Kislev 29 – Its cups, its capitals, and its flowers were of one piece with it…

December 11, 2023

Kislev 29, 5784; from sunset December 11, 2023, to sunset December 12, 2023

This is the name “Mosheh” (מֺשֶׁה – Moses) as seen in the Dead Sea Scrolls, written over two thousand years ago.

We started reading about the building of the Tabernacle last fall during the Feast of Tabernacles. Moses and company have been checking items off of God’s “To Do” list – all must be ready by the first day of the first month. We couldn’t miss the opportunity to study Betzalel’s work on the menorah during the Festival of Lights. Yesterday, we learned about the difference between a “ner” and a “menorah.” We also read God’s instructions to Moses for how to construct them. Let’s peek in on Betzalel and see if he is following those instructions.

He also made the lampstand of pure gold. The base and the shaft of the lampstand were made of hammered work; its cups, its capitals, and its flowers were of one piece with it. And there were six branches going out of its sides, three branches of the lampstand out of one side of it and three branches of the lampstand out of the other side of it; three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on one branch, and three cups made like almonds, each with capital and flower, on the other branch — so for the six branches going out of the lampstand.

And on the lampstand itself were four cups made like almonds, with their capitals and flowers, and a capital of one piece with it under each pair of the six branches going out of it. Their capitals and their branches were of one piece with it; the whole of it was one piece of hammered work of pure gold.

And he made its seven lamps and its snuffers and its trays of pure gold. He made it and all its utensils of a talent of pure gold. – Exodus 37:17-24 (RSV)

There are some teachings which explain that everything needed to build the Tabernacle was completed during the days that later coincided with the festival of Hanukkah. Whether or not this is true cannot be verified; but it’s a great teaching which ties the rededication of the Maccabees with Scripture.

Today, the Temple Institute is “dedicated” to every aspect of the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The Institute has begun to restore and construct the sacred vessels for the service of the Holy Temple. These are authentic, accurate vessels, not merely replicas or models. All of these items are fit and ready for use in the service of the Holy Temple. The institute is actively preparing those who would minister in the Temple and educating every one of its importance. The photo below is of the Golden Menorah which was designed to sit in the future Temple and provide illumination. It is currently located near the Western Wall of the Temple Mount.

November 8, 2016

Hanukkah – Day 5

To read all of our posts on the building of the Tabernacle, click on the image above.