Parasha: Tetsaveh He commanded
Torah: Shemot 27:20 – 30:10
This week’s parsha is a continuation of last week. The previous parsha, Teruma, began with “and Avinu spoke..” “Daber” was the verb translated as “spoke”. This week’s parsha begins, “And Avinu commanded..”. The verb “tetsaveh” is used. Avinu is still talking about a teruma but the teruma that He is referring to isn’t a one time offering like those previously mentioned. This Teruma is to continue forever!
20 And you shall command the people of Israel that they bring to you pure beaten olive oil for the light, that the lamp may be set up to burn continually. 21 In the tent of meeting, outside the veil which is before the testimony, Aharon and his sons shall tend it from evening to morning before Avinu. It shall be a statute for ever to be observed throughout their generations by the people of Israel. (Shemot 27:20-21)
Every year, after the harvest of the olive trees, whoever was “moved” could bring whatever amount of extra virgin olive oil to the Mishkan / Temple for use in the lighting of the seven lamp candlestick. This Teruma was a “free will” offering because the donor freely determined how much oil he would give.
This Teruma lasted approximately fourteen hundred years!
Leave a Reply