וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מִכְסֶה֙ לָאֹ֔הֶל עֹרֹ֥ת אֵילִ֖ם מְאָדָּמִ֑ים וּמִכְסֵ֛ה עֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (פ)
Buatlah juga penutup untuk kemah itu dari kulit domba jantan yang diwarnai merah, dan di atasnya penutup dari kulit hewan tahasy.
Kedushat Levi
Exodus 26,14. “skins of Tachash, to be placed on top.” Sometimes people make remarks in a jocular fashion, although the deeper meaning of their remarks does reflect reverence for G’d. These skins of Tachash used as the outermost coverings of the “roof” of the Tabernacle, symbolized this חצוניות, vernacular, secular, which though not valuable by itself, was put to good use as a cover, protection for the sacred content beneath the surface. When people known to revere G’d properly, nonetheless indulge in jocular remarks from time to time, this is not to be understood as lack of reverence for G’d, but is meant to make the substance of their remarks which are designed to bring people closer to G’d, more readily acceptable, as their listeners respond to jokes immediately. In the paragraph under discussion the words שש משזר, symbolize the real content of the conversation of people who forego the need to “spice” up their words by making jokes first. The words יריעות עזים, “sheets or carpets of goat-hair,” refer to people’s discussing their personal needs.