Vayakhel

5 Facts About Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei that You (Maybe) Didn’t Know

Published on Wednesday February 28th, 2018

Discover and learn every week, "5 Facts" written on the weekly Parshah that you can share at your Shabbos table.

וַיָּבֹ֕אוּ כָּל־אִ֖ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־נְשָׂא֣וֹ לִבּ֑וֹ וְכֹ֡ל אֲשֶׁר֩ נָדְבָ֨ה רוּח֜וֹ אֹת֗וֹ הֵ֠בִיאוּ אֶת־תְּרוּמַ֨ת יְהוָ֜ה לִמְלֶ֨אכֶת אֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ וּלְכָל־עֲבֹ֣דָת֔וֹ וּלְבִגְדֵ֖י הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃ (35:21)

1. How did Chur die?

Chur was murdered. We know that from the fact that we find Moshe speaking to both Chur and Aharon before he went up to Mt. Sinai (Shemot 24:14) but when Moshe came down from Mt. Sinai we find him speaking only with Aharon only. Additionally, Aaron believed that he was about to be murdered -- just like Chur was -- and he became very scared. (Midrash Tanchuma Ch.10)

וְהַמְּלָאכָ֗ה הָיְתָ֥ה דַיָּ֛ם לְכָל־הַמְּלָאכָ֖ה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת אֹתָ֑הּ וְהוֹתֵֽר׃ (ס) (36:7)

2. What happened to the leftover construction materials?

The leftover construction material was used for repairs and/or to make other vessels. Some say that a miracle occurred and any “extra” would somehow find its place within the Mishkan without appearing as “extra”. (Ramban)

וַיַּ֗עַשׂ אֵ֚ת הַכִּיּ֣וֹר נְחֹ֔שֶׁת וְאֵ֖ת כַּנּ֣וֹ נְחֹ֑שֶׁת בְּמַרְאֹת֙ הַצֹּ֣בְאֹ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֣ר צָֽבְא֔וּ פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃ (ס) (38:8)

3. How big was the Kiyor?

The Kiyor was made exclusively out of the women’s copper mirrors. There is no size given for the dimensions of the Kiyor. This is because every single mirror was to be accepted for it’s construction regardless of how big the kiyor would be from the many mirrors (Ibn Ezra, Rashi)

וַיָּבִ֤יאוּ אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־הָאֹ֖הֶל וְאֶת־כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו קְרָסָ֣יו קְרָשָׁ֔יו בריחו [בְּרִיחָ֖יו] וְעַמֻּדָ֥יו וַאֲדָנָֽיו׃ (39:33)

4. Who erected the Mishkan, once it was completed?

They were unable to erect the Mishkan upon its completion. Hashem left it for Moshe (who hadn’t taken part in its construction) to erect it. Hashem told him to “involve” himself with putting it up and He will make it appear as if Moshe is erecting it. And that's what happened. But in truth, it miraculously rose up and stood up on its own. (Rashi, Tanchuma 11)

וַיָּ֨קֶם מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּ֗ן וַיִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־אֲדָנָ֔יו וַיָּ֙שֶׂם֙ אֶת־קְרָשָׁ֔יו וַיִּתֵּ֖ן אֶת־בְּרִיחָ֑יו וַיָּ֖קֶם אֶת־עַמּוּדָֽיו׃ (40:18)

5. How were the boards of the Mishkan erected?