📜 פָּרָשַׁת תְּרוּמָה | Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19), color-coded according to its narrative layers

Source Link: https://opensiddur.org/?p=23580

open_content_license: Fair Use Right (17 U.S. Code §107 - Limitations on exclusive rights: Fair use)

Date: 2019-02-02

Last Updated: 2021-02-26

Categories: Sefer Shemot (Exodus), Parashat Terumah

Tags: 33rd century A.M., 6th century B.C.E., annual Torah reading cycle, mythopoesis, redaction criticism, supplementary hypothesis, the menorah, המשכן the Mishkan, פרשות parashot, פרשת השבוע Parashat haShavua, פרשת תרומה parashat Terumah

Excerpt: The text of parashat Terumah, distinguished according to the stratigraphic layers of its composition according to the Supplementary Hypothesis. . . .


Content:
According to the poetry of the Midrash Tanḥuma, Bereshit 1:1, the words of the Torah were inscribed “black fire on white fire.” For many years, I’ve wanted to look deeply into the black fire and visualize the full spectrum of the Torah’s sources, hidden within the black fire but revealed through a critical analysis of its layers of redaction. Below, I’ve set the text of the Torah portion in the annual Torah reading cycle, using color-coding to distinguish the stratigraphic layers forming the composition of the Masoretic text according to the Supplementary Hypothesis presented by Tsemaḥ Yoreh in his Kernel to Canon series of books (2013-2017) and his website, the Sources of Biblical Narrative. As Dr. Yoreh explains,

The Supplementary Hypothesis asserts that the Pentateuch was composed by several different writers. This reflects an overwhelming academic consensus on Biblical authorship, even among scholars who do not subscribe to the Supplementary Hypothesis in particular.[….] According to the Supplementary Hypothesis, Biblical narrative is layered. No editor took a blowtorch to the parts of the Bible he disagreed with and destroyed them; if he had, we would not find these repetitions and contradictions. Instead, Biblical narrative began with a coherent, foundational bedrock, which over time accreted more and more storylines. Unlike geological processes, though, this process of addition was deliberate. What happened if one author disagreed with his predecessor’s storyline or worldview? He did not simply take an axe to the narrative; instead, he attempted to bury his predecessor’s point of view by repeating his own over and over again, thus skewing our understanding of the story in new ways. Every generation of readers sees the world differently, and thus every generation of writers seeks to adapt their predecessors’ cultural heritage to their own situation. We are not meant simply to dismiss earlier stories; rather, the intention of later writers is to transform our understanding of those stories via their additions.

Legend

⬛ The kernel of biblical text upon which all other narratives were laid is thought to have been composed in the mid- to late eighth century BCE toward the end of the heyday of the northern Kingdom of Ephraim (one of the two kingdoms that occupied Biblical Israel). This layer, commonly referred to as ‘E’, is indicated with INDIGO text. The first parashah containing text of this layer was parashat Vayera in Sefer Bereshit.

⬛ The next oldest layer is thought to have been composed in the late 8th or early 7th century BCE in the southern Kingdom of Judah. This layer, commonly known as ‘J’, is indicated with a BLUE text.

⬛ This strata, thought to have been composed during the exilic to early post-exilic period (571–486 BCE) is, as Dr. Yoreh explains, “responsible for supplementing the ‘J’ narrative with dates, names, and numbers, thus ‘ordering’ and authenticating ‘J’s account.” This layer, commonly referred to as ‘P’ (for ‘Priestly’) appears here in GREEN text.

⬛ The next strata popularized Kohanite law for the remnant of Judah after the Temple was destroyed, and functioned as an intermediary between Kohanite lists and laws and the surrounding narrative. This layer, which Dr. Yoreh calls ‘H’ (for the ‘Holiness Code’) appears here in LIME-GREEN text.

⬛ The most recent layer of text, is a post-exilic (pre-3rd century BCE) text that Dr. Yoreh refers to as the “Bridger” which supplements earlier strata with genealogies and popular myths, providing narrative bridges between distant story cycles. This ‘B’ layer is presented here in FUCHSIA.

The kernel of biblical text ‘E,’ its early supplemental layer ‘J’, and its later supplement ‘B,’ are absent from this parashah.

Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) in the annual Torah reading cycle, is read on the first shabbat of the month of Adar (or Adar Alef in a Jewish leap year). The parashah is preceded by parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-24:18); parashat T’tsavveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) follows it.

Source (Hebrew) Translation (English)
כה א וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ ב דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כׇּל־אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־תְּרוּמָתִֽי׃ ג וְזֹאת֙ הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּקְח֖וּ מֵאִתָּ֑ם זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ד וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים׃ ה וְעֹרֹ֨ת אֵילִ֧ם מְאׇדָּמִ֛ים וְעֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים וַעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים׃ ו שֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּאֹ֑ר בְּשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃ ז אַבְנֵי־שֹׁ֕הַם וְאַבְנֵ֖י מִלֻּאִ֑ים לָאֵפֹ֖ד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן׃ ח וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ ט כְּכֹ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מַרְאֶ֣ה אוֹתְךָ֔ אֵ֚ת תַּבְנִ֣ית הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת תַּבְנִ֣ית כׇּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְכֵ֖ן תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃
25 1 Now YHVH spoke to Moshe, saying: 2 “Speak to the Children of Yisrael, that they may take me a raised-contribution; from every man whose heart makes-him-willing, you are to take my contribution. 3 And this is the contribution that you are to take from them: gold, silver, and bronze, 4 blue-violet, purple, and worm-scarlet (yarn), byssus, and goats’-hair, 5 rams’ skins dyed-red, faience beaded-leather skins, acacia wood, 6 oil for lighting, spices for oil of anointing and for fragrant smoking-incense, 7 onyx stones, stones for setting for the efōd and for the breastpiece. 8 Let them make me a Holy-shrine that I may dwell amidst them.[1] In Chapter 25-27 the Priestly source describes the construction of the desert Tabernacle and the furniture and vessels therein. The desert Tabernacle is a portable model of the future temple in Jerusalem, described in detail in I Kings 6-8. The “Tabernacle” and the “Tent of Meeting” are terms that are used interchangeably in P; though, if one wants to be exact the “Tent of Meeting” is where God reveals himself to Moses and Aaron, whereas the “Tabernacle” is where sacrifices and other parts of Israelite cult are enacted. ¶ The Tabernacle or The Tent of Meeting stand at the center of the Israelite camp as detailed in the first chapter of Numbers. This contrasts with the Tent of Meeting in J, which according to Exodus 33:7, was specifically far away from the camp, and was a place where people seeking the Lord could come, rather than a center of cult.  9 According to all that I grant you to see, the building-pattern of the Dwelling/Mishkan and the building-pattern of all its implements, thus are you to make it.”[2] There are two competing models as to how the vessels of the tabernacle were constructed. The first is the architectural model, envisioned by P. The vessel is described by the Lord, and then the craftsmen construct it. The second model posits that it is not enough for the vessel to be described, it also must be shown. For this reason H, carefully emphasizes a fair number of times that construction of vessels was visually transmitted to Moses by the Lord. 
י וְעָשׂ֥וּ אֲר֖וֹן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֨יִם וָחֵ֜צִי אָרְכּ֗וֹ וְאַמָּ֤ה וָחֵ֙צִי֙ רׇחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ יא וְצִפִּיתָ֤ אֹתוֹ֙ זָהָ֣ב טָה֔וֹר מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ תְּצַפֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ עָלָ֛יו זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃ יב וְיָצַ֣קְתָּ לּ֗וֹ אַרְבַּע֙ טַבְּעֹ֣ת זָהָ֔ב וְנָ֣תַתָּ֔ה עַ֖ל אַרְבַּ֣ע פַּעֲמֹתָ֑יו וּשְׁתֵּ֣י טַבָּעֹ֗ת עַל־צַלְעוֹ֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ת וּשְׁתֵּי֙ טַבָּעֹ֔ת עַל־צַלְע֖וֹ הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃ יג וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בַדֵּ֖י עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָֽב׃ יד וְהֵֽבֵאתָ֤ אֶת־הַבַּדִּים֙ בַּטַּבָּעֹ֔ת עַ֖ל צַלְעֹ֣ת הָאָרֹ֑ן לָשֵׂ֥את אֶת־הָאָרֹ֖ן בָּהֶֽם׃ טו בְּטַבְּעֹת֙ הָאָרֹ֔ן יִהְי֖וּ הַבַּדִּ֑ים לֹ֥א יָסֻ֖רוּ מִמֶּֽנּוּ׃ טז וְנָתַתָּ֖ אֶל־הָאָרֹ֑ן אֵ֚ת הָעֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶתֵּ֖ן אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ שני יז וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ כַפֹּ֖רֶת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר אַמָּתַ֤יִם וָחֵ֙צִי֙ אׇרְכָּ֔הּ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי רׇחְבָּֽהּ׃ יח וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ שְׁנַ֥יִם כְּרֻבִ֖ים זָהָ֑ב מִקְשָׁה֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֔ם מִשְּׁנֵ֖י קְצ֥וֹת הַכַּפֹּֽרֶת׃ יט וַ֠עֲשֵׂ֠ה כְּר֨וּב אֶחָ֤ד מִקָּצָה֙ מִזֶּ֔ה וּכְרוּב־אֶחָ֥ד מִקָּצָ֖ה מִזֶּ֑ה מִן־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת תַּעֲשׂ֥וּ אֶת־הַכְּרֻבִ֖ים עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י קְצוֹתָֽיו׃ כ וְהָי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶ֨ל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת יִהְי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ כא וְנָתַתָּ֧ אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת עַל־הָאָרֹ֖ן מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶל־הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן תִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶתֵּ֖ן אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ כב וְנוֹעַדְתִּ֣י לְךָ֮ שָׁם֒ וְדִבַּרְתִּ֨י אִתְּךָ֜ מֵעַ֣ל הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת מִבֵּין֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵדֻ֑ת אֵ֣ת כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֲצַוֶּ֛ה אוֹתְךָ֖ אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
10 “They are to make a chest/Arōn of acacia wood, two cubits and a half its length, a cubit and a half its width, and a cubit and a half its height. 11 You are to overlay it with pure gold, inside and outside you are to overlay it, and are to make upon it a rim of gold all around. 12 You are to cast for it four rings of gold and are to put them upon its four feet, with two rings on its one flank and two rings on its second flank. 13 You are to make poles of acacia wood and are to overlay them with gold 14 and are to bring the poles into the rings on the flanks of the Arōn, to carry the Arōn by (means of) them. 15 In the rings of the Arōn are the poles to remain, they are not to be removed from it.[3] The construction of the most important vessel is described first. The ark is featured in many subsequent narratives (Priestly and later) as God’s presence among the armed forces. It is the place where the ten commandments will be kept, as well as other important relics.  16 And you are to put in the Arōn the Edut/Testimony that I give you.[4] This eye toward future narratives, i.e. Moses receiving the tablets of law from God, is uncharacteristic of P’s narrow focus on the construction of the vessels, and may very well have been added by H.  17 You are to make a cover/Kaporet of pure gold, two cubits and a half its length and a cubit and a half its width. 18 You are to make two winged-sphinxes/Keruvim of gold, of hammered-work are you to make them, at the two ends of the Kaporet. 19 Make one Keruv at the end here and one Keruv at the end there; from the Kaporet are you to make the two Keruvim, at its two ends. 20 And the Keruvim are to be spreading (their) wings upward with their wings sheltering the Kaporet, their faces, each-one toward the other; toward the Kaporet are the Keruvim faces to be.[5] The function of the Cherubim is left undetailed in P. The less exact information about where and how the Lord reveals himself the better, according to this source.  21 You are to put the Kaporet on the Arōn, above it, and in the Arōn you are to put the édut/testimony that I give you. 22 I will appoint-meeting with you there and I will speak with you from above the Kaporet, from between the Keruvim that are on the Arōn ha-Edut – all that I command you concerning the Children of Yisrael.”[6] Once again the narrow focus upon the construction of the Tabernacle is interrupted by the broader narrative context. Here God specifies that it is by the Ark and the “mercy seat” where he will reveal himself and transmit the laws. Since none of the rest of the Tabernacle has been constructed and the laws haven’t been given this information is not yet relevant, and may have very well been added by H. 
כג וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ שֻׁלְחָ֖ן עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים אַמָּתַ֤יִם אׇרְכּוֹ֙ וְאַמָּ֣ה רׇחְבּ֔וֹ וְאַמָּ֥ה וָחֵ֖צִי קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ כד וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹת֖וֹ זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ לּ֛וֹ זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב׃ כה וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ לּ֥וֹ מִסְגֶּ֛רֶת טֹ֖פַח סָבִ֑יב וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ זֵר־זָהָ֛ב לְמִסְגַּרְתּ֖וֹ סָבִֽיב׃ כו וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לּ֔וֹ אַרְבַּ֖ע טַבְּעֹ֣ת זָהָ֑ב וְנָתַתָּ֙ אֶת־הַטַּבָּעֹ֔ת עַ֚ל אַרְבַּ֣ע הַפֵּאֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֖ר לְאַרְבַּ֥ע רַגְלָֽיו׃ כז לְעֻמַּת֙ הַמִּסְגֶּ֔רֶת תִּהְיֶ֖יןָ הַטַּבָּעֹ֑ת לְבָתִּ֣ים לְבַדִּ֔ים לָשֵׂ֖את אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן׃ כח וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ אֶת־הַבַּדִּים֙ עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹתָ֖ם זָהָ֑ב וְנִשָּׂא־בָ֖ם אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָֽן׃ כט וְעָשִׂ֨יתָ קְּעָרֹתָ֜יו וְכַפֹּתָ֗יו וּקְשׂוֹתָיו֙ וּמְנַקִּיֹּתָ֔יו אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֻסַּ֖ךְ בָּהֵ֑ן זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃ ל וְנָתַתָּ֧ עַֽל־הַשֻּׁלְחָ֛ן לֶ֥חֶם פָּנִ֖ים לְפָנַ֥י תָּמִֽיד׃
23 “You are to make a Table/Shulḥan of acacia wood, two cubits its length, a cubit its width, and a cubit and a half its height; 24 you are to overlay it with pure gold. You are to make a rim of gold for it, all around, 25 you are to make for it a border, a handbreadth all around, thus you are to make a rim of gold for its border, all around. 26 You are to make for it four rings of gold and are to put the rings at the four edges, where its four legs (are). 27 Parallel to the border are the rings to be, as holders for the poles, to carry the Shulḥan. 28 You are to make the poles of acacia wood, and are to overlay them with gold, that the Shulḥan may be carried by (means of) them.[7] As was the case with the Ark of the Covenant in vs. 25, the last thing to be constructed is the poles to carry it, and see the following comment.  29 You are to make its plates and its ladles, its jars and its jugs, from which (offerings) are poured; of pure gold are you to make them. 30 And you are to put on the Shulḥan the Bread of the Presence/Leḥem Panim, before my presence, regularly.”[8] Once again the narrow architectural focus is interrupted, by later considerations. The table’s accoutrements and the bread to be served on it, are only of interest following the construction, not prior to the construction. 
לא וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מְנֹרַ֖ת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר מִקְשָׁ֞ה תֵּעָשֶׂ֤ה‏[9] בספרי ספרד ואשכנז תֵּיעָשֶׂ֤ה  הַמְּנוֹרָה֙ יְרֵכָ֣הּ וְקָנָ֔הּ גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥יהָ וּפְרָחֶ֖יהָ מִמֶּ֥נָּה יִהְיֽוּ׃ לב וְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה קָנִ֔ים יֹצְאִ֖ים מִצִּדֶּ֑יהָ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה ׀ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֗ה מִצִּדָּהּ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֔ה מִצִּדָּ֖הּ הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃ לג שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְ֠בִעִ֠ים מְֽשֻׁקָּדִ֞ים בַּקָּנֶ֣ה הָאֶחָד֮ כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפֶ֒רַח֒ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְבִעִ֗ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֛ים בַּקָּנֶ֥ה הָאֶחָ֖ד כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפָ֑רַח כֵּ֚ן לְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃ לד וּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה גְבִעִ֑ים מְשֻׁ֨קָּדִ֔ים כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ וּפְרָחֶֽיהָ׃ לה וְכַפְתֹּ֡ר תַּ֩חַת֩ שְׁנֵ֨י הַקָּנִ֜ים מִמֶּ֗נָּה וְכַפְתֹּר֙ תַּ֣חַת שְׁנֵ֤י הַקָּנִים֙ מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְכַפְתֹּ֕ר תַּחַת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַקָּנִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑נָּה לְשֵׁ֙שֶׁת֙ הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃ לו כַּפְתֹּרֵיהֶ֥ם וּקְנֹתָ֖ם מִמֶּ֣נָּה יִהְי֑וּ כֻּלָּ֛הּ מִקְשָׁ֥ה אַחַ֖ת זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר׃ לז וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־נֵרֹתֶ֖יהָ שִׁבְעָ֑ה וְהֶֽעֱלָה֙ אֶת־נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהֵאִ֖יר עַל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנֶֽיהָ׃ לח וּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ וּמַחְתֹּתֶ֖יהָ זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר׃ לט כִּכָּ֛ר זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑הּ אֵ֥ת כׇּל־הַכֵּלִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃ מ וּרְאֵ֖ה וַעֲשֵׂ֑ה בְּתַ֨בְנִיתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה מׇרְאֶ֖ה בָּהָֽר׃
31 “You are to make a lampstand/Menorah of pure gold; of hammered-work is the Menorah to be made, its shaft and its stem; its goblets, its knobs and its blossoms are to be from it. 32 Six stems issue from its sides, three lamp-stems from the one side, and three lamp-stems from the second side: 33 three almond-shaped goblets on the one stem, with knobs and blossoms, and three almond-shaped goblets on the other stem, with knobs and blossoms – thus for the six stems that issue from the Menorah; 34 and on the Menorah (itself) four almond-shaped goblets, with their knobs and their blossoms, 35 a knob beneath two stems, from it, a knob beneath two stems, from it, and a knob beneath two stems, from it, for the six stems that issue from the Menorah. 36 Their knobs and their stems are to be from it, all of it hammered-work, of pure gold. 37 You are to make its lamps, seven (of them), you are to draw up its lampwicks so that they light up (the space) across from it. 38 And its tongs and its trays (shall be) of pure gold.[10] This concludes the construction of the vessels of the tabernacle; the following chapter will detail the construction of the actual tabernacle.  39 (From) an ingot of pure gold they are to make it, together with all these implements. 40 Now see and make, according to their building-pattern which you are granted to see upon the mountain.”[11] Verse 39, which repeats vs. 38 (that the material used in the construction of the dishes must be gold) and offers a summary, leads into vs. 40, which emphasizes once more, that not only were detailed instructions transmitted to Moses (P), but he was actually shown pictures of the vessels (H). 
שלישי כו א וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עֶ֣שֶׂר יְרִיעֹ֑ת שֵׁ֣שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י כְּרֻבִ֛ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֖ב תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃ ב אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֖ת לְכׇל־הַיְרִיעֹֽת׃ ג חֲמֵ֣שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֑הּ וְחָמֵ֤שׁ יְרִיעֹת֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָֽהּ׃ ד וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ לֻֽלְאֹ֣ת תְּכֵ֗לֶת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָאֶחָ֔ת מִקָּצָ֖ה בַּחֹבָ֑רֶת וְכֵ֤ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּשְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַקִּ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה בַּמַּחְבֶּ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃ ה חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת תַּעֲשֶׂה֮ בַּיְרִיעָ֣ה הָאֶחָת֒ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַיְרִיעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בַּמַּחְבֶּ֣רֶת הַשֵּׁנִ֑ית מַקְבִּילֹת֙ הַלֻּ֣לָאֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָֽהּ׃ ו וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים קַרְסֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וְחִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֶת־הַיְרִיעֹ֜ת אִשָּׁ֤ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָהּ֙ בַּקְּרָסִ֔ים וְהָיָ֥ה הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן אֶחָֽד׃
26 1 “Now the Mishkan you are to make from ten tapestries of twisted byssus, blue-violet, purple and worm-scarlet (yarn), with Keruvim, of designer’s making, you are to make it. 2 The length of each one tapestry (shall be) twenty-eight by the cubit, and the width, four by the cubit of each one tapestry, one measure for all of the tapestries. 3 Five of the tapestries are to be joined, each-one to the other, and five tapestries joined, each-one to the other. 4 You are to make loops of blue-violet on the edge of one tapestry, at the end of the one joint; and thus you are to make at the edge of the end tapestry, at the second joint. 5 Fifty loops are you to make on the first tapestry, and fifty loops are you to make at the end of the tapestry that is at the second joint, the loops opposite, each-one from the other. 6 You are to make fifty clasps of gold and you are to join the tapestries, each-one to the other, with the clasps, so that the Mishkan may be one-piece.”
ז וְעָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ יְרִיעֹ֣ת עִזִּ֔ים לְאֹ֖הֶל עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן עַשְׁתֵּי־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה יְרִיעֹ֖ת תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃ ח אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה יְרִיעֹֽת׃ ט וְחִבַּרְתָּ֞ אֶת־חֲמֵ֤שׁ הַיְרִיעֹת֙ לְבָ֔ד וְאֶת־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֖ת לְבָ֑ד וְכָפַלְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔ית אֶל־מ֖וּל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֹֽהֶל׃ י וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ת הַקִּיצֹנָ֖ה בַּחֹבָ֑רֶת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת עַ֚ל שְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַחֹבֶ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃ יא וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ קַרְסֵ֥י נְחֹ֖שֶׁת חֲמִשִּׁ֑ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֤ אֶת־הַקְּרָסִים֙ בַּלֻּ֣לָאֹ֔ת וְחִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֶת־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְהָיָ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃ יב וְסֶ֙רַח֙ הָעֹדֵ֔ף בִּירִיעֹ֖ת הָאֹ֑הֶל חֲצִ֤י הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָעֹדֶ֔פֶת תִּסְרַ֕ח עַ֖ל אֲחֹרֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ יג וְהָאַמָּ֨ה מִזֶּ֜ה וְהָאַמָּ֤ה מִזֶּה֙ בָּעֹדֵ֔ף בְּאֹ֖רֶךְ יְרִיעֹ֣ת הָאֹ֑הֶל יִהְיֶ֨ה סָר֜וּחַ עַל־צִדֵּ֧י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה לְכַסֹּתֽוֹ׃ יד וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מִכְסֶה֙ לָאֹ֔הֶל עֹרֹ֥ת אֵילִ֖ם מְאׇדָּמִ֑ים וּמִכְסֵ֛ה עֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃
7 “You are to make the tapestries of goats’-hair for a tent over the Mishkan, eleven tapestries you are to make them. 8 The length of each one tapestry (shall be) thirty by the cubit, and the width, four by the cubit, for each one tapestry, one measure for the eleven tapestries. 9 You are to join five of the tapestries separately and six of the tapestries separately, but you are to double over the sixth tapestry, facing the tent. 10 You are to make fifty loops at the edge of the one tapestry, the end-one, at the joint, and fifty loops at the end of the second joining tapestry. 11 You are to make clasps of bronze, fifty, and you are to bring the clasps into the loops, so that you join the tent together, that it may become one-piece. 12 And as for the extension that overlaps in the tapestries of the tent, half of the overlapping tapestry you are to extend over the back of the Mishkan. 13 The cubit over here and the cubit over there of the overlap, in the long-part of the tapestries of the tent, is to be extended over the sides of the tent over here and over there, in order to cover it. 14 You are to make a covering for the tent of rams’ skins dyed-red, and a covering of faience beaded-leather skins, above it.”
רביעי טו וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־הַקְּרָשִׁ֖ים לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן עֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּ֖ים עֹמְדִֽים׃ טז עֶ֥שֶׂר אַמּ֖וֹת אֹ֣רֶךְ הַקָּ֑רֶשׁ וְאַמָּה֙ וַחֲצִ֣י הָֽאַמָּ֔ה רֹ֖חַב הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁ הָאֶחָֽד׃ יז שְׁתֵּ֣י יָד֗וֹת לַקֶּ֙רֶשׁ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד מְשֻׁ֨לָּבֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֑הּ כֵּ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה לְכֹ֖ל קַרְשֵׁ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃ יח וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־הַקְּרָשִׁ֖ים לַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן עֶשְׂרִ֣ים קֶ֔רֶשׁ לִפְאַ֖ת נֶ֥גְבָּה תֵימָֽנָה׃ יט וְאַרְבָּעִים֙ אַדְנֵי־כֶ֔סֶף תַּעֲשֶׂ֕ה תַּ֖חַת עֶשְׂרִ֣ים הַקָּ֑רֶשׁ שְׁנֵ֨י אֲדָנִ֜ים תַּֽחַת־הַקֶּ֤רֶשׁ הָאֶחָד֙ לִשְׁתֵּ֣י יְדֹתָ֔יו וּשְׁנֵ֧י אֲדָנִ֛ים תַּֽחַת־הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁ הָאֶחָ֖ד לִשְׁתֵּ֥י יְדֹתָֽיו׃ כ וּלְצֶ֧לַע הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן הַשֵּׁנִ֖ית לִפְאַ֣ת צָפ֑וֹן עֶשְׂרִ֖ים קָֽרֶשׁ׃ כא וְאַרְבָּעִ֥ים אַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם כָּ֑סֶף שְׁנֵ֣י אֲדָנִ֗ים תַּ֚חַת הַקֶּ֣רֶשׁ הָֽאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י אֲדָנִ֔ים תַּ֖חַת הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁ הָאֶחָֽד׃ כב וּֽלְיַרְכְּתֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן יָ֑מָּה תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה שִׁשָּׁ֥ה קְרָשִֽׁים׃ כג וּשְׁנֵ֤י קְרָשִׁים֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֔ה לִמְקֻצְעֹ֖ת הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן בַּיַּרְכָתָֽיִם׃ כד וְיִֽהְי֣וּ תֹֽאֲמִם֮ מִלְּמַ֒טָּה֒ וְיַחְדָּ֗ו יִהְי֤וּ תַמִּים֙ עַל־רֹאשׁ֔וֹ אֶל־הַטַּבַּ֖עַת הָאֶחָ֑ת כֵּ֚ן יִהְיֶ֣ה לִשְׁנֵיהֶ֔ם לִשְׁנֵ֥י הַמִּקְצֹעֹ֖ת יִהְיֽוּ׃ כה וְהָיוּ֙ שְׁמֹנָ֣ה קְרָשִׁ֔ים וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֣ם כֶּ֔סֶף שִׁשָּׁ֥ה עָשָׂ֖ר אֲדָנִ֑ים שְׁנֵ֣י אֲדָנִ֗ים תַּ֚חַת הַקֶּ֣רֶשׁ הָאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁנֵ֣י אֲדָנִ֔ים תַּ֖חַת הַקֶּ֥רֶשׁ הָאֶחָֽד׃ כו וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ בְרִיחִ֖ם עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים חֲמִשָּׁ֕ה לְקַרְשֵׁ֥י צֶֽלַע־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן הָאֶחָֽד׃ כז וַחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה בְרִיחִ֔ם לְקַרְשֵׁ֥י צֶֽלַע־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן הַשֵּׁנִ֑ית וַחֲמִשָּׁ֣ה בְרִיחִ֗ם לְקַרְשֵׁי֙ צֶ֣לַע הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן לַיַּרְכָתַ֖יִם יָֽמָּה׃ כח וְהַבְּרִ֥יחַ הַתִּיכֹ֖ן בְּת֣וֹךְ הַקְּרָשִׁ֑ים מַבְרִ֕חַ מִן־הַקָּצֶ֖ה אֶל־הַקָּצֶֽה׃ כט וְֽאֶת־הַקְּרָשִׁ֞ים תְּצַפֶּ֣ה זָהָ֗ב וְאֶת־טַבְּעֹֽתֵיהֶם֙ תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה זָהָ֔ב בָּתִּ֖ים לַבְּרִיחִ֑ם וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֶת־הַבְּרִיחִ֖ם זָהָֽב׃ ל וַהֲקֵמֹתָ֖ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן כְּמִ֨שְׁפָּט֔וֹ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הׇרְאֵ֖יתָ בָּהָֽר׃
15 “You are to make boards for the Mishkan of acacia wood, standing-upright; 16 ten cubits, the length of a board, and a cubit and a half, the width of each one board; 17 with two pegs for each one board, parallel one to the other, thus are you to make for all the boards of the Mishkan. 18 And you are to make the boards for the Mishkan: twenty as boardwork on the Negev border, southward, 19 and forty sockets of silver are you to make beneath twenty of the boards, two sockets beneath each one board for its two pegs and two sockets beneath each other board for its two pegs; 20 and for the second flank of the Mishkan, on the northern border, twenty as boardwork, 21 with their forty sockets of silver, two sockets beneath each one board, and two sockets beneath each other board. 22 And for the rear of the Mishkan, toward the sea, you are to make six boards, 23 and two boards you are to make for the corners of the Mishkan, at the rear, 24 so that they may be of twin-use, (seen) from the lower-end, and together may be a whole-piece, at the top, toward the first ring; thus shall it be for the two of them, for the two corners shall they be. 25 Then there are to be eight boards with their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets, two sockets beneath each one board, and two sockets beneath each other board. 26 You are to make running-bars of acacia wood, five for the boards of Mishkan’s one flank 27 and five bars for the boards of the Mishkan’s second flank, and five bars for the Mishkan’s flank at the rear, toward the sea. 28 And the middle bar (shall be) in the midst of the boards, running from end to end. 29 Now the boards you are to overlay with gold, their rings you are to make of gold, as holders for the bars, and are to overlay the bars with gold. 30 So erect the Mishkan,[12] This concludes the construction of the frame of the tabernacle, the following verses detail the construction of the inside of the tabernacle.  according to its plan, as you have been granted to see upon the mountain.”[13] As in Chapter 25 with the Tabernacle’s vessels this construction process was also shown visually according to H (in this case since we are dealing only with the frame, the need for a visual image is a lot less obvious, and thus it is clearer that we are dealing with a later insertion). 
חמישי לא וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ פָרֹ֗כֶת תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֑ר מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֛ב יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָ֖הּ כְּרֻבִֽים׃ לב וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֹתָ֗הּ עַל־אַרְבָּעָה֙ עַמּוּדֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים מְצֻפִּ֣ים זָהָ֔ב וָוֵיהֶ֖ם זָהָ֑ב עַל־אַרְבָּעָ֖ה אַדְנֵי־כָֽסֶף׃ לג וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֶת־הַפָּרֹ֘כֶת֮ תַּ֣חַת הַקְּרָסִים֒ וְהֵבֵאתָ֥ שָׁ֙מָּה֙ מִבֵּ֣ית לַפָּרֹ֔כֶת אֵ֖ת אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵד֑וּת וְהִבְדִּילָ֤ה הַפָּרֹ֙כֶת֙ לָכֶ֔ם בֵּ֣ין הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ וּבֵ֖ין קֹ֥דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ לד וְנָתַתָּ֙ אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת עַ֖ל אֲר֣וֹן הָעֵדֻ֑ת בְּקֹ֖דֶשׁ הַקֳּדָשִֽׁים׃ לה וְשַׂמְתָּ֤ אֶת־הַשֻּׁלְחָן֙ מִח֣וּץ לַפָּרֹ֔כֶת וְאֶת־הַמְּנֹרָה֙ נֹ֣כַח הַשֻּׁלְחָ֔ן עַ֛ל צֶ֥לַע הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן תֵּימָ֑נָה וְהַ֨שֻּׁלְחָ֔ן תִּתֵּ֖ן עַל־צֶ֥לַע צָפֽוֹן׃ לו וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מָסָךְ֙ לְפֶ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל תְּכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֑ר מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה רֹקֵֽם׃ לז וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ לַמָּסָ֗ךְ חֲמִשָּׁה֙ עַמּוּדֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֔ים וְצִפִּיתָ֤ אֹתָם֙ זָהָ֔ב וָוֵיהֶ֖ם זָהָ֑ב וְיָצַקְתָּ֣ לָהֶ֔ם חֲמִשָּׁ֖ה אַדְנֵ֥י נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
31 “You are to make a curtain/Parokhet of blue-violet, purple, worm-scarlet and twisted byssus; of designer’s making they are to make it, with winged-Keruvim. 32 You are to put it on four columns of acacia, overlaid with gold, their hooks of gold, upon four sockets of silver; 33 and you are to put the Parokhet beneath the clasps. You are to bring there, inside the Parokhet, the Arōn of Testimony; the Parokhet shall separate for you the Holy-shrine from the Holiest Holy-Shrine. 34 You are to put the Kaporet on the Arōn of Testimony; in the Holiest Holy-Shrine. 35 You are to place the Shulḥan outside the Parokhet, and the Menorah opposite the Shulḥan on the south flank of the Mishkan, but the Shulḥan you are to put on the north flank. 36 You are to make a screen for the entrance to the tent, of blue-violet, purple, worm-scarlet and twisted byssus, of embroiderer’s making; 37 you are to make for the screen five columns of acacia, you are to overlay them with gold, their hooks of gold, and are to cast for them five sockets of bronze.”[14] This concludes the construction of the inner rooms of the tabernacle, as well as a map of where the various vessels constructed in Chapter 25 are supposed to go. 
ששי כז א וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים חָמֵשׁ֩ אַמּ֨וֹת אֹ֜רֶךְ וְחָמֵ֧שׁ אַמּ֣וֹת רֹ֗חַב רָב֤וּעַ יִהְיֶה֙ הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ וְשָׁלֹ֥שׁ אַמּ֖וֹת קֹמָתֽוֹ׃ ב וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ קַרְנֹתָ֗יו עַ֚ל אַרְבַּ֣ע פִּנֹּתָ֔יו מִמֶּ֖נּוּ תִּהְיֶ֣יןָ קַרְנֹתָ֑יו וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹת֖וֹ נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ג וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ סִּֽירֹתָיו֙ לְדַשְּׁנ֔וֹ וְיָעָיו֙ וּמִזְרְקֹתָ֔יו וּמִזְלְגֹתָ֖יו וּמַחְתֹּתָ֑יו לְכׇל־כֵּלָ֖יו תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ד וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ לּוֹ֙ מִכְבָּ֔ר מַעֲשֵׂ֖ה רֶ֣שֶׁת נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וְעָשִׂ֣יתָ עַל־הָרֶ֗שֶׁת אַרְבַּע֙ טַבְּעֹ֣ת נְחֹ֔שֶׁת עַ֖ל אַרְבַּ֥ע קְצוֹתָֽיו׃ ה וְנָתַתָּ֣ה אֹתָ֗הּ תַּ֛חַת כַּרְכֹּ֥ב הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ מִלְּמָ֑טָּה וְהָיְתָ֣ה הָרֶ֔שֶׁת עַ֖ד חֲצִ֥י הַמִּזְבֵּֽחַ׃ ו וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ בַדִּים֙ לַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ בַּדֵּ֖י עֲצֵ֣י שִׁטִּ֑ים וְצִפִּיתָ֥ אֹתָ֖ם נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ ז וְהוּבָ֥א אֶת־בַּדָּ֖יו בַּטַּבָּעֹ֑ת וְהָי֣וּ הַבַּדִּ֗ים עַל־שְׁתֵּ֛י צַלְעֹ֥ת הַמִּזְבֵּ֖חַ בִּשְׂאֵ֥ת אֹתֽוֹ׃ ח נְב֥וּב לֻחֹ֖ת תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹת֑וֹ כַּאֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶרְאָ֥ה אֹתְךָ֛ בָּהָ֖ר כֵּ֥ן יַעֲשֽׂוּ׃
27 1 “You are to make the place-for-slaughter/Mizbe’aḥ of acacia wood, five cubits in length and five cubits in width; square is the Mizbe’aḥ to be, and three cubits its height. 2 You are to make its horns on its four points, from it are its horns to be; and you are to overlay it with bronze. 3 You are to make its pails for removing-its-ashes, its scrapers, its bowls, its flesh-hooks and its pans – all of its implements, you are to make of bronze. 4 You are to make for it a lattice, as a netting of bronze is made, and are to make on the netting four rings of bronze on its four ends; 5 you are to put it beneath the ledge of the Mizbe’aḥ, below, so that the netting (reaches) to the halfway-point of the Mizbe’aḥ, 6 You are to make poles for the Mizbe’aḥ, poles of acacia wood, and are to overlay them with bronze. 7 Its poles are to be brought through the rings, so that the poles are on the two flanks of the Mizbe’aḥ when they carry it. 8 Hollow, of planks, are you to make it;[15] As was the case with the ark and the table, the last thing constructed for the altar are the poles to carry it.  as he has granted you to see it on the mountain, thus are they to make it.”[16] As in the case of the tabernacle’s vessels (Chapter 25) and its outer frame (Chapter 26), the construction of the altar was also shown visually at the mount according to H. P, as in previous cases is satisfied with a “mere” description. 
שביעי ט וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ אֵ֖ת חֲצַ֣ר הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן לִפְאַ֣ת נֶֽגֶב־תֵּ֠ימָ֠נָה קְלָעִ֨ים לֶחָצֵ֜ר שֵׁ֣שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֗ר מֵאָ֤ה בָֽאַמָּה֙ אֹ֔רֶךְ לַפֵּאָ֖ה הָאֶחָֽת׃ י וְעַמֻּדָ֣יו עֶשְׂרִ֔ים וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֥ם עֶשְׂרִ֖ים נְחֹ֑שֶׁת וָוֵ֧י הָעַמֻּדִ֛ים וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם כָּֽסֶף׃ יא וְכֵ֨ן לִפְאַ֤ת צָפוֹן֙ בָּאֹ֔רֶךְ קְלָעִ֖ים מֵ֣אָה אֹ֑רֶךְ וְעַמֻּדָ֣ו עֶשְׂרִ֗ים וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֤ם עֶשְׂרִים֙ נְחֹ֔שֶׁת וָוֵ֧י הָֽעַמֻּדִ֛ים וַחֲשֻׁקֵיהֶ֖ם כָּֽסֶף׃ יב וְרֹ֤חַב הֶֽחָצֵר֙ לִפְאַת־יָ֔ם קְלָעִ֖ים חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים אַמָּ֑ה עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם עֲשָׂרָ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם עֲשָׂרָֽה׃ יג וְרֹ֣חַב הֶֽחָצֵ֗ר לִפְאַ֛ת קֵ֥דְמָה מִזְרָ֖חָה חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים אַמָּֽה׃ יד וַחֲמֵ֨שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה אַמָּ֛ה קְלָעִ֖ים לַכָּתֵ֑ף עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ טו וְלַכָּתֵף֙ הַשֵּׁנִ֔ית חֲמֵ֥שׁ עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה קְלָעִ֑ים עַמֻּדֵיהֶ֣ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם שְׁלֹשָֽׁה׃ טז וּלְשַׁ֨עַר הֶֽחָצֵ֜ר מָסָ֣ךְ ׀ עֶשְׂרִ֣ים אַמָּ֗ה תְּכֵ֨לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֜ן וְתוֹלַ֧עַת שָׁנִ֛י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֖ר מַעֲשֵׂ֣ה רֹקֵ֑ם עַמֻּֽדֵיהֶם֙ אַרְבָּעָ֔ה וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם אַרְבָּעָֽה׃ מפטיר יז כׇּל־עַמּוּדֵ֨י הֶֽחָצֵ֤ר סָבִיב֙ מְחֻשָּׁקִ֣ים כֶּ֔סֶף וָוֵיהֶ֖ם כָּ֑סֶף וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ יח אֹ֣רֶךְ הֶֽחָצֵר֩ מֵאָ֨ה בָֽאַמָּ֜ה וְרֹ֣חַב ׀ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים בַּחֲמִשִּׁ֗ים וְקֹמָ֛ה חָמֵ֥שׁ אַמּ֖וֹת שֵׁ֣שׁ מׇשְׁזָ֑ר וְאַדְנֵיהֶ֖ם נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ יט לְכֹל֙ כְּלֵ֣י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן בְּכֹ֖ל עֲבֹדָת֑וֹ וְכׇל־יְתֵדֹתָ֛יו וְכׇל־יִתְדֹ֥ת הֶחָצֵ֖ר נְחֹֽשֶׁת׃
9 “You are to make the courtyard of the Mishkan: on the Negev border, southward, hangings for the courtyard, of twisted byssus, a hundred by the cubit, the length on one border; 10 with its columns, twenty, their sockets, twenty, of bronze, the hooks of the columns and their binders, of silver. 11 And thus on the northern border, lengthwise, hangings a hundred (cubits) in length, with its columns, twenty, their sockets, twenty, of bronze, the hooks of the columns and their binders, of silver. 12 And (along) the width of the courtyard on the sea border hangings of fifty cubits, with its columns, ten, their sockets, ten. 13 And (along) the width of the courtyard on the eastern border, toward sunrise, fifty cubits, 14 namely: fifteen cubits of hangings for the shoulder-piece, their columns, three, their sockets, three, 15 and for the second shoulder-piece, fifteen (cubits) of hangings, their columns, three, their sockets, three, 16 and for the gate of the courtyard, a screen of twenty cubits, of blue-violet, purple, worm-scarlet and twisted byssus, of embroiderer’s making, their columns, four, their sockets, four. 17 All the columns of the courtyard all around are attached with silver, their hooks of silver, their sockets of bronze, 18  – the length of the courtyard, a hundred by the cubit, the width, fifty by fifty, the height, five cubits of twisted byssus, their sockets of bronze. 19 All the implements of the Mishkan for all its service (of construction), and all its pins, and all the pins of the courtyard, – bronze.”[17] This concludes the construction of the tabernacle and its vessels. Chapter 28 will deal with the investment of Aaron and his sons. 

The Masoretic text presented here is from Rabbi Dr. Seth (Avi) Kadish’s Miqra al pi ha-Mesorah. For the translation in English, I have adapted the translation of Everett Fox in the Schocken Bible (Everett Fox 1995), mostly to re-Hebraize divine names, place names, and personal names. In this parashah, I have been careful to Hebraize the Mishkan and its main sacred objects. For ‘taḥashim,’ I follow the recommendation of of Assyriologst Stephanie Dalley, who recommends ‘faience beaded-leather skins’. (Fox has “tanned-leather skins.”) Aside from these, I have made minor punctuation changes. (To buy a print copy of the complete translation of The Schocken Bible vol. 1: The Five Books of Moses, visit Penguin/Random House.)

Notes
1 In Chapter 25-27 the Priestly source describes the construction of the desert Tabernacle and the furniture and vessels therein. The desert Tabernacle is a portable model of the future temple in Jerusalem, described in detail in I Kings 6-8. The “Tabernacle” and the “Tent of Meeting” are terms that are used interchangeably in P; though, if one wants to be exact the “Tent of Meeting” is where God reveals himself to Moses and Aaron, whereas the “Tabernacle” is where sacrifices and other parts of Israelite cult are enacted. ¶ The Tabernacle or The Tent of Meeting stand at the center of the Israelite camp as detailed in the first chapter of Numbers. This contrasts with the Tent of Meeting in J, which according to Exodus 33:7, was specifically far away from the camp, and was a place where people seeking the Lord could come, rather than a center of cult.
2 There are two competing models as to how the vessels of the tabernacle were constructed. The first is the architectural model, envisioned by P. The vessel is described by the Lord, and then the craftsmen construct it. The second model posits that it is not enough for the vessel to be described, it also must be shown. For this reason H, carefully emphasizes a fair number of times that construction of vessels was visually transmitted to Moses by the Lord.
3 The construction of the most important vessel is described first. The ark is featured in many subsequent narratives (Priestly and later) as God’s presence among the armed forces. It is the place where the ten commandments will be kept, as well as other important relics.
4 This eye toward future narratives, i.e. Moses receiving the tablets of law from God, is uncharacteristic of P’s narrow focus on the construction of the vessels, and may very well have been added by H.
5 The function of the Cherubim is left undetailed in P. The less exact information about where and how the Lord reveals himself the better, according to this source.
6 Once again the narrow focus upon the construction of the Tabernacle is interrupted by the broader narrative context. Here God specifies that it is by the Ark and the “mercy seat” where he will reveal himself and transmit the laws. Since none of the rest of the Tabernacle has been constructed and the laws haven’t been given this information is not yet relevant, and may have very well been added by H.
7 As was the case with the Ark of the Covenant in vs. 25, the last thing to be constructed is the poles to carry it, and see the following comment.
8 Once again the narrow architectural focus is interrupted, by later considerations. The table’s accoutrements and the bread to be served on it, are only of interest following the construction, not prior to the construction.
9 בספרי ספרד ואשכנז תֵּיעָשֶׂ֤ה
10 This concludes the construction of the vessels of the tabernacle; the following chapter will detail the construction of the actual tabernacle.
11 Verse 39, which repeats vs. 38 (that the material used in the construction of the dishes must be gold) and offers a summary, leads into vs. 40, which emphasizes once more, that not only were detailed instructions transmitted to Moses (P), but he was actually shown pictures of the vessels (H).
12 This concludes the construction of the frame of the tabernacle, the following verses detail the construction of the inside of the tabernacle.
13 As in Chapter 25 with the Tabernacle’s vessels this construction process was also shown visually according to H (in this case since we are dealing only with the frame, the need for a visual image is a lot less obvious, and thus it is clearer that we are dealing with a later insertion).
14 This concludes the construction of the inner rooms of the tabernacle, as well as a map of where the various vessels constructed in Chapter 25 are supposed to go.
15 As was the case with the ark and the table, the last thing constructed for the altar are the poles to carry it.
16 As in the case of the tabernacle’s vessels (Chapter 25) and its outer frame (Chapter 26), the construction of the altar was also shown visually at the mount according to H. P, as in previous cases is satisfied with a “mere” description.
17 This concludes the construction of the tabernacle and its vessels. Chapter 28 will deal with the investment of Aaron and his sons.

Contributor: the Masoretic Text

Co-authors:

Featured Image:
tab-assembly_fence_post2
Title: tab-assembly_fence_post2
Caption: "After putting the posts in, hook the brown strings around the hooks on the bottom and the hooks on the post. You can start with either outside the fence or inside the fence." from the Tabernacle Model Assembly Guide (GoodSeed International)