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Audio: Track 20 70
The Book of Exodus – ‫חומש שמות‬

Torah Portion Va'Yakhel

Torah portions Va'Yakhel – Pekudey are often read together on the same
Shabbat. They continue to deal with the commandments that are connected to
the Tabernacle.

"These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, Tabernacle of the
testimony, that were accounted according to the commandment of
Moshe, for the service of the Levites under the authority of Itamar, the
son of Aharon the priest." (38:21)

One can see that in the verse, the word "Tabernacle" repeats itself twice.

1. the Tabernacle
2. Tabernacle of the Testimony

The commentators on the Torah find a reason for this.
Rabbeinu Bachye says that this hints to the three time periods in which the
Children of Israel had a Tabernacle or a Temple.

The numerical value of the word "Tabernacle" ‫ ִמ ְׁש ָּכן‬is 410*. This is the

number of years that the First Temple existed until its destruction.

The numerical value of the word "the Tabernacle" ‫ ַה ִמ ְׁש ָּכן‬, including the number
5 (which is the number of letters comprising the word ‫ – ) ַה ִמ ְׁש ָּכן‬is 420. This is

the number of years that the Second Temple existed until its destruction.

The numerical value of the word "the Testimony" ‫ – ָּה ֵעדת‬is 479. This is the

number of years that the Tabernacle existed until King Shlomo (Solomon)
erected the Temple.

* See appendix A for an explanation of the numerical values of Hebrew letters.

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