Parashat Pekudei
Exodus 38:21 - Exodus 40:38

Topics (click on any link)
Synopsis of the Torah portion
Spiritual insights into Parashat Pekudei
Key verses
Creative Midrash for Parashat Pekudei

Chapter 39
Pekudei continues with how the blue, purple and crimson yarns were utilized in the service clothing for the Aaron the priest. Afterwards the portion describes the fabrics metals and stones used in making the high priests breastplate. Next comes the details of the clothing: the ephod and the robe. For Aaron and his sons, they also made tunics and headdresses. All of the work of the tabernacle was completed, exactly as commanded by the Lord. The Israelites then delivered the tabernacle to Moses, the tent with all its furnishings: the poles, the  planks, its post and its sockets; the table with the bread of display, the lamp stand, the altar and the sacred clothing for Aaron and his sons to officiate in the sanctuary. Moses saw that everything was completed just as the Lord commanded and Moses blessed them. 
Chapter 40
God now commands Moses to set up the tabernacle on the first day of the first month. Detailed instructions were given to Moses on exactly how and when each item of the tabernacle should be placed. Then Moses is to bring in Aaron and his sons. He is to wash them, put the sacral clothing on Aaron and anoint him so that he may serve Me as priest. The sons are to be brought in next, anointed in tunics so that they too may serve Me as priests. This chapter concludes with Moses following all  of God's detailed commands and actually setting up the tabernacle. When Moses finished the work, the cloud of God's glory covered the Tent of Meeting and His presence filled the Tabernacle. When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out on their journeys.  If the cloud did not lift, the Israelites would remain where they were encamped until the cloud lifted. This cloud covered the Tabernacle by day and fire would appear in it at night so the Israelites would see the cloud continuously.

Spiritual insights into Parashat Pekudei                        return to top of page
This final parashah of the Book of Exodus portrays the details of Aaron's vestments as the high priest, which he is to wear while officiating at rituals of the sanctuary. The most striking article to adorn the high priest is the breastplate designed in the style of the ephod, the priest's outer garment. They set upon it four rows of stones by three columns apart. Each stone was a different material, among them were carnelian, amethyst, sapphire and turquoise. Each stone was engraved with the name of one of the sons of Israel, the twelve tribes. The number twelve holds great significance in many areas of Jewish tradition. It represents the twelve constellations of the astrological worlds, an art that Abraham was said to have mastered.

Twelve are the months of the year. Twelve divided by three is four, the number of the cups of wine at the Passover Seder, along with the four questions and the four sons.  Four are the number of seasons of the year and we have a festival to celebrate each one. Three is the letters of the Hebrew alphabet that denote the basic types of spiritual energy: the letter "shin" is positive, the "mem" is negative and the "aleph" is the neutral quality balancing the two. We derive a lot of useful spiritual knowledge through the number twelve.

Key Verses                         return to top of page
This page is not a commentary on the text, but a chance for you to express your own comments and feelings in order to gain deeper insight into your own life.

Exodus 38:24
All the gold that was used for the work, in all of the work of the sanctuary--the wave offering of gold--came to 29 talents and 730 shekels by the sanctuary weight.
Food for thought:
1. How did the Israelites obtain all that gold in the middle of the desert?
2. Also where did the other metals (the silver and the copper) come from?
3. Could you think of any reasons why only gold, silver and copper was used in the work of the sanctuary?

Exodus 39:8
The breastpiece was made in the style of the ephod: gold, blue, purple and crimson yarns, and fine twisted linen.
Food for thought:
1. Where did these fabrics and colors come from, when the Israelites were in the desert?
2. Could the colors of these fabrics have any special significance?
3. Why would God command the priest to wear a breastpiece? Does the breastpiece have a special meaning?

Exodus 39:10
They set in it four rows of stones. The stones corresponded [in number] to the names of the sons of Israel: twelve, corresponding to their names; engraved like seals, each with its name, for the twelve tribes.
Food for thought:
1. The breastpiece is obviously four rows in three columns as each stone represents a tribe. What do you think the purpose of these stones were? Do you think it was just decorative, or was there another reason?
2. What function do you think the breastpiece had?
3. The verse lists the kinds of stones. Is that a clue to it's purpose? Do you think that stones have certain inherent properties?
 

Exodus 39:25-26
They also made bells of pure gold, and attached the bells between the pomegranates: a bell and a pomegranate all around the hem of the robe for officiating in--as the Lord commanded.
Food for thought:
1. In what ritual object to we see bells being used today?
2. What do you think is the purpose of the bells?
3. What possible effect could the jingling of bells have?
 

Exodus 40:17
In the first month of the second year, on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was set up.
Food for thought:
1. When would this be, the first day of the first month?
2. Why do you think that date is so important?
3. What would have happened if the tabernacle was set up on a different day?

Exodus 40:38
For over the Tabernacle a cloud of the Lord rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.
Food for thought:
1. What image do you think of when you visualize this scene?
2. Throughout their journey, God accompanied the Israelites. Does He accompany us today?
3. In what ways is God always with us?

Additional questions to ponder:
1. What is it about the story, a verse, a word that seems to resonate with some aspect of your life?
2. Is there something about the story that rings a bell?
3. Can you recall experiences in your life when you have experienced something similar to this story?
4. How would you describe the characters in the story? Who do you know who's like them?
5. Can you personally identify with any one of the characters in the story? Which one?
6. Can you find a similarity between yourself and all the characters in the story?

Reflections:
The Rabbis of old would meditate on such questions, sometimes for weeks at a time, to help find deeper meaning in the verses. You may wish to contemplate just one or a few of these questions at a time, rather than tackling them all.
In what ways we any of your responses to the questions personally meaningful?

Suggestion:
Some of the questions here are of a personal nature which in some cases could be emotionally upsetting. If so, try relaxing your body as much as possible and takes long slow breaths of air. That usually helps to relieve anxiety.

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Creative Midrash on Parashat Pekudei                        return to top of page

Exodus 40:34
When Moses finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.
 

The Rabbis of old would create parables, stories and narrative connections around such selected verses. What do you see between the lines, the sentences and the letters. The following questions can provide a launch pad upon which to create your own meanings of the Torah.

Imagine yourself as one of the Israelites standing in front of the Tent of Meeting.  How do you picture the scene? What do you hear? What does this Tabernacle mean to you? Where are Moses and Aaron right now? Can you imagine the impressiveness of this grand structure? What do you think God had in mind when he chose to make the Tabernacle a portable tent? Why do you think He needed Moses to construct a Tabernacle altogether? Wouldn't it be good enough to worship Him in the desert alone? What do we have today that represents a Tabernacle? Couldn't we just worship God anywhere?

Spend some time thinking about these questions. After you mentally process them for a day or two, it could be helpful to record your conclusions in a journal. It's not important to have correct answers; it's more important to wrestle with the narrative. In time this process can teach you to change many of your unproductive thoughts and beliefs for new ones that work more effectively.