Komentaryo sa Exodo 25:24: Rashi, Chizkuni, Ramban & Kli Yakar

זר זהב A BORDER OF GOLD — a symbol of the royal crown, for the table is an emblem of wealth and greatness, as may be seen from the fact that people speak of one’s “royal table” when they wish to state one is exceedingly wealthy (cf. Yoma 72b).

וצפית אותו זהב, “you are to cover its surface with gold.” The surface of the table was to be covered by a sheet of gold both on top and underneath it. This would still leave the wood of its legs visible. This is why the Torah added: ועשית זר זהב סביב, “you are to construct a golden molding around it.” This would cover all the exposed wooden parts of the table.

A CROWN OF GOLD ROUND ABOUT. “This is a symbol of the crown of royalty, for the table represents wealth and prominence, just as the Rabbis say¹¹⁹Yebamoth 24 b: “He who becomes a proselyte for the sake of ‘the royal table.’” ‘the royal table.’” This is Rashi’s language. And this explanation is indeed the truth, for in this lies the secret of the table [in the Tabernacle]. For since the time that the world came into existence, G-d’s blessing did not create something from nothing; instead, the world follows its natural course, for it is written, and G-d saw every thing that He had made, and behold, it was very good.¹²⁰Genesis 1:31. But when the root of the matter¹²¹Job 19:28. already exists, the blessing descends upon it and increases it, just as Elisha said, tell me; what hast thou in the house?¹²²II Kings 4:2. and then the blessing came upon the pot of oil that she already had, and she filled all the vessels from it.¹²³Ibid., 6. And in the case of Elijah it is said, The jar of meal was not spent, neither did the cruse of oil fail.¹²⁴I Kings 17:16. And so also was the case with the showbread on the table; upon it rested the blessing, and from it came abundance to all Israel. That is why the Rabbis have said:¹²⁵Yoma 39a. “Every priest who received even only as much as the size of a bean [of the showbread] ate it and was satisfied.”