Exodus-Chapter-39

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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   “Exodus Chapter 39”      

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

Introduction:

Exodus Chapter 39 marks a pivotal moment in the Torah, transitioning from the phase of instruction to the finalization of the sacred project. Following the restoration of the covenant after the golden calf incident, this chapter serves as a testament to the community’s collective dedication. It provides a detailed account of the creation of the priestly vestments and the final presentation of all Tabernacle components to Moses. The narrative shifts focus from the structure of the Sanctuary to the outfitting of those who would serve within it, ensuring every detail reflects the holiness of the Divine presence.

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Let us commence and read Exodus Chapter 39, verses 1 to 43: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below the chapter I will provide a commentary of what you will have read in this chapter.

1 “And of the blue, and purple, and scarlet, they made plaited garments, for ministering in the Holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron, as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 2 And he made the ephod of gold, blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 3 And they did beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into threads, to work it in the blue, and in the purple, and in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skilful workman. 4 They made shoulder-pieces for it, joined together; at the two ends was it joined together. 5 And the skillfully woven band that was upon it, wherewith to gird it on, was of the same piece and like the work thereof: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen, as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 6 And they wrought the onyx stones, in closed in settings of gold, graven with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel7 And he put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 8 And he made the breastplate, the work of the skilful workman, like the work of the ephod: of gold, of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine twined linen. 9 It was four-square; they made the breastplate double; a span was the length thereof, and a span the breadth thereof, being double. 10 And they set in it four rows of stones: a row of ‘carnelian’, ‘topaz’, and ‘smaragd’ was the first row. 11 And the second row, a ‘carbuncle’, a ‘sapphire’, and an ‘emerald’. 12 And the third row, a ‘jacinth’, an ‘agate’, and an ‘amethyst’. 13 And the fourth row, a ‘beryl’, an ‘onyx’, and a ‘jasper’; they were in closed in fittings of gold in their settings. 14 And the stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names, like the engravings of a signet, every one according to his name, for the twelve tribes. 15 And they made upon the breastplate plaited chains, of wreathen work of pure gold. 16 And they made two settings of gold, and two gold rings; and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate. 17 And they put the two wreathen chains of gold on the two rings at the ends of the breastplate. 18 And the other two ends of the two wreathen chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder-pieces of the ephod, in the forepart thereof. 19 And they made two rings of gold, and put them upon the two ends of the breastplate, upon the edge thereof, which was toward the side of the ephod inward. 20 And they made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder-pieces of the ephod underneath, in the forepart thereof, close by the coupling thereof, above the skilfully woven band of the ephod. 21 And they did bind the breastplate by the rings thereof unto the rings of the ephod with a thread of blue, that it might be upon the skilfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod; as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 22 And he made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue; 23 and the hole of the robe in the midst thereof, as the hole of a coat of mail, with a binding round about the hole of it, that it should not be rent. 24 And they made upon the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, and purple, and scarlet, and twined linen. 25 And they made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates upon the skirts of the robe round about, between the pomegranates: 26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, upon the skirts of the robe round about, to minister in; as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 27 And they made the tunics of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons, 28 and the mitre of fine linen, and the goodly head-tires of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen, 29 and the girdle of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the weaver in colours; as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses 30 And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote upon it a writing, like the engravings of a signet: ‘קֹדֶשׁ, לַיהוָה - HOLY TO THE LORD’. 31 And they tied unto it a thread of blue, to fasten it upon the mitre above; as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses. 32 Thus was finished all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting; and the children of Israel did according to all that יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses, so did they. 33 And they brought the tabernacle unto Moses, the Tent, and all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, and its pillars, and its sockets; 34 and the covering of rams' skins dyed red, and the covering of sealskins, and the veil of the screen; 35 the ark of the testimony, and the staves thereof, and the ark-cover; 36 the table, all the vessels thereof, and the showbread; 37 the pure candlestick, the lamps thereof, even the lamps to be set in order, and all the vessels thereof, and the oil for the light; 38 and the golden altar, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the screen for the door of the Tent; 39 the brazen altar, and its grating of brass, its staves, and all its vessels, the laver and its base; 40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, and its sockets, and the screen for the gate of the court, the cords thereof, and the pins thereof, and all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting; 41 the plaited garments for ministering in the holy place; the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office. 42 According to all that יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work. 43 And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it; as יְהוָה - the LORD had commanded, even so had they done it. And Moses blessed them”.

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Commentary on Exodus Chapter 39:

Verses 1-7: (The Artisans’ Mastery). The chapter begins with the expert weaving of the Ephod and its shoulder pieces. A remarkable technical detail is noted: the gold was beaten into thin plates and cut into threads to be woven directly into the fabrics, a feat of ancient craftsmanship that combined the mundane with the precious.

Verses 8-21: (The Stones of Memorial). The Breast piece of Judgment is described with its four rows of precious stones, each engraved with the name of one of the twelve tribes. By wearing these names over his heart and on his shoulders, the High Priest acted as a living bridge, physically bearing the weight and identity of the entire nation before אֱלֹהִים - Elohim (God).

Verses 22-31: (The Pomegranates and Bells). The blue robe of the ephod featured a hem of alternating gold bells and woven pomegranates. The bells served a functional and reverent purpose, announcing the priest’s movements within the sanctuary, while the golden plate on the turban, engraved with “Holy to יְהוָה - the LORD”, served as the final sign of total consecration.

Verses 32-43: The Final Presentation and Approval). This section functions as a formal inventory. The artisans and the people brought every finished component from the heavy boards to the smallest clasps, to Moses for inspection. The text repeatedly emphasizes that the work was done “as יְהוָה - the LORD commanded Moses”, highlighting a shift from individual creativity to collective, disciplined obedience. “And Moses saw all the work, and, behold, they had done it” deliberately mirrors the language of Genesis. Just as אֱלֹהִים - Elohim “saw” His creation and “blessed” the seventh day, Moses “saw” the completed Tabernacle and he “blessed” the people. This parallel suggests that building a dwelling for the Divine on earth is a human partnership in the ongoing work of creation.

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My Closing Message:

The completion of this work proves that when a community unites with a singular, holy purpose, they can create a space where the Divine and the humans meet. The blessing Moses bestows upon the people is not just for their technical skill, but for their spirit of voluntary excellence. This chapter reminds us that every thread woven and every stone set with intention contributes to a greater whole, transforming physical materials into a sanctified reality.

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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be He, said the following via several of our prophets...

Return unto Me, and I will return unto you, saith צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה- the LORD of hostsMal’a’chi - Malachi 3:7. (JPS).

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“Hebraic Studies” motto is as follows;

“The More Torah, the More Life”,

For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... Life!”

May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom = Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָהthe LORD of hosts, be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as well as the מוֹעֲדִים Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and regular בְּרָכָה Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before food and drinks, etc!

שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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