Shemot (Exodus) Chapter 39

22He made the Robe to be worn under the Ephod, woven entirely out of turquoise wool.   כבוַיַּ֛עַשׂ אֶת־מְעִ֥יל הָֽאֵפֹ֖ד מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹרֵ֑ג כְּלִ֖יל תְּכֵֽלֶת:
23The edge of the top opening of the Robe was folded inwards, like the collar of a coat of mail: all around its opening there was an edging so that it would not rip.   כגוּפִֽי־הַמְּעִ֥יל בְּתוֹכ֖וֹ כְּפִ֣י תַחְרָ֑א שָׂפָ֥ה לְפִ֛יו סָבִ֖יב לֹ֥א יִקָּרֵֽעַ:
24On the lower hem of the Robe they made hollow spheres shaped like pomegranates out of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, intertwined.   כדוַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ֙ עַל־שׁוּלֵ֣י הַמְּעִ֔יל רִמּוֹנֵ֕י תְּכֵ֥לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֖ן וְתוֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֑י מָשְׁזָֽר:
25They made bells of pure gold and placed the bells between the pomegranates, all around the lower hem of the Robe, amid the pomegranates:   כהוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֥וּ פַֽעֲמֹנֵ֖י זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וַיִּתְּנ֨וּ אֶת־הַפַּֽעֲמֹנִ֜ים בְּת֣וֹךְ הָֽרִמֹּנִ֗ים עַל־שׁוּלֵ֤י הַמְּעִיל֙ סָבִ֔יב בְּת֖וֹךְ הָֽרִמֹּנִֽים:
26a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, all around the lower hem of the Robe, for the Tabernacle service—as God had commanded Moses.   כופַּֽעֲמֹ֤ן וְרִמֹּן֙ פַּֽעֲמֹ֣ן וְרִמֹּ֔ן עַל־שׁוּלֵ֥י הַמְּעִ֖יל סָבִ֑יב לְשָׁרֵ֕ת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
27They made the woven linen tunics for Aaron and his sons,   כזוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֛וּ אֶת־הַכָּתְנֹ֥ת שֵׁ֖שׁ מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה אֹרֵ֑ג לְאַֽהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָֽיו:
28the linen Turban for Aaron, the splendid linen hats for his sons, the linen trousers for all of them, all out of twined linen,   כחוְאֵת֙ הַמִּצְנֶ֣פֶת שֵׁ֔שׁ וְאֶת־פַּֽאֲרֵ֥י הַמִּגְבָּעֹ֖ת שֵׁ֑שׁ וְאֶת־מִכְנְסֵ֥י הַבָּ֖ד שֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָֽר:
וְאֵת פַּֽאֲרֵי הַמִּגְבָּעֹת - means literally: “the splendor of the hats,” i.e., the magnificent hats.   וְאֵת פַּֽאֲרֵי הַמִּגְבָּעֹת.  תִּפְאֶרֶת הַמִּגְבָּעוֹת – הַמִּגְבָּעוֹת הַמְּפֹאָרוֹת:
29the Sash for Aaron’s Tunic embroidered out of twined linen and turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool—as God had commanded Moses.   כטוְאֶת־הָֽאַבְנֵ֞ט שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י מַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה רֹקֵ֑ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
30They made the Forehead-plate, the holy crown, of pure gold, and they inscribed upon it with script like that of a signet ring the words “Holy unto God.”   לוַיַּֽעֲשׂ֛וּ אֶת־צִ֥יץ נֶֽזֶר־הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וַיִּכְתְּב֣וּ עָלָ֗יו מִכְתַּב֙ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חוֹתָ֔ם קֹ֖דֶשׁ לַֽיהֹוָֽה:
31They inserted a cord of turquoise wool into it, to pass over the top of the Turban—as God had commanded Moses.   לאוַיִּתְּנ֤וּ עָלָיו֙ פְּתִ֣יל תְּכֵ֔לֶת לָתֵ֥ת עַל־הַמִּצְנֶ֖פֶת מִלְמָ֑עְלָה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
לָתֵת עַל־הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מִלְמָעְלָה - To pass over the top of the Turban- 

and thus by means of the cords the Forehead-plate was placed over the Turban like a crown. It is impossible, however, to say that the Forehead-plate itself was upon the Turban, for we have learned in Tractate Shechitat Kodashim 1 that the high priest’s hair was visible between the Forehead-plate and the Turban, where he would wear tefilin, and the Forehead-plate was worn on the forehead – thus, the Turban was above and the Forehead-plate below. So what, then, is the meaning of “over the top of the Turban”?

Furthermore, I had another difficulty regarding this. Here it says: וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת (lit.) “They put upon it a cord of turquoise wool,” while in connection with the command it says: וְשַׂמְתָּ אֹתוֹ עַל פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת (lit.) “You must place it over a cord of turquoise wool.” 2 Therefore I maintain that the term “a cord of turquoise wool” refers to cords with which to secure the Forehead-plate onto the Turban – for the Forehead-plate itself extended only from ear to ear, and how would he secure it on his forehead? There were turquoise wool cords attached to it at its two ends and in the middle, with which he secured it so that it hung over the Turban when it was on his head, and the cords were folded so as to form two at each end, i.e., one above, on the Forehead-plate’s outside surface, and one below, on the surface next to his forehead, and similarly in the middle, for in this way it was easy to tie it, and it is not usual to tie things together with less than two threads. Therefore it says in one verse: “over a cord of turquoise wool,” and in the other: “upon it a cord of turquoise wool.” He would then tie the two ends of each thread all together behind him at the back of his head and thus place it over the Turban.

Do not wonder why Scripture does not say פְּתִילֵי תְכֵלֶת “cords of turquoise wool” as there were more than one, for so we find regarding the Breastplate and the Ephod: וַיִּרְכְּסוּ אֶת הַחֹשֶׁן וגו׳ בִּפְתִיל תְּכֵלֶת “They linked the Breastplate…with a cord of turquoise wool,” 3 and there must have been no less than two cords, for on the two lower corners of the Breastplate were the two rings of the Breastplate, and on the two shoulder straps of the Ephod were the two rings of the Ephod opposite them. According to the regular manner of tying there were four cords, but in any case, it was impossible that there were less than two.

   לָתֵת עַל־הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מִלְמָעְלָה.  וְעַל יְדֵי הַפְּתִילִים הָיָה מוֹשִׁיבוֹ עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת כְּמִין כֶּתֶר; וְאִי אֶפְשַָׁר לוֹמַר הַצִּיץ עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת, שֶׁהֲרֵי בִשְׁחִיטַת קָדָשִׁים שָׁנִינוּ שְׂעָרוֹ הָיָה נִרְאֶה בֵּין צִיץ לַמִּצְנֶפֶת שֶׁשָּׁם מֵנִיחַ תְּפִלִּין, וְהַצִּיץ הָיָה נָתוּן עַל הַמֶּצַח, הֲרֵי הַמִּצְנֶפֶת לְמַעְלָה וְהַצִּיץ לְמַטָּה, וּמַהוּ עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת מִלְמָעְלָה? וְעוֹד הִקְשֵׁיתִי בָהּ – כָּאן הוּא אוֹמֵר וַיִּתְּנוּ עָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת, וּבְעִנְיַן הַצַּוָּאָה הוּא אוֹמֵר וְשַׂמְתָּ אוֹתוֹ עַל פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת? וְאוֹמֵר אֲנִי, פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת זֶה חוּטִין הֵן, לְקָשְׁרוֹ בָּהֶן בַּמִּצְנֶפֶת – לְפִי שֶׁהַצִּיץ אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא מֵאֹזֶן לְאֹזֶן וּבַמֶּה יִקְשְׁרֶנּוּ בְמִצְחוֹ? – וְהָיוּ קְבוּעִין בּוֹ חוּטֵי תְכֵלֶת לִשְׁנֵי רָאשָׁיו וּבְאֶמְצָעִיתוֹ, שֶׁבָּהֶן קוֹשְׁרוֹ וְתוֹלֵהוּ בַמִּצְנֶפֶת כְּשֶׁהוּא בְרֹאשׁוֹ, וּשְׁנֵי חוּטִין הָיוּ בְּכָל קָצֶה וְקָצֶה, אֶחָד מִמַּעַל וְאֶחָד מִתַּחַת לְצַד מִצְחוֹ, וְכֵן בְּאֶמְצָעוֹ, שֶׁכָּךְ הוּא נֹחַ לִקְשֹׁר, וְאֵין דֶּרֶךְ קְשִׁירָה בְּפָחוֹת מִשְּׁנֵי חוּטִין, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר עַל פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת, וְעָלָיו פְּתִיל תְּכֵלֶת, וְקוֹשֵׁר רָאשֵׁיהֶם הַשְּׁנַיִם כֻּלָּן יַחַד מֵאֲחוֹרָיו לְמוּל עָרְפּוֹ, וּמוֹשִׁיבוֹ עַל הַמִּצְנֶפֶת; וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ שֶׁלֹּא נֶאֱמַר פְּתִילֵי תְכֵלֶת הוֹאִיל וּמְרֻבִּין הֵן, שֶׁהֲרֵי מָצִינוּ בְחֹשֶׁן וְאֵפוֹד וַיִּרְכְּסוּ אֶת הַחֹשֶׁן … בִּפְתִיל תְּכֵלֶת, וְעַל כָּרְחֲךָ פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁנַיִם לֹא הָיוּ שֶׁהֲרֵי בִשְׁנֵי קְצוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן הָיוּ ב' טַבְּעוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן, וּבִשְׁתֵּי כִתְפוֹת הָאֵפוֹד הָיוּ ב' טַבְּעוֹת הָאֵפוֹד, שֶׁכְּנֶגְדָן, וּלְפִי דֶּרֶךְ קְשִׁירָה ד' חוּטִין הָיוּ וּמִכָּל מָקוֹם פָּחוֹת מִשְּׁנַיִם אִי אֶפְשָׁר:
32All the work of making the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting and its furnishings, was completed. The Israelites brought everything exactly in the manner that God had commanded Moses.   לבוַתֵּ֕כֶל כָּל־עֲבֹדַ֕ת מִשְׁכַּ֖ן אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־משֶׁ֖ה כֵּ֥ן עָשֽׂוּ:
וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - (lit.) The Israelites did – the work of bringing - “exactly in the manner that God had commanded Moses.”   וַיַּֽעֲשׂוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.  אֶת הַמְּלָאכָה ככל אשר צוה ה' וגו':
33They brought the inner covering of the Tabernacle to Moses, the Tent of goat-hair, and all the other components of the Tabernacle: its clasps, planks, crossbars, pillars, and bases;   לגוַיָּבִ֤יאוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ אֶל־משֶׁ֔ה אֶת־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו קְרָסָ֣יו קְרָשָׁ֔יו בְּרִיחָ֖יו (כתיב בריחו) וְעַמֻּדָ֥יו וַֽאֲדָנָֽיו:
וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וגו' - They brought the Tabernacle [to Moses] - for they themselves were unable to erect it. And because Moses himself had not done any work for the Tabernacle, the Holy One, blessed be He, left him the task of erecting it – for no man was able to erect it because the planks were so heavy that no man could naturally lift them upright, but Moses erected it. Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He, “How is it possible for human agency to erect it?” God answered him, “Apply yourself to it with your hand; it will appear as though you are erecting it, but it will rise upright and stand up by itself.” And this is what is meant when it says: “the Tabernacle was erected,” 4 i.e., it was erected by itself. This is stated in Midrash Rabbi Tanchuma. 5   וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן וגו'.  שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לַהֲקִימוֹ; וּלְפִי שֶׁלֹּא עָשָׂה מֹשֶׁה שׁוּם מְלָאכָה בַמִּשְׁכָּן, הִנִּיחַ לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲקָמָתוֹ, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה יָכוֹל לַהֲקִימוֹ שׁוּם אָדָם מֵחֲמַת כֹּבֶד הַקְּרָשִׁים, שֶׁאֵין כֹּחַ בָּאָדָם לְזָקְפָן, וּמֹשֶׁה הֶעֱמִידוֹ; אָמַר מֹשֶׁה לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֵיךְ אֶפְשָׁר הֲקָמָתוֹ עַל יְדֵי אָדָם? אָמַר לוֹ עֲסֹק אַתָּה בְּיָדְךָ, וְנִרְאֶה כִּמְקִימוֹ וְהוּא נִזְקָף וְקָם מֵאֵלָיו, וְזֶהוּ שֶׁנֶּ' הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן (שמות מ') – הוּקַם מֵאֵלָיו; מִדְרַשׁ רַ' תַנְחוּמָא:
34the roof of red-dyed ram skins, the roof of tachash skins, and the partition Curtain;   לדוְאֶת־מִכְסֵ֞ה עוֹרֹ֤ת הָֽאֵילִם֙ הַֽמְאָדָּמִ֔ים וְאֶת־מִכְסֵ֖ה עֹרֹ֣ת הַתְּחָשִׁ֑ים וְאֵ֖ת פָּרֹ֥כֶת הַמָּסָֽךְ:
35the Ark of Testimony, its poles, and the Cover;   להאֶת־אֲר֥וֹן הָֽעֵדֻ֖ת וְאֶת־בַּדָּ֑יו וְאֵ֖ת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת:
36the Table, all its utensils, and the showbread;   לואֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ אֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֔יו וְאֵ֖ת לֶ֥חֶם הַפָּנִֽים:
37the pure-gold Candelabrum with its lamps—the lamps in due order—all its utensils, and the oil for illumination;   לזאֶת־הַמְּנֹרָ֨ה הַטְּהֹרָ֜ה אֶת־נֵֽרֹתֶ֗יהָ נֵרֹ֛ת הַמַּֽעֲרָכָ֖ה וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֖ת שֶׁ֥מֶן הַמָּאֽוֹר:
38the golden Altar, the anointing oil, the incense-offering, and the Screen for the entrance to the Tent;   לחוְאֵת֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֵת֙ שֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְאֵ֖ת קְטֹ֣רֶת הַסַּמִּ֑ים וְאֵ֕ת מָסַ֖ךְ פֶּ֥תַח הָאֹֽהֶל:
39the copper Altar, its copper Grate, its poles, and all its utensils; the Laver and its base;   לטאֵ֣ת | מִזְבַּ֣ח הַנְּח֗שֶׁת וְאֶת־מִכְבַּ֤ר הַנְּח֨שֶׁת֙ אֲשֶׁר־ל֔וֹ אֶת־בַּדָּ֖יו וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֖ר וְאֶת־כַּנּֽוֹ:
40the nettings of the Courtyard, its pillars, and its bases; the Screen for the entrance to the Courtyard, its tying ropes, and its stakes; and all the utensils for the work of dismantling and erecting the Tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting;   מאֵת֩ קַלְעֵ֨י הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר אֶת־עַמֻּדֶ֣יהָ וְאֶת־אֲדָנֶ֗יהָ וְאֶת־הַמָּסָךְ֙ לְשַׁ֣עַר הֶֽחָצֵ֔ר אֶת־מֵֽיתָרָ֖יו וִיתֵֽדֹתֶ֑יהָ וְאֵ֗ת כָּל־כְּלֵ֛י עֲבֹדַ֥ת הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן לְאֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
41the netted packing-cloths for use in the Tabernacle, the sacred garments for Aaron the high priest, and the garments of his sons ministering as priests.   מאאֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י הַשְּׂרָ֖ד לְשָׁרֵ֣ת בַּקֹּ֑דֶשׁ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֤י הַקֹּ֨דֶשׁ֙ לְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן הַכֹּהֵ֔ן וְאֶת־בִּגְדֵ֥י בָנָ֖יו לְכַהֵֽן:
42The Israelites had done all the work exactly in the manner that God had commanded Moses.   מבכְּכֹ֛ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶׁ֑ה כֵּ֤ן עָשׂוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֵ֖ת כָּל־הָֽעֲבֹדָֽה:
43Moses saw that they had indeed done all the work exactly as God had commanded, and Moses blessed them.   מגוַיַּ֨רְא משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־כָּל־הַמְּלָאכָ֗ה וְהִנֵּה֙ עָשׂ֣וּ אֹתָ֔הּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה כֵּ֣ן עָשׂ֑וּ וַיְבָ֥רֶךְ אֹתָ֖ם משֶֽׁה:
וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם משֶׁה - And Moses blessed them. He said to them, “May it be God’s will that the Divine Presence rest on your handiwork,” and prayed using the verse, “May the pleasantness of the presence of God, our God, be upon us; God, please validate the work of our hands for us….” 6 This verse is part of the 11 Psalms 7 compiled by Moses, beginning with תְּפִלָּה לְמֹשֶׁה “A prayer of Moses.”   וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם משֶׁה.  אָמַר לָהֶם יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁתִּשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָה בְמַעֲשֵׂה יְדֵיכֶם, וִיהִי נֹעַם ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ עָלֵינוּ וְגוֹ', וְהוּא אֶחָד מִי"א מִזְמוֹרִים שֶׁבִּתְפִלָּה לְמֹשֶׁה (ספרא):