Comentario sobre Exodo 25:3

זהב וכסף ונחשת וגו׳ GOLD AND SILVER AND COPPER etc. — All these came (were brought) as voluntary gifts, each man giving as his heart prompted him, except that silver which was brought by all in equal quantities (cf. Rashi above), a half shekel by each person. For we do not find in the account of the entire work connected with the Tabernacle that any silver was needed for the work there described in detail over and above this, for it is said, (Exodus 38:25-26) “And the silver of them who were numbered of the congregation [was an hundred talents, etc.] … a beka for every man etc.” and vv. 27 and 28 inform us that of this silver were made the Sockets and the hooks. Of the other silver which came (was brought) there, as a free-will gift they made the holy vessels (lit., vessels for service), and it is this silver that is referred to in this verse and which is stated in the preceding verse as having been brought voluntarily.

V’ZOTH’ (AND THIS) IS THE OFFERING. By way of the Truth, [the mystic lore of the Cabala], this is like the expression, And the Eternal gave Solomon wisdom.³³I Kings 5:26. — See my Hebrew commentary p. 454 that in the word zoth Cabalists saw an allusion to the Divine Glory. It is also written: ‘v’zoth’ (and this) is it that their father spoke unto them and blessed them;³⁴Genesis 49:28. ‘v’zoth’ (and this) is the blessing;³⁵Deuteronomy 33:1. the Eternal’s doing is ‘zoth’ (this).³⁶Psalms 118:23. — Bereshith Rabbah 100:12. The Rabbis have already alluded to this in Bereshith Rabbah on the basis of the verse, I understand from the elders.³⁶Psalms 118:23. — Bereshith Rabbah 100:12. The discerning student will understand.
And in Eileh Shemoth Rabbah³⁷Shemoth Rabbah 49:2. the Rabbis have said: “And this is the offering which ye shall take of them — this refers to the congregation of Israel, which is the heave-offering, as it is said, Israel is the Eternal’s hallowed portion, His first-fruits of the increase.”³⁸Jeremiah 2:3. And it is also said there:³⁹Shemoth Rabbah 33:1. “The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: I have sold you My Torah; and I, as it were, was sold with it, for it is said, ‘v’yikchu li terumah’” [which the Midrash takes to mean: “and they shall acquire Me as an offering”]. For the offering shall be Mine, and I am with it, similar to: My beloved is mine, and I am his.⁴⁰Song of Songs 2:16. Similarly, He said, according to all that I show thee,⁴¹Further, Verse 9. for it is I who show [the pattern of the Tabernacle, and the pattern of all its vessels]. The statement, it hath been shown to thee,⁴²Ibid., 27:8. also alludes to the word “I”; similarly, which is being shown to thee.⁴³Further, Verse 40. And so did David say, All this [do I give thee] in writing, as the Eternal hath made me wise by His hand upon me,⁴⁴I Chronicles 28:19. for the hand of G-d was upon David [to show him the pattern of the Sanctuary and of all its works].

וזאת התרומה, the word זאת means that no substitutes for the materials listed would be acceptable, such as perishables, for instance. Even the kind of gemstones (pearls, for instance) not usable for Aaron’s breastplate, were not accepted. The only type of contributions that were accepted were those that in themselves would be usable in the construction of the Tabernacle and its paraphernalia.