Shemos
Book 2: Exodus

VAYAKHEL - NOTES ON RASHI COMMENTARY

Chapter 35 - Text Notes

1 Rashi bases this on 1. This refers back to 34, 29 {Hebrew Ref} ---"And when Moshe came down from Mount Sinai," then {Hebrew Ref} ---"Moshe assembled." (M.), 2. Since he assembled them to collect the gold for the mishkon, the gold being an atonement for the sin of the Golden Calf, he most likely did this immediately after they were forgiven, viz., the day after Yom Kippur. (G.A.)

2 The {Hebrew Ref} would have been {Hebrew Ref} and it would mean he assembled directly, with his own hands. (S.H.)

3 Not as some have it: {Hebrew Ref} which means: he [literally] assembled [with his hands]. (N.Y.)

4 If the purpose of assembling was to collect the mishkon contributions, why the interruption of Shabbos here?

5 Mechilta.

6 Kindling a fire is only one of the 39 major labors of Shabbos. Why is it singled out to be mentioned?!

7 I.e., it is not a melachah---"labor" like the others whereby it would be subject to the death penalty, or kares or a korbon chatos---a "sin-offering," but, rather, just a {Hebrew Ref} which carries the punishment of malkos ---"lashes."

8 I.e., if one out of ignorance, does the various major labors on Shabbos, they are considered separate and unrelated transgressions and he must bring a separate {Hebrew Ref} ---"sin offering," for each and every melacha. This is in contrast to where one does the same melacha several times, whereby he brings only one {Hebrew Ref} for as many times as he did the melacha. (Shabbos 70a).

9 The word {Hebrew Ref} appears twice in the verse. Rashi shows the distinction between the two---the first means "as follows" whereas the second means "to tell you." (L.S.R.) There are numerous other explanations of this Rashi. See M., G.A.

10 Is not the mishkon all-inclusive?! Then how is it followed by {Hebrew Ref} ?!

11 See above, 26, 1.

12 See ibid. 7.

13 Ibid. 14.

14 The {Hebrew Ref} here is not the curtain that was at the entrance of the {Hebrew Ref} (above, 26, 37) or the one at the entrance to the courtyard of the mishkon (above, 27, 16).

15 That separated the holy from the holy of holies. (above, 26, 31)

16 Iyov 1, 10.

17 With thorns (Hoshea 2, 8) which is a vertical shield. (S.H.)

18 Above, 25, 29.

19 See Rashi ibid.

20 86a.

21 See Rashi above, 27, 20.

22 See Rashi above, 26, 36.

23 I.e., {Hebrew Ref} ---lit. his beams; {Hebrew Ref} ---lit. her sockets.

24 See Rashi Bereishis 32, 9.

25 Above, 27, 14.

26 See Rashi above, 27, 19 {Hebrew Ref} .

27 See Rashi above, 31, 10.

28 They were in close proximity to satisfy the law that is not permitted to accept a contribution from a woman without the consent of her husband. The husband, too, may not contribute of her jewelry without her consent. (N.Y., B.M.C.)

29 Bamidbar 31, 50.

30 Shabbos 64a.

31 The verse enumerates a list of items. Should these not get a plural verb {Hebrew Ref} rather than {Hebrew Ref} ?

32 I.e., even if one had only one of the items he brought it. Hence the singular verb. (B.Y.)

33 Shabbos 74b.

34 The {Hebrew Ref} contribution is now mentioned after everyone else's! See also S.C.

35 As soon as the mishkon was erected (Bamidbar 7, 1-2) they immediately contributed the first korbonos to be sacrificed on the altar.

36 Above, 36, 7.

37 Bam. Rab. 12, 16.

38 See Rashi above, 24, 14.

39 Sotah 11b.

40 Iyov 34, 19.

41 Tanchuma 13.

Chapter 36 - Text Notes

42 The {Hebrew Ref} prefix of {Hebrew Ref} has the meaning "more than."

43 What is the distinction between " {Hebrew Ref} " and " {Hebrew Ref} "?

44 I.e., " {Hebrew Ref} " refers to the contributions; {Hebrew Ref} refers to the work of putting up the mishkon.

45 {Hebrew Ref} should be translated in the infinitive, i.e., "to leave over," though in that case, it would usually have a {Hebrew Ref} , viz. {Hebrew Ref} .

46 Here, too, the infinitive is lacking the {Hebrew Ref} , i.e., {Hebrew Ref} .

47 Above, 8, 11.

48 . . . instead of {Hebrew Ref} .

49 II Melachim 3, 24.

Chapter 37 - Text Notes

50 1. But Betzalel had help as it states: {Hebrew Ref} "Betzalel and Oholiov---and every wise-hearted man (above, 36, 1). 2. Why is he singled out specifically regarding the making of the ark? (M.L.; S.C.)

51 And this fact is brought out regarding the ark, it being the holiest of all the works of the mishkon. (S.C.)

52 Tanchuma 10.

Chapter 38 - Text Notes

53 Yirmiyahu 52, 21.

54 I.e., {Hebrew Ref} does not mean "hollow tablets;" but, rather, "a hollow created by tablets." (B.Y.)

55 {Hebrew Ref} were so-called because they brought about the {Hebrew Ref} --- the multitudes. (S.C.)

56 Shir Hashirim 8, 5.

57 See note 3.

58 I.e., he warned his wife not to be alone with a particular man.

59 She would then drink of those waters to prove her innocence. See Bamidbar 5, 17.

60 I.e., that the wash-basin was made from these copper mirrors that were donated by the daughters of Israel, and not from the general copper-supply donated by all the B'nei Yisrael.

61 ". . . the sockets, the copper altar, all the vessels of the altar, etc." (Below, vv. 29-30)

62 Tanchuma Pikkudei 9; Bam. Rab. 9, 14.

63 3, 23.

64 {Hebrew Ref} , which usually means "opposite," here means "like the measurement."

Return to Main Search Form
Sources