Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayakhel Pikudei – Sheiyni: Making the Mishkan (Monday, 20th Adar)

Sheiyni when connected to Pekudei

1. Appointment of Betzalel to build the Mishkan.

• Moshe told the Jewish people: Hashem has appointed Betzalel the son of Uri of the tribe of Yehuda to perform all the work of building the Mishkan and its accessories. He has filled him with wisdom and understanding to perform all the work with the gold, silver and copper, stone and wood. Ohaliav the son of Achisamach from the tribe of Dan was appointed to work with him. They shall do the work together with all the skilled individuals.

2. The Jewish people exceed in donating materials:

• Moshe called upon Betzalel and Ohaliav, and all those who are skilled, to come do the work. They came and took from Moshe the materials donated, but the Jewish people kept coming each morning, bringing more and more donations. The workers told Moshe that too much material had been collected. Moshe then went ahead and announced in the camp that the people should cease bringing donation material, and so they ceased. They had enough material to build the Mishkan and have a surplus.

3. Making the tapestries:

• The craftsmen made the ten tapestries of twisted linen, Techeiles-Teurquoise wool, Argamon-Purple wool, scarlet wool. They made it the work of an artist. Each tapestry was 28 Amos long and 4 Amos wide. They attached the tapestries to each other in two groups of five. The ends of the two groups of tapestries contained 50 loops, corresponding to each other. They made 50 gold hooks to attach the two groupings together and hence have one Mishkan.

4. Making the panels of goat hair:

• They made 11 tent panels of goat hair to be placed over the Mishkan [i.e. the wool tapestries]. Each panel was 30 Amos long and 4 Amos wide. They attached the panels to each other into two groups, one containing five and the second containing six. The ends of the two groups of panels contained 50 loops, corresponding to each other. They made 50 copper hooks to attach the two groupings together and hence have one Mishkan.
• They made a covering of red dyed ram skin and a covering of Tachash skin to be placed above the goat hair panels.

5. Making the Kerashim/beams:

• They made beams for the Mishkan from shittim-acacia wood. Each beam was 10 Amos in length and 1.5 Amos in width. Each beam contained two projecting pieces of wood [i.e. tenons] which were perfectly aligned across each other.
• Amount: They made 20 beams for the southern side and 20 beams for the northern side. They made 6 beams for the west side, plus two corner beams, for a total of 8 beams.
• Sockets: They made silver sockets for the beams, two sockets per beam, for each of its tenons. Thus, they made 40 silver sockets for the 20 beams of the southern side and 40 silver sockets for the 20 beams of the northern side. They made 16 silver sockets for the 8 beams of the western side.
• Poles: They made five poles of acacia-shittim wood for three sides of the Mishkan, five for the northern side, five for the southern side, and five for the western side, for a total of 15 poles. They made the middle pole that is to be inserted into the beams and extend from one end to the next. They coated the poles with gold. They made rings of gold.
• The beams were coated with gold.

6. Making the Paroches:

• The material: They made the Paroches of Turquoise-Ticheiles wool, Argamon-Purple wool, scarlet wool, and twisted linen. It was made the work of an artist.
• The beams which hold the Paroches: They made four pillars of acacia-shittim wood covered with gold to hold the Paroches. They made golden hooks and four silver sockets for the beams.

7. Making the Masach screen in front of the Kodesh:

• They made a screen of Turquoise-Ticheiles wool, Argamon-Purple wool, scarlet wool, and twisted linen for the entrance to the Ohel. It was made the work of an embroiderer.
• They made for the Masach five pillars of acacia-shittim wood of which their tops were covered with gold. They made gold hooks and five copper sockets for the pillars.

8. Making the Aron:

• Betzalel made the Aron of acacia-shittim wood. It was 2.5 Amos in length and 1.5 Amos in width, and 1.5 Amos in height. He covered it with pure gold both in its interior and exterior and made for it a gold crown surrounding it. He welded onto it four gold rings, two on each side. He made two poles of acacia-shittim wood and coated them with gold. He inserted the poles into the rings for it to be carried with.

• Kapores and Keruvim: He made a cover of pure gold for the Aron. Its dimensions were 2.5 Amos in length and 1.5 Amos in width. He made two Keruvim of gold on the opposite ends of the Kapores. The Keruvim contained wings spread upwards, and faced each other, and faced towards the lid.

9. Making the Shulchan:

• He made the Shulchan from acacia-shittim wood. It was 2 Amos in length and 1 Amos in width, and 1.5 Amos in height. He coated it with gold and made a gold crown around its rim.
• Rings and poles: He made a one Tefach frame around its entire circumference, and the frame had a gold crown around it. He welded four gold rings onto it, one by each corner, and made two poles from acacia wood and coated them with gold. The poles were made to be inserted into the rings for the Shulchan to be carried with.
• Accessories: He made the vessels that rested on the Shulchan which include pure gold dishes, spoons, tubes and supports.