Part I

Published in Honor of

Purim Katan, 5752

(Sefer HaMaamarim Meluket VI, p. 129ff)

By the Grace of G-d

Shabbos Parshas Tetzaveh, 5741

“And you shall command the children of Israel and they shall bring you pure olive oil, crushed for the light, to keep a constant lamp burning.”1

The explanation of the various details of this verse are well known.2 [Among the points discussed:] The Torah generally [introduces] the commandments [it conveys] with the expression, “Command the children of Israel,” or with a similar phrase. The verse in question, by contrast, states, “And you shall com­mand the children of Israel.”

This question revolves upon more than a choice of wording, but rather on the intent [of the message conveyed]. The phrase “And you shall command” implies that Moshe is the one issuing the command. This requires explanation, for Moshe was merely an agent to transmit G-d’s commandments to the Jewish people. Why then does the verse say, “And you shall command”?

There are other points that require explanation: [The verse states,] “And they shall bring to you,” seemingly implying that the oil should be brought to Moshe.3 Since the lamps were in fact lit by Aharon, [it would appear appropriate that the oil be brought to him]. Why was it necessary to bring it to Moshe?

Similarly, the phrase “...oil, crushed for the light (lama'or),” requires explanation: On the surface, “crushed to illumine” (l'hair), would be more appropriate.

Also, requiring explanation is [the apparent contradiction between the phrase] “to keep a constant lamp burning” [in the verse in question] and the following verse4 [which states that the lamps must burn,] “from the evening until the morning.”