출애굽기 35:4의 인용 해설

זה הדבר אשר צוה ד׳. Die hohe Bedeutsamkeit des folgenden Gesetzes ist schon durch diese einleitenden Worte angekündigt. Nur noch einmal finden wir dieselbe Formel der Mitteilung geboten, bei צנצנת המן. Schmot 16, 16, wo der speziellen Fürsorge Gottes durch Bewahrung einer Flasche Manna ein ewiges Denkmal gestiftet werden soll, und auch sonst nur bei bedeutsam hervorragenden Institutionen im Munde Mosche, wie bei תרומת המשכן. (Schmot 35, 4), מלואים (Wajikra 8, 5 u. 9, 6), נדרים (Bamidbar 30, 2) und נחלה (daselbst 36, 6). Als gebotene Form der Mitteilung steht es nur hier und beim מן.

Each midrash is based on a different emphasis in the straightforward meaning [of the Torah]: Moshe's command in Parshat Ki Tissa is in the order, from inside to outside. The order of Moshe's instructions in our parsha (Vayakhel, Exodus 35:4-20) is from the outside to the inside. But while the order of setting up the tabernacle was actually from the cover and the building to the vessels and garments, note that Betzalel's name as the one doing it only appears next to the ark - "And Bezalel made the ark of acacia wood" (Exodus 37:1). Hence there is a need to deal with the question of the contradictory ideas of the two midrashim.

דבר אל בני ישראל ויקחו לי תרומה, tell the stewards of Israel that I desire that they should collect a contribution for Me. [the Torah had not specified “who” should take. Ed.] Moses also issued such instructions on his return from the mountain the third time as the Torah reports (Exodus 34,32) ואחרי כן נגשו כל בני ישראל, ויצום את כל אשר דבר ה' אתו בהר סיני, “after that all the people of Israel drew near, and he commanded them all that the Lord had talked about with him on Mount Sinai.” This was followed by ויאמר משה אל כל עדת בני ישראל קחו מאתכם תרומה in 35,4. The עדת בני ישראל who were to carry out this “taking (accepting) of the gifts were the Sanhedrin, the High Court. The Israelites were so anxious to contribute that they did not wait until the High Court organised all this, but they approached Moses personally bringing with them so many contributions that Moses was forced to call a halt to this (36,5). This was also the reason that there was nothing left for the princes of Israel (the tribal chiefs) to contribute other than the gemstones for Aaron’s breastplate and the various oils making up the “oil of anointing.”