Terumah תְּרוּמָה - Offering
Torah Portion: Exodus:25:1-27:19
Exodus 26:15–30
26:15 “You shall make the boards for the tabernacle of acacia wood, standing upright. 16 Ten cubits shall be the length of a board, and one and a half cubits the width of each board. 17 There shall be two tenons in each board, joined to one another: thus you shall make for all the boards of the tabernacle. 18 You shall make twenty boards for the tabernacle, for the south side southward. 19 You shall make forty sockets of silver under the twenty boards; two sockets under one board for its two tenons, and two sockets under another board for its two tenons. 20 For the second side of the tabernacle, on the north side, twenty boards, 21 and their forty sockets of silver; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board. 22 For the far side of the tabernacle westward, you shall make six boards. 23 You shall make two boards for the corners of the tabernacle in the far side. 24 They shall be double beneath, and in the same way they shall be whole to its top to one ring: thus shall it be for them both; they shall be for the two corners. 25 There shall be eight boards, and their sockets of silver, sixteen sockets; two sockets under one board, and two sockets under another board.
26 “You shall make bars of acacia wood: five for the boards of the one side of the tabernacle, 27 and five bars for the boards of the other side of the tabernacle, and five bars for the boards of the side of the tabernacle, for the far side westward. 28 The middle bar in the middle of the boards shall pass through from end to end. 29 You shall overlay the boards with gold, and make their rings of gold for places for the bars. You shall overlay the bars with gold. 30 You shall set up the tabernacle according to the way that it was shown to you on the mountain.
Today’s Meditation:
The boards in today’s reading were built and placed on three sides of the Tabernacle structure. Apparently, there were five pillars at the front entrance. Most interestingly, the boards are overlaid with gold. That’s a lot of gold and it must have made them so heavy. Remember that the Israelites had received gold and other goods from the Egyptians just before they left. Now they were giving their best to build the tabernacle. This place was the most special; it would be Hashem's resting place. It could only be the best.
Today’s Challenge:
Are you giving Hashem your best? If you were building a resting place for Him, would you contribute your gold? We must provide to Hashem in whatever way He asks us. It may be given to a charity, a friend, a family member, or used for the actual preparation of the Temple in Jerusalem. Think about how you are supporting or giving to Hashem today. Together, we can all support the Kingdom of Elohim.
