Commentaire de citation sur L’Exode 39:32

Thus Scripture states, His banner of love was over me, alluding to the camp of the shekhinah located in the midst of the four tribal ensigns, as it is written: “Then, midway between the divisions, the Tent of Meeting, the division of the Levites, shall move” [Num. 2:17].
And we have similarly found that the figures of the Tabernacle constitute a symbol of the Holy One, blessed be He, and of the world. So our sages have said: “R. Joshua of Sikhnin said in the name of R. Levi: ‘When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses “Make Me a sanctuary that I might dwell among you,” he was to erect four poles and stretch out the tabernacle upon them. This teaches that the Holy One showed him red fire, green fire, black fire, and white fire. He said to him: “follow the patterns … that are being shown to you on the mountain” [Exod. 25:40].’
“R. Berechyah said: ‘This can be likened in a parable to a king who had a wonderful garment made of pearls. He said to his retainer: “Make me another like this one.” The retainer said to him: “My lord king, can I really make one like it?” The king said: “I in accord with my glory, you in accord with your own material.” Similarly, our teacher Moses said to God: “Can I construct something like these?” God said: “In accord with their patterns, using blue, purple, and crimson yarns and fine linen.’”
“Thus is the entire world included within the construction of the sanctuary. Concerning the world it is written: ‘God created the heavens and the earth’ [Gen. 1:1] and ‘He stretches the heavens out like a curtain’ [Ps. 104:2]. The Tabernacle contained goat skins for its tent. On the second day it is written: ‘Let there be an expanse in the midst of the water, separating water from water’ [Gen. 1:6]. Concerning the tabernacle it states: ‘the curtain shall serve as a partition between the Holy and the Holy of Holies’ [Exod. 26:33]. On the third day of creation, ‘Let the waters under the sky be gathered into one area …’ [Gen. 1:9]. Concerning the sanctuary: ‘You shall make a brass basin’ [Exod. 30:18]. On the fourth day: ‘Let there be luminaries in the expanse of the sky’ [Gen. 1:14] while in the tabernacle there was the candelabrum of pure gold. On the fifth day of creation: ‘… and birds that fly above the earth’ [Gen. 1:20] while in the Sanctuary: ‘Let there be cherubim with outstretched wings’ [Exod. 25:20]. Humanity was created on the sixth day. Concerning the sanctuary it states: ‘Bring forward Aaron your brother’ [Exod. 28:1]. On the seventh day: ‘The heaven and the earth were completed’ [Gen. 2:1]. Concerning the tabernacle: ‘Thus was completed all of the work of the Tabernacle …’ [Exod. 39:32]. Concerning the work of Creation, it is written: ‘God blessed them’ [Gen. 1:33] and concerning the construction of the tabernacle: ‘Moses blessed them …’ [Exod. 39:43]. On the seventh day it states: ‘On the seventh day God finished the work that He had been doing’ [Gen. 2:2], concerning the tabernacle: ‘On the day which Moses completed …’ [Num. 7:1]. On the seventh day: ‘God sanctified it’ [Gen. 2:3]; concerning the tabernacle: ‘Moses consecrated it …’ [Num. 7:1].”⁷²Midrash Pesikta de-Rav Kahana 1.
All of the above alludes to the fact that this world draws its life and is connected and adheres to the name of the Holy One, blessed be He. So too the ark and its utensils are symbolic allusions. Above “seraphim stand” [Isa. 6:2]; below “acacia wood stands” [Exod. 26:16]. Above “He sits upon the cherubim” [Ps. 80:2]; below “cherubim of outstretched wing” [Exod. 37:9]. Above are the holy wheels (of Ezekiel’s vision); below “the structure of the wheels was like the structure of the wheel of the heavenly chariot-throne” [I Kings 7:33].

AND EVERY WISE-HEARTED MAN AMONG THEM THAT WROUGHT THE WORK, MADE THE TABERNACLE OF TEN CURTAINS. The Torah has repeated the [description of the] work of the Tabernacle five times.⁵⁵1. When commanding to make it — designating each part specifically [in the section of Terumah — Chapters 25-27, and in parts of Tetzaveh]. 2. In a general way [in the section of Ki Thisa — 31:6-11]. 3. At the time of the actual making thereof — in a general way [at the beginning of this section — 35:10-19]. 4. Specifically at the time of construction. For even though this is not mentioned expressly, yet Moses surely told them details, such as that the curtains should be of such and such a length, etc., as will be explained by Ramban further on. 5. The specific account of how each part was made [beginning with our verse here]. It mentions the whole of it at the time of the command in detail, and in general terms. First it says, “and you shall make it thus,” “and you shall make it thus,” and then it mentioned all things in a general way, and they will make all that I have commanded thee: the Tent of Meeting, and the ark of the Testimony,⁵⁶Above, 31:6-7. — This is the second time it is mentioned (see above, Note 55). until according to all that I have commanded thee shall they do.⁵⁷Ibid., Verse 11. The reason [why the command is repeated in a general way], is that G-d commanded Moses that he should tell Bezalel and Oholiab and all the wise men about the work in general terms, and only afterwards should they begin to do it, for they would not be suited for the sacred work until they had heard the scope of the whole undertaking and understood it all, and only then could they accept it upon themselves, when they know how to finish it. At the time of its actual construction he described it to them first in the general way as mentioned here, saying, let every wise-hearted man among you come, and make all that the Eternal hath commanded: the Tabernacle, its tent, etc.⁵⁸Ibid., 35:10-11. This is the third time (see Note 55). The statement of the details is, however, missing here; for surely Moses had to say to the wise men who did the work: “make the Tabernacle of ten curtains, each curtain of such-and-such a length and such-and-such a width,” and so on with the whole work. This procedure [of Moses’ telling the workers the exact details of the measurements] Scripture does not mention, for it is understood that he told them everything in order, since they made each part exactly as prescribed. And the reason why Scripture does not mention it is that it was not necessary for Moses to go with them into the smallest details as they are mentioned at the command and the construction; instead, he told it to them briefly, as if to say that they should make the Tabernacle of ten curtains, five opposite five, and they themselves understood that they had to make loops corresponding to clasps of gold in order to couple the curtains together. Similarly with the rest of the work, he hinted to them the matter in brief, and they understood everything. It is for this reason that Scripture does not dwell at length on this detail [of Moses’ instruction to the workers], since its hints [at the same time] at their wisdom, understanding, and good sense. After this Scripture describes again the whole work in a specific way as at first, stating, And every wise-hearted man among them that wrought the work made the Tabernacle; and he made curtains of goats’ hair;⁵⁹Further, Verse 14. and he made the boards etc.⁶⁰Ibid., Verse 20.
Now it would have been sufficient in this whole subject for Scripture to have said, “and Moses told the whole congregation of the children of Israel all the work which G-d had commanded him,” and then say, “and the children of Israel did according to all that the Eternal had commanded Moses, so did they.⁶¹Ibid., 39:42. And Moses saw all the work, and behold they had done it, as the Eternal had commanded, even so had they done it. And Moses blessed them.”⁶²Ibid., Verse 43. Scripture, however, wanted to state that Moses mentioned to the whole congregation of the children of Israel and the wise men who were there all the work in general, for he intended thereby to stir the people to donate sufficiently for the large work, and in order also that the wise men should hear [the entire scope of the work] and would know if they could undertake to do everything as he had been commanded. Then Scripture mentions in detail the whole work in order to tell us that all the wise men worked on the Tabernacle. It is with reference to this that Scripture states here, And every wise-hearted man among them that wrought the work made the Tabernacle of ten curtains. The verses stating, and he made curtains of goats’ hair,⁵⁹Further, Verse 14. and he made the boards,⁶⁰Ibid., Verse 20. mean: “and every wise-hearted man made the curtains of goats’ hair,” [not Bezalel alone].
In the case of the ark, however, Scripture mentions specifically, and Bezalel made the ark,⁶³Ibid., 37:1. in order to say that the greatest craftsman amongst them made the ark alone. The reason for this is because he was filled with the spirit of G-d, in wisdom, and understanding, and in knowledge,⁶⁴Above, 31:3. so that he could contemplate its meaning and make it with the proper intention. For in the actual making of the ark there was no great craftsmanship entailed, there being amongst the other work things which required greater skill than that of the ark. [Hence we must conclude that Bezalel was required to make the ark on account of its great significance.]
Then Scripture again states without elaboration, and he made the table,⁶⁵Further, 37:10. and he made the candelabrum.⁶⁶Ibid., Verse 17. In the opinion of Rabbi Abraham ibn Ezra,⁶³Ibid., 37:1. this alludes to Bezalel who made all the sacred vessels. But this is not my opinion, for in the case of the court of the Tabernacle it likewise says, and he made the court.⁶⁷Ibid., 38:9. And it would not be reasonable to say that Bezalel alone made the court. Rather, this refers back to every wise-hearted man as mentioned in the making of the Tabernacle.⁶⁸Mentioned here in the verse before us (36:8), and as explained above.
After Scripture completed the account of the construction of the Tabernacle in general and particular terms, it mentions their bringing it to Moses in a general way, stating, And they brought the Tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its vessels etc.,⁶⁹Further, 39:33. in order to tell of their wisdom, in that they brought everything in order and no one brought his work to Moses until the whole work had been completed, as Scripture says, Thus was finished all the work of the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.⁷⁰Ibid., Verse 32. After it was finished they all gathered and showed it to Moses in order, saying at first: “Our Rabbi, here is the Tent and there are its vessels,” and afterwards they said, “Here is the ark and here are its staves,” and so on with everything.
Now [in this whole section of Vayakheil] Scripture does not state that the Tabernacle and its vessels were made “as the Eternal commanded Moses.” But in the next section of Eileh Pekudei, with reference to the garments of priesthood, it mentions such a statement at each item. The reason for this is that the whole work of the Tabernacle is included in the verse mentioned at the end, And Bezalel the son of Uri… made all that the Eternal commanded Moses.⁷¹Ibid., 38:22. Perhaps it is because of the change of the order, as our Rabbis have mentioned.⁷²Berachoth 55a. Moses told Bezalel to make “the ark, vessels and the Tabernacle.” But Bezalel said to him, “It is the way of the world first to build a house and then to place in it its various utensils. Perhaps G-d told you to make the Tabernacle, and then the ark and vessels.” Moses consented, and Bezalel made them in this order.
In general, then, all this repetition in the account of the Tabernacle is a sign of love and distinction, showing that G-d desires the work, and He mentions it in His Torah many times in order to increase the reward of those who engage themselves in its study. This is similar to what the Rabbis have said in the Midrash:⁷³Bereshith Rabbah 60:11. “The ordinary conversation of the servants of the patriarchs’ homes is more pleasing to the Holy One, blessed be He, than even the Torah-discourses of their children, for the section about Eliezer [as he recounts his journey],⁷⁴Genesis 24:34-48. comprises two or three columns in the Torah, [whereas many important principles of the Torah are derived from only slight references in the text].”

V. 8 ff. Vergegenwärtigen wir uns, daß das ganze Heiligtum in allen seinen einzelnen Teilen symbolische Bedeutung haben sollte, daß aber kein Objekt als Symbol dastehen kann, wenn es nicht mit Absicht für diesen symbolischen Zweck bestimmt und hergestellt ist; vergegenwärtigen wir uns, daß selbst die Schrift, doch wie wir meinen sollten, so sehr symbolischer Natur, daß sie an sich gar keine andere Bedeutung zulässt und von selbst ihre Bedeutung in sich trägt, gleichwohl in ihrer heiligsten Anwendung von der mit den Schriftzeichen von dem Schreiber verbundenen Absicht bedingt ist, so daß ein ספר תורה nur dann קדושת ספר תורה hat, wenn es mit Absicht לשם קדושת ס׳׳ת geschrieben worden, ja, hinsichtlich der Gottesnamen, אזכרות, die Absicht, diese Schriftzeichen zum Ausdruck der Gottesnamen, לשם קדושת השם, zu schreiben, beim Schreiben einer jeden אזכרה wiederholt ausgesprochen, mindestens dem Geiste des Schreibenden gegenwärtig gewesen sein muss, und der Sinn, den der Schreibende mit den von ihm gemalten Schriftzügen verbindet, so sehr die Bedeutung derselben bedingt, daß sogar ס׳׳ת von welchem der Charakter und die Sinnesart ,ס׳׳ת daß sogar ein ,שכתבו מין ישרף des Schreibers voraussetzen lassen, er habe die von ihm geschriebenen Gottesnamen in einem der göttlichen Wahrheit entgegengesetzten Sinne לשם עבודה זרה geschrieben, geradezu zu verbrennen ist – siehe Jore Dea 274, 1; 276, 2 u. 284, 1 –; vergegenwärtigen wir uns, daß die Vergegenwärtigung der symbolischen Bedeutung bei Anfertigung von Gegenständen, wie diejenigen, aus welchen das Heiligtum bestand, um so notwendiger die ganze Wirklichkeit der symbolischen Bedeutung derselben bedingen dürfte, je mehr dies alles Gegenstände waren, die, wie Kasten, Tisch, Leuchter, Teppiche, Kleider usw. sonst in ganz gewöhnlicher, konkreter Bedeutung dastehen: so dürften uns diese Erwägungen wohl begreiflich erscheinen lassen, weshalb hier nun von Kap. 36, 8 bis Kap. 39, 32 die Anfertigung des Heiligtums nochmals in vollen Details, die wir bereits aus der Anordnung kennen, angeführt wird, sodann Kap. 39, 33-43 bei der Ablieferung nochmals alle einzelnen Stücke genannt, und ebenso Kap. 40, die Aufrichtung wiederholt in allen einzelnen Teilen berichtet wird, und sich nicht die Schrift einfach damit begnügt, zu erzählen: die Künstler und Werkmeister verfertigten alles nach Vorschrift, brachten es Mosche, und Mosche stellte das Heiligtum auf, wie ihm geboten war. Irren wir nicht, so soll uns mit dieser Ausführlichkeit gesagt sein, daß sowohl bei der Anfertigung, als bei der Ablieferung und endlich bei der Aufstellung den Künstlern und Mosche die heilige und symbolische Bestimmung bei jedem einzelnen der das Ganze konstituierenden Teile gegenwärtig und das Ganze und Einzelne in dem Sinne dieser Bestimmung angefertigt, gehandhabt und aufgestellt worden, und so durch Geist und Sinn der Herstellung dem Hergestellten Charakter und Bedeutung vindiziert war.