출애굽기 16:33의 주석

צנצנת is an earthern flask, as it is translated in the Targum (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 16:33).

ויאמר משה אל אהרן, Moses said this to Aaron only after the Sanctuary had been built and inaugurated, i.e. at least about 11 months later. Until then there had not been a Holy Ark.

In front of the Ark. . . [Rashi knows this] because wherever it is, it is before Hashem since the whole world is His. [Thus, the verse must be referring to Hashem’s special place.]

(Exodus 16:33) "And Moses said to Aaron: Take one tzintzeneth": I would not know what it is — whether of silver, or iron, or lead, or copper, or tin. It is, therefore, written "tzintzeneth" — something that can be seen through ("metztith"), i.e., an earthenware vessel (from which glass is made). "and put therein a full omer of manna and place it before the L rd as a keeping for your generations": R. Yehoshua says: for the fathers (i.e., for those of that generation). R. Eliezer says: for the days of the prophet Jeremiah. For when Jeremiah said to Israel: Why are you not studying Torah, they said to him: How will we feed ourselves? He took out the flask of manna and said to them (Jeremiah 2:31) "O generation, see the word of the L-td, etc." Your fathers, who studied Torah, see how they were fed. You, too, if you study Torah, the Holy One Blessed be He will feed you of this. And this is one of the three things that Eliyahu is destined to present to Israel: the flask of manna, the flask of the sprinkling waters (viz. Numbers 19:9), and the flask of the anointing oil, (viz. Exodus 30:31). Others say: Also the staff of Aaron, its almonds and its blossoms, (viz. Numbers 17:25).

V. 33. צנצנת, von צנן, eigentlich: scharf sein, spitz sein (das verstärkte שנן), daher צנינים: Stacheln und צנָה: Stachelschild. Dann auch die stechende Kälte צנַת שלג (Prov. 25, 13). Daher צנצנת: eine Kühlflasche. Wärme war, wie wir wissen, der Konsistenz des Manna schädlich. Das Gefäß, in welchem es so lange erhalten bleiben sollte, musste der Wärme am wenigsten Zugang lassen. Vielleicht ein Steingefäß. —

קח צנצנת אחת, “take a jar;” our author claims that the expression צנצנת suggests that it is made from a material from which something can sprout forth and be seen, in other words from earthenware as it is made from the earth.

‘והנח אתו לפני ה AND LAY IT UP BEFORE THE LORD — before the Ark; this verse, of course, was not spoken until the tent of meeting had been built and the Ark was placed therein, but it is written here in the chapter about the Manna, as being its appropriate place.