וַיֹּ֣אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לֵאמֹ֑ר זֶ֣ה הַדָּבָ֔ר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לֵאמֹֽר׃
און משה האָט געזאָגט צו דער גאַנצער עדה פֿון די קינדער פֿון ישׂראל, אַזױ צו זאָגן: דאָס איז די זאַך װאָס גאָט האָט באַפֿױלן, אַזױ צו זאָגן:
Kedushat Levi
Baal Haturim points out already that the numerical value of the letters in the word אלה is 36 and not 39. He explains that the word דברים, minimum plural for “words,” adds another 2, and that the prefix ה in that word adds another 1 making a total of 39. He adds that though the expression הדברים occurs in the Torah repeatedly and the commentators saw nothing noteworthy in that expression, so that we must wonder why it is considered out of place here, the reason is that in connection with the Tabernacle itself, [the basis for the forbidden work categories on the Sabbath, Ed.] the Torah uses the expression: זה הדבר in the singular mode, whereas here it uses the plural mode, אלה הדברים.
Elaborating on the words of the Baal Haturim, our author continues: although in connection with the Tabernacle the reference was to physical work performed in the construction of that building, on the Sabbath, although our “activities” are restricted primarily to the mind and the expressions of our thoughts by words, i.e. making Kiddush, praying, reading from the Torah, etc., nonetheless these “activities” are considered as even more significant than the actual deeds when building the Tabernacle. This “superiority” of the Sabbath to the performance of the commandment to build the Tabernacle is hinted at by the word דברים here being used in the plural mode, whereas in the parallel paragraph dealing with the construction of the Tabernacle it is in the singular mode. (Compare 35,4). When observing the Sabbath by studying Torah, etc., the contribution we make to תקון העולם, “repairing any damage” to the world we live in, is even greater than the contribution made by Betzalel when he built the Tabernacle using his hands to perform physical tasks.
Elaborating on the words of the Baal Haturim, our author continues: although in connection with the Tabernacle the reference was to physical work performed in the construction of that building, on the Sabbath, although our “activities” are restricted primarily to the mind and the expressions of our thoughts by words, i.e. making Kiddush, praying, reading from the Torah, etc., nonetheless these “activities” are considered as even more significant than the actual deeds when building the Tabernacle. This “superiority” of the Sabbath to the performance of the commandment to build the Tabernacle is hinted at by the word דברים here being used in the plural mode, whereas in the parallel paragraph dealing with the construction of the Tabernacle it is in the singular mode. (Compare 35,4). When observing the Sabbath by studying Torah, etc., the contribution we make to תקון העולם, “repairing any damage” to the world we live in, is even greater than the contribution made by Betzalel when he built the Tabernacle using his hands to perform physical tasks.