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2 [1] COMMAND THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. “This is the section containing the [actual] commandment of lighting the lamps. And the section of *V’atah Tetzaveh* (*And thou shalt command*) [where the same subject is mentioned], is stated only for the sake of giving an orderly account of the work of the Tabernacle, explaining what the purpose of the candelabrum is, and the sense of the verse there is as follows: ‘*and thou wilt* at some future time *command the children of Israel* on this matter.’” This is Rashi’s language.
But it does not appear to me to be correct, for that section [there in Exodus 27:20] is not in fact adjoined to the section of the candelabrum [which is mentioned previously in Exodus 25:31-40]; and [also] it has already been stated, *And he lighted the lamps before the Eternal, as the Eternal commanded Moses*, thus both the commandment and fulfillment were already mentioned and kept! Rather, the need for [restatement of] this section is for two purposes. For there He commanded that *they bring you* a donation *on the behalf of the children of Israel*, that is to say, from every man with whom was found *pure olive oil* [*beaten*] *for the light*, together with the other donations for the Tabernacle. And so they did, as it is said, *And the princes brought* etc. *and the spice, and the oil, for the light*. And although it says there, *it shall be a statute forever throughout their generations*, this refers to the lighting of the lamps. But now the oil which the princes brought as a donation was used up, and therefore He commanded that the children of Israel take from the public treasury throughout the generations *pure olive oil beaten for the light*, as was the first oil [of the princes]. This is similar to the expression, *that they bring thee a Red Heifer*, meaning that they should seek it and it is to be brought from the public treasury. Also, there [in the section of *V’atah Tetzaveh*] He stated only, *Aaron and his sons shall set it in order* etc., which might mean [set it in order] on the candelabrum, or without the candelabrum if it is broken or lost, as happened when they returned from the [Babylonian] exile. Therefore now He stated clearly, *He shall order the lamps upon the pure candelabrum*, teaching that they should only light the lamps upon the pure candelabrum. And the interpretation of our Rabbis is as follows: “*Upon the pure candelabrum*. This means upon the very candelabrum itself, that he is not to support them [i.e., the lamps] with pieces of wood or pebbles [but the lamps are to be upon the candelabrum itself, with nothing intervening between them]. *He shall set the lamps before the Eternal*. This teaches that he is not to set them outside the Sanctuary and bring them inside. *Continually*, even on the Sabbath; *continually*, even in impurity.”
Version: Commentary on the Torah by Ramban (Nachmanides). Translated and annotated by Charles B. Chavel. New York, Shilo Pub. House, 1971-1976
Source: https://www.nli.org.il/he/books/NNL_ALEPH002108945/NLI
License: CC-BY