| 1And you bring near to yourself your brother Aaron, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel to serve Me [as kohanim]: Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. |
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אוְאַתָּ֡ה הַקְרֵ֣ב אֵלֶ֩יךָ֩ אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן אָחִ֜יךָ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֣יו אִתּ֗וֹ מִתּ֛וֹךְ בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לְכַֽהֲנוֹ־לִ֑י אַֽהֲרֹ֕ן נָדָ֧ב וַֽאֲבִיה֛וּא אֶלְעָזָ֥ר וְאִֽיתָמָ֖ר בְּנֵ֥י אַֽהֲרֹֽן: |
| And you bring near to yourself your brother Aaron, and his sons with him: After you complete the work of the Mishkan. |
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וְאַתָּה הַקְרֵב אֵלֶיךָ:
לְאַחַר שֶׁתִּגָּמֵר מְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן:
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| 2You shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron, for honor and glory. |
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בוְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בִגְדֵי־קֹ֖דֶשׁ לְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן אָחִ֑יךָ לְכָב֖וֹד וּלְתִפְאָֽרֶת: |
| 3And you shall speak to all the wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, and they shall make Aaron's garments to sanctify him, [so] that he serve Me [as a kohen]. |
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גוְאַתָּ֗ה תְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶל־כָּל־חַכְמֵי־לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּאתִ֖יו ר֣וּחַ חָכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֞וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֧י אַֽהֲרֹ֛ן לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ לְכַֽהֲנוֹ־לִֽי: |
| to sanctify him, [so] that he serve Me [as a kohen]: Heb. לְקַדְּשׁוֹ לְכַהִנוֹ-לִי, to sanctify him, to initiate him into the kehunah through these garments [so] that he would be a kohen to Me. The expression of kehunah means service, serjanterie [or serventrie] in Old French. |
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לְקַדְּשׁוֹ לְכַֽהֲנוֹ־לִֽי:
לְקַדְּשׁוֹ לְהַכְנִיסוֹ בִּכְהֻנָּה עַל יְדֵי הַבְּגָדִים שֶׁיְּהֵא כֹהֵן לִי, וּלְשׁוֹן כְּהֻנָּה שֵׁרוּת הוּא, שנטרי"אה בְּלַעַז:
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| 4And these are the garments that they shall make: a choshen, an ephod, a robe, a tunic of checker work, a cap, and a sash. They shall make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons to serve Me [as kohanim]. |
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דוְאֵ֨לֶּה הַבְּגָדִ֜ים אֲשֶׁ֣ר יַֽעֲשׂ֗וּ ח֤שֶׁן וְאֵפוֹד֙ וּמְעִ֔יל וּכְתֹ֥נֶת תַּשְׁבֵּ֖ץ מִצְנֶ֣פֶת וְאַבְנֵ֑ט וְעָשׂ֨וּ בִגְדֵי־קֹ֜דֶשׁ לְאַֽהֲרֹ֥ן אָחִ֛יךָ וּלְבָנָ֖יו לְכַֽהֲנוֹ־לִֽי: |
| a choshen: An ornament opposite the heart. |
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חשֶׁן:
תַּכְשִׁיט כְּנֶגֶד הַלֵּב:
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| an ephod: I did not hear (that it was a garment) [i.e., I have no tradition concerning the ephod], and I did not find the explanation of its pattern in the Baraitha [Melecheth HaMishkan]. My heart tells me that he [the Kohen Gadol] was girded with it [the ephod] from behind, its width being like the width of an [average] man’s back, similar to a kind of apron called porzent [or pourceint], [a kind of] belt, [like an] apron [back to front] that princesses wear when they ride horseback. So it was made from below [i.e., for the lower part of the body], as it is said: “and David was girded with a linen ephod” (II Sam. 6:14). [Thus] we learn that the ephod was a belt. It is impossible, however, to say that it was only a belt, because it is said: “and he put the ephod on him,” and afterwards, “and he girded him with the band of the ephod (בְּחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפוֹד) ” (Lev. 8:7), which Onkelos renders: בְּהֶמְיַן אֵפוֹדָא. [Thus] we learn that the חֵשֶׁב was the band and the ephod was a separate decoration. It is also impossible to say that because of the two shoulder straps in it, it is called ephod, for it is said: “the two shoulder straps of the ephod” (verse 27). [Thus] we learn that the ephod was a separate entity, the shoulder straps were a separate entity, and the band was a separate entity. Therefore, I say that because of the apron below it is called ephod because he decorates and adorns himself with it, as it is said: “and he decorated him with it” (Lev. 8:7); the חֵשֶׁב is the band above it, to which the shoulder straps were attached. Moreover, my heart tells me that there is evidence that it is a kind of garment, for Jonathan rendered “and David was girded with a linen ephod” (II Sam. 6: 14) as כַּרְדּוּט דְּבוּץ and he renders likewise מְעִילִים as כַּרְדּוּטִין, in the narrative of Tamar, Absalom’s sister, “for in this manner the king’s virgin daughters dressed, in robes (מְעִילִים) ” (II Sam. 13:18). |
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וְאֵפוֹד:
לֹא שָׁמַעְתִּי וְלֹא מָצָאתִי בַּבָּרַיְתָא פֵּרוּשׁ תַּבְנִיתוֹ, וְלִבִּי אוֹמֵר לִי שֶׁהוּא חֲגוֹרָה לוֹ מֵאֲחוֹרָיו, רָחְבּוֹ כְּרֹחַב גַּב אִישׁ, כְּמִין סִינָר שֶׁקּוֹרִין פורצי"נט בְּלַעַז, שֶׁחוֹגְרוֹת הַשָּׂרוֹת כְּשֶׁרוֹכְבוֹת עַל הַסּוּסִים, כָּךְ מַעֲשֵׂהוּ מִלְּמַטָּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְדָוִד חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד, לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָאֵפוֹד חֲגוֹרָה הִיא; וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר שֶׁאֵין בּוֹ אֶלָּא חֲגוֹרָה לְבַדָּהּ, שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו אֶת הָאֵפֹד וְאֲחַר כַּךְ וַיַּחְגֹּר אוֹתוֹ בְּחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפֹד וְתִרְגֵּם אֻנְקְלוֹס בְּהֶמְיַן אֵפוֹדָא, לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהַחֵשֶׁב הוּא הֶחָגוֹר וְהָאֵפוֹד שֵׁם תַּכְשִׁיט לְבַדּוֹ; וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹמַר שֶׁעַל שֵׁם שְׁתֵּי הַכְּתֵפוֹת שֶׁבּוֹ הוּא קָרוּי אֵפוֹד, שֶׁהֲרֵי נֶאֱמַר שְׁתֵּי כִתְפוֹת הָאֵפוֹד, לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁהָאֵפוֹד שֵׁם לְבַד וְהַכְּתֵפוֹת שֵׁם לְבַד וְהַחֵשֶׁב שֵׁם לְבַד, לְכָךְ אֲנִי אוֹמֵר שֶׁעַל שֵׁם הַסִּינָר שֶׁל מַטָּה קָרוּי אֵפוֹד – עַל שֵׁם שֶׁאוֹפְדוֹ וּמְקַשְּׁטוֹ בוֹ – כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּ' וַיֶּאְפֹּד לוֹ בּוֹ, וְהַחֵשֶׁב הוּא חָגוּר שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה הֵימֶנּוּ וְהַכְּתֵפוֹת קְבוּעוֹת בּוֹ. וְעוֹד אוֹמֵר לִי לִבִּי שֶׁיֵּשׁ רְאָיָה שֶׁהוּא מִין לְבוּשׁ, שֶׁתִּרְגֵּם יוֹנָתָן וְדָוִד חָגוּר אֵפוֹד בָּד (שמואל ב ו') – כַּרְדּוּט דְּבוּץ, וְתִרְגֵּם כְּמוֹ כֵן מְעִילִים כַּרְדּוּטִין, בְּמַעֲשֵׂה תָּמָר אֲחוֹת אַבְשָׁלוֹם, כִּי כֵן תִּלְבַּשְׁנָה בְנוֹת הַמֶּלֶךְ הַבְּתוּלוֹת מְעִילִים (שם י"ג):
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| a robe: Heb. מְעִיל. It is a kind of tunic, as is the כְּתֹנֶת, only that the כְּתֹנֶת is [worn] next to his flesh and the מְעִיל is [what is] called the outside robe. |
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מעיל:
הוּא כְּמִין חָלוּק, וְכֵן הַכֻּתֹּנֶת, אֶלָּא שֶׁהַכֻּתֹּנֶת סָמוּךְ לִבְשָׂרוֹ וּמְעִיל קָרוּי חָלוּק הָעֶלְיוֹן:
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| of checker work: Heb. תַּשְׁבֵּץ. Made of boxes (מִשְׁבְּצוֹת) for beauty. The boxes are similar to holes made in gold jewelry as a setting for precious stones and pearls, as it is said regarding the ephod stones: “enclosed in gold settings (מִשְׁבְּצוֹת) ” (verse 11), and in Old French it is called cha(s)tons, settings. [I.e., the boxes of the checker work on the tunic are like settings for precious gems.] |
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תַּשְׁבֵּץ:
עֲשׂוּיִין מִשְׁבְּצוֹת לְנוֹי, וְהַמִּשְׁבְּצוֹת הֵם כְּמִין גֻּמּוֹת הָעֲשׂוּיוֹת בְּתַכְשִׁיטֵי זָהָב לְמוֹשַׁב קְבִיעַת אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּאַבְנֵי הָאֵפוֹד מֻסַבֹּת מִשְׁבְּצוֹת זָהָב, וּבְלַעַז קוֹרְאִין אוֹתוֹ קשטו"נש:
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| a cap: Heb. מִצְנֶפֶת, a type of dome-shaped hat, called cofia in Old French, because elsewhere (verse 40) [the Torah] calls them מִגְבָּעוֹת, and the Targum [Onkelos] renders: כּוֹבָעִין. |
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מִצְנֶפֶת:
כְּמִין כִּפַּת כּוֹבַע, שֶׁקּוֹרִין קופ"יא בְּלַעַז, שֶׁהֲרֵי בְמָקוֹם אַחֵר קוֹרֵא לָהֶם מִגְבָּעוֹת וּמְתַרְגְּמִינָן כּוֹבָעִין:
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| and a sash: This is the belt on the tunic, and the ephod is the belt on the robe, as we find in the order they were put on: “and put upon him the tunic, girded him with the sash, clothed him with the robe, put upon him the ephod” (Lev. 8:7). |
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וְאַבְנֵט:
הִיא חֲגוֹרָה עַל הַכֻּתֹּנֶת וְהָאֵפוֹד חֲגוֹרָה עַל הַמְּעִיל, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמָּצִינוּ בְּסֵדֶר לְבִישָׁתָן וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו אֶת הַכֻּתֹּנֶת וַיַּחְגֹּר אֹתוֹ בָּאַבְנֵט וַיַּלְבֵּשׁ אֹתוֹ אֶת הַמְּעִיל וַיִּתֵּן עָלָיו אֶת הָאֵפֹד:
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| holy garments: From the offering sanctified for My name they shall make it. |
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בִגְדֵי־קֹדֶשׁ:
מִתְּרוּמָה הַמְקֻדֶּשֶׁת לִשְׁמִי יַעֲשֶׂה אוֹתָם:
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| 5They shall take the gold, the blue, purple, and crimson wool, and the linen, |
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הוְהֵם֙ יִקְח֣וּ אֶת־הַזָּהָ֔ב וְאֶת־הַתְּכֵ֖לֶת וְאֶת־הָֽאַרְגָּמָ֑ן וְאֶת־תּוֹלַ֥עַת הַשָּׁנִ֖י וְאֶת־הַשֵּֽׁשׁ: |
| They shall take: Those wise-hearted people, who are to make the garments, shall receive from the donors the gold and the blue wool from which to make the garments. |
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וְהֵם יִקְחוּ:
אוֹתָם חַכְמֵי לֵב שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ הַבְּגָדִים יְקַבְּלוּ מִן הַמִּתְנַדְּבִים אֶת הַזָּהָב וְאֶת הַתְּכֵלֶת לַעֲשׂוֹת מֵהֶן אֶת הַבְּגָדִים:
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| 6and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen, the work of a master weaver. |
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ווְעָשׂ֖וּ אֶת־הָֽאֵפֹ֑ד זָ֠הָ֠ב תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן תּוֹלַ֧עַת שָׁנִ֛י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָ֖ר מַֽעֲשֵׂ֥ה חשֵֽׁב: |
| and they shall make the ephod: If I would try to explain the making of the ephod and the choshen according to the order of the verses, their explanation would be fragmentary and the reader would err in combining them. Therefore, I am writing [first] how they were made, as it was [i.e., in its entirety], so that the reader will be able to run through it [quickly]. Afterwards, I will explain it [how they were made] according to the sequence of the verses. The ephod was designed like a sort of apron worn by women who ride horseback [see Rashi on verse 4], and he [the Kohen Gadol] would gird [himself with] it from behind, opposite his heart, below his elbows, its width equaling the width of a man’s back and more, and it [the ephod] would reach his ankles. The belt was attached to the top of it across its width, [it was] the work of a weaver, and it extended on both sides in order to wrap [the Kohen Gadol] and gird [him] with it. The shoulder straps were attached to the belt-one to the right and one to the left from behind the Kohen [Gadol], at the two ends of the width of the apron. When he held them [i.e., the shoulder straps] upright, they stood [i.e., lay flat] on his two shoulders. They were like two straps made from the same material as the ephod [and they were] long enough to place them upright alongside his neck on either side. They were folded in front of him slightly below his shoulders. The shoham stones were set in them-one on the right shoulder strap and one on the left shoulder strap. The settings were placed at their ends in front of his shoulders, and the two golden chains were inserted into the two rings of the choshen at the two ends of its upper width-one on the right and one on the left. The two ends of the [right] chains were inserted into the settings on the right, and similarly the two ends of the left chains were inserted into the settings on the left shoulder strap. Thus, the choshen was suspended on the settings of the ephod in front of him [the Kohen Gadol] over his heart. There were two more rings on the two ends of the choshen, on the bottom of it. Opposite them [there were] two rings on the two shoulder straps from below, at its bottom end, which was attached to the belt. The rings of the choshen [were] opposite the rings of the ephod, lying on each other. He would fasten them [the rings] with a blue cord, inserted through the rings of the ephod and the choshen, attached to the band of the ephod, so that the bottom of the choshen would be attached to the band of the ephod, and it would not swing back and forth. |
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וְעָשׂוּ אֶת־הָֽאֵפֹד:
אִם בָּאתִי לְפָרֵשׁ מַעֲשֵׂה הָאֵפוֹד וְהַחֹשֶׁן עַל סֵדֶר הַמִּקְרָאוֹת, הֲרֵי פֵּרוּשָׁן פְּרָקִים, וְיִשְׁגֶה הַקּוֹרֵא בְּצֵרוּפָן, לְכָךְ אֲנִי כוֹתֵב מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם כְּמוֹת שֶׁהוּא, לְמַעַן יָרוּץ הַקּוֹרֵא בוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ אֲפָרֵשׁ עַל סֵדֶר הַמִּקְרָאוֹת. הָאֵפוֹד עָשׂוּי כְּמִין סִינָר שֶׁל נָשִׁים רוֹכְבוֹת סוּסִים, וְחוֹגֵר אוֹתוֹ מֵאֲחוֹרָיו כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ לְמַטָּה מֵאֲצִילָיו, רָחְבּוֹ כְּמִדַּת רֹחַב גַּבּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם וְיוֹתֵר, וּמַגִּיעַ עַד עֲקֵבָיו, וְהַחֵשֶׁב מְחֻבָּר בְּרֹאשׁוֹ עַל פְּנֵי רָחְבּוֹ מַעֲשֵׂה אוֹרֵג, וּמַאֲרִיךְ לְכָאן וּלְכָאן כְּדֵי לְהַקִּיף וְלַחְגֹּר בּוֹ, וְהַכְּתֵפוֹת מְחֻבָּרוֹת בַּחֵשֶׁב, אֶחָד לְיָמִין וְאֶחָד לִשְׂמֹאל, מֵאֲחוֹרֵי הַכֹּהֵן, לִשְׁנֵי קְצוֹת רָחְבּוֹ שֶׁל סִינָר, וּכְשֶׁזּוֹקְפָן עוֹמְדוֹת לוֹ עַל שְׁתֵּי כְתֵפָיו, וְהֵן כְּמִין שְׁתֵּי רְצוּעוֹת עֲשׂוּיוֹת מִמִּין הָאֵפוֹד, אֲרֻכּוֹת כְּדֵי שִׁעוּר לְזָקְפָן אֵצֶל צַוָּארוֹ מִכָּאן וּמִכָּאן וְנִקְפָּלוֹת לְפָנָיו לְמַטָּה מִכְּתֵפָיו מְעַט, וְאַבְנֵי הַשֹּׁהַם קְבוּעוֹת בָּהֶם, אַחַת עַל כֶּתֶף יָמִין וְאַחַת עַל כֶּתֶף שְׂמֹאל, וְהַמִּשְׁבְּצוֹת נְתוּנוֹת בְּרָאשֵׁיהֶם לִפְנֵי כְּתֵפָיו, וּשְׁתֵּי עֲבוֹתוֹת הַזָּהָב תְּחוּבוֹת בִּשְׁתֵּי טַבָּעוֹת שֶׁבַּחֹשֶׁן, בִּשְׁנֵי קְצוֹת רָחְבּוֹ הָעֶלְיוֹן, אַחַת לְיָמִין וְאַחַת לִשְׂמֹאל, וּשְׁנֵי רָאשֵׁי הַשַּׁרְשֶׁרֶת תְּקוּעִין בַּמִּשְׁבֶּצֶת לַיָּמִין וְכֵן שְׁנֵי רָאשֵׁי הַשַּׁרְשֶׁרֶת הַשְּׂמָאלִית תְּקוּעִין בַּמִּשְׁבֶּצֶת שֶׁבְּכָתֵף שְׂמֹאל, נִמְצָא הַחֹשֶׁן תָּלוּי בְּמִשְׁבְּצוֹת הָאֵפוֹד עַל לִבּוֹ מִלְּפָנָיו, וְעוֹד שְׁתֵּי טַבָּעוֹת בִּשְׁנֵי קְצוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן בְּתַחְתִּיתוֹ, וּכְנֶגְדָּם שְׁתֵּי טַבָּעוֹת בִּשְׁתֵּי כִּתְפוֹת הָאֵפוֹד מִלְּמַטָּה, בְּרֹאשׁוֹ הַתַּחְתּוֹן הַמְּחֻבָּר בַּחֵשֶׁב; טַבְּעוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן אֶל מוּל טַבְּעוֹת הָאֵפוֹד שׁוֹכְבִים זֶה עַל זֶה, וּמְרַכְּסָן בִּפְתִיל תְּכֵלֶת תָּחוּב בְּטַבְּעוֹת הָאֵפוֹד וְהַחֹשֶׁן, שֶׁיְּהֵא תַּחְתִּית הַחֹשֶׁן דָּבוּק לְחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפוֹד וְלֹא יְהֵא נָד וְנִבְדָּל, הוֹלֵךְ וְחוֹזֵר:
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| of gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen: These five kinds [of substances] were twisted into each thread. They [the workers] flattened the gold into a sort of thin plate and cut cords out of them [the plates] and spun them, one thread of gold with six threads of blue wool, and one thread of gold with six threads of purple wool, and similarly with the crimson wool, and similarly with the linen, for the threads of all the kinds were doubled sixfold, and one thread of gold was [twisted] with each one [kind of thread]. Afterwards, he would twist them all together. Thus, their threads were doubled into twenty-eight strands. This is explained in tractate Yoma (72a), and it is derived from the following verse (Exod. 39:3): “They flattened out the sheets of gold and he cut cords [out of them], to work (the gold cords) into the blue wool, into the purple wool, etc.” We learn that a thread of gold was twisted with every kind [of thread]. |
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זָהָב תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן תּוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר:
חֲמֵשֶׁת מִינִים הַלָּלוּ שְׁזוּרִין בְּכָל חוּט וָחוּט; הָיוּ מְרַדְּדִין אֶת הַזָּהָב כְּמִין טַסִּין דַּקִּין וְקוֹצְצִין פְּתִילִים מֵהֶם, וְטוֹוִין אוֹתוֹ חוּט שֶׁל זָהָב עִם שִׁשָּׁה חוּטִין שֶׁל תְּכֵלֶת, וְחוּט שֶׁל זָהָב עִם שִׁשָּׁה חוּטִין שֶׁל אַרְגָּמָן, וְכֵן בְּתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְכֵן בַּשֵּׁשׁ – שֶׁכָּל הַמִּינִין חוּטָן כָּפוּל שִׁשָּׁה וְחוּט שֶׁל זָהָב עִם כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד – וְאַחַר כָּךְ שׁוֹזֵר אֶת כֻּלָּם כְּאֶחָד, נִמְצָא חוּטָן כָּפוּל כ"ח, וְכֵן מְפֹרָשׁ בְּמַסֶּכֶת יוֹמָא, וְלָמֵד מִן הַמִּקְרָא הַזֶּה וַיְרַקְּעוּ אֶת פַּחֵי הַזָּהָב וְקִצֵּץ פְּתִילִם לַעֲשׂוֹת – אֶת פְּתִילֵי הַזָּהָב – בְּתוֹךְ הַתְּכֵלֶת וּבְתוֹךְ הָאַרְגָּמָן וְגוֹ', לָמַדְנוּ שֶׁחוּט שֶׁל זָהָב שָׁזוּר עִם כָּל מִין וָמִין:
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| the work of a master weaver: Heb. מַעִשֵׂה חוֹשֵׁב. I have already explained (Exod. 26:1) that this is the weaving of two “walls,” [and] that the figures of its two sides are unlike one another. |
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מַֽעֲשֵׂה חשֵֽׁב:
כְּבָר פֵּרַשְׁתִּי שֶׁהוּא אֲרִיגַת שְׁתֵּי קִירוֹת, שֶׁאֵין צוּרוֹת שְׁנֵי עֲבָרֶיהָ דּוֹמוֹת זוֹ לָזוֹ:
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| 7It shall have two connected shoulder straps at both its ends, and it shall be entirely connected. |
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זשְׁתֵּ֧י כְתֵפֹ֣ת חֹֽבְרֹ֗ת יִֽהְיֶה־לּ֛וֹ אֶל־שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָ֖יו וְחֻבָּֽר: |
| two shoulder straps: The apron was below and the חשב of the Eiphod was the belt. And it was connected to the apron at the top, similar to the apron of a woman. And at the kohen's back, it was connected by two pieces attached to the חשב, like two wide straps, one opposite each shoulder. He lifted these over his two shoulders so that they hung in front of him on his chest. And through them being attached to the rings of the breastplate they were held in place, opposite his heart, not falling. As explained in this chapter. And they would be straight over the shoulders and the two Shoham stones were set into them, one on each strap. |
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שְׁתֵּי כְתֵפֹת וגו':
הַסִּינָר מִלְּמַטָּה וְחֵשֶׁב הָאֵפוֹד הִיא הַחֲגוֹרָה, וּצְמוּדָה לוֹ מִלְמַעְלָה דֻּגְמַת סִינַר הַנָּשִׁים, וּמִגַּבּוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן הָיוּ מְחֻבָּרוֹת בַּחֵשֶׁב שְׁתֵּי חֲתִיכוֹת כְּמִין שְׁתֵּי רְצוּעוֹת רְחָבוֹת, אַחַת כְּנֶגֶד כָּל כָּתֵף וְכָתֵף, וְזוֹקְפָן עַל שְׁתֵּי כִתְפוֹתָיו עַד שֶׁנִּקְפָּלוֹת לְפָנָיו כְּנֶגֶד הֶחָזֶה, וְעַל יְדֵי חִבּוּרָן לְטַבְּעוֹת הַחֹשֶׁן נֶאֱחָזִין מִלְּפָנָיו כְּנֶגֶד לִבּוֹ שֶׁאֵין נוֹפְלוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁמְּפֹרָשׁ בָּעִנְיָן, וְהָיוּ זְקוּפוֹת וְהוֹלְכוֹת כְּנֶגֶד כְּתֵפָיו וּשְׁתֵּי אַבְנֵי הַשֹׁהַם קְבוּעוֹת בָּהֶן אַחַת בְּכָל אַחַת:
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| at both its ends: [I.e.,] to the width of the ephod. For its width was only against the Kohen’s back, and its height extended opposite his elbows, which are called coudes in French, as it is said: “they shall not gird themselves in a place that sweats” (Ezek. 44:18). [I.e.,] they should not gird themselves in a place of perspiration, [namely] neither above their elbows nor below their waists, but opposite their elbows. -[from Zev. 18b] |
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אֶל־שְׁנֵי קְצוֹתָיו:
אֶל רָחְבּוֹ שֶׁל אֵפוֹד, שֶׁלֹּא הָיָה רָחְבּוֹ אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד גַּבּוֹ שֶׁל כֹּהֵן וְגָבְהוֹ עַד כְּנֶגֶד הָאֲצִילִים, שֶׁקּוֹרִין קודי"ש בְּלַעַז, שֶׁנֶּ' לֹא יַחְגְּרוּ בַּיָּזַע (יחזקאל מ"ד) – אֵין חוֹגְרִין בִּמְקוֹם זֵיעָה, לֹא לְמַעְלָה מֵאֲצִילֵיהֶם וְלֹא לְמַטָּה מִמָּתְנֵיהֶם אֶלָּא כְּנֶגֶד אֲצִילֵיהֶם:
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| and it shall be entirely connected: the ephod with those two shoulder straps of the ephod. He shall connect them [by sewing them] with a needle below [the shoulder straps] to the band, and he shall not weave them [together] with it, but weave them separately and then connect them. |
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וְחֻבָּֽר:
הָאֵפוֹד עִם אוֹתָן שְׁתֵּי כִתְפוֹת הָאֵפוֹד יְחַבֵּר אוֹתָם בְּמַחַט לְמַטָּה בַּחֵשֶׁב, וְלֹא יֶאֶרְגֵם עִמּוֹ אֶלָּא אוֹרְגָם לְבַד וְאַחַר כָּךְ מְחַבְּרָם:
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| 8And its decorative band, which is above it, shall be of the same work, [emanating] from it: gold, blue, purple, and crimson wool, and twisted fine linen. |
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חוְחֵ֤שֶׁב אֲפֻדָּתוֹ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר עָלָ֔יו כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ מִמֶּ֣נּוּ יִֽהְיֶ֑ה זָהָ֗ב תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מָשְׁזָֽר: |
| And its decorative band: The belt, by which it [the ephod] decorates and enhances the kohen[’s appearance] and adorns him. |
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וְחֵשֶׁב אֲפֻדָּתוֹ:
וְחָגוֹר שֶׁעַל יָדוֹ הוּא מְאַפְּדוֹ וּמְתַקְּנֵהוּ לַכֹּהֵן וּמְקַשְּׁטוֹ:
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| which is above it: Above, [i.e.,] at the edge of the apron was the belt. |
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אֲשֶׁר עָלָיו:
לְמַעְלָה בִּשְׂפַת הַסִּינָר, הִיא הַחֲגוֹרָה:
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| of the same work: Just as the weaving of the apron was the work of a master weaver and of five kinds, so was the weaving of the band the work of a master weaver and of five kinds [of material]. |
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כְּמַֽעֲשֵׂהוּ:
כַּאֲרִיגַת הַסִּינָר מַעֲשֵׂה חוֹשֵׁב וּמֵחֲמֵשֶׁת מִינִים, כָּךְ אֲרִיגַת הַחֵשֶׁב מַעֲשֵׂה חוֹשֵׁב וּמֵחֲמֵשֶׁת מִינִין:
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| [emanating] from it: It shall be woven with it, and he shall not weave it separately and attach it. [Whereas the shoulder straps and the ephod were to be woven separately and then attached, the belt and the ephod were to be woven together from the start.] |
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מִמֶּנּוּ יִֽהְיֶה:
עִמּוֹ יִהְיֶה אָרוּג וְלֹא יַאַרְגֶנּוּ לְבַד וִיחַבְּרֶנּוּ:
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| 9And you shall take two shoham stones and engrave upon them the names of the sons of Israel. |
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טוְלָ֣קַחְתָּ֔ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֖י אַבְנֵי־שֹׁ֑הַם וּפִתַּחְתָּ֣ עֲלֵיהֶ֔ם שְׁמ֖וֹת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל: |
| 10Six of their names on one stone and the names of the remaining six on the second stone, according to their births. |
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ישִׁשָּׁה֙ מִשְּׁמֹתָ֔ם עַ֖ל הָאֶ֣בֶן הָֽאֶחָ֑ת וְאֶת־שְׁמ֞וֹת הַשִּׁשָּׁ֧ה הַנּֽוֹתָרִ֛ים עַל־הָאֶ֥בֶן הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית כְּתֽוֹלְדֹתָֽם: |
| according to their births: According to the order in which they were born [i.e.,]: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, on the one; and on the second one, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, Joseph, Benjamin spelled full, [בִּנְיָמִין], for so it is written in the place of his birth (Gen. 35: 18) [totaling] twenty-five letters on each one [stone]. |
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כְּתֽוֹלְדֹתָֽם:
כַּסֵּדֶר שֶׁנּוֹלְדוּ – רְאוּבֵן, שִׁמְעוֹן, לֵוִי, יְהוּדָה, דָּן, נַפְתָלִי עַל הָאַחַת, וְעַל הַשְּׁנִיָּה גָּד, אָשֵׁר, יִשָּׂשכָר זְבוּלֻן, יוֹסֵף, בִּנְיָמִין מָלֵא, שֶׁכֵּן הוּא כָתוּב בִּמְקוֹם תּוֹלַדְתּוֹ, כ"ה אוֹתִיּוֹת בְּכָל אַחַת וְאַחַת:
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| 11[Similar to] the work of an engraver of gems, [similar to] the engravings of a seal, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel; you shall make them enclosed in gold settings. |
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יאמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה חָרַשׁ֘ אֶ֒בֶן֒ פִּתּוּחֵ֣י חֹתָ֗ם תְּפַתַּח֙ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י הָֽאֲבָנִ֔ים עַל־שְׁמֹ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל מֻֽסַבֹּ֛ת מִשְׁבְּצ֥וֹת זָהָ֖ב תַּֽעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם: |
| [Similar to] the work of an engraver of gems: Heb. אֶבֶן מַעִשֵׂה חָרַשׁ. The work of a craftsman of precious stones. This [word] חָרַשׁ is connected to the following word. Therefore, it is vowelized with a “pattach” at the end, and likewise, “The carpenter (חָרַשׁ עֵצִים) stretched out a line” (Isa. 44:13). [This is like] חָרָשׁ שֶׁל עֵצִים. Likewise, “The iron smith (חָרַשׁ בַּרְזֶל)” (Isa. 44:12). All these are connected and are [therefore] vowelized with “pattach”s. |
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מַֽעֲשֵׂה חָרַשׁ אֶבֶן:
מַעֲשֵׂה אֻמָּן שֶׁל אֲבָנִים, חָרַשׁ זֶה דָּבוּק הוּא לַתֵּבָה שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו וּלְפִיכָךְ הוּא נָקוּד פַּתָּח בְּסוֹפוֹ, וְכֵן חָרַשׁ עֵצִים נָטָה קָו (ישעיהו מ"ד) – חָרָשׁ שֶׁל עֵצִים, וְכֵן חָרַשׁ בַּרְזֶל מַעֲצָד, (שם), כָּל אֵלֶּה דְּבוּקִים וּפְתוּחִים:
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| [similar to] the engravings of a seal: Heb. פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם, as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: כְּתַב מְפָרָשׁ כִּגְלָף דְּעִיזְקָא [a clear script like the engraving of a signet]. The letters are engraved inwardly, as they engrave the seals of signets, which are [used] to seal letters, [in] a clear and explanatory script. |
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פִּתּוּחֵי חֹתָם:
כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ כְּתַב מְפָרַשׁ כִּגְלֹף דְּעִזְקָא, חֲרוּצוֹת הָאוֹתִיּוֹת בְּתוֹכָן כְּמוֹ שֶׁחוֹרְצִין חוֹתְמֵי טַבָּעוֹת שֶׁהֵם לַחְתֹּם אִגְּרוֹת – כְּתָב נִכָּר וּמְפֹרָשׁ:
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| with the names: Heb. עַל-שְׁמֹת, בִּשְׁמוֹת. |
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עַל־שְׁמֹת:
כְּמוֹ בִּשְׁמֹת:
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| enclosed in…settings: The stones shall be enclosed in gold settings, that he would make the “seat” of the stone in gold, like a sort of hole according to the measurement of the stone, and sink it [the stone] into the setting. Thus, the setting would encircle the stone, and the settings would be attached to the shoulder straps of the ephod. |
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מֻֽסַבֹּת מִשְׁבְּצוֹת:
מֻקָּפוֹת הָאֲבָנִים בְּמִשְׁבְּצוֹת זָהָב, שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה מוֹשַׁב הָאֶבֶן בְּזָהָב כְּמִין גֻּמָּא לְמִדַּת הָאֶבֶן וּמְשַׁקְּעָהּ בַּמִּשְׁבֶּצֶת, נִמְצֵאת הַמִּשְׁבֶּצֶת סוֹבֶבֶת אֶת הָאֶבֶן סָבִיב וּמְחַבֵּר הַמִּשְׁבְּצוֹת בְּכִתְפוֹת הָאֵפוֹד:
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| 12And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder straps of the ephod as stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, and Aaron shall carry their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance. |
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יבוְשַׂמְתָּ֞ אֶת־שְׁתֵּ֣י הָֽאֲבָנִ֗ים עַ֚ל כִּתְפֹ֣ת הָֽאֵפֹ֔ד אַבְנֵ֥י זִכָּרֹ֖ן לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְנָשָׂא֩ אַֽהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־שְׁמוֹתָ֜ם לִפְנֵ֧י יְהֹוָ֛ה עַל־שְׁתֵּ֥י כְתֵפָ֖יו לְזִכָּרֹֽן: |
| as a remembrance: So that the Holy One, blessed is He, will see the [progenitors of the] tribes written before Him, and He will remember their righteousness. |
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לְזִכָּרֹֽן:
שֶׁיְּהֵא רוֹאֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת הַשְּׁבָטִים כְּתוּבִים לְפָנָיו וְיִזְכֹּר צִדְקָתָם:
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