Parashat 22 - “VaYakhel”and he caused them to gather
Shemot/ Exodus 35:1 – 38:20
The reason we are called to come together in set apartness is so that a presence may be established where YHVH is pleased to dwell. The word ”kehelah” comes from the title of this week’s portion which means an ”assembly of people.” The Greek word ”ekklesia” is also related to this word.
“In his name” implies a complete observance of his agenda, we can have no other agenda besides that of Messiah when we gather in his name.
Tehillim/Psa 133:1 See how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity – For there יהוה commanded the blessing, Life forever!
How is such a unity expressed?
Devarim/Deu 6:4 “Hear, O Yisra’ĕl: יהוה our Elohim, יהוה is one! (not three)
Deu 6:5 “And you shall love יהוה your Elohim with all your heart, and with all your being, and with all your might.
Deu 6:6 “And these Words which I am commanding you today shall be in your heart,
Deu 6:7 and you shall impress them upon your children, and shall speak of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise up,
Deu 6:8 and shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.
Deu 6:9 “And you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deu 6:10 “And it shall be, when יהוה your Elohim brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Aḇraham, to Yitsḥaq, and to Ya’aqov, to give you great and good cities which you did not build,
Deu 6:11 and houses filled with all kinds of goods, which you did not fill, and wells dug which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you shall eat and be satisfied –
Deu 6:12 be on guard, lest you forget יהוה who brought you out of the land of Mitsrayim, from the house of bondage.
Deu 6:13 “Fear יהוה your Elohim and serve Him, and swear by His Name.
When a people come together with the express purpose of hearing, obeying and doing all of YHVH’s Torah, blessing will flow to and from such a community that will profoundly affect all of mankind.
This was the teaching and example of Yahshua, we are called to follow in his footsteps.
Once again we find that one the central purposes of the instruction of the Torah is to bring together in harmony the physical and spiritual realm.
We are challenged that all our human activity on this earth will serve to bring about this goal.
”May Your will be done on earth as it has been done in heaven”
Blessing for the Torah:
Baruch atah YHVH, Eloheynu, Melech ha-O’lam, asher bachar banu m’kol ha-amim
v’natan lanu eht Torah-to. Baruch atah YHVH, noteyn ha-Torah. Ameyn.”
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
(Blessed are you, YHVH, our Elohim , King of the Universe,
you have selected us from among all the peoples,
and have given us your Torah. Blessed are you, YHVH,
giver of the Torah. Ameyn.)
Torah Readings (when VaYakhel is read separately):
- 35:1-20
- 35:21-29
- 35:30 – 36:7
- 36:8-19
- 36:20 – 37:16
- 37:17-29
- 38:1-17
- Maftir: 38:18-20
Haftarah: 1 Kings 7:40-50 (Ashkenazim); 7:13-26 (Sefardim)
Aliyah Rishon 35:1-20
Shemot/Exo 35:1 And Mosheh assembled all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, and said to them, “These are the Words (things)which יהוה has commanded you to do:
The sages teach that this assembly took place one day after “Yom ha kippurim” this signifies that YHVH had forgiven Yisrael and once again was encouraging them to walk in a fresh commitment and love towards Him and His desire to establish a dwelling place on earth where He could come and dwell among them.
In Hebrew the word “davar” can mean “word” or “thing” it seems obvious from this Torah portion that the “words” spoken were to cause the people to be occupied with “things” or actions.
The sages teach that all our labour is of value only if it can have a set apart as well as a secular purpose. Thus the Torah teaches that the primary productive labours in the material world are precisely those that are needed to create an abode for set apartness.
1Co 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the esteem of Elohim.
Col 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed, doall in the Name of the Master יהושע, giving thanks to Elohim the Father through Him.
Php 2:14 Do all matters without grumblings and disputings,
Php 4:13 I have strength to do all, through Messiah who empowers me.
Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Messiah יהושע unto good works, which Elohim prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
We are not saved by our works (Eph2:8,9) but we will be judged for our works.
Rom 14:10 … For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah.
Shemot/Exo 35:2 “Work is done for six days, but on the seventh day it shall be set-apart to you, a Sabbath of rest to יהוה. Anyone doing work on it is put to death.
Exo 35:3 “Do not kindle a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
The very first duty Yisrael is called upon to perform is that of the Sabbath.
Exo 31:16 ‘And the children of Yisra’ĕl shall guard the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations as an everlasting covenant.
Exo 31:17 ‘Between Me and the children of Yisra’ĕl it is a sign forever…
Why have we allowed churchmen to persuade us to disobey this command?
Exo 35:4 And Mosheh spoke to all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, “This is the word which יהוהcommanded, saying,
Exo 35:5 ‘Take from among you a contribution to יהוה.Everyone whose heart so moves him, let him bring it as a contribution to יהוה: gold, and silver, and bronze,
Note the stress is not on the articles given because YHVH is in no need of our contributions; after all He created and owns everything. The focus of our giving is to be on our willingness to give. It is this kind of giving that YHVH seeks.
2Co 9:7 Let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not of grief or of necessity, for Elohim loves a joyous giver.
2Co 9:8 And Elohim is able to make all favour overflow toward you, that you, always having all you need in every way, have plenty for every good work.
When your heart is right you will give what is most valuable to you FIRST (gold) and not last.
Exo 35:6 and blue, and purple, and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair,
Exo 35:7 and ram skins dyed red, and fine leather, and acacia wood,
Exo 35:8 and oil for the light, and spices for the anointing oil and for the sweet incense,
Exo 35:9 and shoham stones, and stones to be set in the shoulder garment and in the breastplate.
All these materials were created by YHVH. This teaches us that whatever we give is because YHVH has given these already. If we give Him of our labour it is because He has given us the strength and life to work. All things come from Him.
Exo 35:10 ‘And let all the wise-hearted among you come and make all that יהוה has commanded:
Exo 35:11 the Dwelling Place, its tent and its covering, its hooks and its boards, its bars, its columns, and its sockets,
Exo 35:12 the ark and its poles, the lid of atonement and the veil of the covering,
Exo 35:13 the table and its poles, and all its utensils, and the showbread,
Exo 35:14 and the lampstand for the light, and its utensils, and its lamps, and the oil for the light,
Exo 35:15 and the incense altar, and its poles, and the anointing oil, and the sweet incense, and the covering for the door at the entrance of the Dwelling Place,
Exo 35:16 the altar of burnt offering with its bronze grating, its poles, and all its utensils, the basin and its stand,
Exo 35:17 the screens of the courtyard, its columns, and their sockets, and the covering for the gate of the courtyard,
Exo 35:18 the pegs of the Dwelling Place, and the pegs of the courtyard, and their cords,
Exo 35:19 the woven garments to do service in the set-apart place, the set-apart garments for Aharon the priest and the garments of his sons to serve as priests.’ ”
Exo 35:20 And all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ĕl withdrew from the presence of Mosheh.
The entire congregation of Israel mobilized themselves to produce all that was required to build a dwelling place for YHVH.
This was a lifestyle, this kind of activity should define who we are as a people and how we live and raise our children and communicate with one another.
Discipling was a way of life, you taught your children who taught their children life and communication skills that would make a society productive and a blessing to other people.
People should look at us and say “is this how the people of YHVH live?”
Sadly today only a remnant of a remnant is really seeking to live this way.
Aliyah Sheni 35:21-29
Shemot/Exo 35:21 And everyone whose heart lifted him up and everyone whose spirit moved him came, and they brought the contribution to יהוה for the work of the Tent of Meeting, and for all its service, and for the set-apart garments.
Exo 35:22 And they came, both men and women, all whose hearts moved them, and brought earrings and nose rings, and rings and necklaces, all golden goods, even every one who made a wave offering of gold to יהוה.
Exo 35:23 And every man, with whom was found blue and purple and scarlet material, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and rams’ skins dyed red, and fine leather, brought them.
Exo 35:24 Everyone who would make a contribution to יהוה of silver or bronze, brought it. And everyone with whom was found acacia wood for any work of the service, brought it.
Exo 35:25 And all the wise-hearted women spun yarn with their hands, and brought what they had spun, the blue and the purple, the scarlet material, and the fine linen.
Exo 35:26 And all the women whose hearts lifted them up in wisdom spun the goats’ hair.
Exo 35:27 And the rulers brought shoham stones, and the stones to be set in the shoulder garment and in the breastplate,
The word for rulers “nasim” is deliberately misspelled. It has one “yud” instead of two. The sages believe this is to draw our attention to the fact that the leaders were slower to give than the others.
Exo 35:28 and the spices and the oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense.
Exo 35:29 The children of Yisra’ĕl brought a voluntary offering to יהוה, all the men and women whose hearts moved them to bring all kinds of work which יהוה, by the hand of Mosheh, had commanded to be done.
Aliyah Shlishi 35:30-36:7
Exo 35:30 And Mosheh said to the children of Yisra’ĕl,“See, יהוה has called by name Betsal’ĕl son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Yehuḏah,
Exo 35:31 and He has filled him with the Spirit of Elohim, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all work,
Exo 35:32 to make designs, to work in gold and in silver and in bronze,
Exo 35:33 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving wood, and to work in all workmanship of design.
Exo 35:34 “And He has put in his heart the ability to teach, in him and Oholiaḇ son of Aḥisamaḵ, of the tribe of Dan.
Exo 35:35 “He has filled them with skill to do all work of the engraver and the designer and embroiderer, in blue and in purple, in scarlet material, and in fine linen, and a weaver, doing any work, and makers of designs.
Exo 36:1 “And Betsal’ĕl and Oholiaḇ,and every wise-hearted man in whom יהוה has given wisdom and understanding, to know how to do all work for the service of the set-apart place, shall do according to all that יהוה has commanded.”
Exo 36:2 And Mosheh called Betsal’ĕl and Oholiaḇ, and every wise-hearted man in whose heartיהוה had given wisdom, everyone whose heart lifted him up, to come and do the work.
Exo 36:3 And they received from Mosheh all the contribution which the children of Yisra’ĕl had brought for the work of the service of making the set-apart place. But they still brought to him voluntary offerings every morning,
Exo 36:4 so all the craftsmen who were doing all the work of the set-apart place came, each from the work he was doing,
Exo 36:5 and they spoke to Mosheh, saying, “The people bring much more than enough for the service of the work which יהוהcommanded us to do.”
Exo 36:6 Then Mosheh commanded and they sent this word throughout the camp, saying, “Let neither man nor woman do any more work for the contribution of the set-apart place.” And the people were withheld from bringing,
Exo 36:7 for what they had was enough for all the work to be done, more than enough.
Psa 110:1 יהוה said to my Master (Adoni = my Master), “Sit at My right hand, Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
Psa 110:2 יהוה sends Your mighty sceptre out of Tsiyon. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
Psa 110:3 Your people volunteer in the day of Your might, In the splendours of set-apartness! From the womb, from the morning, You have the dew of Your youth!
Psa 110:4 יהוה has sworn and does not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Malkitseḏeq.”
Psa 110:5 יהוה at Your right hand Shall smite sovereigns in the day of His wrath.
I believe David is speaking of a future time when the Messiah (Yahshua) will rule over all the kings of the earth. In that day of power the people will freely volunteer all that this King desires of them.
We believe this same King Messiah will rebuild the temple in Yerushalayim. (With our participation)
Zec 6:12 and shall speak to him, saying, ‘Thus said יהוה of hosts, saying, “See, the Man whose name is the Branch1! And from His place He shall branch out, and He shall build the Hĕḵal (temple) of יהוה. Footnote 1See 3:8.
Aliyah Reviee 36:8-19
Exo 36:8 Then all the wise-hearted ones among them who worked on the Dwelling Place made ten curtains woven of fine linen and blue and purple and scarlet material. They made them with keruḇim, the work of a skilled workman.
Exo 36:9 The length of each curtain was twenty-eight cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits, all the curtains having one measure.
Exo 36:10 And he joined five curtains, one to another; and the other five curtains he joined, one to another.
Exo 36:11 And he made loops of blue on the edge of the end curtain of one set, the same he did on the edge of the end curtain of the other set.
Exo 36:12 Fifty loops he made on one curtain, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the end curtain of the second set; the loops held one curtain to another.
Exo 36:13 And he made fifty hooks of gold, and joined the curtains to each other with the hooks, and the Dwelling Place became one.
Exo 36:14 And he made curtains of goats’ hair for the tent over the Dwelling Place, he made eleven curtains.
Exo 36:15 The length of each curtain was thirty cubits, and the width of each curtain four cubits, the eleven curtains having one measure.
Exo 36:16 And he joined five curtains by themselves and six curtains by themselves.
Exo 36:17 And he made fifty loops on the edge of the end curtain in one set, and fifty loops he made on the edge of the curtain of the second set.
Exo 36:18 And he made fifty bronze hooks to join the tent, to be one.
Exo 36:19 And he made a covering for the tent of rams’ skins, dyed red, and a covering of fine leather above that.
Aliyah Chamishi 36:20-37:16
Exo 36:20 And for the Dwelling Place he made boards of acacia wood, standing up.
Exo 36:21 The length of each board was ten cubits, and the width of each board a cubit and a half.
Exo 36:22 Each board had two tenons for binding one to another. So he did to all the boards of the Dwelling Place.
Exo 36:23 And he made boards for the Dwelling Place, twenty boards for the south side.
Exo 36:24 And he made forty sockets of silver to go under the twenty boards, and two sockets under each of the boards for its two tenons.
Exo 36:25 And for the other side of the Dwelling Place, for the north side, he made twenty boards,
Exo 36:26 and their forty sockets of silver, two sockets under the one board, and two sockets under the other board.
Exo 36:27 And he made six boards for the west side of the Dwelling Place.