וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ מְנֹרַ֖ת זָהָ֣ב טָה֑וֹר מִקְשָׁ֞ה תֵּעָשֶׂ֤ה הַמְּנוֹרָה֙ יְרֵכָ֣הּ וְקָנָ֔הּ גְּבִיעֶ֛יהָ כַּפְתֹּרֶ֥יהָ וּפְרָחֶ֖יהָ מִמֶּ֥נָּה יִהְיֽוּ׃

You shall make a candelabrum of pure gold; the candelabrum shall be made hammered. Like the ark cover and its cherubs, the candelabrum was not fashioned by casting or by joining separate pieces, but by beating a single block of gold. Its base and its shaft, its main trunk, or all its shafts: its cups, its knobs, and its flowers, decorations, the position of which are detailed below, shall all be fashioned from it, the same block of gold.

וְשִׁשָּׁ֣ה קָנִ֔ים יֹצְאִ֖ים מִצִּדֶּ֑יהָ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה ׀ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֗ה מִצִּדָּהּ֙ הָאֶחָ֔ד וּשְׁלֹשָׁה֙ קְנֵ֣י מְנֹרָ֔ה מִצִּדָּ֖הּ הַשֵּׁנִֽי׃

Six branches shall emerge from its sides, three branches of the candelabrum from its one side and three branches of the candelabrum from its second side.

שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְ֠בִעִים מְֽשֻׁקָּדִ֞ים בַּקָּנֶ֣ה הָאֶחָד֮ כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפֶרַח֒ וּשְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה גְבִעִ֗ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֛ים בַּקָּנֶ֥ה הָאֶחָ֖ד כַּפְתֹּ֣ר וָפָ֑רַח כֵּ֚ן לְשֵׁ֣שֶׁת הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃

These are the decorations on the branches: Three finely crafted [ meshukadim ] cups , or, according to another interpretation, cups that are made to look like almond blossoms, on the one branch, and also a knob, of a form unknown today, and an ornament in the shape of a flower. And three finely crafted cups on the next branch, a knob and a flower; and so forth for the six branches that emerge from the candelabrum. All the branches of the candelabrum were made of gold and had identical decorations of cups, knobs, and flowers.

וּבַמְּנֹרָ֖ה אַרְבָּעָ֣ה גְבִעִ֑ים מְשֻׁקָּדִ֔ים כַּפְתֹּרֶ֖יהָ וּפְרָחֶֽיהָ׃

On the body of the candelabrum, meaning its central shaft, four finely crafted [ meshukadim ] cups, with its knobs, and its flowers. The special craftsmanship, possibly in the shape of almond blossom, may apply to the knobs and flowers as well. The Sages include this in a list of five cases in the Torah where the reference of a modifier is ambiguous.

וְכַפְתֹּ֡ר תַּחַת֩ שְׁנֵ֨י הַקָּנִ֜ים מִמֶּ֗נָּה וְכַפְתֹּר֙ תַּ֣חַת שְׁנֵ֤י הַקָּנִים֙ מִמֶּ֔נָּה וְכַפְתֹּ֕ר תַּחַת־שְׁנֵ֥י הַקָּנִ֖ים מִמֶּ֑נָּה לְשֵׁ֙שֶׁת֙ הַקָּנִ֔ים הַיֹּצְאִ֖ים מִן־הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃

There shall be a knob under the first set of two branches extending from it, the body of the candelabrum, and a knob under the second set of two branches extending from it, and a knob under the third set of two branches extending from it, so it shall be for the six branches emerging from the candelabrum. There was an ornamental knob at each point where the branches were joined to the central shaft.

כַּפְתֹּרֵיהֶ֥ם וּקְנֹתָ֖ם מִמֶּ֣נָּה יִהְי֑וּ כֻּלָּ֛הּ מִקְשָׁ֥ה אַחַ֖ת זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר׃

The Torah reiterates: Their knobs, meaning the knobs of the branches, and their branches, meaning the branches themselves, shall be made from it, from the candelabrum itself; all of it, including its branches and ornamentation, hammered of pure gold.

וְעָשִׂ֥יתָ אֶת־נֵרֹתֶ֖יהָ שִׁבְעָ֑ה וְהֶֽעֱלָה֙ אֶת־נֵ֣רֹתֶ֔יהָ וְהֵאִ֖יר עַל־עֵ֥בֶר פָּנֶֽיהָ׃

You shall make its lamps, receptacles for the oil and the wicks located on top of the branches, seven, six above the branches that extend on the sides and one on the main shaft of the candelabrum. And he shall kindle the wicks in its lamps so that it will illuminate toward its front. All the flames were turned toward the central shaft or toward the area directly in front of it.

וּמַלְקָחֶ֥יהָ וּמַחְתֹּתֶ֖יהָ זָהָ֥ב טָהֽוֹר׃

Its tongs, used for handling the wicks, and its pans, small, spoon-like receptacles with flat bottoms that were open at the front, with which the burnt wicks and ash were removed from the lamps; these shall be of pure gold.

כִּכָּ֛ר זָהָ֥ב טָה֖וֹר יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה אֹתָ֑הּ אֵ֥ת כָּל־הַכֵּלִ֖ים הָאֵֽלֶּה׃

He shall make it of a talent of pure gold with, including in the total weight, all these vessels. The total weight of the candelabrum and its vessels shall be one talent of pure gold. Modern estimates of a talent range between 30 and 50 kg.

וּרְאֵ֖ה וַעֲשֵׂ֑ה בְּתַ֨בְנִיתָ֔ם אֲשֶׁר־אַתָּ֥ה מָרְאֶ֖ה בָּהָֽר׃ (ס)

See and craft the candelabrum and the other vessels in their form, as you are shown on the mountain. Despite the lengthy passage dealing with the candelabrum, it is difficult to describe such complex and detailed forms in words. Therefore, God showed Moses an image of the vessels in order to enable him to guide the craftsmen in their proper construction. Moses saw the heavenly Tabernacle, with all the forms of the vessels inside, and this vision filled in the details missing from the verses, allowing the artisans to recreate the vessels faithfully in the earthly Tabernacle.

וְאֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה עֶ֣שֶׂר יְרִיעֹ֑ת שֵׁ֣שׁ מָשְׁזָ֗ר וּתְכֵ֤לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן֙ וְתֹלַ֣עַת שָׁנִ֔י כְּרֻבִ֛ים מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה חֹשֵׁ֖ב תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃

You shall make the Tabernacle of ten sheets made of spun white linen , and dyed woolen threads shall be spun into it: Threads of sky-blue, purple, and scarlet wool. With artfully worked likenesses of cherubs shall you make them, the sheets. High-level craftsmanship was required to render the form of cherubs on every sheet. According to some opinions, there was a different picture on each side of the fabric.

אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁמֹנֶ֤ה וְעֶשְׂרִים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֥ה אַחַ֖ת לְכָל־הַיְרִיעֹֽת׃

The length of each sheet shall be twenty-eight cubits and the width shall be four cubits for each sheet; there shall be one measure for all the sheets.

חֲמֵ֣שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֗ת תִּֽהְיֶ֙יןָ֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָ֑הּ וְחָמֵ֤שׁ יְרִיעֹת֙ חֹֽבְרֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָֽהּ׃

Five of the ten sheets shall be attached one to another: They must be sewn into a single unit; and five sheets shall be attached one to another in the same fashion.

וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ לֻֽלְאֹ֣ת תְּכֵ֗לֶת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָאֶחָ֔ת מִקָּצָ֖ה בַּחֹבָ֑רֶת וְכֵ֤ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּשְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַקִּ֣יצוֹנָ֔ה בַּמַּחְבֶּ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃

You shall make loops of sky-blue wool, sewn on the edge of the sheet, at the extremity, at the end of the first array of five sheets; and you shall do likewise, making loops of dyed, sky-blue wool, at the edge of the outermost sheet at the edge of the second array of five sheets.

חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת תַּעֲשֶׂה֮ בַּיְרִיעָ֣ה הָאֶחָת֒ וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת תַּעֲשֶׂה֙ בִּקְצֵ֣ה הַיְרִיעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֖ר בַּמַּחְבֶּ֣רֶת הַשֵּׁנִ֑ית מַקְבִּילֹת֙ הַלֻּ֣לָאֹ֔ת אִשָּׁ֖ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָֽהּ׃

Fifty loops shall you make in the one sheet, and fifty loops you shall make at the extremity of the sheet that is in the second array; the loops shall correspond one to another, fifty loops facing fifty loops.

וְעָשִׂ֕יתָ חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים קַרְסֵ֣י זָהָ֑ב וְחִבַּרְתָּ֨ אֶת־הַיְרִיעֹ֜ת אִשָּׁ֤ה אֶל־אֲחֹתָהּ֙ בַּקְּרָסִ֔ים וְהָיָ֥ה הַמִּשְׁכָּ֖ן אֶחָֽד׃ (פ)

You shall make fifty hooks of gold and attach the sheets one to another with the hooks. Each pair of loops were held together by a gold hook. All the Tabernacle’s sheets were thus to be joined together. And the Tabernacle shall be one, a single unit. The Rashbam explains that the use of the word “Tabernacle” here denotes only the sheets rather than the structure as a whole. His interpretation is supported in subsequent verses.

וְעָשִׂ֙יתָ֙ יְרִיעֹ֣ת עִזִּ֔ים לְאֹ֖הֶל עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֑ן עַשְׁתֵּי־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה יְרִיעֹ֖ת תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה אֹתָֽם׃

In addition to the first set of sheets, which were made of dyed wool and linen, and can be considered part of the Tabernacle itself, you shall make sheets of goats’ hair as a tent over the Tabernacle, a second layer over the aforementioned cover; you shall make them eleven sheets.

אֹ֣רֶךְ ׀ הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הָֽאַחַ֗ת שְׁלֹשִׁים֙ בָּֽאַמָּ֔ה וְרֹ֙חַב֙ אַרְבַּ֣ע בָּאַמָּ֔ה הַיְרִיעָ֖ה הָאֶחָ֑ת מִדָּ֣ה אַחַ֔ת לְעַשְׁתֵּ֥י עֶשְׂרֵ֖ה יְרִיעֹֽת׃

The length of each sheet shall be thirty cubits and the width of each sheet four cubits; one measure for eleven sheets.

וְחִבַּרְתָּ֞ אֶת־חֲמֵ֤שׁ הַיְרִיעֹת֙ לְבָ֔ד וְאֶת־שֵׁ֥שׁ הַיְרִיעֹ֖ת לְבָ֑ד וְכָפַלְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַיְרִיעָ֣ה הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔ית אֶל־מ֖וּל פְּנֵ֥י הָאֹֽהֶל׃

You shall attach five sheets alone and six sheets alone; five of the sheets shall be one unit, while the other six shall form a separate unit. And after the tent has been erected, you shall fold half of the width of the sixth sheet (see verse 12) and let it hang down over the roof’s edge at the front of the tent .

וְעָשִׂ֜יתָ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת עַ֣ל שְׂפַ֤ת הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָֽאֶחָ֔ת הַקִּיצֹנָ֖ה בַּחֹבָ֑רֶת וַחֲמִשִּׁ֣ים לֻֽלָאֹ֗ת עַ֚ל שְׂפַ֣ת הַיְרִיעָ֔ה הַחֹבֶ֖רֶת הַשֵּׁנִֽית׃

You shall make fifty loops on the edge of the one sheet, the outermost of the first array, and fifty loops on the edge of the outermost sheet of the second array.

וְעָשִׂ֛יתָ קַרְסֵ֥י נְחֹ֖שֶׁת חֲמִשִּׁ֑ים וְהֵבֵאתָ֤ אֶת־הַקְּרָסִים֙ בַּלֻּ֣לָאֹ֔ת וְחִבַּרְתָּ֥ אֶת־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְהָיָ֥ה אֶחָֽד׃

You shall make fifty hooks of bronze, and you shall place the hooks into the loops and attach the tent, and it shall be one. Together these sheets formed a tent, which was laid over the wool and linen sheets that served as the roof of the Tabernacle.

וְסֶ֙רַח֙ הָעֹדֵ֔ף בִּירִיעֹ֖ת הָאֹ֑הֶל חֲצִ֤י הַיְרִיעָה֙ הָעֹדֶ֔פֶת תִּסְרַ֕ח עַ֖ל אֲחֹרֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃

As there was one extra sheet of goats’ hair over and above the length of the tent itself, and only half of it was hung over the front of the tent (verse 9), half a length of a sheet remained. The overhang that remains of the sheets of the tent, half the sheet that remains shall hang over the ground at the back of the Tabernacle, where there is no entrance.

וְהָאַמָּ֨ה מִזֶּ֜ה וְהָאַמָּ֤ה מִזֶּה֙ בָּעֹדֵ֔ף בְּאֹ֖רֶךְ יְרִיעֹ֣ת הָאֹ֑הֶל יִהְיֶ֨ה סָר֜וּחַ עַל־צִדֵּ֧י הַמִּשְׁכָּ֛ן מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה לְכַסֹּתֽוֹ׃

The cover of goats’ hair was larger than the linen and wool cover of the Tabernacle not only in its length, which comprised the widths of each section, but also in its breadth, which corresponded to each section’s length. The length of each sheet of goats’ hair was 30 cubits, while that of the cloth sheets of the Tabernacle was 28 cubits. With regard to these two extra cubits, the cubit on this side and the cubit on that side, from that which remains of the length of the sheets of the tent, shall hang over the sides of the Tabernacle on this side and on that side, to cover it. These sheets hung over the boards of the Tabernacle, which served as its walls.

וְעָשִׂ֤יתָ מִכְסֶה֙ לָאֹ֔הֶל עֹרֹ֥ת אֵילִ֖ם מְאָדָּמִ֑ים וּמִכְסֵ֛ה עֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים מִלְמָֽעְלָה׃ (פ)

You shall make a cover for the goats’ hair tent. This covering shall be of rams’ hides dyed red and a fourth layer, a cover of tah · hides over the top . According to some opinions, there were only three layers, and the outermost one was made half of rams’ hides and half of taḥash hides.