Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Exodus 26:1/אבן עזרא על שמות כ״ו:א׳
אואת המשכן. כאשר הודיעו בתחלה את תבנית המשכן:
1MOREOVER THOU SHALT MAKE THE TABERNACLE. As you were first told, namely, the pattern of the tabernacle (Ex. 25:9).1 (the tabernacle), i.e., the earlier-noted tabernacle, rather than tabernacle (Krinsky).
במעשה חשב. אמרו חכמים כי מעשה חשב שנים פרצופים, ורוקם פרצוף אחד ונכון הוא, ועל דרך הפשט מעשה חושב אינו רוקם ולא אורג, רק על דרך שעושין היום בגדי משי, כי הצורה שעלתה בלב היא חשבון, ומחשבתה, ויציירנה בלוח וישים שני חוטין בחשבון למשוך מרחוק:
2THE WORK OF THE SKILLFUL WORKMAN. Our sages said that ma’aseh choshev (the work of the skillful workman) refers to two faces, and [ma’aseh] rokem (the work of the weaver) (v. 36)2 72:b: “It was taught in the name of Rabbi Nehemiah rokem (weaving) is needlework, therefore it has only one face. Choshev is weaving work, therefore it has two faces.” According to Rashi, one face means the same image on both sides of the curtain. Two faces means a different image on each side of the curtain, e.g., “a lion on one side, and an eagle on the other side.” Also see Rashi on Yoma 72b. to one image. What they said is correct. However, according to the plain meaning of the text, ma’aseh choshev is neither needle-work nor weaving.3, which literally means the work of an artist. It refers rather to a process employed today in making silk garments. The image that arises in the heart comes from insight and thought.4 (and its thought). Meijler suggests emending to machashavah. The artist draws it upon a tablet. He then places two threads upon the image which he thought up in order to draw it from a distance.5, Israel, 1991) comments, “I was not worthy to understand his (I.E.’s) holy words. One has to be an expert silk worker to understand his words.” According to Weiser, I.E. is describing the transfer of an image from a wooden tablet to silk. This is done by holding the tablet over the silk by two threads (or chords) and then dropping it, thus imprinting it upon the screen.