EXO 26
15 And you shall make the planks for the tabernacle [those that have been designated for the purpose (Jacob, prophetically, having planted acacia trees to this end)] of acacia wood, standing up. [The planks for the tabernacle walls are to be stood up vertically, and not placed horizontally one atop the other.]
Rashi’s Commentary
Acacia wood, upright—Estantivs in old French; Engl, perpendicular—This means that the length of the planks shall be placed perpendicular in the walls of the tabernacle and that you shall not make the walls of the planks placed horizontally so that the breadth of the planks should be along the height of the walls, one plank upon the other.
Yoma 72a:12
The Gemara cites other statements concerning the ark. Rabbi Ḥama, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “And you shall make the planks for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing” (Exo 26:15)? This verse teaches that the planks of wood used for the tabernacle should stand in the same direction in which they grew from the ground as a tree. Alternatively, “standing” means that they supported their gold plating and prevented it from falling. Alternatively, “standing” is written to hint at the following: Perhaps you will say that now that the tabernacle is no longer in use, their hope is lost and their chance is abandoned, and after being stored away the planks will no longer return to use. Therefore, the verse states “standing” to indicate that they stand forever and ever.
20 . . . having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the chief corner stone,
21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord . . . EPH 2:20-21
28 The center bar halfway up the planks shall extend from end to end.
Shabbat 98b:5
Following the dispute over the tabernacle planks, the Gemara interprets other verses according to the two positions. It is written: “The center bar halfway up the planks shall extend from end to end” (Exo 26:28). One of the Sages taught: It stood by means of a miracle, as this verse indicates that the center bar was a single rod that ran along the length and width of the tabernacle. The center bar was miraculously bent through the planks on three sides.
35 You shall place the table outside the curtain, and the lampstand opposite the table on the side of the tabernacle toward the south; and you shall put the table on the north side.
Rashi’s Commentary
You shall place the table—The table was in the north, distant from the north wall two cubits and a half. The lampstand was in the south, distant from the south wall two cubits and a half. The golden altar was opposite the space which was between the table and lampstand drawn back slightly towards the east (cf. Rashi on Exo 30:6). All these three were placed in that part which extended from one-half the length of the tabernacle inward. How so? The length of the tabernacle from the entrance to the curtain was 20 cubits, and the altar, the table and the lampstand were distant from the entrance in a western direction 10 cubits (Yoma 33b).
22 He placed the table in the tent of meeting on the side of the tabernacle north [i.e., on the northern half of the breadth of the sanctuary] outside the dividing curtain.
Rashi’s Commentary
On the side of the tabernacle north—i.e. in the northern half of the width of the house (not by the northern wall) (Yoma 33b).
24 He placed the lampstand in the tent of meeting opposite the table on the south side of the tabernacle. EXO 40:22, 24
2 For a tabernacle was prepared: the first part, in which were the lampstand and the table and the sacred bread; this is called the Holy Place.
8 The Holy Spirit is showing this, that the way into the Holy Place has not yet been disclosed while the first tabernacle was still functioning.
9 It is an illustration for the present time in which both gifts and sacrifices are offered which cannot make the worshiper perfect in conscience . . . HEB 9:2, 8-9
EXO 27
The Altar of Burnt Offering
1 And you shall build an altar of acacia wood, five cubits long and five cubits wide; the altar shall be square, and its height shall be three cubits.
21 An altar of earth shall you make for me [i.e., in my name], and you shall sacrifice beside it your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings, [which come from] your sheep and your cattle. Wherever I [permit you to] mention my name [i.e., in the temple, where the priests are authorized to utter the ineffable name in the priestly blessing], I will come to you and bless you.
Rashi’s Commentary
An altar of earth—i.e. an altar attached to the earth, meaning, that they should not build an altar upon pillars or upon a base but it must rest upon the actual ground. Another explanation is, that one should fill the hollow interior of the altar (Exo 27:8) with earth at the time when they encamp, and then erect it for the purpose of sacrifice (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:21:1).
Shall you make for me—This implies that from its very beginning it shall be made for my name (i.e. for the service of me).
Your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings which are from (belong to) your sheep and your cattle. “Your sheep and your cattle” is the explanation of the words “your burnt offerings and your fellowship offerings.”
22 If you make an altar of stones for me, do not build it of cut stones, for if you use your sword on it, you will defile it [the altar being created to prolong life, and the sword, to shorten it].
Rashi’s Commentary
Cut stones—Heb. גָזִית, an expression of cutting (גְּזִיזָה), the stones being thus called because one hews them and cuts them with an iron tool (Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 20:22:1).
For if you use your sword on it—Heb. כִּי. This word כִּי is used here in the sense of פֶּן, which signifies “perhaps it may be” (and it does not mean “because”)—“perhaps it may happen that you will use your sword on it.”
23 And do not go up with steps [but by a smooth ramp] upon my altar, so that your nakedness shall not be exposed upon it [by your having to take (relatively) long strides]. EXO 20:21-23
Rashi’s Commentary
And do not go up with steps—When you build an ascent to the altar, do not construct it of steps, eschalons in Old French, but it shall be even (i.e. the surface shall be unbroken) and sloping (cf. Rashi on Exo 27:5).
We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. HEB 13:10
2 And you shall make its horns on its four corners. From it [the altar itself] shall its horns be [and not first made and then attached to it], and you shall overlay it with bronze [to atone for brazenness (see Isa 48:4)].
Rashi’s Commentary
From it shall its horns be—i.e. he shall not make them separately and afterwards attach them to it (to the altar).
And you shall overlay it with bronze—To atone for sins committed with effrontery as it is said, (Isa 48:4) “and your forehead bronze” (cf. our English expression “brazen-faced”) (Midrash Tanchuma, Truman 11).
Because I knew that you were stubborn,
and your neck was an iron sinew,
and your forehead bronze. ISA 48:4
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This work, “OFFERING Parts 4-6 The Tabernacle and the Altar of Burnt Offering (Exo 26-27),” is a derivative of:
[“Pentateuch with Rashi's Commentary on Exodus”] (https://www.sefaria.org/Rashi_on_Exodus?lang=bi) by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, used under Public Domain.
[“The Rashi Chumash on Exodus 26”] (https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.26?ven=The_Rashi_chumash_by_Rabbi_Shraga_Silverstein&lang=en&aliyot=0) by [Rabbi Shraga Silverstein,] (https://www.sefaria.org/shraga-silverstein) used under [CC BY 3.0.] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
[“The Rashi Chumash on Exodus 27”] (https://www.sefaria.org/Exodus.27?ven=The_Rashi_chumash_by_Rabbi_Shraga_Silverstein&lang=en&aliyot=0) by [Rabbi Shraga Silverstein,] (https://www.sefaria.org/shraga-silverstein) used under [CC BY 3.0.] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
[“Shabbat 98b:5”] (https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.98b.5?lang=en) with commentary by [Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz,] (https://www.sefaria.org/adin-even-israel-steinsaltz) used under [CC BY-NC 4.0] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
[“Yoma 72a:12”] (https://www.sefaria.org/Yoma.72a.12?lang=en) with commentary by [Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz,] (https://www.sefaria.org/adin-even-israel-steinsaltz) used under [CC BY-NC 4.0] (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/)
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