Commentary for Exodus 35:27

והנשאם הביאו AND THE PRINCES BROUGHT [ONYX STONES] R. Nathan asked, “What reason had the princes to give their contributions at the dedication of the altar (Numbers 7:12ff.) first of all the people, whereas at the work of the Tabernacle they were not the first, but the last to contribute?” But — replied he — the princes spoke thus: “Let the community in general contribute all they with to give and what will then be lacking we shall supply” But when the community gave everything needed in its entirety — as it is said, (Exodus 36:7) “For the stuff they had was enough [for all the work to make it, and some was left]” — the princes asked, “What can we now do?” therefore הביאו את אבני השהם וגו׳ THEY BROUGHT THE ONYX STONES etc. That is why they were the first to contribute at the consecration of the altar. Because, however, they were dilatory at the beginning, a letter is missing here from their title (thus intimating that something, viz., zeal was lacking in them): for it is written והנשאם instead of והנשיאים (Numbers Rabbah 12:16).

והנשיאים הביאו את אבני השהם, and the princes brought the onyx stones, etc. The reason that these precious stones are listed only after such relatively inexpensive contributions as the spun goats' hair by the women is, that the princes tarried and were the last ones to make their contributions.

והנשיאים הביאו את אבני השוהם, these were the gemstones on which the names of the tribes were inscribed.

והנשיאים הביאו, “and the princes had brought (gemstones).” According to Ibn Ezra when the people at the time of the Exodus asked their Egyptian neighbours for valuables, each person asked for things commensurate to his station in society. The princes therefore had asked for jewels, which they now contributed for use in the breastplate of the High Priest. According to a comment by the Targum Yonatan ben Uziel, and a note in the Tanchuma, the word נשיאים here is rendered as ענני שמיא, “celestial clouds,“ i.e. a kind of angel? And these angels came and contributed these jewels for the breastplate and Ephod of the High Priest. In Yuma 75 the word נשיאים is also used in that sense. (based on Proverbs 25,14 )

V. 27. והנשאם. Im מ׳ רבות נשא (und ebenso im ספרי das.) zu Kap. 7, 2 wird tadelnd angemerkt, wie sich die Fürsten durch die an das Volk ergangene Aufforderung zur Tempelspende in ihrer Stellung verletzt gefühlt und sich deshalb von der נדבה in der Erwartung zurückgezogen hätten, es werde die Weihespende des Volkes unzureichend ausfallen, und ihnen dann ehrenvoll die Spende des Fehlenden zukommen, in welcher Erwartung sie gleichwohl der Eifer des Volkes getäuscht hatte, so dass ihnen nichts übrig blieb, als die Edelsteine zu den hohepriesterlichen Gewändern und die Spezereien zum Salböl und zum Räucherwerk zu liefern. Das Tadelnswerte einer solchen Gesinnung, die sich bei diesem höchsten nationalen Werke lieber über dem Volke und das Volk repräsentierend, als mitten im Volke und als die edelsten Söhne und Brüder des Volkes fühlen mochte, und so die Fürsten, welche voranleuchtend im Volkeseifer die ersten hätten sein sollen, die letzten sein ließ, wird bezeichnend durch die mangelhafte Schreibweise הנשאם, statt הנשיאים, angedeutet. Sie haben sich bei dieser Gelegenheit nicht als die נשיאים des Volkes bewährt.

והנשיאים, “and the princes, etc.; the Talmud in tractate Yuma folio 75 claims that the word נשיאים here refers to clouds, quoting as its source Proverbs 25,14: נשיאים ורוח וגשם אין, “like clouds and wind that do not bring rain.” It is explained there that when the manna would fall from the sky it was accompanied by precious stones falling alongside as well as pearls. This is the meaning of Exodus 36,3: והם הביאו אליו עוד נדבה אליו בבוקר בבוקר, “and they kept bringing to him voluntary offerings every morning.” It was the manna which has been described in the Torah as coming down בבוקר בבוקר (Compare Exodus 16,21). Rabbi Yochanan on that folio adds that all the donations for the Tabernacle were contributed on two mornings, and even that quantity was more than was required. [He interpreted the words: בבוקר בבוקר, as referring only to two mornings. Ed.[

והנשיאים הביאו, “and the princes had brought;” they had taken these things with them at the time when the Israelites had “emptied” Egypt of all their valuables (Exodus 12,36) each taking items appropriate to their social status.

'את אבני השהם וגו.” And the shoham stones;” each prince brought the type of jewel that was used for his tribe on the High Priest’s breastplate. They also contributed the oil for anointing the Tabernacle.