וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מָסָךְ֙ לְפֶ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֑ר מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה רֹקֵֽם׃
Sporządzisz téż kotarę do wnijścia namiotu z błękitu, i purpury, i karmazynu i bisioru kręconego, wyrobu wzorzystego.
Rabbeinu Bahya
I will now give you an explanation of a general nature:
Remember that the Tabernacle was 30 cubits long and 10 cubits wide. Its height was also 10 cubits. We know that it was 30 cubits long as in connection with the upright beams, קרשים, which formed the walls, the Torah wrote that 20 such beams be constructed for the wall for the south side (verse 18). Each beam was 11/2 cubits wide (verse 16) and its height was 10 cubits (verse 16). There were 20 such beams for the north wall and 20 for the south wall. The combined width of these 20 beams was 30 cubits, giving the Tabernacle an overall length of 30 cubits. We know that the Tabernacle’s width was 10 cubits as the Torah writes (verse 22) that for the back of the Tabernacle 6 beams were to be constructed. Add to this the fact that the Torah describes the western wall as comprising 8 beams (verse 25), plus the fact that two beams had been constructed to form the corners (verse 23) and you know that the two corner beams were positioned so that their width was facing west whereas their thickness was facing north and south respectively making the outside width of the Tabernacle 12 cubits. In other words, the inside measurement of the Tabernacle was 30 by 10, whereas the outside measurement was 31 by 12 cubits.
Onkelos translates the word ולירכתי, in verse 22 as ולסיפי, “and for the end of.” The reason he does so is that the western wall is the “end” of a process which began in the east, with the pillars and the curtain at the entrance to the Tabernacle. There were no beams at the eastern end of the Tabernacle. The five pillars which supported the מסך, “screening curtain,” formed the entrance to the Tabernacle on the eastern side (compare verse 36).
Remember that the Tabernacle was 30 cubits long and 10 cubits wide. Its height was also 10 cubits. We know that it was 30 cubits long as in connection with the upright beams, קרשים, which formed the walls, the Torah wrote that 20 such beams be constructed for the wall for the south side (verse 18). Each beam was 11/2 cubits wide (verse 16) and its height was 10 cubits (verse 16). There were 20 such beams for the north wall and 20 for the south wall. The combined width of these 20 beams was 30 cubits, giving the Tabernacle an overall length of 30 cubits. We know that the Tabernacle’s width was 10 cubits as the Torah writes (verse 22) that for the back of the Tabernacle 6 beams were to be constructed. Add to this the fact that the Torah describes the western wall as comprising 8 beams (verse 25), plus the fact that two beams had been constructed to form the corners (verse 23) and you know that the two corner beams were positioned so that their width was facing west whereas their thickness was facing north and south respectively making the outside width of the Tabernacle 12 cubits. In other words, the inside measurement of the Tabernacle was 30 by 10, whereas the outside measurement was 31 by 12 cubits.
Onkelos translates the word ולירכתי, in verse 22 as ולסיפי, “and for the end of.” The reason he does so is that the western wall is the “end” of a process which began in the east, with the pillars and the curtain at the entrance to the Tabernacle. There were no beams at the eastern end of the Tabernacle. The five pillars which supported the מסך, “screening curtain,” formed the entrance to the Tabernacle on the eastern side (compare verse 36).
Ramban
PA’AREI HAMIGBA’OTH.’ The term (the beautiful head-tires) means that these head-dresses rose upon the head like turbans, similar to the expressions, ‘hap’eirim’ (the head-tires) and the armlets;26Isaiah 3:20. ‘pa’arei’ (tires of) linen they shall have upon their heads.27Ezekiel 44:18.
Scripture explained with reference to the belt [in the following verse], that they made it of fine-twined linen, and blue-purple, and red-purple, and scarlet. This, however, was not explained at the command, except for that which it said briefly about the belt, that thou shalt make it the work of the weaver in colors,22Above, 28:39. from which it is known that it was to be woven of these four kinds, as it said with reference to the screen, And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue-purple, and red-purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen, the work of the weaver in colors.28Above, 26:36. This belt referred to was also for both Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the opinion of the Sage who says29Yoma 12a. The opinion is that of Rabbi Dosa (ibid., b). that the belt of the High Priest was made in the same way as that of the common priest. In the opinion, however, of the Sage who says30The opinion is that of Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. that the High Priest’s belt was not the same as that of the common priest, [for that of the common priest was merely of plain linen, whilst the High Priest’s was of the above-mentioned four kinds — blue-purple, red-purple, scarlet, and twined linen], Scripture explained with reference to the belt of Aaron that it should be the work of the weaver in colors,22Above, 28:39. but it was not even necessary to mention that the one for his sons should be made of linen, just as it said, And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make tunics, and thou shalt make for them belts, and head-tires shalt thou make for them,23Ibid., Verse 40. [and it is self-understood] that all of them should be made of linen just like the tunics.
Scripture explained with reference to the belt [in the following verse], that they made it of fine-twined linen, and blue-purple, and red-purple, and scarlet. This, however, was not explained at the command, except for that which it said briefly about the belt, that thou shalt make it the work of the weaver in colors,22Above, 28:39. from which it is known that it was to be woven of these four kinds, as it said with reference to the screen, And thou shalt make a screen for the door of the Tent, of blue-purple, and red-purple, and scarlet, and fine-twined linen, the work of the weaver in colors.28Above, 26:36. This belt referred to was also for both Aaron and his sons, in accordance with the opinion of the Sage who says29Yoma 12a. The opinion is that of Rabbi Dosa (ibid., b). that the belt of the High Priest was made in the same way as that of the common priest. In the opinion, however, of the Sage who says30The opinion is that of Rabbi Yehudah Hanasi. that the High Priest’s belt was not the same as that of the common priest, [for that of the common priest was merely of plain linen, whilst the High Priest’s was of the above-mentioned four kinds — blue-purple, red-purple, scarlet, and twined linen], Scripture explained with reference to the belt of Aaron that it should be the work of the weaver in colors,22Above, 28:39. but it was not even necessary to mention that the one for his sons should be made of linen, just as it said, And for Aaron’s sons thou shalt make tunics, and thou shalt make for them belts, and head-tires shalt thou make for them,23Ibid., Verse 40. [and it is self-understood] that all of them should be made of linen just like the tunics.