VAYAQ’HEL וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל (And he assembled) EXODUS 35:1-38:20

PROPHETS: 2 KINGS 11:17-12:17  | GOSPEL: MATTHEW 12:1-13

by Min. Donald H. Garrett

TORAH:

Mosheh assembles the entire Israelite people to tell them YaHVaH’s commands. He begins with the Sabbath. “‘On six days, work may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for YaHVaH; whoever does work on it shall be put to death.” Tanach, Exodus 35:2, emphasis mine (HASHEM changed to YaHVaH).

For everyone who believes YaHVaH is not serious about working on the Sabbath, reread above “put to death.” Sounds serious to me. Many times throughout the Torah the Sabbath is mentioned to keep it holy, remember it, and to do no work. If YaHVaH restates something more than once, people should take notice.

The remainder of the parashah is about the donations and work to complete the Tabernacle and it’s utensils. Regarding the donations, the Torah says the people gave as their hearts motivated or inspired them. The donations consisted of all kinds of body jewelry, gold, silver, three colors of wool, linen, ram skins, tachash skins, different types of yarn, gemstones, spices, and oil. How much better would our assemblies be today if we let our own hearts inspire or motivate us to donate what is needed.

Specific people are named to carry out the work, but also every wise-hearted man given the insight and wisdom by YaHVaH. Notice how specific the details on making all the articles are, such as acacia wood, hammered out gold for the Menorah, and copper mirrors for the Laver. Dimensions were very specific to each item. There is some speculation today on what those dimensions equate to in our present measuring systems.

(c) March 2021 Min. Donald H. Garrett and Odon Obadyah Ministries, Inc.

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