shemot 39:14

וְהָאֲבָנִים עַל-שְׁמֹת בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵנָּה שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה--עַל-שְׁמֹתָם פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם אִישׁ עַל-שְׁמוֹ לִשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שָׁבֶט

. . .

And upon the stones were the names of the sons of Israel — for they are twelve, corresponding to their names — the name of each one engraved as the engraving of a signet upon a stone; thus for the twelve tribes.

Shemot 39:15

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ עַל-הַחֹשֶׁן שַׁרְשְׁרֹת גַּבְלֻת מַעֲשֵׂה עֲבֹת זָהָב טָהוֹר

. .

And they made upon the breastpiece two chains, even and straight, of braided workmanship, of pure gold.

Shemot 39:16

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ שְׁתֵּי מִשְׁבְּצֹת זָהָב וּשְׁתֵּי טַבְּעֹת זָהָב וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶת-שְׁתֵּי הַטַּבָּעֹת עַל-שְׁנֵי קְצוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן

. .

And they made settings of gold and two rings of gold, and placed the two rings at the two edges of the breastpiece.

Shemot 39:17

וַיִּתְּנוּ שְׁתֵּי הָעֲבֹתֹת הַזָּהָב עַל-שְׁתֵּי הַטַּבָּעֹת--עַל-קְצוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן

.

And they hung the two braided chains upon the two rings, at the two edges of the breastpiece.

Shemot 39:18

וְאֵת שְׁתֵּי קְצוֹת שְׁתֵּי הָעֲבֹתֹת נָתְנוּ עַל-שְׁתֵּי הַמִּשְׁבְּצֹת וַיִּתְּנֻם עַל-כִּתְפֹת הָאֵפֹד אֶל-מוּל פָּנָיו

. .

And the two other ends of the two braided chains they hung upon the settings, and placed them upon the two pockets of the ephod, on its front side.

Shemot 39:19

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ שְׁתֵּי טַבְּעֹת זָהָב וַיָּשִׂימוּ עַל-שְׁנֵי קְצוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן עַל-שְׂפָתוֹ--אֲשֶׁר אֶל-עֵבֶר הָאֵפֹד בָּיְתָה

. . .

And they also made two rings of gold and set them at the two edges of the breastpiece, on its border, toward the side of the ephod on the inner side.

Shemot 39:20

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ שְׁתֵּי טַבְּעֹת זָהָב וַיִּתְּנֻם עַל-שְׁתֵּי כִתְפֹת הָאֵפֹד מִלְּמַטָּה מִמּוּל פָּנָיו לְעֻמַּת מַחְבַּרְתּוֹ--מִמַּעַל לְחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפֹד

. . .

Then they also made two rings of gold and placed them opposite the two pockets of the ephod, on their lower part toward the front of the ephod, facing its joining, above its binding-straps.

Shemot 39:21

וַיִּרְכְּסוּ אֶת-הַחֹשֶׁן מִטַּבְּעֹתָיו אֶל-טַבְּעֹת הָאֵפֹד בִּפְתִיל תְּכֵלֶת לִהְיֹת עַל-חֵשֶׁב הָאֵפֹד וְלֹא-יִזַּח הַחֹשֶׁן מֵעַל הָאֵפֹד--כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . . .

And they fastened the breastpiece from its rings to the rings of the ephod with a cord of blue, so that it would be above its binding-straps and the breastpiece would not come loose from the ephod — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:22

וַיַּעַשׂ אֶת-מְעִיל הָאֵפֹד מַעֲשֵׂה אֹרֵג כְּלִיל תְּכֵלֶת

.

And he made the robe of the ephod, the work of a weaver, entirely of blue.

Shemot 39:23

וּפִי-הַמְּעִיל בְּתוֹכוֹ כְּפִי תַחְרָא שָׂפָה לְפִיו סָבִיב לֹא יִקָּרֵעַ

.

And its opening was in the middle of it, like the opening of a coat of mail, with a border encircling its opening, so that it would not tear.

Shemot 39:24

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ עַל-שׁוּלֵי הַמְּעִיל רִמּוֹנֵי תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי--מָשְׁזָר

.

And they made in its hem pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet dye, twisted.

Shemot 39:25

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ פַעֲמֹנֵי זָהָב טָהוֹר וַיִּתְּנוּ אֶת-הַפַּעֲמֹנִים בְּתוֹךְ הָרִמֹּנִים עַל-שׁוּלֵי הַמְּעִיל סָבִיב--בְּתוֹךְ הָרִמֹּנִים

. . .

And they made bells of pure gold and placed them between the pomegranates, in the hem of the robe, all around, between the pomegranates.

Shemot 39:26

פַּעֲמֹן וְרִמֹּן פַּעֲמֹן וְרִמֹּן עַל-שׁוּלֵי הַמְּעִיל סָבִיב לְשָׁרֵת כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

A bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate — in the hem of the robe, all around, for him to serve in it — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:27

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-הַכָּתְנֹת שֵׁשׁ מַעֲשֵׂה אֹרֵג לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו

.

And they made the tunics of fine linen, the work of a weaver, for Aaron and for his sons.

Shemot 39:28

וְאֵת הַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֵׁשׁ וְאֶת-פַּאֲרֵי הַמִּגְבָּעֹת שֵׁשׁ וְאֶת-מִכְנְסֵי הַבָּד שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר

. .

And the turban of fine linen, and the splendid head-coverings of fine linen, and the trousers of twisted fine linen.

Shemot 39:29

וְאֶת-הָאַבְנֵט שֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר וּתְכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי--מַעֲשֵׂה רֹקֵם כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. . .

And the sash of twisted fine linen and blue and purple and scarlet dye — the work of an embroiderer — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:30

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ אֶת-צִיץ נֵזֶר-הַקֹּדֶשׁ זָהָב טָהוֹר וַיִּכְתְּבוּ עָלָיו מִכְתַּב פִּתּוּחֵי חוֹתָם--קֹדֶשׁ לַיהוָה

. .

And they made the diadem-band of the sacred crown of pure gold, and engraved upon it a writing as the engraving of a signet: 'Holy to God.'

Shemot 39:31

וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת לָתֵת עַל-הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מִלְמָעְלָה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה

. .

And they hung it with a cord of blue, to be placed upon the turban above the forehead — as God had commanded Moses.

Shemot 39:32

וַתֵּכֶל--כָּל-עֲבֹדַת מִשְׁכַּן אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל--כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ

. . .

And all the work of the tabernacle, the tent of assembly, was completed; and the sons of Israel made it according to all that God had commanded Moses — so they made it.

Shemot 39:33

וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת-הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל-מֹשֶׁה אֶת-הָאֹהֶל וְאֶת-כָּל-כֵּלָיו קְרָסָיו קְרָשָׁיו בְּרִיחָו וְעַמֻּדָיו וַאֲדָנָיו

. . .

And they brought the tabernacle to Moses: the tent and all its vessels — its clasps, its planks, its bars, its pillars, and its bases.

Shemot 39:34

וְאֶת-מִכְסֵה עוֹרֹת הָאֵילִם הַמְאָדָּמִים וְאֶת-מִכְסֵה עֹרֹת הַתְּחָשִׁים וְאֵת פָּרֹכֶת הַמָּסָךְ

. .

And the covering of the tanned ram-skins, and the covering of the daresh-skins, and the screening veil.

Shemot 39:35

אֶת-אֲרוֹן הָעֵדֻת וְאֶת-בַּדָּיו וְאֵת הַכַּפֹּרֶת

.

And the ark of the testimony and its poles, and the cover.

Shemot 39:36

אֶת-הַשֻּׁלְחָן אֶת-כָּל-כֵּלָיו וְאֵת לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים

.

And the table and all its vessels, and the bread of presentation.

Shemot 39:37

אֶת-הַמְּנֹרָה הַטְּהֹרָה אֶת-נֵרֹתֶיהָ נֵרֹת הַמַּעֲרָכָה--וְאֶת-כָּל-כֵּלֶיהָ וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמָּאוֹר

. .

And the pure lampstand, its lamps — the lamps of the arrangement — and all its vessels, and the oil of illumination.

Shemot 39:38

וְאֵת מִזְבַּח הַזָּהָב וְאֵת שֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה וְאֵת קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים וְאֵת מָסַךְ פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל

. . .

And the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the resinous incense, and the curtain for the entrance of the tent.

Shemot 39:39

אֵת מִזְבַּח הַנְּחֹשֶׁת וְאֶת-מִכְבַּר הַנְּחֹשֶׁת אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ אֶת-בַּדָּיו וְאֶת-כָּל-כֵּלָיו אֶת-הַכִּיֹּר וְאֶת-כַּנּוֹ

. .

And the bronze altar and its bronze grating, its poles and all its vessels, and the basin and its stand.

Shemot 39:40

אֵת קַלְעֵי הֶחָצֵר אֶת-עַמֻּדֶיהָ וְאֶת-אֲדָנֶיהָ וְאֶת-הַמָּסָךְ לְשַׁעַר הֶחָצֵר אֶת-מֵיתָרָיו וִיתֵדֹתֶיהָ וְאֵת כָּל-כְּלֵי עֲבֹדַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן--לְאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד

. .

And the hangings of the court-enclosure, its pillars and its bases, and the curtain of its gate and its cords and its pegs — and the rest of the vessels of the work of the tabernacle, for the tent of assembly.

Shemot 39:41

אֶת-בִּגְדֵי הַשְּׂרָד לְשָׁרֵת בַּקֹּדֶשׁ אֶת-בִּגְדֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן וְאֶת-בִּגְדֵי בָנָיו לְכַהֵן

. .

And the embroidered garments for service in the sanctuary, and the sacred garments for Aaron the imam, and the garments of his sons for the imamate.

Shemot 39:42

כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה כֵּן עָשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵת כָּל-הָעֲבֹדָה

. .

According to all that God had commanded Moses — so the sons of Israel made all the work.

Shemot 39:43

וַיַּרְא מֹשֶׁה אֶת-כָּל-הַמְּלָאכָה וְהִנֵּה עָשׂוּ אֹתָהּ--כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה כֵּן עָשׂוּ וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם מֹשֶׁה

. . .

And when Moses saw all the work — and behold, they had made it as God had commanded — Moses bestowed blessing upon them.