Daily Chumash Wednesday, Teruma: The Kerashim/beams

Revi’i

1. The Kerashim/beams:

• You shall make beams for the Mishkan. Make 20 beams for the southern side and 20 beams for the northern side. The west side is to have 6 beams, plus two corner beams, for a total of 8 beams.
• Material: The beams are to be made from acacia-shittim wood. They are to be coated with gold.
• Dimensions: Each beam is to be 10 Amos in length and 1.5 Amos in width.
• Its particulars: The beams are to be erected in a standing position. Each beam is to contain two projecting pieces of wood [i.e. tenons] which are perfectly aligned across each other. You are to make silver sockets for the beams, two sockets per beam, for each of its tenons. Thus, the 20 beams of the southern side are to have 40 silver sockets and the 20 beams of the northern side are to have 40 silver sockets. The 8 beams of the southern side are to have 16 silver sockets. Every beam is to contain a groove on each of its sides which will allow for rings to be placed on every pair of beams, thus attaching all the beams together. The rings are to be made of gold.
• The poles: You are to make 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. The poles are to be inserted into the beams and extend from one end to the next. The poles are to be coated with gold.