Daily Chumash & Rashi Parshas Vayakhel Pikudei – Shevi’i: Hashem instructs Moshe how to put together the Mishkan (Shabbos, 25th Adar)

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Shevi’i when connected to Vayakhel

  1. Hashem instructs Moshe how to put together the Mishkan:
  • Hashem told Moshe that on the first day of the first month the Mishkan is to be erected. The Aron is to be placed in the Ohel Moed and the Paroches is to be placed as a screen before it. You are to bring the Shulchan and arrange it, and bring the Menorah and light it. The gold altar is to be placed in front of the Aron, and place the screen by the entrance of the Mishkan. The Olah altar is to be placed in front of the entrance of the Ohel Moed. The Kiyor is to be placed between the Ohel Moed and altar. It is to be filled with water. You are to erect the courtyard around it and set up the screen at the entrance to the courtyard.
  • Anointing the Mizbeiach: You are to take the anointing oil and anoint the Mishkan and all of its content and make it holy. Anoint the Olah altar and all its vessels and make it holy. Anoint the Kiyor and its pedestal and make it holy.
  • Inaugurating the Kohanim: You are to bring Aaron and his sons to the entrance of the Ohel Moed and bathe them there. You are to dress Aaron in the priestly garments, anoint him and sanctify him as a Kohen. You are also to dress his sons in the Kutanos and anoint them there and sanctify them as Kohanim forever.

 

  1. The Mishkan is completed:
  • The date: So it was on the first day of the first month of the second year the Mishkan was erected.
  • Moshe assembles the Mishkan: Moshe erected the Mishkan. He positioned its sockets, beams, polls and pillars. He spread out the tent over the Mishkan and placed the skin coverings over it.
  • Moshe assembles the Aron: He placed the Luchos in the Aron, and inserted the polls to the Aron, and placed the Kapores on top. He brought the Aron into the Mishkan and placed the Paroches in front of it.
  • Moshe positions the Shulchan: He placed the Shulchan in the Ohel Moed towards the northern side, outside the Paroches. He arranged the bread on the Shulchan.
  • Moshe positions and lights the Menorah: He placed the Menorah in the Ohel Moed opposite the Shulchan towards the southern side. He lit the candles on the Menorah.
  • Moshe positions the gold altar: He placed the gold altar in the Ohel Moed in front of the Paroches. He offered incense on it.
  • He placed the screen of the entrance of the Ohel Moed.
  • Moshe positions the Olah altar: He positioned the Olah altar in the opening to the Ohel Moed and offered on it the Olah and Mincha, as Hashem commanded.
  • Moshe positions the Kiyor: He positioned the Kiyor between the Ohel Moed and the altar and filled it with water. Moshe, and Aaron and his sons would wash their hands and feet with the water when they would enter the Ohel Moed or come to do the service on the altar.
  • Moshe erects the courtyard: He erected the courtyard around the Mishkan and altar and placed the screen by the entrance of the Chatzer.
  • Moshe completed the work.

 

  1. A cloud covers the Ohel Moed and is used as a signal for travel:
  • A cloud appeared and covered the Ohel Moed, and the glory of G-d filled the Mishkan. Moshe could not enter the Ohel Moed, as the cloud rested upon it and the Mishkan was filled with Hashem’s glory.
  • Whenever the cloud would ascend from the Mishkan, the Jewish people would travel on their journeys. If the cloud remained, then they would not travel until it ascended.
  • The cloud would remain on Mishkan by day and the fire would be there by night, as was witnessed by all of Bnei Yisrael.

 

Event/Instruction

Details

Hashem’s Instructions to Moshe

On first day of first month, Mishkan to be erected; Aron placed in Ohel Moed; Paroches as screen; bring Shulchan and arrange; bring Menorah and light; gold altar in front of Aron; screen at entrance; Olah altar in front of Ohel Moed; Kiyor between Ohel Moed and altar, filled with water; courtyard and screen at entrance.

Anointing the Mizbeiach

Anoint Mishkan, all content, Olah altar, all vessels, Kiyor and pedestal with oil to make holy.

Inaugurating the Kohanim

Bring Aaron and sons to entrance, bathe them, dress Aaron in priestly garments, anoint and sanctify him; dress sons in Kutanos, anoint and sanctify them as Kohanim forever.

Completion Date

First day of the first month of the second year

Moshe assembles Mishkan

Positioned sockets, beams, polls, pillars; spread tent and skin coverings

Moshe assembles Aron

Placed Luchos in Aron, inserted polls, placed Kapores, brought Aron in, placed Paroches

Moshe positions Shulchan

Placed in Ohel Moed, northern side, outside Paroches; arranged bread

Moshe positions and lights Menorah

Placed in Ohel Moed, opposite Shulchan, southern side; lit candles

Moshe positions gold altar

Placed in Ohel Moed, in front of Paroches; offered incense

Screen at entrance

Placed at entrance of Ohel Moed

Moshe positions Olah altar

In opening to Ohel Moed; offered Olah and Mincha

Moshe positions Kiyor

Between Ohel Moed and altar; filled with water; Moshe, Aaron, sons washed hands and feet

Moshe erects courtyard

Erected around Mishkan and altar; screen by entrance of Chatzer

Completion

Moshe completed the work

Cloud covers Ohel Moed

Cloud covered Ohel Moed, glory of G-d filled Mishkan; Moshe could not enter; cloud as signal for travel

Travel Signal

Cloud ascends, Bnei Yisrael travel; if cloud remains, they do not travel

Cloud and Fire

Cloud by day, fire by night, witnessed by all of Bnei Yisrael

Q&A on Rashi – Shemot 40

  1. When was the Tabernacle commanded to be erected?

On the first day of Nisan, the first month.

 

  1. What does “וְסַכֹּתָ עַל־הָאָרֹן” mean?

It means shielding, not covering. The Curtain served as a partition, not a physical covering over the Ark.

 

  1. What is meant by “וְעָרַכְתָּ אֶת־עֶרְכּוֹ” regarding the Table?

It refers to arranging the two stacks of the showbread.

 

  1. What is the purpose of anointing the Tabernacle and its utensils?

To sanctify them and thereby render them holy.

 

  1. Why is the Altar called “holy of holies”?

Because after its anointing, it attained the highest level of sanctity.

 

  1. How were Aaron and his sons prepared for service?

They were brought to the Courtyard, immersed in water, clothed in priestly garments, and anointed.

 

  1. What does “an everlasting priesthood” mean?

Their anointing established the priesthood for all future generations.

 

  1. Did Moses carry out the instructions precisely?

Yes. Moses did exactly as God commanded him, without deviation.

 

  1. When was the Tabernacle actually erected?

On the first day of the first month of the second year.

 

  1. What does “וַיִּפְרֹשׂ אֶת־הָאֹהֶל” refer to?

It refers specifically to spreading the sheets of goat hair.

  1. What is “הָעֵדֻת” placed in the Ark?

The Tablets of the Covenant.

 

  1. Why is the Ark screened again after already being placed?

To fulfill God’s command that the Curtain separate and shield the Ark of Testimony.

 

  1. What does “יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן” mean?

“Yerekh” means side, as translated by Onkelos, just as a thigh is on the side of a person.

 

  1. Where was the Table placed?

On the northern side, meaning the northern half of the width of the Tabernacle.

 

  1. When was the incense burned on the golden Altar?

In the morning and in the afternoon, corresponding to the cleaning and lighting of the lamps.

 

  1. Who offered the daily sacrifice on the day the Tabernacle was erected?

Moses himself, even on the eighth day of inauguration, in addition to the offerings brought by Aaron and his sons.

 

  1. What does “הָעֹלָה” refer to?

The daily burnt offering.

 

  1. What does “וְאֵת הַמִּנְחָה” refer to?

The grain-offering that accompanied the daily offering, together with its libation.

 

  1. Who washed from the Laver on that day?

Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons—all were equal in priestly status on the eighth day.

 

  1. How does Onkelos translate “וְרָחֲצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ”?

As “they would sanctify themselves from it,” meaning ritual washing.

 

  1. What does “וּבְקָרְבָתָם” mean?

It is equivalent to “when they drew near”.

 

  1. What does it mean that Moses “completed the work”?

That all construction and installation of the Tabernacle was finished.

 

  1. Why could Moses not enter the Tent of Meeting?

Because the cloud rested upon it, and God’s glory filled the Tabernacle.

 

  1. How is this reconciled with verses that say Moses did enter the Tent?

As long as the cloud was present, he could not enter; when it departed, he could enter and speak with God.

 

  1. What determined when the Israelites traveled?

The movement of the cloud above the Tabernacle.

 

  1. What does “בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶם” mean?

Every encampment is also called a “journey,” since from there they would later travel onward.

 

  1. Why are encampments called journeys (מַסָּעוֹת)?

Because each stop is a stage of the journey, as seen elsewhere in Scripture.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.