Vayakhel ויקהל

Moshe assembled the entire congregation of the B’nei Yisrael, and said to them, “These are the words that Adonoy has commanded you to do.

Work may be done six days, but the seventh day must be holy to you, it is a Shabbos of Shabbos to Adonoy. Whoever does work on it shall be put to death.

You must not kindle a fire in all your dwelling places on the day of Shabbos.”

Moshe said to the entire congregation of the B’nei Yisrael, saying, “This is the word that Adonoy has commanded:

Take [collect] from among yourselves a terumah-offering to Adonoy. Every man who is generous of heart shall bring a terumah-offering to Adonoy: gold, silver and copper,

And greenish-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, fine linen, and goat’s hair,

and red-[dyed] rams’ skins, tachash skins, and accacia wood,

and oil for the light, spices for annointing oil, and for the incense of aromatic spices,

and onyx stones, and stones for setting into the ephod and the breastplate.

All those who are wise in heart among you shall come and make all that Adonoy has commanded.

The mishkon, its tent and its cover, its clasps, and its planks, its bars, its pillars and its sockets.

The ark and its poles, its cover and the partition screen.

The table and its poles, and all its vessels, and the show breads.

The menorah for light, and its vessels, and its lamps and the oil for the light.

The incense altar, and its poles, and the annointing oil, and the incense of aromatic spices, and the screen for the entrance, at the entrance of the mishkon.

The altar for burnt-offerings, with its copper grate, its poles and all its vessels, the laver and its base.

The curtains for the enclosure, its pillars and its sockets, and the screen for the entrance of the enclosure.

The stakes of the mishkon, and the stakes of the enclosure and their ropes.

The covering cloths for the holy articles, and the sacred garments for Aharon the kohein, and the garments for his sons to wear when they serve.

The entire congregation of the B’nei Yisrael departed from the presence of Moshe.

Every man whose heart lifted him up came—and every one whose generous spirit inspired him brought a terumah-offering to Adonoy, for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all [that was needed for] its service, and for the sacred garments.

And they came—both men and woman—all who were generous of heart brought bracelets, nose rings, finger rings, and buckles—all kinds of golden vessels—and every man that offered a wave-offering of gold unto Adonoy.

Every man who had with him greenish-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, fine linen, goats’ hair, red dyed rams’ skins, and tachash skins brought them.

Everyone who did lift up a terumah-offering of silver or copper, brought the terumah-offering to Adonoy; and everyone who had with him acacia wood for use in the work of the service, brought it.

And every wise-hearted woman spun with her hands; and they brought the spun yarn of greenish-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool and fine linen.

And all the women whose hearts inspired them with wisdom, spun the goat’s hair.

And the leaders [of the tribes] brought onyx stones, and stones for setting into the ephod and breastplate.

And the spices, and the oil for the light, and the anointing oil, and the incense of aromatic spices.

Every man and woman whose generous heart inspired them to bring something for all the work that Adonoy had commanded to be done through Moshe [did so]. The B’nei Yisrael brought a free-will gift to Adonoy.

Moshe said to the B’nei Yisrael, “See, Adonoy has designated by name, Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Chur, of the tribe of Yehudah.

And He endowed him with Divine spirit, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with [the skill to perform] all types of crafting.

And to devise [plans] with ingenuity, to execute [those plans] in gold, in silver and in copper.

And in masonary for settings, and in carpentry, to execute all kinds of clever tasks.

And the ability to instruct he instilled in his heart, he (Betzalel) and Oholiov, the son of Achisomoch of the tribe of Dan.

He filled them with wisdom of the heart, to execute all the tasks of the engraver, the craftsman, and the embroiderer of greenish-blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, fine linen, and the [the tasks of] weaver, [also] that of laborers and planners.

And they shall execute—Betzalel and Oholiov—and every wise-hearted man whom Adonoy had endowed with wisdom and insight to know (how) to execute in all of the holy work—all that Adonoy had commanded.

Moshe called to Betzalel and to Oholiov, and to every wise-hearted man whom Adonoy had endowed with wisdom in his heart, everyone whose heart moved him to approach the task—to execute it.

And they took from before Moshe, all the terumah-offering which the B’nei Yisrael brought for the tasks of the holy work, to execute it. And they continued to bring gifts each and every morning.

All the wise men came—who were executing all the holy tasks—each and every man from the task in which he was engaged.

They said the following to Moshe: the people are bringing too much—more than is needed for the tasks which Adonoy has commanded to execute.

Moshe commanded—and they proclaimed throughout the encampment saying, “Let no man or woman bring any more material for the sacred offering.” And the people stopped bringing.

The material was enough for all the work that had to be done, and some was left over.

All craftsmen with the spirit of wisdom made the mishkon out of ten drapes, (consisting of) twined fine linen, greenish blue wool, dark red wool and crimson wool, figures of Cherubim, the work of a craftsman.

The length of each drape was twenty eight amohs, and each drape was four amohs wide. All drapes had the same measure.

He joined (sewed) five of these drapes together, and the other five drapes he joined (sewed) together.

He made loops of greenish blue wool on the edge of the drape which was at the (innermost) end of the (first) group. He did the same on the edge of the drape which was the innermost end of the second group.

He made fifty loops on (the edge of) one drape and he made fifty loops on the edge of the drape which was on the second group. The loops were opposite one another.

He made fifty golden clasps and he joined the drapes (of each group) together with the clasps. The mishkon was thus one unit.

He made drapes of goats’ hair for a covering over the mishkon. He made eleven such drapes.

The length of each drape was thirty amohs, and the width of each drape was four amohs. The eleven drapes were of the same measure.

And he joined together five drapes by themselves, and six drapes by themselves.

He made fifty loops on the edge of one drape which was the innermost end of the (first) group and he made fifty loops on the edge of the drape which was on the second group.

He made fifty copper clasps to join the tent together making it one.

He made a covering for the tent out of red dyed rams’ skins, and a covering of tachash skins above that.

He made planks for the mishkon out of acacia wood; (these planks) stood upright (vertically).

Each plank was ten amohs long, and one and one half amohs was the width of each plank.

Each plank had two (square) pegs, exactly parallel to each other. In this manner he made all the planks of the mishkon.

He made these planks for the mishkon, twenty planks for the southern side.

He made forty silver sockets, (and placed them) under the twenty planks. There were two sockets under one plank (one) for each of the two pegs, and two sockets under the other plank, (one) for each of the two pegs.

For the second wall of the mishkon, to the northern side, he made twenty planks.

(He made) their forty silver sockets, two sockets under each plank, two sockets under each plank.

For the western end of the mishkon he made six planks.

He made two planks for the corners of the mishkon at the rear side.

They were coupled together on the bottom, and they were coupled together evenly on the top with one (square) ring. In this manner he made the two (planks) which were at the two corners.

There were eight planks, and their silver sockets, totaling sixteen sockets, two sockets, two sockets under each plank.

He made bars out of acacia wood, five for the planks of one wall,

and five bars for the planks of the second wall of the mishkon, and five bars for the planks of the western (back) wall of the mishkon.

He made the middle (center) bar to go through the planks, [reinforcing the planks] from one end to the other.

He overlaid the planks with gold, and made their rings out of gold to hold the bars. He (also) overlaid the bars with gold.

He made the paroches (partition) out of greenish blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, and fine, twined linen, the work of a craftsman, with figures of Cherubim (woven into it).

He made for it (the paroches) four acacia-wood pillars and he overlaid them with gold. Their hooks were also of gold. He cast for them four silver sockets.

He made a screen for the entrance of the tent, of greenish blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, and fine twined linen. It was the work of an embroiderer.

(He made) five pillars (to hold the screen), along with their hooks and he overlaid their caps and bands with gold. Their five sockets (he made of) copper.

Betzalel made the ark of acacia wood, two and one-half amohs long, one and one-half amohs wide, and one and one-half amohs high.

He covered it with pure gold from inside and out. He made for it a golden crown-like rim around (its top).

He cast four gold rings on its (the ark’s) four corners, two rings on one side and two rings on the other side.

He made two poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold.

He placed the poles in the rings on the sides of the ark, so that the ark can be carried with them.

He made a cover (for the ark) of pure gold, two and one-half amohs long, and one and one-half amohs wide.

He made two golden Cherubim. He hammered them out of the two ends of the (ark) cover.

One Cherub out of one end, and one Cherub out of the other end. From the (same piece of gold as the) cover itself, he made the Cherubim on its two ends.

The Cherubim had their wings spread upward, sheltering the cover with their wings, and they faced one another, the Cherubim’s faces were (inclined) toward the cover.

He made a table out of acacia wood, two amohs long, one amoh wide, and one and one-half amohs high.

He overlaid it with pure gold, and he made a crown-like rim around it.

He made a ledge of a tefach around (the table), and he made a gold crown-like rim around the ledge.

He cast for it (the table) four gold rings, and placed the rings on the four corners that are on its four legs.

The rings were against the ledge as houses (receptacles) for the poles with which to carry the table.

He made the poles out of acacia wood, and overlaid them with gold with which to carry the table.

He made the vessels that were on the table, its dishes (bread shapes), its spoons (incense bowls), its supports, and its half-hollow tubes by which they (the breads) are covered, out of pure gold.

He made the menorah (out) of pure gold. The menorah was made by hammering (its form out of a solid piece of gold). Its base, its shaft, its cups, its knobs, and its flowers were of it (the same piece of gold).

Six branches extended from its sides, three branches of the menorah from one of its sides, and three branches of the menorah from the second side.

Three cups were engraved in almond-shaped patterns, on one branch with a knob and a flower, and three cups were engraved in almond-shaped patterns, on one branch with a knob and a flower. So was (the form) of each of the six branches that extended from (the shaft) of the menorah.

The (shaft of the) menorah had four cups, engraved in almond shaped patterns, with their knobs and their flowers.

There was a knob under the two branches extending from it, and a (second) knob under the (second) two branches extending from it, and a (third) knob under the (third) two branches extending from it. (This held true) for the six branches that extended from it (the menorah’s shaft).

Their knobs and their branches were made out of (the menorah) itself. It was all made of a single hammered work of pure gold.

He made seven lamps (for the menorah), and its tongs and its (ash) scoops, of pure gold.

He made it out of a kikar of pure gold, together with all its vessels.

He made the incense altar out of acacia wood, one amoh long and one amoh wide, it was square, and two amohs high. Its horn-like elevations were of one piece with it.

He overlaid it with pure gold, on its top, its walls all around, and its horn-like elevations. He made a gold crown-like rim all around it.

He made two gold rings for it under its crown-like rim on two of its corners, on its two opposite sides, to house the poles with which to carry it.

He made the poles out of acacia wood and overlaid them with gold.

He made the sacred anointing oil and the pure perfumed incense, according to the work of the perfumer.

He made the burnt-offering altar out of acacia wood. It was five amohs long and five amohs wide, it was square, and three amohs high.

He made its raised projections on its four corners. Its raised projections were one piece with it, and he overlaid it with copper.

He made all the vessels of the altar, its pots, its scoops, its basins, its flesh-hooks, and its fire pans. He made all of its vessels out of copper.

He made for the altar a grate of copper netting, under its rim extending downward, (so that the grate reached) to the middle of the altar.

He cast four rings on the four corners of the copper grating to house the poles.

He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with copper.

He placed the poles into the rings that were on the (two) sides of the altar to carry it with them. He made it a hollow structure constructed from boards.

He made the basin out of copper and its base out of copper, from the mirrors of the women who had gathered at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.

He made the enclosure (for the mishkon). On the south side the curtains for the enclosure were made of fine, twined linen, one hundred amohs long.

It had twenty pillars and twenty copper sockets. The hooks and bands of the pillars were of silver.

On the north side, (its length was) one hundred amohs. It had twenty pillars and twenty copper sockets. The hooks and bands of the pillars were of silver.

On the west side, the curtains were of fifty amohs. It had ten pillars and ten sockets. The hooks and bands of the pillars were of silver.

(The width of the enclosure) on the east side was fifty amohs.

Curtains fifteen amohs long were on one flank (of the entrance). They had three pillars and three sockets.

The other flank, on either side of the gate to the enclosure (there also were) curtains fifteen amohs long. They (too) had three pillars and three sockets.

All curtains around the enclosure were made of twined, fine linen.

The sockets for the pillars were of copper, the hooks and bands of the pillars were of silver, and the covering of their tops was of silver. All pillars of the enclosure had silver bands.

The screen at the entrance of the enclosure was the work of an embroiderer. It was made of greenish blue wool, dark red wool, crimson wool, and twined, fine linen. It was twenty amohs long and the height in the width was five amohs, corresponding to the curtains of the enclosure.

(The screen) had four pillars and four copper sockets, silver hooks, and their tops and bands were overlaid with silver.

All the stakes of the mishkon and the surrounding enclosure were made of copper.