Parashat Terumah

Tabernacle: Ark, Table, Menorah

25 Adonai spoke to Moses saying, ² “Tell Bnei-Yisrael to take up an offering for Me. From anyone whose heart compels him you are to take My offering. ³ These are the contributions which you are to receive from them: gold, silver and bronze; ⁴ blue, purple and scarlet cloth; fine linen and goat hair; ⁵ ram skins dyed red, sealskins, acacia wood; ⁶ oil for the light, spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense; ⁷ onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastplate.

⁸ “Have them make a Sanctuary for Me, so that I may dwell among them. ⁹ You are to make it all precisely according to everything that I show you—the pattern of the Tabernacle and the pattern of all the furnishings within—just so you must make it.

¹⁰ “Now they are to make an Ark of acacia wood, two and a half cubits in length, one and a half cubits wide, and a cubit and a half high. ¹¹ You are to overlay it with pure gold, inside and out, and make a crown of gold around it. ¹² You are to cast four rings of gold for it, and place them in its four feet. Two rings will be on one side, and two rings on the other side. ¹³ Also make poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. ¹⁴ You are to put the poles into the rings on the sides of the Ark, in order to carry the Ark. ¹⁵ The poles are to remain in the rings of the Ark, and not be taken from it. ¹⁶ You are to put the Testimony, which I will give you, into the Ark.

¹⁷ “Then you are to make an atonement cover^[a] of pure gold, two and a half cubits long, one cubit and a half wide. ¹⁸ Also make two cheruvim of gold, from hammered work, at the two ends of the atonement cover. ¹⁹ Make one cheruv at one end and one cheruv at the other end. Of one piece with the atonement cover you are to make the cheruvim at its two ends. ²⁰ The cheruvim are to spread out their wings above, shielding the atonement cover with their wings, each facing its companion. The faces of the cheruvim are to be turned toward the atonement cover. ²¹ You are to put the atonement cover on top of the Ark, and inside the Ark you will put the Testimony that I will give you.

²² “I will meet with you there. I will speak with you from above the atonement cover—from between the two cheruvim that are on the Ark of the Testimony—about all that I will command you, for Bnei-Yisrael.

²³ “You will make a table of acacia wood, two cubits long, one cubit wide, and a cubit and a half high. ²⁴ You are to overlay it with pure gold, and make a crown of gold around it. ²⁵ Make a border a single handwidth wide around it and a golden crown for the border all around. ²⁶ Also make four gold rings for it, and put the rings in the four corners that are on its four feet. ²⁷ The rings are to be close to the borders, as holders for the poles to carry the table. ²⁸ You are to make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold, so that the table may be carried with them. ²⁹ You are also to make the dishes, pans, jars and bowls to pour drink offerings, from pure gold. ³⁰ Always set the bread of the Presence^[b] on the table before Me.

³¹ “You are to make a menorah of pure gold, by hammered work. Its base, stem, cups, bulbs and flowers are to be one piece. ³² There are to be six branches coming out of the sides, three branches of the menorah out of one side, and three branches out of the other. ³³ There are to be three cups shaped like almond blossoms in one branch, each with a bulb and flower, then three cups made like almond blossoms in the next branch, each with a bulb and flower, and so forth for the six branches coming out of the menorah. ³⁴ Within the menorah will be four cups made like almond blossoms, with bulbs and flowers. ³⁵ There is to be a bulb under two branches of the first piece, a bulb under two branches of the second piece, and a bulb under two branches of the third piece, for the six branches coming out of the menorah. ³⁶ Their bulbs and their branches are to be one piece—all of it a single hammered work of pure gold. ³⁷ “You are also to make the seven lamps for it, and set the lamps up to shed light over the space before it.

³⁸ “The tongs and the censers are to be of pure gold. ³⁹ It is to be made from a talent of pure gold, with all these pieces. ⁴⁰ See that you make them according to their pattern being shown to you on the mountain.

Curtains

26 “Moreover you are to make the Tabernacle with ten curtains of fine woven linen, of blue^[c], purple and scarlet, with cheruvim made by the work of a skillful craftsman. ² The length of each curtain is to be 28 cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits. All the curtains are to have the same measure. ³ Five curtains are to be coupled together one to another, and the other five curtains are also to be coupled one to another. ⁴ Also make loops of violet on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the first set, and do likewise within the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set. ⁵ You are to make 50 loops in the first curtain and 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that is in the second set. The loops are to be opposite one another. ⁶ Then make 50 clasps of gold, and couple the curtains one to another with the clasps, so that the Tabernacle may be one piece.

⁷ “You are to make curtains of goat hair for a tent over the Tabernacle, 11 curtains in all. ⁸ The length of each curtain is to be 30 cubits and the width of each curtain four cubits. The eleven curtains are to have the same measurement. ⁹ You are to couple five curtains by themselves, and six curtains by themselves, and double over the sixth curtain in the forefront of the tent. ¹⁰ Then make 50 loops on the edge of the one curtain that is outermost in the first set, along with 50 loops on the edge of the curtain that is outermost in the second set. ¹¹ Make 50 bronze clasps, put them into the loops, and couple the tent together, so that it may be one. ¹² As for the overhanging part that remains of the tent curtains, the half curtain that remains is to hang over the back of the Tabernacle. ¹³ The extra cubit on one side, as well as the cubit on the other side, which remains in the length of the curtains of the tent, is to hang over the sides of the Tabernacle on each side, to cover it. ¹⁴ You are to make a covering for the tent of ram skins, dyed red, and a covering of sealskins above.

¹⁵ “You are to make the framework of boards for the Tabernacle from acacia wood, standing upright. ¹⁶ The length of each board is to be 10 cubits by one and a half cubits wide. ¹⁷ There are to be two supports in each board, joined one to another. Do this for all the boards of the Tabernacle. ¹⁸ You are to make the 20 boards for the south side of the Tabernacle, ¹⁹ and 40 silver bases underneath the 20 boards. Two bases go underneath one board for its supports and two bases under another board for its supports. ²⁰ Likewise, for the second side of the Tabernacle, on the north side, there are to be 20 boards, ²¹ with their 40 bases of silver. Two bases go under one board and two bases under the next board. ²² For the back part of the Tabernacle, westward, you are to make six boards. ²³ Make two boards for the corners of the Tabernacle on the back side. ²⁴ They are also to be doubled at the bottom, and in the same way joined at the top by the first ring. It is to be this way for them both, and they will provide for the two corners. ²⁵ So there will be eight boards, with 16 silver bases, two bases under each board.

²⁶ “Also make crossbeams of acacia wood, five for the boards on one side of the Tabernacle, ²⁷ five for the boards on the other side of the Tabernacle, and five for the boards on the back part of the Tabernacle to the west. ²⁸ The middle crossbeam in the center of the boards will pass through from end to end. ²⁹ Then overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings from gold as holders for the crossbeams, and overlay the crossbeams with gold.

³⁰ “You are to raise up the Tabernacle according to the plan which you were shown on the mountain.

³¹ “Make a fine woven linen curtain^[d] of blue, purple and scarlet, with cheruvim. It is to be the work of a skillful craftsman. ³² You are to hang it on four pillars of acacia overlaid with gold, their hooks being made of gold, atop four bases of silver. ³³ You are to hang the curtain under the clasps, and bring the Ark within the curtain of the Testimony. The parokhet will divide for you between the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies.

³⁴ “Then you are to put the atonement cover on the Ark of the Testimony in the Holy of Holies. ³⁵ You shall set the table outside the curtain, and the menorah opposite the table on the side of the Tabernacle toward the south. You are to put the table on the north side.^[e]

³⁶ “For the entrance of the tent, also make a screen of blue, purple and scarlet, finely twisted linen, the work of a color weaver. ³⁷ You are also to make for the screen five pillars of acacia, and overlay them with gold. Their hooks are to be made of gold, and you are to cast five bases of bronze for them.

Altar, Courtyard, Oil

27 “Make the altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide. The altar will be square and its height is to be three cubits. ² Make horns on the four corners—of one piece. Overlay it with bronze. ³ You are to make pots for it to take away ashes, along with shovels, basins, forks and fire pans—make all the utensils of bronze. ⁴ Also make a bronze grating net for it, and on the net you are to make four bronze rings on the four corners. ⁵ You are to place it under the ledge around the altar beneath, so that the net may reach halfway up the altar. ⁶ Make poles for the altar, poles of acacia wood, and overlay them with bronze. ⁷ Its poles are to be put into the rings, on the two sides of the altar, for carrying it. ⁸ You are to make it with planks so that it is hollow. As it has been shown to you in the mountain, they are to make it just so.

⁹ “You are also to make a courtyard for the Tabernacle. For the south side there are to be hangings for the courtyard of finely twisted linen, 100 cubits long. ¹⁰ There are to be 20 pillars with 20 bronze bases, and the hooks on the pillars along with their bands are to be made of silver. ¹¹ Likewise for the north side, in length there are to be 100 cubit long hangings, 20 pillars and 20 bronze bases. The hooks of the pillars and their clasps are to be made of silver.

¹² “Now for the width of the courtyard on the west side there are to be 50 cubits of hangings, ten pillars and ten bases. ¹³ The width of the courtyard on the east side is to be 50 cubits. ¹⁴ The hangings on one side of the gate are to be 15 cubits, with three pillars and three bases. ¹⁵ For the other side there is also to be 15 cubits of hangings, with three pillars and three bases.

¹⁶ “For the gate of the courtyard there is to be a 20 cubit curtain of blue, purple, scarlet and finely twisted linen, the work of a color weaver, along with their four pillars and their four bases. ¹⁷ The pillars of the courtyard are to be banded with silver, their hooks of silver, and their bases of bronze all around. ¹⁸ The length of the courtyard is to be 100 cubits, and the width 50 throughout. The height is to be five cubits, with hangings of finely twisted linen, with their bronze bases. ¹⁹ All the articles of the Tabernacle for all the services there, along with all the pegs, including all the pegs of the courtyard, are to be bronze.

²⁶ Adonai gave Solomon wisdom as He promised him, so there was shalom between Hiram and Solomon, and the two of them cut a covenant.

²⁷ King Solomon also imposed forced laborers from all Israel—the levy was 30,000 men. ²⁸ He sent them to Lebanon, in shifts of 10,000 a month: they would stay a month in Lebanon, then two months at home. Adoniram was over the forced labor. ²⁹ Solomon had 70,000 porters, and 80,000 stonecutters in the mountains, ³⁰ besides Solomon’s chief officers that were over the work—3,300 who supervised the people who were doing the work. ³¹ Then the king commanded, and they quarried great stones, costly stones, to lay the foundation of the House with cut stones. ³² So Solomon’s builders and Hiram’s builders along with the Gebalites cut them, and prepared the timber and the stones to build the House.

Building the Temple

6 Now it came to pass, 480 years after the children of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month Ziv (which is the second month), that he began to build Adonai’s House. ² Now the House that King Solomon built for Adonai was 60 cubits^[a] long, 20 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high. ³ The porch in front of the Sanctuary of the House was 20 cubits in length—corresponding to the breadth of the House—and its depth was ten cubits from the front of the House. ⁴ Also for the House he made windows with artistic frames. ⁵ Against the wall of the House he built a side-structure surrounding both the Temple and the inner Sanctuary; thus he made side-chambers all around. ⁶ The lowest story was five cubits wide, the middle was six cubits wide, and the third was seven cubits wide. All around on the outside he provided offset ledges in the wall of the House, so that the beams would not be inserted into the walls of the House. ⁷ For the House, while being constructed, was built of stone finished at the quarry; with neither hammer, axe nor any iron tool heard in the House during its construction.

⁸ The doorway to the lowest story of the side chambers was on the right side of the House. They went up by winding stairs to the middle story, and from the middle to the third. ⁹ When he finished building the House, he covered the House with beams and planks of cedar. ¹⁰ He built the stories of the side-structure against the whole House, each five cubits high, and they were fastened to the House with timbers of cedar.

¹¹ Then the word of Adonai came to Solomon saying: ¹² “As for this House which you are building, if you will walk in My statutes, execute My ordinances and keep all My mitzvot by walking in them, then I will establish My word with you, which I spoke to your father David, ¹³ I will dwell among the children of Israel, and will not forsake My people Israel.”^[b]

9 Now about this service to the kedoshim, it is indeed unnecessary for me to write to you— ² for I know your eagerness. I boast about it to the Macedonians, that Achaia has been preparing for a year already; and your zeal has stirred up most of them. ³ But I am sending the brothers in order that our boasting about you may not be in vain in this case, so that you may be prepared, just as I kept saying. ⁴ Otherwise, if any Macedonians were to come and find you unprepared, we—not to mention you—would be put to shame in this undertaking. ⁵ So I thought it necessary to urge the brothers to go on to you and arrange ahead of time your generous gift that had been promised beforehand, so that it would be ready as a gift and not as an extortion.

Sowing and Reaping Generosity

⁶ The point is this: whoever sows sparingly shall also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully shall also reap bountifully. ^{[a] 7} Let each one give as he has decided in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion—for God loves a cheerful giver. ^{[b] 8} And God is able to make all grace overflow to you, so that by always having enough of everything, you may overflow in every good work. ⁹ As it is written,

¹⁰ Now the One who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness. ^{[d] 11} You will be enriched in everything for all generosity, which through us brings about thanksgiving to God. ¹² For this service of giving is not only supplying the needs of the kedoshim, but is also overflowing with many thanksgivings to God. ¹³ Because of the evidence of this service, they praise God for the obedience of your affirmation of the Good News of Messiah and for the generosity of your contribution to them and to everyone. ¹⁴ And in their prayer for you, they long for you because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!