Shemoth/Exodus
CHAPTER 35
1. Then Moshe assembled [ya'q'hel] all the congregation of the descendants of Israel and told them, "These are the words which YHWH has commanded in order that [you] should carry them out:
After having his authority established by the glowing face, Moshe now begins his own reiteration of the things YHWH has told him. What follows seems like a “re-run” of what came before, but this time the plan is actually being carried out. It is going from a drawing to something tangible, tying together the teachings from the whole book. It is not just, “This is what YHWH says”, but “This is what we need to do about it.” Repetition establishes a matter in our memories. The teacher teaches not for his own sake, but for the sake of the whole community. This was not taking place so Moshe could have a grand adventure; he had an enviable life before this, but he was the one suited for the task of leading. It was not for his sake. The people were in a very bad position. They had built an idol and called it YHWH, just as many people put His Name on things that are not really Him. Moshe is so appalled that he shatters the tablets on which YHWH wrote, and he has replaced them, but many people have died and YHWH has moved out of the camp. His bride had displeased Him, and He makes it known by not living with her anymore. But YHWH distinguished Moshe from the rest by making his face shine. For the rest of the camp, things were very bad right now. The best they could do was stand by their tents and look longingly at YHWH’s far-off tent. They felt guilty, because they were. The average Israelite must have been an emotional wreck. And while they are in that state, Moshe brings the Torah to them. A new covenant is being established! It should be a very joyful time, but they have many reasons to mourn. They have lost many relatives, and they are ashamed of having made the golden calf. YHWH no longer dwells among them. In the midst of all of this calamity, Moshe takes out the tablets and begins to read…
2. "Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be for you a setting-apart—a sabbath of rest to YHWH. Whoever does work on it will surely be put to death.
In this context where everything was really “crummy”, the first matter Moshe discussed (while still in his full glory) was the Sabbath. It probably was the day before the Sabbath. He tells them, “I know how you feel. Calm down, relax, be still; let it all go for a day, or you’re going to die—maybe even of hypertension. You are about to go over the edge. Just step back, take a deep breath, take it easy for a moment, and regain your focus. There is a big job coming up, a very serious, tedious one that has no room for error. So don’t carry over the old pain and guilt to add to it; take a rest first.” This is akin to creation itself. The Sabbath brings order to the world and focus to our unity, because this is when we gather together. This is where we begin to build the Dwelling Place for YHWH. It may be the last day of the week, but it is also a beginning. The liturgy calls it “the first of the set-apart assemblies”, and “last in creation, but first in [YHWH’s] thought (or intention)”. Our day off is emphasized even before the job description is given, possibly to underline once again how hard a task it will be. E ven constructing the visible expression of YHWH's "message" was not to be done on the Sabbath. They are not to get so excited or caught up in building a tent for Him that we forget to stop and do what He is doing on this day. That would be like a girl planning a wedding but forgetting to include the groom. Shabbat means “to cease”. No matter how important the work, come the seventh day, we stop. It is not as important as this. The ceasing was part of the work—and maybe the most important part. They were in the wilderness--a picture of the Sabbath, when they had no other responsibilities. These former slaves were free now to give liberally, and they did. But if they obeyed this command, they would be even more separate from other people’s influences, which was their downfall the first time. This was part of the remedy. Moshe was very wise to present these words at this particular time.
3. "You must not kindle a fire throughout your settlements on the Sabbath day."
We can keep an existing fire going on this day if our children will otherwise freeze to death; YHWH is not unreasonable, but even the cooks get the day off. Aharon built a fire to make the golden calf, and that brought all of this trouble about. But building this dwelling place for YHWH will also require much metallurgy which can only be accomplished by fire. Even when doing the work of the kingdom, we must stop and assemble. Do not get revved up for tomorrow’s work today; let today be today. Build the fire tomorrow. Yaaqov (James) tells us that the tongue is a fire, so this means that on the Sabbath, we must not cause unnecessary strife. It is not a time to get angry, especially if you are being corrected. There are six other days in which to raise the issues that need to be addressed between us, so we must be in as close community as we can throughout the rest of the week so that this is taken care of before the Sabbath. Nothing new needs to be made on the Sabbath. Anything that needs to be renewed, we can do without that kind of energy. The sages say that wherever we are, when we enter the Sabbath, we must consider everything to be finished. Get your work done beforehand, so you can relax in what you already have.
4. And Moshe said to the whole congregation of the descendants of Israel, "This is the matter which YHWH has commanded:
5. "Take from among yourselves a contribution for YHWH. Everyone whose heart is willing can bring it--YHWH's portion: gold and silver and bronze,
Their “Husband” has moved out, because they cheated on Him. To make Him want to come back, it will take more than flowers and a kiss. He is asking for something huge, and it will cost them dearly. It will require giving up things that are precious to them, and daily attention to this task rather than what they would rather pursue. They can get advice from YHWH through Moshe, but He does not live with them anymore. This is the perfect time to tell them to build Him a tent and fix this; Moshe is very wise. He gives them a glimmer of hope: if YHWH would never consider moving back in with us, why would He tell us to build a tent? Do things His way, repair what you broke, and maybe He will. There are obvious parallels with our own time, when we are recognizing that “our fathers have inherited lies”, and we have told lies and believed lies too. They need this. Not only is the love relationship gone; the protection is too. Israel is exposed to its enemies. We need YHWH’s presence for more reasons than one.
6. "blue, purple, and crimson scarlet, bleached [linen], and goats' hair,
7. "and rams' skins dyed red, tachash skins, and acacia wood,
8. "and oil for the luminary, and spices for the oil of anointing and for the sweet incense,
9. "and onyx stones, and stones to be set [filling] in the efod and for the pouch,
10. "And let everyone who is wise-hearted among you come and fashion all that YHWH has commanded:
11. "The tabernacle [dwelling place], its tent, its covering, its hooks, its planks, its pillars, and its sockets;
Note that the tabernacle is a different thing than the tent; the dwelling place goes beyond the physical components. (What can contain YHWH?) The assembly of the people is the real dwelling place, but the picture had to be built so we could see what we are meant to become.
12. "the ark and its poles, the atonement-covering and the veil of the screen;13. "the table, its poles, and all its utensils; and the bread of the faces;14. "the illuminating lampstand, its utensils, and its lamps, and the oil of illumination;15. "and the incense altar and its poles; the oil of anointing, and the sweet incense; the curtain for the entryway to serve as the door for the dwelling-place;16. "the altar of burnt [ascending] offering, its poles, and all its utensils; the washbasin and its base;
17. "the [slung-over] drapes of the enclosure, its pillars and its socket-bases, the screen for the entryway to the courtyard;
18. "the stakes of the tabernacle, and the poles of the courtyard, and their cords;
19. "the woven garments to minister in the holy place, the holy garments for Aharon the priest, and the garments for his sons [in which] to serve in the office of priests."
20. Then all the descendants of Israel went out from Moshe's presence.
21. When they came [back]--everyone whose heart lifted him up, and everyone whose spirit made him willing--they brought YHWH's contribution for the work of the Tent of Appointment, and for all its service and for the holy garments.
Not just the leaders or the talented, but anyone who wished to be a part in building the Dwelling-place for YHWH—who realized the treasures they had plundered from Egypt would be much better used as part of YHWH’s teaching-tool than hidden away in their tent or kept for private use--could contribute. And they did! He might not have gotten such a response if everything had been going well, but it was not, so they felt more urgency about giving things that they might have still be using. The last time they had all gathered together, they had built an idol; this time it is to build a place for YHWH to “live”. They need to bring all of this in order to bring healing. When things in our lives are dying off like the people were here, we are more likely to look into where we need to get our hearts right. After all Moshe had seen and after YHWH Himself had cast much doubt on their worthiness, he must have been extremely encouraged by their response. His lost hope would be recovered. Lifted him up: urged him to do something above his ordinary actions. But the term is the same as the one used for forgiveness in 34:7, teaching us that the process of being forgiven was what prepared their hearts. It actually means “to lift off”. (The Hebrew word is nasa—easy to remember because of NASA and its spacecraft “lift-offs”!) This is part of what the Sabbath is about—to lift the burdens off ourselves. But it is also about lifting the contribution high enough that YHWH is willing to take it. When YHWH saw that they were doing more than talking, but actually bringing what He asked for, He forgave. Those who were willing to do what needed to be done in order to change and fix what they had broken were the ones who had a spirit of giving. Maybe that is why it is called “for-giving”. Yahshua told several parables about how forgiveness is meant to spark the spirit of generosity and a desire to give back. When we have something lifted off us, we are lighter and have more room to lift burdens off others. If you do not feel the need to give back, you are probably fooling yourself about having been forgiven.
22. And the men came in together with the women--everyone who was of a willing heart and everyone who offered a wave offering of gold unto YHWH. They brought in bracelets, nose-rings, [signet] rings, ornaments—every [kind of] gold article.
Wave offering: What could not be burned on the altar was waved before Him to say that it was no longer theirs; they gave it, let go of it, and stepped away, not even demanding to know what was done with it. The workers were accountable instead to the ones above them.
23. And every man with whom was found blue and purple and scarlet-crimson, and bleached [linen], and she-goats' [hair], and rams' skins dyed red, and takhash skins, brought them.
Was found: Some must have gone looking, or neighbors who knew what gifts each had may have told those who were collecting what was needed. Likewise, we each have something all of Israel needs, and having it pointed out by others helps us deal with the problems in our hearts that hold us back from giving of our time, talents, and substance for His higher purpose. We may not know what we could give or what talents we have to offer until we go looking. You won’t “find a minute” until you look for one and prioritize this. Now everyone is on the move, and we are getting this thing done!
24. Everyone who lifted up a contribution of silver and bronze brought the contribution to YHWH, and everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, they brought it.
25. And every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands, and they brought spun yarn--blue, purple, crimson-scarlet, and bleached--and they brought she-goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red, and tachash skins.
26. And all the women whose hearts were lifted up with skill spun the she-goats' hair.
27. And the leaders brought the onyx stones, and stones to be set [filling in] the efod [outer garment] and for the pouch,
It is not clear whether this means the leaders simply brought what had been turned over to them, or whether they brought of their own wealth, which the people might have given them earlier simply because they were appreciated for their leadership, thinking they would know better how to make use of them. Onyx stones: the only ones mentioned specifically are of the same material as Yosef’s stone on the breastplate, and were placed on the shoulders where the efod was suspended. This indicates prophetically that the tribes of Efrayim and Menashe, his sons, would be leaders in bearing the burdens of the whole community in the job of maintaining YHWH’s Dwelling. For the pouch: Not all onyx is black; some is white, and this may therefore tell us what the Urim and Thummim, which went into the pouch, were made from.
28. and the spice and the oil for illumination and for the oil of anointing, and for the sweet [perfumed] incense.
The leaders brought what it took to make the incense (a symbol of our prayers) rise. Prophets were often sent for to pray for the sick because the people perceived that they had more merit before YHWH. He listens more readily to those who actually do His work. They already have His attention because they are doing what He wants done.
29. So every man or woman whose hearts impelled them to bring [materials] for all the work that YHWH commanded to be done by the hand of Moshe--the descendants of Israel--brought a voluntary [offering] to YHWH.
30. So Moshe told the descendants of Israel, "Look: YHWH has called B'tzal-El the son of Uri, the son of Chuwr, belonging to the branch of Yehudah, by name,
31. "and He has filled him with the spirit of Elohim in wisdom, intelligence, and in all knowledge and craftsmanship,
32. "to devise inventive designs for work in gold, silver, and bronze,
33. "and in cutting stones to set, in carving wood, to work in every [type of] craft of [thoughtful] design.
34. "And He has put in his heart [the ability] to teach--he and Aholiav, son of Achisamach, for the branch of Dan.
35. "He has filled them with wisdom of heart to do every [type of] artisan’s work—[that] of a skilled worker, an embroiderer of blue, purple, crimson-scarlet, and fine linen, and of the weaver, workers in any kind of craftsmanship, and those who devise designs.
CHAPTER 36
1. So B'tzal-El and Aholiav worked along with everyone who was wise of heart, to whom YHWH had given wisdom and understanding to know how to do all sorts of work for the service of the Holy Place--for all that YHWH had commanded.
Work for the service: these are complementary opposites, or a redundant oxymoron. It means doing the work in which one is skilled and which one usually earns his living from but this time without pay, as a gift to the Kingdom. This newly-repentant people did exactly as they were instructed this time, without putting their own slant on it, even though they were artists and might not have thought blue was the best color for Aharon! Many know what needs to be done, but few actually do it. YHWH chose men who knew what they were doing, because this had to be done perfectly, or the nation would be taught wrongly. They had to be through with practicing by this point, and know the processes involved in each project, or they would not even be able to envision the task, let alone explain it to others. These men understood the science and could see the many layers of what needed to be done, and were familiar with the materials. If we cannot see what needs to be accomplished, it will never get done. (Yeshayahu/Isa. 29:7ff) There is much to be said for being willing to try, but more to be said for trying and doing it right. Let the baker bake the bread, but if you can realistically aspire to be a baker also, then do so. Try to excel even more, and stretch yourself to be more than you think you are. Those who obtain the Kingdom are those who look for a place to serve YHWH and His people. These men could look at yard and see a tent. They were not novices, but they were also not born that way. They gained their skill by experience, probably in Egypt, and now they were turning it completely toward the Kingdom of YHWH. All the understanding in the world is useless unless we have Kingdom vision and are doing something to bring it from potential to reality. If you think you are smart, prove it by actually accomplishing something! How had YHWH given wisdom and understanding to these artisans? Through their sitting under these two men’s teaching. (35:34)
2. And Moshe summoned B'tzal-El and Aholiav and everyone who was wise of heart, to whom YHWH had given a heart of wisdom--everyone whose heart had lifted him up to come near toward the work in order to accomplish it.
3. And they carried away from Moshe’s presence every contribution that the descendants of Israel had brought for the work of the service in the Holy Place in order to make it ready. Yet they brought him still more freewill offerings morning by morning,
Morning by morning: They did not even wait for the sun to come up. They brought it as early as they could, digging as late into the night as they needed to, to find something to bring. They prioritized doing whatever it would take to get YHWH to forgive them and move back into the camp. Moshe had made a one-time call, but people kept remembering they had more to bring. Those who could not do the work themselves brought it to those who could. They put it into the hands in which it was most useful. This is wisdom.
4. so each of the skilled men (those who did any kind of work for the Holy Place) came from his work which they were doing,
5. and addressed Moshe, saying, "The people are bringing more than enough for the service of the work which YHWH commanded to be done!"
6. So Moshe issued an order, and they caused it to be voiced throughout the camp, saying, "Let neither man nor woman do any more work of contributing toward the Holy Place!" So the people were restrained from bringing [any more].
Imagine how ashamed one would be if he procrastinated and was just getting his contribution to the artisans when they realized they had enough already. The offering would no longer be accepted. This work of the anonymous, “average” Israelites also included not just bringing golden rings or Egyptian garments, but unraveling and re-weaving it to a certain stage of readiness for the artisans to use. (35:25) They had to extract gold from some otherwise-unsalvageable items dedicated to paganism. What was tarnished had to be cleaned up and presented in usable condition. Halfway is not acceptable. And the most valuable possession we can give is ourselves, for we become the pattern to those who follow. We want to be the kind of vessels He would want to put something valuable in. Our work must sparkle, because it may be what turns the light on for someone else, and therefore lasts forever. And when it looks sufficient, polish it still more. Learn more, teach more, polish your communication skills, take more risks and try doing what you have seen as beyond your reach. Then you will be “shinier” when you give—like Moshe’s shining face. These people enthusiastically took it as far as they could before handing it over to the specialists—thus serving those who were serving them by building the Tabernacle, making their job easier.
7. And their materials were enough to accomplish all the work; indeed, there was excess left over.
The big question is: Can you see yourself in this story? Let us hope you will not find yourself in the ones who had to die for their sins, but rather among those doing the work or bringing the raw materials. Do not fail to bring wood just because you cannot bring gold. You cannot bring what you do not have. Build up to being able to bring more, but do not leave the lesser undone. If everyone is bringing what he has, everyone is bringing the same thing. They could have decided to keep the excess for themselves or save it for when repairs were needed, but they did not want to be responsible for misusing anything—definitely a heart of wisdom. Having too much would soon cross the line from being a blessing to being a burden. The people’s giving told YHWH that they were sorry they had built the golden calf and were thankful that He was even thinking about moving back in, because they knew He did not have to. They were fixing what they broke, and then some! So Moshe’s words did prove to have come at the right time, and were indeed wisdom.
Commentary on
Parashah VaYaq'hel
A Case of Extreme Wisdom
