1 of 12Shabbat Before the Sanctuary
שבת לפני המשכןExodus 35:1–35:3
Moses assembles the entire congregation and begins not with the Tabernacle but with Shabbat: six days work may be done, but the seventh is holy — a Sabbath of complete rest. Anyone who works on it shall be put to death. The Torah adds a specific prohibition: 'You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.' By placing Shabbat first, the Torah teaches that even the holiest construction must yield to sacred time.
2 of 12The Call for Voluntary Offerings
נדבת העםExodus 35:4–35:20
Moses relays God's request for materials: gold, silver, copper, dyed wools, fine linen, goat hair, ram skins, acacia wood, oil, spices, and precious stones. He calls on all who are 'wise of heart' to come and make the Tabernacle's components — the tent, its coverings, clasps, boards, bars, pillars, the Ark, the Table, Menorah, altars, courtyard hangings, priestly garments, anointing oil, and incense.
3 of 12The People's Generous Response
נדיבות לב העםExodus 35:21–35:29
The response is extraordinary. Everyone whose heart stirs them and whose spirit moves them brings offerings — brooches, earrings, rings, gold ornaments; blue, purple, and scarlet wool; fine linen and goat hair; ram skins and acacia wood. The leaders bring precious stones, oil, and spices. Both men and women participate, each contributing according to their ability and desire.
4 of 12Bezalel and Oholiab Appointed
בצלאל ואהליאבExodus 35:30–36:7
Moses announces that God has chosen Bezalel son of Uri of the tribe of Judah, filled with the spirit of God, wisdom, understanding, and knowledge in every craft. Alongside him is Oholiab son of Ahisamach of Dan. They and every skilled artisan begin the work — but the people keep bringing more offerings every morning until the craftsmen tell Moses they have more than enough. Moses issues a proclamation: no more contributions. The surplus itself testifies to the people's devotion.
5 of 12Building the Tabernacle Structure
בניית המשכןExodus 36:8–36:38
The skilled workers begin by constructing the Tabernacle's coverings: ten curtains of fine linen woven with blue, purple, and scarlet wool in cherub patterns, joined in sets by golden clasps; eleven curtains of goat hair joined by copper clasps; and outer layers of dyed ram skins and tachash hides. Then come the wall boards — gold-plated acacia wood set into silver sockets — with connecting bars. The Parochet curtain and entrance screen are woven and hung on their pillars.
6 of 12Crafting the Sacred Vessels
כלי הקודשExodus 37:1–37:29
Bezalel crafts the Ark of acacia wood overlaid with gold inside and out, topped by the golden cover with two cherubim. He makes the Table with its golden crown, dishes, and utensils. The Menorah is hammered from a single talent of pure gold — shaft, branches, cups, knobs, and flowers. He builds the golden Incense Altar with its horns and crown, and prepares the sacred anointing oil and the pure fragrant incense.
7 of 12The Copper Altar and Courtyard
מזבח הנחושת והחצרExodus 38:1–38:20
The Altar of Burnt Offerings is built of copper-plated acacia wood, five cubits square and three cubits high, with horns at its corners and a copper grating. The copper Laver and its base are made from the mirrors donated by the women who served at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. Finally, the courtyard is enclosed with fine linen hangings supported by pillars set in copper sockets with silver hooks and bands — one hundred cubits long and fifty cubits wide.
8 of 12Accounting of the Materials
פקודי המשכןExodus 38:21–39:1
At Moses' direction, the Levites under Ithamar son of Aaron take an exact inventory of all materials used. The gold totals nearly 29 talents, the silver — collected as the half-shekel from 603,550 men — amounts to 100 talents plus 1,775 shekels, and the copper totals about 70 talents. Silver was cast into the hundred sockets of the Tabernacle and the curtain pillars; copper was used for the altar, its grating, courtyard sockets, pegs, and vessels.
9 of 12Completing the Priestly Garments
עשיית בגדי הכהונהExodus 39:2–39:31
The artisans complete every garment exactly as God commanded Moses. They weave the golden Ephod with its shoulder stones engraved with the tribal names, the Breastplate set with twelve precious stones, the blue Robe with golden bells and woven pomegranates, the golden Head-plate inscribed 'Holy to the Lord,' and the tunics, sashes, turbans, and linen breeches for all the priests.
10 of 12Moses Inspects and Blesses
משה בודק ומברךExodus 39:32–39:43
The people bring all the finished components to Moses: the Tabernacle structure, its coverings and boards, the Ark, Table, Menorah, golden altar, copper altar, laver, courtyard hangings, and all the priestly garments. Moses examines everything and sees that it has been made exactly as God commanded. He blesses them — tradition says he prayed: 'May the Divine Presence rest upon the work of your hands.'
11 of 12Moses Erects the Tabernacle
הקמת המשכןExodus 40:1–40:33
God instructs Moses to erect the Tabernacle on the first day of Nisan. On that day, Moses himself raises the boards, inserts the bars, spreads the coverings, places the Ark and Testimony in the Holy of Holies, sets the Table, Menorah, golden altar, and copper altar, fills the laver, and erects the courtyard. The phrase 'as the Lord commanded Moses' recurs eighteen times.
12 of 12The Cloud of Glory
ענן הכבודExodus 40:34–40:38
The Cloud covers the Tent of Meeting and the Glory of the Lord fills the Tabernacle — so powerfully that even Moses cannot enter. This cloud becomes Israel's guide: when it lifts, they journey; when it rests, they camp. The Cloud of the Lord is upon the Tabernacle by day, and fire is within it by night, before the eyes of all Israel throughout all their journeys. With these words, the Book of Exodus concludes.
