Shemot (Exodus) Chapter 40

1God spoke to Moses, saying:   אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־משֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר:
2On the first day of Nisan, the first month, you must erect the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting.   בבְּיֽוֹם־הַחֹ֥דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֖וֹן בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ תָּקִ֕ים אֶת־מִשְׁכַּ֖ן אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד:
3You must place there the Ark of Testimony, and you must screen the Ark with the Curtain.   גוְשַׂמְתָּ֣ שָׁ֔ם אֵ֖ת אֲר֣וֹן הָֽעֵד֑וּת וְסַכֹּתָ֥ עַל־הָֽאָרֹ֖ן אֶת־הַפָּרֹֽכֶת:
וְסַכֹּתָ עַל־הָֽאָרֹן - (lit.) You must spread over the Ark. וְסַכֹּתָ here denotes shielding and not covering, for the Curtain was a partition.   וְסַכֹּתָ עַל־הָֽאָרֹן.  לְשׁוֹן הַגָּנָה, שֶׁהֲרֵי מְחִצָּה הָיְתָה:
4You must bring in the Table and set up its arrangement of showbread, and you must bring in the Candelabrum and light its lamps.   דוְהֵֽבֵאתָ֙ אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָ֔ן וְעָֽרַכְתָּ֖ אֶת־עֶרְכּ֑וֹ וְהֵֽבֵאתָ֙ אֶת־הַמְּנֹרָ֔ה וְהַֽעֲלֵיתָ֖ אֶת־נֵֽרֹתֶֽיהָ:
וְעָֽרַכְתָּ אֶת־עֶרְכּוֹ - And set up its arrangement - i.e., the two stacks of the showbread.   וְעָֽרַכְתָּ אֶת־עֶרְכּוֹ.  שְׁתַּיִם מַעֲרָכוֹת שֶׁל לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים:
5You must place the golden incense Altar in front of the Ark of Testimony, and you must emplace the Screen for the entrance to the Tabernacle.   הוְנָֽתַתָּ֞ה אֶת־מִזְבַּ֤ח הַזָּהָב֙ לִקְטֹ֔רֶת לִפְנֵ֖י אֲר֣וֹן הָֽעֵדֻ֑ת וְשַׂמְתָּ֛ אֶת־מָסַ֥ךְ הַפֶּ֖תַח לַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
6You must place the sacrificial Altar in front of the entrance to the Tabernacle, i.e., the Tent of Meeting.   ווְנָ֣תַתָּ֔ה אֵ֖ת מִזְבַּ֣ח הָֽעֹלָ֑ה לִפְנֵ֕י פֶּ֖תַח מִשְׁכַּ֥ן אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵֽד:
7You must then place the Laver between the Tent of Meeting and the Altar, and you must put water in it.   זוְנָֽתַתָּ֙ אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֔ר בֵּֽין־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וְנָֽתַתָּ֥ שָׁ֖ם מָֽיִם:
8You must set up the Courtyard all around, and emplace the Screen for the entrance to the Courtyard.   חוְשַׂמְתָּ֥ אֶת־הֶֽחָצֵ֖ר סָבִ֑יב וְנָ֣תַתָּ֔ אֶת־מָסַ֖ךְ שַׁ֥עַר הֶֽחָצֵֽר:
9You must take the anointing oil and anoint the Tabernacle and all its contents; you will thereby sanctify it and all its utensils, making it holy.   טוְלָֽקַחְתָּ֙ אֶת־שֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן וְאֶת־כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־בּ֑וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹת֛וֹ וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֖יו וְהָ֥יָה קֹֽדֶשׁ:
10You must anoint the sacrificial Altar and all its utensils; you will thereby sanctify the Altar, making the Altar holy of holies.   יוּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֛ אֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח הָֽעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְהָיָ֥ה הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ קֹ֥דֶשׁ קָֽדָשִֽׁים:
11You must anoint the Laver with its base and thereby make it holy.   יאוּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֖ר וְאֶת־כַּנּ֑וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֖ אֹתֽוֹ:
12You must bring Aaron and his sons into the Courtyard, outside the entrance to the Tent of Meeting, and immerse them in the water of a mikveh.   יבוְהִקְרַבְתָּ֤ אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶת־בָּנָ֔יו אֶל־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְרָֽחַצְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם בַּמָּֽיִם:
13You must dress Aaron in the holy garments and anoint him, and you will thereby sanctify him and he will minister to Me.   יגוְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֙ אֶת־אַֽהֲרֹ֔ן אֵ֖ת בִּגְדֵ֣י הַקֹּ֑דֶשׁ וּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֥ אֹת֛וֹ וְקִדַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹת֖וֹ וְכִהֵ֥ן לִֽי:
14You must bring forth his sons and dress them in tunics.   ידוְאֶת־בָּנָ֖יו תַּקְרִ֑יב וְהִלְבַּשְׁתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם כֻּתֳּנֹֽת:
15You must then anoint them as you anointed their father, and they will minister to Me, and their anointing will endow them with an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations.”   טווּמָֽשַׁחְתָּ֣ אֹתָ֗ם כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֤ר מָשַׁ֨חְתָּ֙ אֶת־אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וְכִֽהֲנ֖וּ לִ֑י וְ֠הָֽיְתָ֠ה לִֽהְיֹ֨ת לָהֶ֧ם מָשְׁחָתָ֛ם לִכְהֻנַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹֽרֹתָֽם:
16Moses performed these rites exactly as God had commanded him.   טזוַיַּ֖עַשׂ משֶׁ֑ה כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁ֨ר צִוָּ֧ה יְהֹוָ֛ה אֹת֖וֹ כֵּ֥ן עָשָֽׂה:
17It was in the first month of the second year, on the first of the month, that the Tabernacle was erected.   יזוַיְהִ֞י בַּחֹ֧דֶשׁ הָֽרִאשׁ֛וֹן בַּשָּׁנָ֥ה הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הוּקַ֖ם הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
18Moses erected the Tabernacle: he set up its bases, fitted its planks, inserted its crossbars, and erected its pillars.   יחוַיָּ֨קֶם משֶׁ֜ה אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ן וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־אֲדָנָ֔יו וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ אֶת־קְרָשָׁ֔יו וַיִּתֵּ֖ן אֶת־בְּרִיחָ֑יו וַיָּ֖קֶם אֶת־עַמּוּדָֽיו:
19He spread the Tent of goat-hair over the tapestry-covering of the Tabernacle, and placed the ram-skin and tachash-skin roof of the Tent over it—as God had commanded Moses.   יטוַיִּפְרֹ֤שׂ אֶת־הָאֹ֨הֶל֙ עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וַיָּ֜שֶׂם אֶת־מִכְסֵ֥ה הָאֹ֛הֶל עָלָ֖יו מִלְמָ֑עְלָה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
וַיִּפְרֹשׂ אֶת־הָאֹהֶל - He spread the Tent. Referring to the sheets of goat hair.   וַיִּפְרֹשׂ אֶת־הָאֹהֶל.  הֵן יְרִיעוֹת הָעִזִּים:
20He took the Tablets of the Testimony and placed them in the Ark. He positioned the poles on the Ark, and placed the Cover on top of the Ark.   כוַיִּקַּ֞ח וַיִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־הָֽעֵדֻת֙ אֶל־הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן וַיָּ֥שֶׂם אֶת־הַבַּדִּ֖ים עַל־הָֽאָרֹ֑ן וַיִּתֵּ֧ן אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת עַל־הָֽאָרֹ֖ן מִלְמָֽעְלָה:
אֶת־הָֽעֵדֻת - The Testimony - i.e., the Tablets.   אֶת־הָֽעֵדֻת.  הַלּוּחוֹת:
21He brought the Ark into the Tabernacle, and placed the partition Curtain so that it would screen the Ark of Testimony—as God had commanded Moses.   כאוַיָּבֵ֣א אֶת־הָֽאָרֹן֘ אֶל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֒ וַיָּ֗שֶׂם אֵ֚ת פָּרֹ֣כֶת הַמָּסָ֔ךְ וַיָּ֕סֶךְ עַ֖ל אֲר֣וֹן הָֽעֵד֑וּת כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
22He placed the Table in the Tent of Meeting on the northern side of the Tabernacle, outside the Curtain.   כבוַיִּתֵּ֤ן אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד עַ֛ל יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן צָפֹ֑נָה מִח֖וּץ לַפָּרֹֽכֶת:
עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן צָפֹנָה - On the northern side of the Tabernacle - i.e., in the northern half of the width of the structure.   עַל יֶרֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן צָפֹנָה.  בַּחֵצִי הַצְּפוֹנִי שֶׁל רֹחַב הַבַּיִת:
יֶרֶךְ - (lit.) Thigh. Its meaning is as Onkelos translates it: צִדָּא – side, just like the thigh is on a person’s side.   יֶרֶךְ.  כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ, צִדָּא, כַּיָּרֵךְ הַזֶּה שֶׁהוּא בְּצִדּוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם:
23He then set up an arrangement of showbread on it before God—as God had commanded Moses.   כגוַיַּֽעֲרֹ֥ךְ עָלָ֛יו עֵ֥רֶךְ לֶ֖חֶם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
24He placed the Candelabrum in the Tent of Meeting opposite the Table, on the southern side of the Tabernacle.   כדוַיָּ֤שֶׂם אֶת־הַמְּנֹרָה֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד נֹ֖כַח הַשֻּׁלְחָ֑ן עַ֛ל יֶ֥רֶךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן נֶֽגְבָּה:
25He then lit the lamps before God—as God had commanded Moses.   כהוַיַּ֥עַל הַנֵּרֹ֖ת לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָה֑ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
26He placed the golden Altar in the Tent of Meeting, in front of the Curtain.   כווַיָּ֛שֶׂם אֶת־מִזְבַּ֥ח הַזָּהָ֖ב בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד לִפְנֵ֖י הַפָּרֹֽכֶת:
27He then burned an incense-offering on it—as God had commanded Moses.   כזוַיַּקְטֵ֥ר עָלָ֖יו קְטֹ֣רֶת סַמִּ֑ים כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
וַיַּקְטֵר עָלָיו קְטֹרֶת - He then burned an [incense-offering] on it - in the morning and in the afternoon, as stated: “he must burn it every morning, when he cleans out the lamps. Aaron must burn it when he kindles the lamps in the afternoon….” 1   וַיַּקְטֵר עָלָיו קְטֹרֶת.  שַׁחֲרִית וְעַרְבִית, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּבֹּקֶר בַּבֹּקֶר בְּהֵיטִיבוֹ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת וְגוֹמֵר (שמות ל'):
28He put the Screen for the entrance to the Tabernacle in place.   כחוַיָּ֛שֶׂם אֶת־מָסַ֥ךְ הַפֶּ֖תַח לַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
29He then placed the sacrificial Altar in front of the entrance to the Tabernacle, i.e., the Tent of Meeting, and upon it he sacrificed the daily ascent-offering and its accompanying grain-offering and libation—as God had commanded Moses.   כטוְאֵת֙ מִזְבַּ֣ח הָֽעֹלָ֔ה שָׂ֕ם פֶּ֖תַח מִשְׁכַּ֣ן אֹֽהֶל־מוֹעֵ֑ד וַיַּ֣עַל עָלָ֗יו אֶת־הָֽעֹלָה֙ וְאֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֔ה כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
וַיַּעַל עָלָיו וגו' - And upon it he sacrificed… Even on the eighth day of inauguration, which was the day the Tabernacle was erected permanently, Moses officiated and brought the communal sacrifices, apart from those that Aaron and his sons were commanded to bring on that day, as it says: קְרַב אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וגו׳ “Moses said to Aaron, ‘Approach the Altar….’” 2   וַיַּעַל עָלָיו וגו'.  אַף בַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁמִינִי לַמִּלּוּאִים, שֶׁהוּא יוֹם הֲקָמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שִׁמֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה וְהִקְרִיב קָרְבְּנוֹת צִבּוּר, חוּץ מֵאוֹתָן שֶׁנִּצְטַוּוּ בוֹ בַיּוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר קְרַב אֶל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְגוֹמֵר (ויקרא ט'):
אֶת־הָֽעֹלָה - The ascent-offering - the daily ascent-offering.   אֶת־הָֽעֹלָה.  עוֹלַת הַתָּמִיד:
וְאֵת הַמִּנְחָה - (lit.) And the grain-offering - i.e., the grain-offering accompanied by the libation of the daily offering, as it says: “one-tenth of an ephah of fine flour kneaded with…oil….” 3   וְאֵת הַמִּנְחָה.  מִנְחַת נְסָכִים שֶׁל תָּמִיד, כְּמוֹ שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְעִשָּׂרֹן סֹלֶת בָּלוּל בְּשֶׁמֶן וְגוֹמֵר (שמות כ"ט):
30He placed the Laver between the Tent of Meeting and the Altar, and put water in it for washing.   לוַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ אֶת־הַכִּיֹּ֔ר בֵּֽין־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וּבֵ֣ין הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּתֵּ֥ן שָׁ֛מָּה מַ֖יִם לְרָחְצָֽה:
31From it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and feet.   לאוְרָֽחֲצ֣וּ מִמֶּ֔נּוּ משֶׁ֖ה וְאַֽהֲרֹ֣ן וּבָנָ֑יו אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֖ם וְאֶת־רַגְלֵיהֶֽם:
וְרָֽחֲצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן - From it Moses and Aaron and his sons washed. On the eighth day of inauguration they were all, including Moses, equal regarding their status as priests. Onkelos’ translation of וְרָחֲצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ is וּמְקַדְּשִׁין מִנֵּה “and they would wash from it,” i.e., on that day Moses washed together with them.   וְרָֽחֲצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ משֶׁה וְאַֽהֲרֹן.  יוֹם שְׁמִינִי לַמִּלּוּאִים הֻשְׁווּ כֻלָּם לִכְהֻנָּה, וְתַרְגּוּמוֹ וּמְקַדְּשִׁין מִנֵּהּ, בּוֹ בַיּוֹם קִדֵּשׁ מֹשֶׁה עִמָּהֶם:
32They would wash whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or drew near to the Altar—as God had commanded Moses.   לבבְּבֹאָ֞ם אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֗ד וּבְקָרְבָתָ֛ם אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ יִרְחָ֑צוּ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־משֶֽׁה:
וּבְקָרְבָתָם - is equivalent to וּבְקָרְבָם - when they would draw near.   וּבְקָרְבָתָם.  כְּמוֹ וּבְקָרְבָם – כְּשֶׁיִּקְרְבוּ:
33He set up the Courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle and the Altar, and he emplaced the Screen for the entrance to the Courtyard. With this, Moses completed the work.   לגוַיָּ֣קֶם אֶת־הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר סָבִיב֙ לַמִּשְׁכָּ֣ן וְלַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וַיִּתֵּ֕ן אֶת־מָסַ֖ךְ שַׁ֣עַר הֶֽחָצֵ֑ר וַיְכַ֥ל משֶׁ֖ה אֶת־הַמְּלָאכָֽה:
34The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of God filled the Tabernacle.   לדוַיְכַ֥ס הֶֽעָנָ֖ן אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וּכְב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה מָלֵ֖א אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
35Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting since the cloud had rested on it and God’s glory filled the Tabernacle.   להוְלֹֽא־יָכֹ֣ל משֶׁ֗ה לָבוֹא֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד כִּֽי־שָׁכַ֥ן עָלָ֖יו הֶֽעָנָ֑ן וּכְב֣וֹד יְהֹוָ֔ה מָלֵ֖א אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן:
וְלֹֽא־יָכֹל משֶׁה לָבוֹא אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד - Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting - yet another verse says: “When Moses would come into the Tent of Meeting.” 4 Comes the third verse here and reconciles them: “since the cloud had rested upon it,” from which you can infer that as long as the cloud was upon it he was unable to enter, but when the cloud departed, he could enter and converse with God.   וְלֹֽא־יָכֹל משֶׁה לָבוֹא אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד.  וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר וּבְבֹא מֹשֶׁה אֶל אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד (במדבר ז')? בָּא הַכָּתוּב הַשְּׁלִישִׁי וְהִכְרִיעַ בֵּינֵיהֶם – כִּי שָׁכַן עָלָיו הֶעָנָן, אֱמֹר מֵעַתָּה כָּל זְמַן שֶׁהָיָה עָלָיו הֶעָנָן לֹא הָיָה יָכוֹל לָבֹא, נִסְתַּלֵּק הֶעָנָן נִכְנָס וּמְדַבֵּר עִמּוֹ (ספרא):
36Whenever the cloud rose from above the Tabernacle, the Israelites would embark on all their journeys.   לווּבְהֵֽעָל֤וֹת הֶֽעָנָן֙ מֵעַ֣ל הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן יִסְע֖וּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בְּכֹ֖ל מַסְעֵיהֶֽם:
37If the cloud did not rise, they would not set out until the day it rose.   לזוְאִם־לֹ֥א יֵֽעָלֶ֖ה הֶֽעָנָ֑ן וְלֹ֣א יִסְע֔וּ עַד־י֖וֹם הֵעָֽלֹתֽוֹ:
38For wherever they camped, the cloud of God was above the Tabernacle by day, and fire would be there by night, visible to the entire House of Israel, at all the stations of their journeys.   לחכִּי֩ עֲנַ֨ן יְהֹוָ֤ה עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ יוֹמָ֔ם וְאֵ֕שׁ תִּֽהְיֶ֥ה לַ֖יְלָה בּ֑וֹ לְעֵינֵ֥י כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם:
לְעֵינֵי כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם - before the eyes of the entire house of Israel in all their journeys - On every journey (מַסָּע) that they were traveling, the cloud would rest in that place where they encamped. The place of their encampment is also called a journey (מַסָּע). Likewise, “And he went to his stations (לְמַסָּעָיו) ” (Gen. 13:3) [i.e., to the stops along his journey], and likewise, “These are the journeys (מַסְעֵי) ” (Num. 33:1). Since from the place of their encampment they resumed their journeys, they are all called “journeys” (מַסָעוֹת).   לְעֵינֵי כָל־בֵּֽית־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶֽם.  בְּכָל מַסָּע שֶׁהָיוּ נוֹסְעִים, הָיָה הֶעָנָן שׁוֹכֵן בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר יַחֲנוּ שָׁם; מְקוֹם חֲנִיָּתָן אַף הוּא קָרוּי מַסָּע, וְכֵן וַיֵּלֶךְ לְמַסָּעָיו (בראשית י"ג), וְכֵן אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי (במדבר ל"ג), לְפִי שֶׁמִּמְּקוֹם הַחֲנִיָּה חָזְרוּ וְנָסְעוּ, לְכָךְ נִקְרְאוּ כֻלָּן מַסָּעוֹת: