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VAYAKHEL "AND HE ASSEMBLED" EXODUS 35-38:20 BY RABBI ESTHER BOUCHER |
Before beginning to instruct Israel in all of the work of the Tabernacle,
Moses first gives them the commandment to rest from work on the
Sabbath. Just as the Tabernacle is a sanctuary in space, the Sabbath is
a sanctuary in time. Among the appointed times the Sabbath is first.
The Sabbath can be likened to the Tabernacle. The Sabbath is a holy
place with defined limits. Specific borders mark off the beginning and
ending of the Sabbath. Israel was instructed to keep the Tabernacle
holy by preparing themselves before entering into it. Worshippers
were required to be in a state of ritual purity. This required a ritual
immersion. Those entering the holy space of the Tabernacle did so
expecting an encounter with G-d. They were entering into His courts
and seeking after His presence. In the same way when we enter the
Sabbath, we should enter with the expectation of encountering G-d on
His Holy Day. Many of the rituals of the Sabbath are borrowed directly
from the Tabernacle. There is the lighting of the Sabbath candles,
which represent the Menorah. There is the fresh Sabbath bread, which
represents the Bread of the Presence, which is baked fresh for the
Sabbath. The Sabbath bread is a double portion. In the
same way the regular Tabernacle sacrifices of the Sabbath day were
doubled. The Sabbath bread is salted in accordance with the command
to salt the Tabernacle offerings because the Sabbath table is likened to
the altar within the Tabernacle. The Sabbath was given as a
sign of the covenant. It is a perpetual sign between the children of
Israel and the L-rd. The Sabbath was the dwelling place of G-d’s
presence. It was His earthly Tabernacle, a reflection of His heavenly
abode. As a day given over to the things of G-d, the Sabbath becomes
a day filled with the dwelling presence of G-d. The Shechinah (the
intensified presence of G-d) dwells within it.
We are instructed not to work on the Sabbath. What does this mean?
Often times we think that the only work prohibited is heavy physical
labor. Others might suppose that work for an employer is forbidden.
The Hebrew word for work is malachah. This is the same word used
throughout the passages to describe the work of creating the
Tabernacle. Malachah is not just physical labor or income related. It is
the work of shaping, creating and making things such as hobbies and
crafts or particular skills for which you are known. Understanding work
as production and creation is a reasonable approach. The work which
G-d rested from on the Sabbath was that of creation; shaping, creating,
forming, making, ordering, structuring, organizing, mixing and molding
things to produce results. It includes most anything we do for
a living, because we are producing income and paychecks. It includes
planting and harvesting (working in the garden). Exodus 16:23 forbids
cooking, boiling and baking on Shabbat; those things involve making
food. Many Torah observant believers cook food before Sabbath, not
on Sabbath. It is permissible to keep already cooked food warm, but
not to cook it. The Torah does not give us a list of do’s and don’ts for
the Sabbath day. To do so would violate the very spirit of the
Sabbath. Shabbat should be an act of love. The ancient sages of Torah
were required to make judicatory decisions. For them it was a matter
of life and death. Violation of the Sabbath carries a death penalty.
They could not convict or absolve people accused of Sabbath
violations unless there was a solid standard. They determined that any
work which might have been performed as part of the construction of
he Tabernacle could be termed work. They derived 39 prohibitions.
These are not standards for us to judge one another. Some of them
arise directly from the biblical text. It is important that we at least
understand the rationale behind them as we attempt to follow the
Master into the mitzuah of Sabbath.
1.) Carrying – Jer. 17:21-22 Traditional Judaism is so circumspect
that they may not carry their children or gloves in their pockets on
Sabbath. Yeshua told the cripple man He had healed to pick up his mat
and carry it on Sabbath. Does that mean Yeshua was disregarding
the law of the Shabbath or that He made the law obsolete? Neither.
In a walled city like Jerusalem a special legal arrangement called an
eruv makes it legal to carry on Shabbat. Some examples of loads that
might violate the biblical prohibition include carrying tools or building
materials to prepare for a job. Carrying purchased goods from a store
to home. Carrying merchandise to be sold on the Sabbath or later.
Loading a moving truck with goods or items for shipping. Loads
permissible on the Sabbath carrying one’s personal belongings, carrying
children, diaper bags, carrying literature to be used on the Sabbath,
carrying food to be eaten on the Sabbath. Buying and selling is
regarded as work (Neh. 13:15-18(. Orthodox Jews will not even handle
money on the Sabbath. Because of the taboo around handling money
and finances on the Sabbath, Paul instructed the Corinthian believers to
set aside a portion of their money on the first day of the week. Money
represents work. In every society currency is used as a
token of a person’s labor, efforts and time. Going to a restaurant
entails paying for the hire of someone else’s work and the purchase of
food.
2.) Burning – Exodus 35:3 this is why it is traditional to light candles
before the Sabbath begins. The Sabbath candles are a remembrance of
the days when candles and lamps were the only source of illumination.
Some suggest the reason making a fire is prohibited is simply that
making a fire was a lot of work. One needed kindling, wood and a
flame source. The Torah simply says not to burn a fire with no
indication of whether it was easily lit or not. Burning is work because
it is the act of intentionally transforming one substance into another.
When we burn something, whether it is a log in the fire or the butane
in a cigarette lighter we are engaging in a
process of manipulating the elements of the creation to pass matter
(solid/gas to energy) we are making heat, light and smoke. In building
the Tabernacle making a fire was necessary for melting and molding and
a variety of other stages in production. Fire is a basic rudiment in
manufacturing. Orthodox Jews have taken this to its furthest
conclusion even forbidding driving, turning on light switches. Examples
of kindling a fire that would seem to violate the Sabbath:
lighting a gas stove to boil hot dogs, firing up a barbecue grill, making a
bonfire, lighting candles on lamps, or firing a kiln. Things permissible
on Sabbath, using a flame lit before Sabbath to keep a soup warm,
starting a car to drive to a Sabbath assembly, leaving one’s furnace to
cycle on and off through the Sabbath.
3.) Extinguishing – The sages assert that extinguishing a fire is
work. This does not arise directly from the scriptures. The Sabbath
may be violating to save life. Extinguishing is most obviously a
violation of Sabbath in terms of production.
4.) Finishing – category that traditionally includes all forms of
repairs or completions of projects. Sanding, carving, painting, shaping,
sharpening, and assembling. Examples of finishing which would appear
to violate the Sabbath: working in the wood shop, painting a room,
putting up a cabinet, glazing pots and assembling machines. Finishing
which would appear to not violate the Sabbath assembling legos, tuning
instruments, assembling a sandwich.
5&6.) Writing and Erasing – The sages assert that writing and erasing
also constitute work. This does not arise directly from the biblical
text. The reasoning: The main objective of writing is the keeping of
records; the spirit of the law forbids any activity normally requiring a
written
record. The Sanhedrin forbade all sorts of business activity as well as
marriages and divorce on the Sabbath. Extreme prohibition includes
writing a letter or taking notes on a Torah teaching. Examples of
violations on the Sabbath; writing a will, signing a purchase agreement,
writing a contract. Permissible things on the Sabbath; taking notes on a
teaching, writing down a phone number, writing a post card to a friend.
7.) Cooking – Exodus 12:16 – ordinary food preparation is
considered work. On high Sabbaths you may cook only what may be
eaten by every person. Examples of violations; baking a cake, boiling
potatoes, making popcorn. Not Sabbath violations; slicing an apple,
pouring milk on cereal, assembling a sandwich.
8.) Washing – no washing clothes and fabrics does not arise from
biblical text. Violations -washing a load of clothes, washing windows,
washing a car. Permissible – washing a face, taking a bath, cleaning up
the kitchen.
9.) Sewing – extremes – no things can adhere to one another.
Envelopes cannot be sealed, adhesives and tapes are forbidden as well
as staplers. Sewing is part of manufacturing.
10.) Tearing – does not arise from biblical text. Removing stitches
or tearing fabrics is often part of the manufacturing process.
11 & 12.) Knotting and untying – limit to permanent knots. Tying a shoe
is permissible. Examples of violations are tying or untying fishing lines
and nets, tying or untying a bundle or load, tying or untying to assemble
a permanent structure. Permissible examples: tying/untying
one’s shoes, one’s animal or necktie.
13.) Shaping - includes any type of cutting or forming. Examples of
violations are making pottery, carving, whittling, or sculpting.
Permissible: making mashed potatoes, cutting apiece of bread or
making a snowball.
14&15.) Plowing and planting are prohibited (Ex. 34:21).
16&17.) Reaping and harvesting – Sages forbade picking a flower or an
apple. Eventually legislated that Jews should touch no growing thing.
Based on Yeshua it is permissible to pluck for one’s own personal
immediate consumption.
18&19.) Threshing and Winnowing – both are processes whereby a
grain is removed from its husk (Deut. 23:24-25).
20.) Selecting – to pick through and select good from bad. Does
not arise from biblical text. Part of the work of the Tabernacle
involved selecting.
21.) Sifting – relates to agricultural production.
22.) Grinding – also an agricultural production which falls into work
category. In the Tabernacle incense was ground. Grinding coffee
would be included in this prohibition. It did allow the grinding of
medicine.
23.) Kneading – act of making something, the mixing of substances
for medicinal purposes on the Sabbath is permitted. Examples of
violations; kneading bread dough, mixing up a batch of plaster.
Permissible: spitting on the ground, mixing instant coffee.
24.) Combing – combing wool or cotton to make thread.
Violations: coming wool or cotton, raking the lawn. Permissible:
combing hair, combing the Scriptures.
25-30.) Spinning, Dyeing, chain stitching, warping, weaving or
unraveling. Extreme prohibitions applying make-up or braiding hair.
Violations: sewing fabrics, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, basket
weaving and setting up a loam. Permissible: braiding hair, unraveling
shoe lace,
putting on make-up.
31-32.) Building and demolishing – includes all building and assembling
projects. Violations: building a table, demolishing a wall, use of nails,
hammer, and pry bars or other tools. Permissible: building your family,
your spiritual character, demolishing spiritual strongholds.
33.) Trapping – setting traps, hunting or capturing animals, this
includes fishing. Many sportsmen protest citing means of relaxation and
enjoyment. If G-d forbid manna to be gathered how much more the
pursuit of wild game?
34.) Shearing – Sheep and goats. Going to a barber or hairdresser
on Sabbath is a violation.
35.) Slaughtering of animals. Permissible for the sake of sacrifice
within the Temple.
36 & 37.) Skinning and Tanning of animal hides.
38.) Smoothing (polishing) – part of the construction of the
Tabernacle. Polishing gems or metals, smoothing of leather or wooden
surfaces.
39.) Marking outlines or scoring surfaces for cutting or working on a
piece. Marking and measuring.
The L-rd rises up Betzalel and filled him with the Spirit of G-d. In
charismatic circles it seems pneumatic and emotional. In Messianic
circles a spirit filled person is one who has supernatural powers and
gifting, insight and intuition guided by inner promptings and feelings.
Biblically a spirit filled person is one who has been filled with wisdom
(chakmah), understanding (binah) and knowledge (daat). Exodus 31:1-3
Wisdom = insight into the complex. Knowledge = realization of truth.
The Biblical Spirit filled person is far removed from the clairvoyant –
type mystic who is led by vague feelings and tingling sensations. He is a
person of study. The study of Torah is a thoroughly spiritual pursuit,
which is nurtured by the Spirit of G-d within us.
Moses first gives them the commandment to rest from work on the
Sabbath. Just as the Tabernacle is a sanctuary in space, the Sabbath is
a sanctuary in time. Among the appointed times the Sabbath is first.
The Sabbath can be likened to the Tabernacle. The Sabbath is a holy
place with defined limits. Specific borders mark off the beginning and
ending of the Sabbath. Israel was instructed to keep the Tabernacle
holy by preparing themselves before entering into it. Worshippers
were required to be in a state of ritual purity. This required a ritual
immersion. Those entering the holy space of the Tabernacle did so
expecting an encounter with G-d. They were entering into His courts
and seeking after His presence. In the same way when we enter the
Sabbath, we should enter with the expectation of encountering G-d on
His Holy Day. Many of the rituals of the Sabbath are borrowed directly
from the Tabernacle. There is the lighting of the Sabbath candles,
which represent the Menorah. There is the fresh Sabbath bread, which
represents the Bread of the Presence, which is baked fresh for the
Sabbath. The Sabbath bread is a double portion. In the
same way the regular Tabernacle sacrifices of the Sabbath day were
doubled. The Sabbath bread is salted in accordance with the command
to salt the Tabernacle offerings because the Sabbath table is likened to
the altar within the Tabernacle. The Sabbath was given as a
sign of the covenant. It is a perpetual sign between the children of
Israel and the L-rd. The Sabbath was the dwelling place of G-d’s
presence. It was His earthly Tabernacle, a reflection of His heavenly
abode. As a day given over to the things of G-d, the Sabbath becomes
a day filled with the dwelling presence of G-d. The Shechinah (the
intensified presence of G-d) dwells within it.
We are instructed not to work on the Sabbath. What does this mean?
Often times we think that the only work prohibited is heavy physical
labor. Others might suppose that work for an employer is forbidden.
The Hebrew word for work is malachah. This is the same word used
throughout the passages to describe the work of creating the
Tabernacle. Malachah is not just physical labor or income related. It is
the work of shaping, creating and making things such as hobbies and
crafts or particular skills for which you are known. Understanding work
as production and creation is a reasonable approach. The work which
G-d rested from on the Sabbath was that of creation; shaping, creating,
forming, making, ordering, structuring, organizing, mixing and molding
things to produce results. It includes most anything we do for
a living, because we are producing income and paychecks. It includes
planting and harvesting (working in the garden). Exodus 16:23 forbids
cooking, boiling and baking on Shabbat; those things involve making
food. Many Torah observant believers cook food before Sabbath, not
on Sabbath. It is permissible to keep already cooked food warm, but
not to cook it. The Torah does not give us a list of do’s and don’ts for
the Sabbath day. To do so would violate the very spirit of the
Sabbath. Shabbat should be an act of love. The ancient sages of Torah
were required to make judicatory decisions. For them it was a matter
of life and death. Violation of the Sabbath carries a death penalty.
They could not convict or absolve people accused of Sabbath
violations unless there was a solid standard. They determined that any
work which might have been performed as part of the construction of
he Tabernacle could be termed work. They derived 39 prohibitions.
These are not standards for us to judge one another. Some of them
arise directly from the biblical text. It is important that we at least
understand the rationale behind them as we attempt to follow the
Master into the mitzuah of Sabbath.
1.) Carrying – Jer. 17:21-22 Traditional Judaism is so circumspect
that they may not carry their children or gloves in their pockets on
Sabbath. Yeshua told the cripple man He had healed to pick up his mat
and carry it on Sabbath. Does that mean Yeshua was disregarding
the law of the Shabbath or that He made the law obsolete? Neither.
In a walled city like Jerusalem a special legal arrangement called an
eruv makes it legal to carry on Shabbat. Some examples of loads that
might violate the biblical prohibition include carrying tools or building
materials to prepare for a job. Carrying purchased goods from a store
to home. Carrying merchandise to be sold on the Sabbath or later.
Loading a moving truck with goods or items for shipping. Loads
permissible on the Sabbath carrying one’s personal belongings, carrying
children, diaper bags, carrying literature to be used on the Sabbath,
carrying food to be eaten on the Sabbath. Buying and selling is
regarded as work (Neh. 13:15-18(. Orthodox Jews will not even handle
money on the Sabbath. Because of the taboo around handling money
and finances on the Sabbath, Paul instructed the Corinthian believers to
set aside a portion of their money on the first day of the week. Money
represents work. In every society currency is used as a
token of a person’s labor, efforts and time. Going to a restaurant
entails paying for the hire of someone else’s work and the purchase of
food.
2.) Burning – Exodus 35:3 this is why it is traditional to light candles
before the Sabbath begins. The Sabbath candles are a remembrance of
the days when candles and lamps were the only source of illumination.
Some suggest the reason making a fire is prohibited is simply that
making a fire was a lot of work. One needed kindling, wood and a
flame source. The Torah simply says not to burn a fire with no
indication of whether it was easily lit or not. Burning is work because
it is the act of intentionally transforming one substance into another.
When we burn something, whether it is a log in the fire or the butane
in a cigarette lighter we are engaging in a
process of manipulating the elements of the creation to pass matter
(solid/gas to energy) we are making heat, light and smoke. In building
the Tabernacle making a fire was necessary for melting and molding and
a variety of other stages in production. Fire is a basic rudiment in
manufacturing. Orthodox Jews have taken this to its furthest
conclusion even forbidding driving, turning on light switches. Examples
of kindling a fire that would seem to violate the Sabbath:
lighting a gas stove to boil hot dogs, firing up a barbecue grill, making a
bonfire, lighting candles on lamps, or firing a kiln. Things permissible
on Sabbath, using a flame lit before Sabbath to keep a soup warm,
starting a car to drive to a Sabbath assembly, leaving one’s furnace to
cycle on and off through the Sabbath.
3.) Extinguishing – The sages assert that extinguishing a fire is
work. This does not arise directly from the scriptures. The Sabbath
may be violating to save life. Extinguishing is most obviously a
violation of Sabbath in terms of production.
4.) Finishing – category that traditionally includes all forms of
repairs or completions of projects. Sanding, carving, painting, shaping,
sharpening, and assembling. Examples of finishing which would appear
to violate the Sabbath: working in the wood shop, painting a room,
putting up a cabinet, glazing pots and assembling machines. Finishing
which would appear to not violate the Sabbath assembling legos, tuning
instruments, assembling a sandwich.
5&6.) Writing and Erasing – The sages assert that writing and erasing
also constitute work. This does not arise directly from the biblical
text. The reasoning: The main objective of writing is the keeping of
records; the spirit of the law forbids any activity normally requiring a
written
record. The Sanhedrin forbade all sorts of business activity as well as
marriages and divorce on the Sabbath. Extreme prohibition includes
writing a letter or taking notes on a Torah teaching. Examples of
violations on the Sabbath; writing a will, signing a purchase agreement,
writing a contract. Permissible things on the Sabbath; taking notes on a
teaching, writing down a phone number, writing a post card to a friend.
7.) Cooking – Exodus 12:16 – ordinary food preparation is
considered work. On high Sabbaths you may cook only what may be
eaten by every person. Examples of violations; baking a cake, boiling
potatoes, making popcorn. Not Sabbath violations; slicing an apple,
pouring milk on cereal, assembling a sandwich.
8.) Washing – no washing clothes and fabrics does not arise from
biblical text. Violations -washing a load of clothes, washing windows,
washing a car. Permissible – washing a face, taking a bath, cleaning up
the kitchen.
9.) Sewing – extremes – no things can adhere to one another.
Envelopes cannot be sealed, adhesives and tapes are forbidden as well
as staplers. Sewing is part of manufacturing.
10.) Tearing – does not arise from biblical text. Removing stitches
or tearing fabrics is often part of the manufacturing process.
11 & 12.) Knotting and untying – limit to permanent knots. Tying a shoe
is permissible. Examples of violations are tying or untying fishing lines
and nets, tying or untying a bundle or load, tying or untying to assemble
a permanent structure. Permissible examples: tying/untying
one’s shoes, one’s animal or necktie.
13.) Shaping - includes any type of cutting or forming. Examples of
violations are making pottery, carving, whittling, or sculpting.
Permissible: making mashed potatoes, cutting apiece of bread or
making a snowball.
14&15.) Plowing and planting are prohibited (Ex. 34:21).
16&17.) Reaping and harvesting – Sages forbade picking a flower or an
apple. Eventually legislated that Jews should touch no growing thing.
Based on Yeshua it is permissible to pluck for one’s own personal
immediate consumption.
18&19.) Threshing and Winnowing – both are processes whereby a
grain is removed from its husk (Deut. 23:24-25).
20.) Selecting – to pick through and select good from bad. Does
not arise from biblical text. Part of the work of the Tabernacle
involved selecting.
21.) Sifting – relates to agricultural production.
22.) Grinding – also an agricultural production which falls into work
category. In the Tabernacle incense was ground. Grinding coffee
would be included in this prohibition. It did allow the grinding of
medicine.
23.) Kneading – act of making something, the mixing of substances
for medicinal purposes on the Sabbath is permitted. Examples of
violations; kneading bread dough, mixing up a batch of plaster.
Permissible: spitting on the ground, mixing instant coffee.
24.) Combing – combing wool or cotton to make thread.
Violations: coming wool or cotton, raking the lawn. Permissible:
combing hair, combing the Scriptures.
25-30.) Spinning, Dyeing, chain stitching, warping, weaving or
unraveling. Extreme prohibitions applying make-up or braiding hair.
Violations: sewing fabrics, knitting, crocheting, needlepoint, basket
weaving and setting up a loam. Permissible: braiding hair, unraveling
shoe lace,
putting on make-up.
31-32.) Building and demolishing – includes all building and assembling
projects. Violations: building a table, demolishing a wall, use of nails,
hammer, and pry bars or other tools. Permissible: building your family,
your spiritual character, demolishing spiritual strongholds.
33.) Trapping – setting traps, hunting or capturing animals, this
includes fishing. Many sportsmen protest citing means of relaxation and
enjoyment. If G-d forbid manna to be gathered how much more the
pursuit of wild game?
34.) Shearing – Sheep and goats. Going to a barber or hairdresser
on Sabbath is a violation.
35.) Slaughtering of animals. Permissible for the sake of sacrifice
within the Temple.
36 & 37.) Skinning and Tanning of animal hides.
38.) Smoothing (polishing) – part of the construction of the
Tabernacle. Polishing gems or metals, smoothing of leather or wooden
surfaces.
39.) Marking outlines or scoring surfaces for cutting or working on a
piece. Marking and measuring.
The L-rd rises up Betzalel and filled him with the Spirit of G-d. In
charismatic circles it seems pneumatic and emotional. In Messianic
circles a spirit filled person is one who has supernatural powers and
gifting, insight and intuition guided by inner promptings and feelings.
Biblically a spirit filled person is one who has been filled with wisdom
(chakmah), understanding (binah) and knowledge (daat). Exodus 31:1-3
Wisdom = insight into the complex. Knowledge = realization of truth.
The Biblical Spirit filled person is far removed from the clairvoyant –
type mystic who is led by vague feelings and tingling sensations. He is a
person of study. The study of Torah is a thoroughly spiritual pursuit,
which is nurtured by the Spirit of G-d within us.
Ministry of Gates of Praise Ministries, Inc. Copyright Gates of Praise Ministries 2007
