Chapter 25

1The Lord spoke to Moses saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2Speak to the children of Israel, and have them take for Me an offering; from every person whose heart inspires him to generosity, you shall take My offering.   בדַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־תְּרֽוּמָתִֽי:
and have them take for Me. Heb. לִי. [I.e.,] dedicated to My name. -[from Tan. 1]   וְיִקְחוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה.  לִי – לִשְׁמִי:
offering. Heb. תְּרוּמָה, separation. They shall set apart from their property an offering for Me.   תְּרוּמָה.  הַפְרָשָׁה, יַפְרִישׁוּ לִי מִמָּמוֹנָם נְדָבָה:
whose heart inspires him to generosity. Heb. יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ, an expression of נְדָבָה, which is an expression of good will, present in French, [a] gift.   יִדְּבֶנּוּ לִבּוֹ.  לְשׁוֹן נְדָבָה וְהוּא לְשׁוֹן רָצוֹן טוֹב, פיישנ"ט בְּלַעַז:
you shall take My offering. Our Rabbis said: [The word תְּרוּמָה, mentioned three times, denotes that] three offerings are mentioned here. One is the offering of a beka [half-shekel] per head, from which they made the sockets, as is delineated in [Exod. 38:26, 27, in the parsha] “ אֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי, These are the accounts.” Another is the offering of a beka per head for the [community] coffers, from which to purchase the communal sacrifices, and another is the offering for the Mishkan, each one’s [Israelite’s] donation (Talmud Yerushalmi, Shekalim 1:1; Meg. 29b). The thirteen materials mentioned in this section [i.e., this chapter] were all required for the work of the Mishkan or for the garments of the kohanim, [as you will find] when you study them closely (Tan. 5, Song Rabbah 4:25).   תִּקְחוּ אֶת־תְּרֽוּמָתִֽי.  אָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שָׁלֹשׁ תְּרוּמוֹת אֲמוּרוֹת כָּאן, אַחַת תְּרוּמַת בֶּקַע לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ מֵהֶם הָאֲדָנִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּאֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי, וְאַחַת תְּרוּמַת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בֶּקַע לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת לַקֻּפּוֹת לִקְנוֹת מֵהֶן קָרְבְּנוֹת צִבּוּר, וְאַחַת תְּרוּמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן נִדְבַת כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד (תלמוד ירושלמי שקלים א'). י"ג דְּבָרִים הָאֲמוּרִים בָּעִנְיָן כֻּלָּם הֻצְרְכוּ לִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אוֹ לְבִגְדֵי כְהֻנָּה כְּשֶׁתְּדַקְדֵּק בָּהֶם:
3And this is the offering that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper;   גוְזֹאת֙ הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּקְח֖וּ מֵֽאִתָּ֑ם זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֽשֶׁת:
gold, silver, and copper, etc.. They were all given voluntarily; each person [gave] what his heart inspired him to give, except [for] the silver, which they gave equally, a half-shekel for each individual. We do not find throughout the entire work of the Mishkan that more silver was required, as it is said: “The silver of the community census was…a beka per head…” (Exod. 38:25, 26). The rest of the silver, which was given there [in the work of the Mishkan] voluntarily, they [the workers] made into service utensils.   זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחֽשֶׁת וגו'.  כֻּלָּם בָּאוּ בִנְדָבָה – אִישׁ אִישׁ מַה שֶּׁנְּדָבוֹ לִבּוֹ – חוּץ מִן הַכֶּסֶף שֶׁבָּא בְּשָׁוֶה, מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל לְכָל אֶחָד, וְלֹא מָצִינוּ בְכָל מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן שֶׁהֻצְרַךְ שָׁם כֶּסֶף יוֹתֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְכֶסֶף פְּקוּדֵי הָעֵדָה וְגוֹ' בֶּקַע לַגֻּלְגֹּלֶת וְגוֹ', וּשְׁאָר הַכֶּסֶף הַבָּא שָׁם בִּנְדָבָה עֲשָׂאוּהוּ לִכְלֵי שָׁרֵת:
4blue, purple, and crimson wool; linen and goat hair;   דוּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים:
blue…wool. Heb. תְכֵלֶת, wool dyed with the blood of the chillazon [animal], which bears a blue color. — [from Men. 44a, Tosefta Men. 9:6]   וּתְכֵלֶת.  צֶמֶר צָבוּעָ בְּדַם חִלָּזוֹן וְצִבְעוֹ יָרֹק (מנחות מ"ד):
purple…wool. Heb. וְאַרְגָּמָן, wool dyed with a kind of dye named אַרְגָּמָן.   וְאַרְגָּמָן.  צֶמֶר צָבוּעַ מִמִּין צֶבַע שֶׁשְּׁמוֹ אַרְגָּמָן:
linen. Heb. שֵׁשׁ. This is linen. — [from Tosefta Men. 9:6]   וְשֵׁשׁ.  הוּא פִּשְׁתָּן.
and goat hair. Heb. וְעִזִים, the hair of goats. Therefore, Onkelos rendered: וּמְעַזֵי, [i.e.,] what comes from the goats, but not the goats themselves [i.e., not the goat skins], for Targum’s [Onkelos] translation of עִזִים [goats] is עִזַיָא (Gen. 30:32).   וְעִזִּֽים.  נוֹצָה שֶׁל עִזִּים, לְכָךְ תִּרְגֵּם אֻנְקְלוֹס וּמְעַזֵּי – הַבָּא מִן הָעִזִּים – וְלֹא עִזִּים עַצְמָם, שֶׁתַּרְגּוּם שֶׁל עִזִּים עִזַּיָּא:
5ram skins dyed red, tachash skins, and acacia wood;   הוְעֹרֹ֨ת אֵילִ֧ם מְאָדָּמִ֛ים וְעֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים וַֽעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים:
dyed red. Heb. מְאֳָדָּמִים. They were dyed red after being tanned.   מְאָדָּמִים.  צְבוּעוֹת הָיוּ אָדֹם לְאַחַר עִבּוּדָן:
tachash skins. This was a species of animal that existed only for a [short] time, and it had many hues (גַּוָּנִים). Therefore, [Onkelos] renders [it] סַסְגּוֹנָא, because it rejoices (שֶׁשָׂשׂ) [ס and שׂ are often interchangeable] and boasts of its hues (גַּוָּנִים). -[from Shab. 28a, b]   תְּחָשִׁים.  מִין חַיָּה, וְלֹא הָיְתָה אֶלָּא לְשָׁעָה, וְהַרְבֵּה גְּוָנִים הָיוּ לָהּ, לְכָךְ מְתֻרְגָּם סַסְגּוֹנָא שֶׁשָּׂשׂ וּמִתְפָּאֵר בִּגְוָנִין שֶׁלּוֹ (שבת כ"ח):
and acacia wood. Where did they get these [trees] in the desert? Rabbi Tanchuma explained that our father Jacob foresaw with the holy spirit that the Israelites were destined to build a Mishkan in the desert, so he brought cedars to Egypt and planted them. He commanded his sons to take them with them when they left Egypt. — [from Mid. Tanchuma 9]   וַֽעֲצֵי שִׁטִּֽים.  וּמֵאַיִן הָיוּ לָהֶם בַּמִּדְבָּר? פֵּרֵשׁ רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא: יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ צָפָה בְּרוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ שֶׁעֲתִידִין יִשְׂרָאֵל לִבְנוֹת מִשְׁכָּן בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְהֵבִיא אֲרָזִים לְמִצְרַיִם וּנְטָעָם, וְצִוָּה לְבָנָיו לִטְּלָם עִמָּהֶם כְּשֶׁיֵּצְאוּ מִמִּצְרַיִם:
6oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the incense;   ושֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּאֹ֑ר בְּשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים:
oil for lighting. Pure olive oil to continually kindle the light.   שֶׁמֶן לַמָּאֹר.  שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זַךְ לְהַעֲלוֹת נֵר תָּמִיד:
spices for the anointing oil. which was made to anoint the vessels of the Mishkan and [for] the Mishkan itself to sanctify them, and spices were required for it, as is delineated in [the parsha] כִּי תִשָׂא (Exod. 30:22-33).   בְּשָׂמִים לְשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה.  שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה לִמְשֹׁחַ כְּלֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהַמִּשְׁכָּן לְקַדְּשׁוֹ, וְהֻצְרְכוּ לוֹ בְשָׂמִים, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בְּכִי תִשָּׂא:
and for the incense. Heb. וְלִקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים, which they burned every evening and morning, as is explained in [the parsha] וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה (Exod. 30:7, 8). The word קְטֹרֶת means the raising of smoke (קִיטוֹר) and columns of smoke ותִּמְרוֹת עָשָׁן.   וְלִקְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּֽים.  שֶׁהָיוּ מַקְטִירִין בְּכָל עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בִּוְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה, וּלְשׁוֹן קְטֹרֶת הַעֲלָאַת קִיטוֹר וְתִמְרַת עָשָׁן:
7shoham stones and filling stones for the ephod and for the choshen.   זאַבְנֵי־שֹׁ֕הַם וְאַבְנֵ֖י מִלֻּאִ֑ים לָֽאֵפֹ֖ד וְלַחֽשֶׁן:
shoham stones. Two were needed there [in the Mishkan] for the ephod, mentioned in [the parsha] וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה (Exod. 28:9-12).   אַבְנֵי־שֹׁהַם.  שְׁתַּיִם הֻצְרְכוּ שָׁם לְצֹרֶךְ הָאֵפוֹד הָאָמוּר בִּוְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה:
filling. Since they make for them a seat out of gold, like a sort of hole, and the stone is placed there to fill the hole, they are called filling stones. The place of the “seat” is called מִשְׁבֶּצֶת, a setting.   מִלֻּאִים.  עַל שֵׁם שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לָהֶם בַּזָּהָב מוֹשָׁב כְּמִין גֻּמָּא, וְנוֹתְנִין הָאֶבֶן שָׁם לְמַלֹּאות הַגֻּמָּא, קְרוּיִים אַבְנֵי מִלּוּאִים, וּמְקוֹם הַמּוֹשָׁב קָרוּי מִשְׁבֶּצֶת:
for the ephod and for the choshen. The shoham stones for the ephod and the filling stones for the choshen. The ephod and the choshen are explained in וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה they are types of ornaments [worn by the kohanim].   לָֽאֵפֹד וְלַחֽשֶׁן.  אַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם לָאֵפוֹד וְאַבְנֵי הַמִּלֻּאִים לַחֹשֶׁן; וְחֹשֶׁן וְאֵפוֹד מְפֹרָשִׁים בִּוְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה וְהֵם מִינֵי תַכְשִׁיט:
8And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell in their midst   חוְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָֽׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם:
And they shall make Me a sanctuary. And they shall make for My name a house of sanctity.   וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ.  וְעָשׂוּ לִשְׁמִי בֵּית קְדֻשָּׁה:
9according to all that I show you, the pattern of the Mishkan and the pattern of all its vessels; and so shall you do.   טכְּכֹ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מַרְאֶ֣ה אֽוֹתְךָ֔ אֵ֚ת תַּבְנִ֣ית הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת תַּבְנִ֣ית כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְכֵ֖ן תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּ:
according to all that I show you. here, the pattern of the Mishkan. This verse is connected to the verse above it: “And they shall make Me a sanctuary…” according to all that I show you.   כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מַרְאֶה אֽוֹתְךָ.  כָּאן את תבנית המשכן, הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה מְחֻבָּר לַמִּקְרָא שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתְךָ:
and so shall you do. in future generations (Sanh. 16b, Shev. 14b, 15a). If one of the vessels is lost, or when you make the vessels of the Temple, such as [the] tables, menorahs, wash basins, and bases that Solomon made, you shall make them according to the pattern of these [that I will describe in the following verses]. If the verse was not connected to what was written before it, He would not have written, “and so shall you do,” but" so shall you do" [without the word “and”], and it would be speaking about the making of the Tent of Meeting and its vessels.   וְכֵן תַּֽעֲשֽׂוּ.  לְדוֹרוֹת (סנהדרין ט"ז), אִם יֹאבַד אֶחָד מִן הַכֵּלִים, אוֹ כְּשֶׁתַּעֲשׂוּ לִי כְּלֵי בֵית עוֹלָמִים, כְּגוֹן שֻׁלְחָנוֹת וּמְנוֹרוֹת וְכִיּוֹרוֹת וּמְכוֹנוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה שְׁלֹמֹה, כְּתַבְנִית אֵלּוּ תַּעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם; וְאִם לֹא הָיָה הַמִּקְרָא מְחֻבָּר לְמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ, לֹא הָיָה לוֹ לִכְתֹּב וְכֵן תַּעֲשׂוּ אֶלָּא כֵּן תַּעֲשׂוּ, וְהָיָה מְדַבֵּר עַל עֲשִׂיַּת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְכֵלָיו:
10They shall make an ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height.   יוְעָשׂ֥וּ אֲר֖וֹן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֨יִם וָחֵ֜צִי אָרְכּ֗וֹ וְאַמָּ֤ה וָחֵ֨צִי֙ רָחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹֽמָתֽוֹ:
They shall make an ark. like the chests that are made without feet, made like a sort of chest called escrin [in Old French, ecrin in modern French], (i.e., a chest or box), which rests on its bottom [without being raised off the floor by the attachment of legs].   וְעָשׂוּ אֲרוֹן.  כְּמִין אֲרוֹנוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂים בְּלֹא רַגְלַיִם, עֲשׂוּיִם כְּמִין אַרְגָּז שֶׁקּוֹרִין אישקרי"ן בְּלַעַז, יוֹשֵׁב עַל שׁוּלָיו:
11And you shall overlay it with pure gold; from inside and from outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make upon it a golden crown all around.   יאוְצִפִּיתָ֤ אֹתוֹ֙ זָהָ֣ב טָה֔וֹר מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ תְּצַפֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ עָלָ֛יו זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב:
from inside and from outside you shall overlay it. Bezalel made three arks, two of gold and one of wood. Each one had four walls and a bottom, and they were open on the top. He placed the wooden one inside the golden one and the [other] golden one inside the wooden one. He covered the upper rim with gold, thus it is found that [the wooden one] was overlaid from inside and from outside [with gold]. — [from Yoma 72b, Shek. 16b]   מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ תְּצַפֶּנּוּ.  שְׁלֹשָׁה אֲרוֹנוֹת עָשָׂה בְצַלְאֵל, שְׁנַיִם שֶׁל זָהָב וְאֶחָד שֶׁל עֵץ, אַרְבַּע כְּתָלִים וְשׁוּלַיִם לְכָל אֶחָד וּפְתוּחִים מִלְמַעְלָה, נָתַן שֶׁל עֵץ בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁל זָהָב וְשֶׁל זָהָב בְּתוֹךְ שֶׁל עֵץ וְחִפָּה שְׂפָתוֹ הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בְּזָהָב, נִמְצָא מְצֻפֶּה מִבַּיִת וּמִחוּץ (יומא ע"ב):
a golden crown. Like a sort of crown surrounding it above its rim. For he [Bezalel] made the outer ark higher than the inner one, until it extended upwards opposite the thickness of the ark cover and slightly higher than it, so that when the ark cover lies on the thickness of the walls, the crown extends slightly over the thickness of the ark cover (Yoma 72b). And that [the crown] is the symbol of the crown of the Torah (Tan. Vayakhel 8, Exod. Rabbah 34:2).   זֵר זָהָב.  כְּמִין כֶּתֶר מֻקָּף לוֹ סָבִיב לְמַעְלָה מִשְּׂפָתוֹ, שֶׁעָשָׂה הָאָרוֹן הַחִיצוֹן גָּבוֹהַּ מִן הַפְּנִימִי, עַד שֶׁעָלָה לְמוּל עֹבִי הַכַּפֹּרֶת וּלְמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ מַשֶּׁהוּ, וּכְשֶׁהַכַּפֹּרֶת שׁוֹכֵב עַל עֹבִי הַכְּתָלִים, עוֹלֶה הַזֵּר לְמַעְלָה מִכָּל עֹבִי הַכַּפֹּרֶת כָּל שֶׁהוּא וְהוּא סִימָן לְכֶתֶר תּוֹרָה:
12And you shall cast four golden rings for it, and you shall place them upon its four corners, two rings on its one side, and two rings on its other side.   יבוְיָצַ֣קְתָּ לּ֗וֹ אַרְבַּע֙ טַבְּעֹ֣ת זָהָ֔ב וְנָ֣תַתָּ֔ה עַ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע פַּֽעֲמֹתָ֑יו וּשְׁתֵּ֣י טַבָּעֹ֗ת עַל־צַלְעוֹ֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ת וּשְׁתֵּי֙ טַבָּעֹ֔ת עַל־צַלְע֖וֹ הַשֵּׁנִֽית:
And you shall cast. Heb. וְיָצַקְתָּ, an expression of casting, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders.   וְיָצַקְתָּ.  לְשׁוֹן הַתָּכָה, כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:
its…corners. Heb. פַּעִמֹתָיו. As the Targum [Onkelos] renders: זִיוְיָתֵיהּ, its corners. They were attached on the upper corners, close to the ark cover, two from here and two from there, across the width of the ark, and the poles were placed in them [the rings]. The length of the ark separated the poles, two and one-half cubits between [one] pole and [the other] pole, so that the two people carrying the ark would walk between them [the poles]. So it is explained in Men., in the chapter entitled שתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם (98b).   פעמותיו.  כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ זִוְיָתֵיהּ; וּבַזָּוִיּוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת סָמוּךְ לַכַּפֹּרֶת הָיוּ נְתוּנוֹת, שְׁתַּיִם מִכָּאן וּשְׁתַּיִם מִכָּאן לְרָחְבּוֹ שֶׁל אָרוֹן, וְהַבַּדִּים נְתוּנִים בָּהֶם, וְאָרְכּוֹ שֶׁל אָרוֹן מַפְסִיק בֵּין הַבַּדִּים, אַמָּתַיִם וָחֵצִי בֵּין בַּד לְבַד, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵי בְנֵי אָדָם הַנּוֹשְׂאִין אֶת הָאָרוֹן מְהַלְּכִין בֵּינֵיהֶם; וְכֵן מְפֹרָשׁ בִּמְנָחוֹת בְּפ' שְׁתֵּי הַלֶּחֶם (מנחות דף צ"ח):
two rings on its one side. Heb. וּשְׁתֵּי טַבָּעֹת, lit., and two rings. These are the four rings [mentioned] in the beginning of the verse, and [Scripture now] explains to you where they were [to be placed]. This “vav” is superfluous, and it is to be interpreted as שְׁתֵּי טַבָּעֹת, two rings. But you can reconcile it [by interpreting it] in this way: and two of these rings [shall be] on its one side, [meaning, and two of the four rings mentioned in the beginning of this verse shall be on one side, etc.].   וּשְׁתֵּי טַבְּעֹת עַל צַלְעוֹ הָֽאֶחָת.  הֵן הֵן אַרְבַּע טַבָּעוֹת שֶׁבִּתְחִלַּת הַמִּקְרָא, וּפֵרֵשׁ לְךָ הֵיכָן הָיוּ; וְהַוָּי"ו זוֹ יְתֵרָה הִיא, וּפִתְרוֹנוֹ כְּמוֹ שְׁתֵּי טַבָּעוֹת, וְיֵשׁ לְךָ לְיַשְּׁבָהּ כֵּן: וּשְׁתֵּי מִן הַטַּבָּעוֹת הָאֵלּוּ עַל צַלְעוֹ הָאַחַת:
its…side. Heb. צַלְעוֹ, its side.   צַלְעוֹ.  צִדּוֹ:
13And you shall make poles of acacia wood and you shall overlay them with gold.   יגוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בַדֵּ֖י עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָֽב:
poles of. Heb. בַדֵּי, poles.   בַדֵּי.  מוֹטוֹת:
14And you shall bring the poles into the rings on the sides of the ark, to carry the ark with them.   ידוְהֵֽבֵאתָ֤ אֶת־הַבַּדִּים֙ בַּטַּבָּעֹ֔ת עַ֖ל צַלְעֹ֣ת הָֽאָרֹ֑ן לָשֵׂ֥את אֶת־הָֽאָרֹ֖ן בָּהֶֽם:
15The poles of the ark shall be in the rings; they shall not be removed from it.   טובְּטַבְּעֹת֙ הָֽאָרֹ֔ן יִֽהְי֖וּ הַבַּדִּ֑ים לֹ֥א יָסֻ֖רוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ:
they shall not be removed from it. forever.   לֹא יָסֻרוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ.  לְעוֹלָם (יומא ע"ב):
16And you shall place into the ark the testimony, which I will give you.   טזוְנָֽתַתָּ֖ אֶל־הָֽאָרֹ֑ן אֵ֚ת הָֽעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶתֵּ֖ן אֵלֶֽיךָ:
And you shall place into the ark. Heb. אֶל-הָאָרֹן, lit., to the ark, [meaning] into the ark.   וְנָֽתַתָּ אֶל־הָֽאָרֹן.  כְּמוֹ בָּאָרוֹן:
the testimony. [I.e.,] the Torah, which serves as testimony between Me and you [Israel] that I commanded you [to fulfill] the commandments written in it. — [from Mid. Tan. Pekudei 4, also Mid. Lekach Tov]   הָֽעֵדֻת.  הַתּוֹרָה, שֶׁהִיא לְעֵדוּת בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם שֶׁצִּוִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם מִצְווֹת הַכְּתוּבוֹת בָּהּ:
17And you shall make an ark cover of pure gold, two and a half cubits its length and a cubit and a half its width.   יזוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ כַפֹּ֖רֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר אַמָּתַ֤יִם וָחֵ֨צִי֙ אָרְכָּ֔הּ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי רָחְבָּֽהּ:
an ark cover. Heb. כַפֹּרֶת a cover over the ark, which was open from above. He [Moses] placed it [the cover] over it [the ark] like a board.   כַפֹּרֶת.  כִּסּוּי עַל הָאָרוֹן, שֶׁהָיָה פָּתוּחַ מִלְמַעְלָה וּמַנִּיחוֹ עָלָיו כְּמִין דַּף:
two and a half cubits its length. like the length of the ark. Its width was like the width of the ark, and it lay on the thickness of the four walls. Although [Scripture] does not give a measure for its thickness, our Rabbis explained that it was a handbreadth thick. — [from Succah 5a]   אַמָּתַיִם וָחֵצִי אָרְכָּהּ.  כְּאָרְכּוֹ שֶׁל אָרוֹן, וְרָחְבָּהּ כְּרָחְבּוֹ שֶׁל אָרוֹן, וּמֻנַּחַת עַל עֹבִי הַכְּתָלִים אַרְבַּעְתָּם, וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁלֹּא נָתַן שִׁעוּר לְעָבְיָהּ, פֵּרְשׁוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁהָיָה עָבְיָהּ טֶפַח (סוכה ה'):
18And you shall make two golden cherubim; you shall make them of hammered work, from the two ends of the ark cover.   יחוְעָשִׂ֛יתָ שְׁנַ֥יִם כְּרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
cherubim. Heb. כְּרֻבִים. They had the features of a child. — [from Succah 5]   כְּרֻבִים.  דְּמוּת פַּרְצוּף תִּינוֹק לָהֶם:
you shall make…of hammered work. [This means] that you should not make them separate and then join them at the ends of the ark cover after they are made, as smiths do [in a process] called solderez [in Old French], soldered. Instead, you should take a large quantity of gold at the beginning of the construction of the ark cover and beat it with a hammer and with a mallet in the center [of the mass of gold] so that its ends protrude upward, and [then you should] form the cherubim from the protrusion of its ends.   מִקְשָׁה תַּֽעֲשֶׂה.  שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֵׂם בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָם וּתְחַבְּרֵם בְּרָאשֵׁי הַכַּפֹּרֶת לְאַחַר עֲשִׂיָּתָם כְּמַעֲשֵׂה צוֹרְפִים שֶׁקּוֹרִין שולד"יר בְּלַעַז, אֶלָּא הַטֵּל זָהָב הַרְבֵּה בִּתְחִלַּת עֲשִׂיַּת הַכַּפֹּרֶת, וְהַכֵּה בְּפַטִּישׁ וּבְקֻרְנָס בָּאֶמְצַע, וְרָאשִׁין בּוֹלְטִין לְמַעְלָה, וְצַיֵּר הַכְּרוּבִים בִּבְלִיטַת קְצוֹתָיו:
hammered. Heb. מִקְשָׁה, batediz in Old French, hammered, like “knocked (נָקְשָׁן) one against the other” (Dan. 5:6).   מִקְשָׁה.  בטדי"ץ בְּלַעַז, כְּמוֹ דָּא לְדָא נָקְשָׁן (דניאל ה'):
ends of the ark cover. Heb. קְצוֹת הכַּפֹּרֶת, ends of the ark cover.   קְצוֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת.  רָאשֵׁי הַכַּפֹּרֶת:
19And make one cherub from the one end and the other cherub from the other end; from the ark cover you shall make the cherubim on its two ends.   יטוַֽ֠עֲשֵׂ֠ה כְּר֨וּב אֶחָ֤ד מִקָּצָה֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וּכְרוּב־אֶחָ֥ד מִקָּצָ֖ה מִזֶּ֑ה מִן־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת תַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָֽיו:
And make one cherub from the one end. [The text elaborates] so that you will not say [that it means] two cherubim at each end. Therefore, it had to explain, “one cherub from the one end.”   וַֽעֲשֵׂה כְּרוּב אֶחָד מִקָּצָה.  שֶׁלֹּא תֹאמַר שְׁנַיִם כְּרוּבִים לְכָל קָצֶה וְקָצֶה, לְכָךְ הֻצְרַךְ לְפָרֵשׁ כְּרוּב אֶחָד מִקָּצָה מִזֶּה:
from the ark cover. itself you shall make the cherubim. This is the meaning of “you shall make them of hammered work” -that you shall not make them [the cherubim] separately and [then] attach them to the ark cover.   מִן־הַכַּפֹּרֶת.  עַצְמָהּ תַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַכְּרוּבִים, זֶהוּ פֵּרוּשׁ שֶׁל מִקְשָׁה תַּעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם, שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֶׂה בִּפְנֵי עַצְמָם וּתְחַבְּרֵם לַכַּפֹּרֶת:
20The cherubim shall have their wings spread upwards, shielding the ark cover with their wings, with their faces toward one another; [turned] toward the ark cover shall be the faces of the cherubim.   כוְהָי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּֽרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹֽכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶ֨ל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת יִֽהְי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים:
their wings spread. [This means] that you shall not make their wings lying down [resting next to their bodies], but spread high alongside their heads, so that there should be ten handbreadths in the space between the wings and the ark cover, as is stated in Succah (5b).   פֹּֽרְשֵׂי כְנָפַיִם.  שֶׁלֹּא תַעֲשֶׂה כַנְפֵיהֶם שׁוֹכְבִים אֶלָּא פְּרוּשִׂים וּגְבוֹהִים לְמַעְלָה אֵצֶל רָאשֵׁיהֶם, שֶׁיְּהֵא עֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים בֶּחָלָל שֶׁבֵּין הַכְּנָפַיִם לַכַּפֹּרֶת, כִּדְאִיתָא בְסֻכָּה:
21And you shall place the ark cover on the ark from above, and into the ark you shall place the testimony, which I will give you.   כאוְנָֽתַתָּ֧ אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת עַל־הָֽאָרֹ֖ן מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶל־הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן תִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶתֵּ֖ן אֵלֶֽיךָ:
and into the ark you shall place the testimony. I do not know why it was repeated, for it already said: “And you shall place into the ark the testimony” (verse 16). We may say that it comes to teach that when it [the ark] is still an ark alone, without an ark cover, he [Moses] should first put in the testimony and then place the ark cover over it. So we find [that] when he [Moses] erected the Mishkan, it says: “And he placed the testimony into the ark,” and afterwards, “and he placed the ark cover on the ark from above” (Exod. 40:20).   וְאֶל־הָֽאָרֹן תִּתֵּן אֶת־הָעֵדֻת.  לֹא יָדַעְתִּי לָמָּה נִכְפַּל, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּבָר נֶאֱמַר וְנָתַתָּ אֶל הָאָרֹן אֵת הָעֵדֻת, וְיֵשׁ לוֹמַר, שֶׁבָּא לְלַמֵּד שֶׁבְּעוֹדוֹ אָרוֹן לְבַדּוֹ, בְּלֹא כַפֹּרֶת, יִתֵּן תְּחִלָּה הָעֵדוּת לְתוֹכוֹ וְאַחַר כָּךְ יִתֵּן אֶת הַכַּפֹּרֶת עָלָיו, וְכֵן מָצִינוּ כְּשֶׁהֵקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, נֶאֱמַר וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הָעֵדֻת אֶל הָאָרֹן וְאַחַר כָּךְ וַיִּתֵּן אֶת הַכַּפֹּרֶת עַל הָאָרֹן מִלְמָעְלָה:
22I will arrange My meetings with you there, and I will speak with you from atop the ark cover from between the two cherubim that are upon the Ark of the Testimony, all that I will command you unto the children of Israel.   כבוְנֽוֹעַדְתִּ֣י לְךָ֘ שָׁם֒ וְדִבַּרְתִּ֨י אִתְּךָ֜ מֵעַ֣ל הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת מִבֵּין֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־אֲר֣וֹן הָֽעֵדֻ֑ת אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֲצַוֶּ֛ה אֽוֹתְךָ֖ אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:
I will arrange My meetings with you there. When I arrange a meeting for you to speak with you, [it is at] that place that I will arrange for the meeting where I will come to speak to you.   וְנֽוֹעַדְתִּי.  כְּשֶׁאֶקְבַּע מוֹעֵד לְךָ לְדַבֵּר עִמְּךָ, אוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם אֶקְבַּע לַמּוֹעֵד שֶׁאָבֹא שָׁם לְדַבֵּר אֵלֶיךָ:
and I will speak with you from atop the ark cover. But elsewhere it says: “and the Lord spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying…” (Lev. 1:1). That is the Mishkan, outside the dividing curtain [whereas the ark was within the dividing curtain]. The two verses are found to contradict one another. The third verse comes and reconciles them. "And when Moses came into the Tent of Meeting…he heard the voice speaking to him from atop the ark cover" (Num. 7:89). [The solution is that] Moses would enter the Mishkan and as soon as he came within the doorway, a voice would descend from heaven to [the place] between the cherubim, from where it emanated and was heard by Moses in the Tent of Meeting. — [from Sifrei, end of Naso]   וְדִבַּרְתִּי אִתְּךָ מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת.  וּבְמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיְדַבֵּר ה' אֵלָיו מֵאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד לֵאמֹר (ויקרא א'), זֶה הַמִּשְׁכָּן, מִחוּץ לַפָּרֹכֶת, נִמְצְאוּ שְׁנֵי כְתוּבִים מַכְחִישִׁים זֶה אֶת זֶה, – בָּא הַכָּתוּב הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְהִכְרִיעַ בֵּינֵיהֶם: וּבְבֹא מֹשֶׁה אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת הַקּוֹל מִדַּבֵּר אֵלָיו מֵעַל הַכַּפֹּרֶת וְגוֹ' (במדבר ז'), מֹשֶׁה הָיָה נִכְנָס לַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְכֵיוָן שֶׁבָּא בְתוֹךְ הַפֶּתַח, קוֹל יוֹרֵד מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם לְבֵין הַכְּרוּבִים, וּמִשָּׁם יוֹצֵא וְנִשְׁמָע לְמֹשֶׁה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (ספרי):
and all that I will command you unto the children of Israel. Heb. וְאֵת. This “vav” [that Rashi adds, meaning “and,”] is superfluous, and there are many similar [examples] in the Torah. And you shall interpret it thus: "and all that I will speak with you there is all that I will command you unto the children of Israel."   ואֶת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּה אֽוֹתְךָ אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵֽל.  הֲרֵי וָי"ו זוֹ יְתֵרָה וּטְפֵלָה, וְכָמוֹהָ הַרְבֵּה בַּמִּקְרָא, וְכֹה תִפָּתֵר: וְאֶת אֲשֶׁר אֲדַבֵּר עִמְּךָ שָׁם אֵת כָּל אֲשֶׁר אֲצַוֶּה אוֹתְךָ אֶל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הוּא:
23And you shall make a table of acacia wood, two cubits its length, one cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height.   כגוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ שֻׁלְחָ֖ן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֤יִם אָרְכּוֹ֙ וְאַמָּ֣ה רָחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹֽמָתֽוֹ:
its height. The height of its legs [together] with the thickness of the table [top].   קֹֽמָתֽוֹ.  גֹּבַהּ רַגְלָיו עִם עֹבִי הַשֻּׁלְחָן:
24And you shall overlay it with pure gold, and you shall make for it a golden crown all around.   כדוְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹת֖וֹ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לּ֛וֹ זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב:
a golden crown. symbolic of the crown of kingship, for the table represents wealth and greatness, as they say, “the royal table.” -[from Yoma 72b]   זֵר זָהָב.  סִימָן לְכֶתֶר מַלְכוּת, שֶׁהַשֻּׁלְחָן שֵׁם עֹשֶׁר וּגְדֻלָּה, כְּמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמְרִים שֻׁלְחַן מְלָכִים:
25And you shall make for it a frame a handbreadth [wide] all around, and you shall make a golden crown for its frame all around.   כהוְעָשִׂ֨יתָ לּ֥וֹ מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת טֹ֖פַח סָבִ֑יב וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ זֵֽר־זָהָ֛ב לְמִסְגַּרְתּ֖וֹ סָבִֽיב:
a frame. Heb. מִסְגֶּרֶת, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: גְּדַנְפָא, a rim. The Sages of Israel differed concerning the matter. Some say that it was above [i.e., extending from the table top], around the table, like the rims at the edge of the tables of the princes. Some say that it was below [the table top], inserted from one leg to the other on the four sides of the table, and the table top lay on that frame. — [from Men. 96b]   מִסְגֶּרֶת.  כְּתַרְגוּמוֹ גְּדַנְפָא; וְנֶחְלְקוּ חַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּדָּבָר, יֵשׁ אוֹמָרִים לְמַעְלָה הָיְתָה סָבִיב לַשֻּׁלְחָן כְּמוֹ לְבִזְבְּזִין שֶׁבִּשְׂפַת שֻׁלְחַן שָׂרִים, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמָרִים לְמַטָּה הָיְתָה תְקוּעָה מֵרֶגֶל לְרֶגֶל בְּאַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת הַשֻּׁלְחָן, וְדַף הַשֻּׁלְחָן שׁוֹכֵב עַל אוֹתָהּ מִסְגֶּרֶת:
and you shall make a golden crown for its frame. That is the crown mentioned above, and here He explains to you that it was on the frame.   וְעָשִׂיתָ זֵֽר־זָהָב לְמִסְגַּרְתּוֹ.  הוּא זֵר הָאָמוּר לְמַעְלָה, וּפֵרֵשׁ לְךָ כָּאן שֶׁעַל הַמִּסְגֶּרֶת הָיְתָה:
26And you shall make for it four golden rings, and you shall place the rings on the four corners that are on its four legs.   כווְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ אַרְבַּ֖ע טַבְּעֹ֣ת זָהָ֑ב וְנָֽתַתָּ֙ אֶת־הַטַּבָּעֹ֔ת עַ֚ל אַרְבַּ֣ע הַפֵּאֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְאַרְבַּ֥ע רַגְלָֽיו:
27The rings shall be opposite the frame as holders for the poles [with which] to carry the table.   כזלְעֻמַּת֙ הַמִּסְגֶּ֔רֶת תִּֽהְיֶ֖יןָ הַטַּבָּעֹ֑ת לְבָתִּ֣ים לְבַדִּ֔ים לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן:
The rings shall be opposite the frame. on the legs, inserted opposite the ends of the frame.   לְעֻמַּת הַמִּסְגֶּרֶת תִּֽהְיֶיןָ הַטַּבָּעֹת.  בָּרַגְלַיִם תְּקוּעוֹת, כְּנֶגֶד רָאשֵׁי הַמִּסְגֶרֶת:
as holders for the poles. Those rings shall be holders in which to insert the poles.   לְבָתִּים לְבַדִּים.  אוֹתָן טַבָּעוֹת יִהְיוּ בָתִּים לְהַכְנִיס בָּהֶן הַבַּדִּים:
as holders. Heb. לְבָתִּים, for the purpose of holders.   לְבָתִּים.  לְצֹרֶךְ:
for the poles. Heb. לְבַדִּים, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: אַתְרָא לַאִרִיחַיָא, a place for the poles.   לְבָתִּים לְבַדִּים.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ – אַתְרָא לַאֲרִיחַיָּא:
28And you shall make the poles of acacia wood, and you shall overlay them with gold, and the table shall be carried with them.   כחוְעָשִׂ֤יתָ אֶת־הַבַּדִּים֙ עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָ֑ב וְנִשָּׂא־בָ֖ם אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן:
shall be carried with them. Heb. וְנִשָׂא-בָם, the passive voice. The table shall be carried with them [by the poles].   וְנִשָּׂא־בָם.  לְשׁוֹן נִפְעַל, יִהְיֶה נִשָּׂא בָם אֶת הַשֻּׁלְחָן:
29And you shall make its forms, its spoons, its half pipes, and its supports with which it will be covered; of pure gold you shall make them.   כטוְעָשִׂ֨יתָ קְּעָֽרֹתָ֜יו וְכַפֹּתָ֗יו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו֙ וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻסַּ֖ךְ בָּהֵ֑ן זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם:
And you shall make its forms, its spoons. Heb. קְּעָרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו. קְּעָרֹתָיו is the form that was made according to the shape of the bread (Men. 97a). The bread was made in the shape of a type of box without a cover. It had a flat bottom (Men. 94b) and it would be bent upward on both sides [forming something] similar to walls. Therefore, it is called לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, literally, the bread of faces, because it has faces looking in both directions-toward the sides of the house [Mishkan] from here [in one direction] and from there [in the other direction]. It was placed lengthwise across the width of the table, and its walls stood vertically opposite the edge of the table. A golden form and an iron form were made for it. It was baked [on Fridays] in the iron form, and when it was taken out of the oven, it would be placed in the golden form until the next day, which was the Sabbath, when it would be arranged on the table. That form is called קְעָרָה.   וְעָשִׂיתָ קְּעָֽרֹתָיו וְכַפֹּתָיו.  קְעָרוֹתָיו זֶה דְּפוּס שֶׁהָיָה עָשׂוּי כִּדְפוּס הַלֶּחֶם, וְהַלֶּחֶם הָיָה עָשׂוּי כְּמִין תֵּבָה פְּרוּצָה מִשְׁתֵּי רוּחוֹתֶיהָ, שׁוּלַיִם לוֹ לְמַטָּה, וְקוֹפֵל מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה כְּמִין כְּתָלִים, וּלְכָךְ קָרוּי לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים, שֶׁיֵּשׁ לוֹ פָנִים רוֹאִין לְכָאן וּלְכָאן לְצִדֵּי הַבַּיִת מִזֶּה וּמִזֶּה, וְנוֹתֵן אָרְכּוֹ לְרָחְבּוֹ שֶׁל שֻׁלְחָן, וְכָתְלָיו זְקוּפִים כְּנֶגֶד שְׂפַת הַשֻּׁלְחָן; וְהָיָה עָשׂוּי לוֹ דְּפוּס זָהָב וּדְפוּס בַּרְזֶל, בְּשֶׁל בַּרְזֶל הוּא נֶאֱפֶה, וּכְשֶׁמּוֹצִיאוֹ מִן הַתַּנּוּר נוֹתְנוֹ בְשֶׁל זָהָב עַד לְמָחָר בְּשַׁבָּת שֶׁמְּסַדְּרוֹ עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, וְאוֹתוֹ דְּפוּס קָרוּי קְעָרָה:
its spoons. Heb. וְכַפֹּתָיו. They were the spoons in which the frankincense was placed. There were two [spoons meant] for the two handfuls of frankincense that were placed beside the two stacks, as it is said: “And you shall place beside the stack pure frankincense” (Lev. 24:7). -[from Men. 97a]   וְכַפֹּתָיו.  בָּזִיכִין שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין בָּהֶם לְבוֹנָה שְׁתַּיִם הָיוּ לִשְׁנֵי קֻמְצֵי לְבוֹנָה שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין עַל שְׁתֵּי הַמַּעֲרָכוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְנָתַתָּ עַל הַמַּעֲרֶכֶת לְבֹנָה זַכָּה (ויקרא כ"ד):
its half-pipes. Heb. וּקְשׁוֹתָיו. They are sort of half-tubes, hollow and split along their length. They are similar to the tubes made of gold. Three [tubes] were arranged over each bread, so that each bread would rest upon those tubes. They would separate one bread from the other so that air would enter between them and they [the bread] would not grow moldy. In Arabic, any hollow thing is called kaswa. — [from Men. 96a, 97a]   וּקְשׂוֹתָיו.  הֵן כְּמִין חֲצָאֵי קָנִים חֲלוּלִים הַנִּסְדָּקִין לְאָרְכָּן (מנחות צ"ו), דֻּגְמָתָן עוֹשֶׂה שֶׁל זָהָב, וּמְסַדֵּר ג' עַל רֹאשׁ כָּל לֶחֶם, שֶׁיֵּשֵׁב לֶחֶם הָאַחֵר עַל גַּבֵּי אוֹתָן הַקָּנִים, וּמַבְדִּילִין בֵּין לֶחֶם לְלֶחֶם כְּדֵי שֶׁתִּכָּנֵס הָרוּחַ בֵּינֵיהֶם וְלֹא יִתְעַפְּשׁוּ; וּבִלְשׁוֹן עֲרָבִי כָּל דָּבָר חָלוּל קָרוּי קס"וא:
and its supports. Heb. וּמְנַקּיֹתָיו. Its Aramaic translation is וּמְכִילָתֵיהּ, [meaning] and its bearers. They are branches like golden pegs [Mizrachi explains that they were like columns] standing on the ground and reaching a considerable height upwards above the table, corresponding to the height of the stack of bread. [They were] notched with six (Mizrachi-five) notches, one above the other, and the ends of the pipes between one bread and another were supported by these branches so that the burden of the upper breads should not weigh down on the lower ones and cause them to break. The derivation of מְכִילָתֵיהּ is “its bearers,” similar to “I am weary of bearing [it] (הָכִיל)” (Jer. 6:11). But I do not know how the מְנַקִּיוֹת applies to branches. Other Sages of Israel say that קְשׂתָיו refers to the branches, which harden (מְקֻשוֹת) it [the showbread] and strengthen it so that it does not break, and מְנַקִּיוֹתָיו refers to the pipes, which clean (מְנַקִּין) [the bread] so that it should not become moldy (Men. 96a). But Onkelos, who rendered [מְנַקִּיוֹתָיו as] מְכִילָתֵיהּ, understood it in a similar way to the words of the one [Sage] who says [that] מְנַקִּיוֹת are branches.   וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו.  תַּרְגּוּמוֹ וּמְכִילָתֵיהּ, הֵן סְנִיפִים כְּמִין יִתְדוֹת זָהָב, עוֹמְדִין בָּאָרֶץ וּגְבוֹהִים עַד לְמַעְלָה מִן הַשֻּׁלְחָן הַרְבֵּה, כְּנֶגֶד גֹּבַהּ מַעֲרֶכֶת הַלֶּחֶם, וּמְפֻצָּלִים חֲמִשָּׁה פִצּוּלִים זֶה לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה, וְרָאשֵׁי הַקָּנִים שֶׁבֵּין לֶחֶם לְלֶחֶם סְמוּכִין עַל אוֹתָן פִּצּוּלִין, כְּדֵי שֶׁלֹּא יִכְבַּד מַשָּׂא הַלֶּחֶם הָעֶלְיוֹנִים עַל הַתַּחְתּוֹנִים וְיִשָּׁבְרוּ; וּלְשׁוֹן מְכִילָתֵיהּ סֹבְלוֹתָיו, כְּמוֹ נִלְאֵיתִי הָכִיל (ירמיהו ו'). אֲבָל לְשׁוֹן מְנַקִּיּוֹת אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ אֵיךְ נוֹפֵל עַל סְנִיפִין; וְיֵשׁ מֵחַכְמֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים קְשֹׂתָיו אֵלּוּ סְנִיפִין, שֶׁמַּקְשִׁין אוֹתוֹ וּמַחֲזִיקִים אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִשָּׁבֵר, וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָיו אֵלּוּ הַקָּנִים שֶׁמְּנַקִּין אוֹתוֹ שֶׁלֹּא יִתְעַפֵּשׁ (מנחות צ"ז), אֲבָל אֻנְקְלוֹס שֶׁתִּרְגֵּם וּמְכִילָתֵיהּ, הָיָה שׁוֹנֶה כְדִבְרֵי הָאוֹמֵר מְנַקִּיּוֹת הֵן סְנִיפִין:
with which it will be covered. Heb. יֻסַּךְ, [meaning] with which it will be covered. Regarding the half-pipes, [Scripture] says “with which it will be covered” because they [the half-pipes] were like a sort of roof and cover over it [the bread], and similarly elsewhere (Num. 4:7) [Scripture] says, “the half- pipes which cover (הַנָּסֶךְ),” and both of these [words]- יֻסַּךְ and (הַנָּסֶךְ) Are words meaning a roof and a cover.   אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ בָּהֵן.  אֲשֶׁר יְכֻסֶּה בָהֵן, וְעַל קְשֹׂתָיו הוּא אוֹמֵר אֲשֶׁר יֻסַּךְ, שֶׁהָיוּ עָלָיו כְּמִין סְכָךְ וְכִסּוּי, וְכֵן בְּמָקוֹם אַחֵר הוּא אוֹמֵר וְאֵת קְשׂוֹת הַנָּסֶךְ (במדבר ד'), וְזֶה וָזֶה, יֻסַּךְ וְהַנָּסֶךְ, לְשׁוֹן סְכָךְ וְכִסּוּי הֵם:
30And you shall place on the table showbread before Me at all times.   לוְנָֽתַתָּ֧ עַל־הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים לְפָנַ֥י תָּמִֽיד:
showbread. Heb. לֶחֶם פָּנִים, lit., bread of faces, [given this appellation] because it has faces, as I explained [on verse 29]. The number of breads and the order of their stacks are explained in [the parsha of] אֱמֹר אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים, “Speak to the Kohanim” (Lev. 21:1).   לֶחֶם פָּנִים.  שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ פָּנִים כְּמוֹ שֶׁפֵּרַשְׁתִּי, וּמִנְיַן הַלֶּחֶם וְסֵדֶר מַעַרְכוֹתָיו מְפֹרָשִׁים בֶּאֱמֹר אֶל הַכֹּהֲנִים:
31And you shall make a menorah of pure gold. The menorah shall be made of hammered work; its base and its stem, its goblets, its knobs, and its flowers shall [all] be [one piece] with it.   לאוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מְנֹרַ֖ת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר מִקְשָׁ֞ה תֵּֽיעָשֶׂ֤ה הַמְּנוֹרָה֙ יְרֵכָ֣הּ וְקָנָ֔הּ גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥יהָ וּפְרָחֶ֖יהָ מִמֶּ֥נָּה יִֽהְיֽוּ:
The menorah shall be made of hammered work. [meaning] that it must not be made in sections, [which can be removed]. Its branches and its lamps should not be made individually and then attached, as is the custom of the smiths [through a process] called solderez [in French], soldering, but it [the menorah] must come [be constructed] entirely from one piece [of gold]-beaten with a hammer and cut with a tool, and the branches separated on both sides. — [from Baraitha Melecheth HaMishkan.]   מִקְשָׁה תֵּֽיעָשֶׂה הַמְּנוֹרָה.  שֶׁלֹּא יַעֲשֶׂנָּה חֻלְיוֹת וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה קָנֶיהָ וְנֵרוֹתֶיהָ אֵבָרִים אֵבָרִים וְאַחַר כָּךְ יַדְבִּיקֵם, כְּדֶרֶךְ הַצּוֹרְפִים שֶׁקּוֹרִין שולד"יר בְּלַעַז, אֶלָּא כֻלָּהּ בָּאָה מֵחֲתִיכָה אַחַת, וּמַקִּישׁ בַּקֻּרְנָס וְחוֹתֵךְ בִּכְלִי הָאֻמָּנוּת וּמַפְרִיד הַקָּנִים אֵילָךְ וָאֵילָךְ:
of hammered work. Heb. מִקְשָׁה. Its Aramaic translation is נְגִיד, an expression of drawing out, [meaning] that he draws the parts out of the block of gold on either side by beating [it] with a hammer. The word מִקְשָׁה means the blow of a hammer, batediz in Old French, hammered, like “knocked (נָקְשָׁן) one against the other” (Dan. 5:6).   מִקְשָׁה.  תַּרְגּוּמוֹ נְגִיד, לְשׁוֹן הַמְשָׁכָה, שֶׁמַּמְשִׁיךְ אֶת הָאֵבָרִים מִן הָעֶשֶׁת לְכָאן וּלְכָאן בְּהַקָּשַׁת הַקֻּרְנָס, וּלְשׁוֹן מִקְשָׁה מַכַּת קֻרְנָס, בטדי"ץ בְּלַעַז, כְּמוֹ דָּא לְדָא נָקְשָׁן (דניאל ה'):
the menorah shall be made. By itself. Since Moses found difficulty with it [i.e., figuring out how to form the menorah], the Holy One, blessed is He, said to him, “Cast the talent [equivalent to sixty-four pounds of gold] into the fire, and it will be made by itself.” Therefore, it is not written: תֵּעָשֶׂה but תֵּיעָשֶׂה. -[from Tan. Beha’alothecha 3]   תֵּֽיעָשֶׂה הַמְּנוֹרָה.  מֵאֵלֶיהָ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה מֹשֶׁה מִתְקַשֶּׁה בָהּ, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הַשְׁלֵךְ אֶת הַכִּכָּר לָאוּר וְהִיא נַעֲשֵׂית מֵאֵלֶיהָ, לְכָךְ לֹא נִכְתַּב תַּעֲשֶׂה (תנחומא):
its base. This refers to the foot on the bottom [of the menorah], which was made like a box with three legs coming out of it [protruding] downwards.   יְרֵכָהּ.  הוּא הָרֶגֶל שֶׁלְּמַטָּה הֶעָשׂוּי כְּמִין תֵּבָה, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה רַגְלַיִם יוֹצְאִין הֵימֶנּוּ וּלְמַטָּה:
and its stem. [This refers to] its central stem rising from the middle of the base, erected upward. At the top of it was the middle lamp, made like a spoon, into which the oil was poured and the wick inserted.   וְקָנָהּ.  הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי שֶׁלָּהּ הָעוֹלֶה בְּאֶמְצַע הַיָּרֵךְ זָקוּף כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה, וְעָלָיו נֵר הָאֶמְצָעִי עָשׂוּי כְּמִין בָּזֵךְ, לָצוּק הַשֶּׁמֶן לְתוֹכוֹ וְלָתֵת הַפְּתִילָה:
its goblets. They are a sort of cups made of glass, long and narrow, which are called maderins [in Old French], long, slender glass goblets. These, however, were made of gold, and they protruded from every branch according to the number prescribed by the text. They were [placed] on it [the menorah] only for beauty.   גְּבִיעֶיהָ.  הֵן כְּמִין כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁעוֹשִׂין מִזְּכוּכִית, אֲרֻכִּים וּקְצָרִים, וְקוֹרִין לָהֶם מדיר"נש בְּלַעַז, וְאֵלּוּ עֲשׂוּיִין שֶׁל זָהָב, וּבוֹלְטִין וְיוֹצְאִין מִכָּל קָנֶה וְקָנֶה כַּמִּנְיָן שֶׁנָּתַן בָּהֶם הַכָּתוּב, וְלֹא הָיוּ בָהּ אֶלָּא לְנוֹי:
its knobs. [They were] like sort of round apples all around [the branch], protruding [outward] around the middle branch, in the style of the menoroth that are made for princes. They are called pomeles [in French], apple-shaped knobs (Men. 28b). Their number is prescribed in this parsha, [i.e.,] how many knobs protruded from it and how much [space] was [left] unadorned between one knob and another knob.   כַּפְתֹּרֶיהָ.  כְּמִין תַּפּוּחִים הָיוּ, עֲגֻלִּין סָבִיב, בּוֹלְטִין סְבִיבוֹת הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לַמְּנוֹרוֹת שֶׁלִּפְנֵי הַשָּׂרִים, וְקוֹרִין לָהֶם פומיל"ש בְּלַעַז, וּמִנְיָן שֶׁלָּהֶם כָּתוּב בַּפָּרָשָׁה, כַּמָּה כַּפְתּוֹרִים בּוֹלְטִין מִמֶּנָּה וְכַמָּה חָלָק בֵּין כַּפְתּוֹר לְכַפְתּוֹר:
and its flowers. Engravings made on it like a sort of flowers.   וּפְרָחֶיהָ.  צִיּוּרִין עֲשׂוּיִן בָּהּ כְּמִין פְּרָחִין:
shall [all] be [one piece] with it. Everything shall be of hammered work, out of the solid block [of gold], and not made separately and then attached [to the main stem].   מִמֶּנָּה יִֽהְיֽוּ.  הַכֹּל מִקְשָׁה יוֹצֵא מִתּוֹךְ חֲתִיכַת הָעֶשֶׁת, וְלֹא יַעֲשֶׂה לְבַדָּם וְיַדְבִּיקֵם:
32And six branches coming out of its sides: three menorah branches from its one side and three menorah branches from its second side.   לבוְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה קָנִ֔ים יֹֽצְאִ֖ים מִצִּדֶּ֑יהָ שְׁלשָׁ֣ה | קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֗ה מִצִּדָּהּ֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁלשָׁה֙ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֔ה מִצִּדָּ֖הּ הַשֵּׁנִֽי:
coming out of its sides. from here and there [in each direction] diagonally, drawn upwards until [they reached] the height of the menorah, which is the middle stem. They came out of the middle stem, one higher than the others: the bottom one was longest, the one above it was shorter than it, and the highest one shorter than that, because the height of their ends [at their tops] was equal to the height of the seventh, middle stem, out of which the six branches extended.   יֹֽצְאִים מִצִּדֶּיהָ.  לְכָאן וּלְכָאן בַּאֲלַכְסוֹן, נִמְשָׁכִים וְעוֹלִין עַד כְּנֶגֶד גָּבְהָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה שֶׁהוּא קָנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי, וְיוֹצְאִין מִתּוֹךְ קָנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי זֶה לְמַעְלָה מִזֶּה, הַתַּחְתּוֹן אָרֹךְ, וְשֶׁל מַעְלָה קָצָר הֵימֶנּוּ, וְהָעֶלְיוֹן קָצָר הֵימֶנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה גֹּבַהּ רָאשֵׁיהֶן שָׁוֶה לְגָבְהוֹ שֶׁל קָנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי, הַשְּׁבִיעִי, שֶׁמִּמֶּנּוּ יוֹצְאִים הַשִּׁשָּׁה קָנִים:
33Three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower, and three decorated goblets on one branch, a knob and a flower; so for the six branches that come out of the menorah.   לגשְׁלשָׁ֣ה גְ֠בִעִ֠ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֞ים בַּקָּנֶ֣ה הָֽאֶחָד֘ כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפֶ֒רַח֒ וּשְׁלשָׁ֣ה גְבִעִ֗ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֛ים בַּקָּנֶ֥ה הָֽאֶחָ֖ד כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפָ֑רַח כֵּ֚ן לְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה:
decorated. Heb. מְשֻׁקָּדִים, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders מְצַיְירִין. They were decorated in the manner that silver and gold vessels are made, which is called nieler [in Old French, nieller in modern French, niello in English].   מְשֻׁקָּדִים.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, מְצֻיָּרִים הָיוּ, כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁעוֹשִׂין לִכְלֵי כֶסֶף וְזָהָב שֶׁקּוֹרִים נייל"יר בְּלַעַז:
and three decorated goblets. protruding from each branch.   שְׁלשָׁה גְבִעִים.  בּוֹלְטִין מִכָּל קָנֶה וְקָנֶה:
a knob and a flower. were on each branch.   כַּפְתֹּר וָפֶרַח.  הָיָה לְכָל קָנֶה וְקָנֶה:
34And on [the stem of] the menorah [shall be] four decorated goblets, its knobs and its flowers.   לדוּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה גְבִעִ֑ים מְשֻׁ֨קָּדִ֔ים כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ וּפְרָחֶֽיהָ:
And on [the stem of] the menorah [shall be] four… goblets. On the main stem of the menorah were four goblets: one protruding on it below the branches and three above the exit of the three branches that extended outwards from its sides.   וּבַמְּנֹרָה אַרְבָּעָה גְבִעִים.  בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה הָיוּ אַרְבָּעָה גְּבִיעִים – אֶחָד בּוֹלֵט בָּהּ לְמַטָּה מִן הַקָּנִים, וְהַשְּׁלֹשָׁה לְמַעְלָה מִן יְצִיאַת הַקָּנִים הַיּוֹצְאִין מִצִּדֶּיהָ:
decorated…its knobs and its flowers. This is one of the five verses whose meaning cannot be determined. It is unknown whether [to read] “decorated goblets” or “decorated its knobs and its flowers."-[from Yoma 52b]   מְשֻׁקָּדִים כַּפְתֹּרֶיהָ וּפְרָחֶֽיהָ.  זֶה אֶחָד מֵחֲמִשָּׁה מִקְרָאוֹת שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם הֶכְרֵעַ (יומא נ"ב), אֵין יָדוּעַ אִם גְּבִיעִים מְשֻׁקָּדִים אוֹ מְשֻׁקָּדִים כַּפְתּוֹרֶיהָ וּפְרָחֶיהָ:
35And a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it, and a knob under the two branches from it; so for the six branches that come out of the menorah.   להוְכַפְתֹּ֡ר תַּ֩חַת֩ שְׁ֨נֵי הַקָּנִ֜ים מִמֶּ֗נָּה וְכַפְתֹּר֙ תַּ֣חַת שְׁנֵ֤י הַקָּנִים֙ מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְכַפְתֹּ֕ר תַּֽחַת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַקָּנִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑נָּה לְשֵׁ֨שֶׁת֙ הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּֽצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה:
And a knob under the two branches. From the knob, the branches extended from its two sides in either direction. This is what we learned in the [Baraitha] Melecheth HaMishkan [ch. 10, Men. 28b, 29a]: The height of the menorah was eighteen handbreadths. [This total is arrived at as follows:] The feet [of the menorah] and the [lowest] flower were three handbreadths. That is the flower mentioned in connection with the base, as it is said: “to its base, to its flower” (Num. 8:4). Then two handbreadths [above this were] unadorned, and a handbreadth [above that] in which [there] was a goblet-[namely one] of the four goblets [mentioned in verse 34]-and a knob and a flower of the two knobs and the two flowers mentioned in connection with the menorah itself, as it is said [on verse 34]: “decorated…its knobs and its flowers.” We learn that on the main stem there were two knobs and two flowers, in addition to the three knobs from which the branches extended, as it is said [here]: “And a knob under the two branches.” And [above the lowest branches were] two handbreadths unadorned, and a handbreadth with a knob and two branches coming out of it on either side, extending upward, opposite the height of the menorah, and one handbreadth unadorned, and a handbreadth with a knob and two branches coming out of it, and one handbreadth unadorned, and a handbreadth with a knob and two branches coming out of it, extending upward, opposite the height of the menorah, and two handbreadths unadorned. [Hence,] three handbreadths remain, in which there were three goblets, a knob, and a flower. The goblets were found to number twenty-two: eighteen for the six branches [of the menorah]-three for each one-and four on the menorah itself, totaling twenty-two. And [there were] eleven knobs-six on the six branches [one on each branch], three on the menorah itself, from which the branches extended, and two more on the menorah, as it is said [in verse 34]: “decorated…its knobs,” [which means two knobs] since the minimum of [the plural] “knobs” is two. One [knob was] below, next to the base, and one in the top three handbreadths [together] with the three goblets. And it [the menorah] had nine flowers: six on the six branches [one on each branch] as it is said [in verse 33]: “on one branch, [there was] a knob and a flower,” and three [flowers] on the menorah [itself], as it is said [here], "decorated…its knobs and its flowers"-the minimum of [the plural] “flowers” is two, and one [additional flower is] mentioned in the parsha Beha’alothecha: “to its base to its flower” (Num. 8:4). If you carefully study this Mishnah that is written above, you will find them [the decorations of the menorah] according to their number, each one in its place. — [from Men. 28b]   וְכַפְתֹּר תַּחַת שְׁנֵי הַקָּנִים.  מִתּוֹךְ הַכַּפְתּוֹר הָיוּ הַקָּנִים נִמְשָׁכִים מִשְּׁנֵי צִדֶּיהָ אֵילָךְ וָאֵילָךְ, כָּךְ שָׁנִינוּ בִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן: גָּבְהָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה י"ח טְפָחִים, הָרַגְלַיִם וְהַפֶּרַח שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים – הוּא הַפֶּרַח הָאָמוּר בַּיָּרֵךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר עַד יְרֵכָהּ עַד פִּרְחָהּ (במדבר ח') – וּטְפָחַיִם חָלָק, וְטֶפַח שֶׁבּוֹ גָּבִיעַ מֵהָאַרְבָּעָה גְבִיעִים וְכַפְתּוֹר וָפֶרַח מִשְּׁנֵי כַפְתּוֹרִים וּשְׁנֵי פְרָחִים הָאֲמוּרִים בַּמְּנוֹרָה עַצְמָהּ, שֶׁנֶּ' מְשֻׁקָּדִים כַּפְתּוֹרֶיהָ וּפְרָחֶיהָ, לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָיוּ בַּקָּנֶה שְׁנֵי כַפְתּוֹרִים וּשְׁנֵי פְרָחִים לְבַד מִן הַשְּׁלֹשָׁה כַפְתּוֹרִים שֶׁהַקָּנִים נִמְשָׁכִין מִתּוֹכָן, שֶׁנֶּ' וְכַפְתֹּר תַּחַת שְׁנֵי הַקָּנִים וְגוֹ', וּטְפָחַיִם חָלָק, וְטֶפַח כַּפְתּוֹר וּשְׁנֵי קָנִים יוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ אֵילָךְ וָאֵילָךְ נִמְשָׁכִים וְעוֹלִים כְּנֶגֶד גָּבְהָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה, טֶפַח חָלָק, וְטֶפַח כַּפְתּוֹר וּשְׁנֵי קָנִים יוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ, וְטֶפַח חָלָק, וְטֶפַח כַּפְתּוֹר וּשְׁנֵי קָנִים יוֹצְאִים מִמֶּנּוּ וְנִמְשָׁכִים וְעוֹלִין כְּנֶגֶד גָּבְהָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה, וּטְפָחַיִם חָלָק, נִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שָׁם שְׁלֹשָׁה טְפָחִים שֶׁבָּהֶם שְׁלֹשָׁה גְבִיעִים וְכַפְתּוֹר וָפֶרַח, נִמְצְאוּ גְּבִיעִים כ"ב – י"ח לְשִׁשָּׁה קָנִים, שְׁלֹשָׁה לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד, וְאַרְבָּעָה בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה, הֲרֵי כ"ב – וְאַחַד עָשָׂר כַּפְתּוֹרִים, שִׁשָּׁה בְּשֵׁשֶׁת הַקָּנִים, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה בְּגוּפָהּ שֶׁל מְנוֹרָה שֶׁהַקָּנִים יוֹצְאִים מֵהֶם, וּשְׁנַיִם עוֹד בַּמְּנוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּ' מְשֻׁקָּדִים כַּפְתּוֹרֶיהָ, וּמִעוּט כַּפְתּוֹרִים שְׁנַיִם, הָאֶחָד לְמַטָּה אֵצֶל הַיָּרֵךְ, וְהָאֶחָד בְּג' טְפָחִים הָעֶלְיוֹנִים עִם ג' הַגְּבִיעִים, וְתִשְׁעָה פְרָחִים הָיוּ לָהּ, שִׁשָּׁה לְשֵׁשֶׁת הַקָּנִים, שֶׁנֶּ' בַּקָּנֶה הָאֶחָד כַּפְתֹּר וָפֶרַח, וּשְׁלֹשָׁה לַמְּנוֹרָה שֶׁנֶּ' מְשֻׁקָּדִים כַּפְתּוֹרֶיהָ וּפְרָחֶיהָ, וּמִעוּט פְּרָחִים שְׁנַיִם, וְאֶחָד הָאָמוּר בְּפָרָשַׁת בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ עַד יְרֵכָהּ עַד פִּרְחָהּ, וְאִם תְּדַקְדֵּק בְּמִשְׁנָה זוֹ הַכְּתוּבָה לְמַעְלָה, תִּמְצָאֵם כְּמִנְיָנָם אִישׁ אִישׁ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ:
36Their knobs and their branches shall [all] be [one piece] with it; all of it [shall be] one hammered mass of pure gold.   לוכַּפְתֹּֽרֵיהֶ֥ם וּקְנֹתָ֖ם מִמֶּ֣נָּה יִֽהְי֑וּ כֻּלָּ֛הּ מִקְשָׁ֥ה אַחַ֖ת זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר:
37And you shall make its lamps seven, and he shall kindle its lamps [so that they] shed light toward its face.   לזוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־נֵֽרֹתֶ֖יהָ שִׁבְעָ֑ה וְהֶֽעֱלָה֙ אֶת־נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהֵאִ֖יר עַל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנֶֽיהָ:
its lamps. [They were] sort of cups into which the oil and the wicks were put.   אֶת־נֵֽרֹתֶיהָ.  כְּמִין בָּזִיכִין שֶׁנּוֹתְנִין בְּתוֹכָן הַשֶּׁמֶן וְהַפְּתִילוֹת:
[so that they] shed light toward its face. [Namely,] make the openings of the six lamps [which were] at the top of the branches that extend from its [the menorah’s] sides, turned toward the middle one, so that when the lamps were lit they would shed light עֵבֶר פָּנֶיהָ, towards [or in the direction of] its face. Their light should be turned towards the face of the middle branch, which is the body of the menorah.   וְהֵאִיר עַל־עֵבֶר פָּנֶֽיהָ.  עָשָׂה פִּי שֵׁשֶׁת הַנֵּרוֹת שֶׁבְּרָאשֵׁי הַקָּנִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִצִּדֶּיהָ מְסֻבִּים כְּלַפֵּי הָאֶמְצָעִי, כְּדֵי שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הַנֵּרוֹת כְּשֶׁתַּדְלִיקֵם מְאִירִים אֶל עֵבֶר פָּנֶיהָ – מֻסָּב אוֹרָם אֶל צַד פְּנֵי הַקָּנֶה הָאֶמְצָעִי, שֶׁהוּא גּוּף הַמְּנוֹרָה:
38And its tongs and its scoops [shall be] of pure gold.   לחוּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ וּמַחְתֹּתֶ֖יהָ זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר:
And its tongs. Heb. וּמַלְקָחֶיהָ. They are the tongs made to take the wicks from the oil, to set them in place and to draw them into the mouths of the lamps. Since they [are used for] taking (לוֹקְחִים) [the wicks] with them, they are called מֶלְקָחַיִם, a pair of “takers.” [The Aramaic word] וְצִבְיָתָהָא, which Onkelos renders [for וּמַלְקָחֶיהָ], is a term related to צְבַת, tenailles in French, tongs.   וּמַלְקָחֶיהָ.  הֵם הַצְּבָתִים הָעֲשׂוּיִין לִקַּח בָּהֶם הַפְּתִילָה מִתּוֹךְ הַשֶּׁמֶן, לְיַשְּׁבָן וּלְמָשְׁכָן בְּפִי הַנֵּרוֹת, וְעַל שֵׁם שֶׁלּוֹקְחִים בָּהֶם קְרוּיִים מֶלְקָחַיִם; וְצִבְתָהָא שֶׁתִּרְגֵּם אֻנְקְלוֹס לְשׁוֹן צְבָת, טנייל"ש בְּלַעַז:
and its scoops. Heb. וּמַחְתֹּתֶיהָ. They are a kind of small cup with which he [the kohen] would scoop the ashes that are in the lamp every morning when he [the kohen] cleaned the lamps from the ashes of the wicks that burned during the night and were [now] extinguished. The word מַחְךְתָּה is [the equivalent of] poseydure [or poysedure] in Old French, a little shovel [or] ash pan, like “to scoop (לַחְתּוֹת) fire from a hearth” (Isa. 30:14).   וּמַחְתֹּתֶיהָ.  הֵם כְּמִין בָּזִיכִין קְטַנִּים שֶׁחוֹתֶה בָּהֶן אֶת הָאֵפֶר שֶׁבַּנֵּר בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר, כְּשֶׁהוּא מֵיטִיב אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת מֵאֵפֶר הַפְּתִילוֹת שֶׁדָּלְקוּ הַלַּיְלָה וְכָבוּ, וּלְשׁוֹן מַחְתָּה פויישר"יא בְּלַעַז, כְּמוֹ לַחְתּוֹת אֵשׁ מִיָּקוּד (ישעיהו ל'):
39He shall make it of a talent of pure gold, with all these implements.   לטכִּכַּ֛ר זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר יַֽעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑הּ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה:
a talent pure gold. Heb. כִּכַּר.[This means] that its weight along with all its implements shall be nothing but a talent, no less and no more. The talent used for mundane matters was sixty maneh, and the one used for holy matters was double, thus one hundred twenty maneh (Bech. 5a). The maneh is the litra with which silver is weighed according to the weight used in Cologne, which is the equivalent of one hundred gold pieces [or] twenty-five selas, for the sela is equivalent to four gold pieces. [This is the equivalent of sixty-four pounds.]   כִּכַּר זָהָב טָהוֹר.  שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה מִשְׁקָלָהּ עִם כָּל כֵּלֶיהָ אֶלָּא כִּכָּר, לֹא פָּחוֹת וְלֹא יוֹתֵר (מנחות פ"ח). וְהַכִּכָּר שֶׁל חֹל שִׁשִּׁים מָנֶה, וְשֶׁל קֹדֶשׁ הָיָה כָּפוּל, ק"ך מָנֶה, וְהַמָּנֶה הוּא לִיטְרָא שֶׁשּׁוֹקְלִין בָּהּ כֶּסֶף לְמִשְׁקַל קוֹלוֹנְיָא, וְהֵם מֵאָה זְהוּבִים – עֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה סְלָעִים וְהַסֶּלַע אַרְבָּעָה זְהוּבִים:
40Now see and make according to their pattern, which you are shown on the mountain.   מוּרְאֵ֖ה וַֽעֲשֵׂ֑ה בְּתַ֨בְנִיתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה מָרְאֶ֖ה בָּהָֽר:
Now see and make. See here on the mountain the pattern that I am showing you. [This] informs us that Moses had difficulties with the construction of the menorah, until the Holy One, blessed is He, showed him a [model] menorah of fire. -[from Men. 29a]   וּרְאֵה וַֽעֲשֵׂה.  רְאֵה כָאן בָּהָר תַּבְנִית שֶׁאֲנִי מַרְאֶה אוֹתְךָ, מַגִּיד שֶׁנִּתְקַשָּׁה מֹשֶׁה בְמַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנוֹרָה עַד שֶׁהֶרְאָה לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְנוֹרָה שֶׁל אֵשׁ (שם כ"ט):
which you are shown. Heb. אַשֶׁר-אַתָּה מָרְאֶה, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: דִי אַךְתְּ מִתְחַזֵי, which you are shown. If it were punctuated מַרְאֶה with a “pattach,” it would mean that you show others. Now that it is punctuated with a short “kamatz,” it means that you are shown, that others show you, (for the punctuation distinguishes between the active and the passive).   אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּה מָרְאֶה.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ דְּאַתְּ מִתְחֲזֵי בְּטוּרָא; אִלּוּ הָיָה נָקוּד מַרְאֶה, בְּפַתָּח, הָיָה פִּתְרוֹנוֹ אַתָּה מַרְאֶה לַאֲחֵרִים, עַכְשָׁו שֶׁנָּקוּד חֲטַף קָמָץ, פִּתְרוֹנוֹ דְּאַתְּ מִתְחֲזֵי – שֶׁאֲחֵרִים מַרְאִים לְךָ (שֶׁהַנִּקּוּד מַפְרִיד בֵּין עוֹשֶׂה לְנַעֲשֶׂה):