Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ramban · Torah
Ramban on Exodus 36:6/רמב"ן על שמות ל״ו:ו׳
אאִישׁ וְאִשָּׁה אַל יַעֲשׂוּ עוֹד מְלָאכָה הַמָּמוֹן יִקָּרֵא מְלָאכָה, וְכֵן "אִם לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ בִּמְלֶאכֶת רֵעֵהוּ" (שמות כ"ב:ז'), "לְרֶגֶל הַמְּלָאכָה אֲשֶׁר לְפָנַי" (בראשית לג יד), "וְכָל הַמְּלָאכָה נְמִבְזָה וְנָמֵס" (שמואל א ט"ו:ט'). וְהָעִנְיָן, שֶׁלֹּא יָבִיאוּ עוֹד שׁוּם דָּבָר לִמְלֶאכֶת הַקֹּדֶשׁ. אֲבָל אָמַר אַל יַעֲשׂוּ עוֹד מְלָאכָה, לְהַכְנִיס הַנָּשִׁים שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיוּ עוֹד טוֹוֹת אֶת הָעִזִּים. וְהִנֵּה גַּם הַהֲבָאָה יִקָּרֵא מַעֲשֶׂה, וּמָנַע מֵהֶם הַכֹּל:
1LET NEITHER MAN NOR WOMAN MAKE ANY MORE ‘MLACHAH’ (WORK). Money [and possessions] are called mlachah. Similarly: whether he have not put his hand ‘bimlecheth’ (the goods of) his neighbor;51 according to the pace of ‘hamlachah’ (the cattle) that are before me;52 ‘v’chol hamlachah’ (but everything) that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly.53 Thus the meaning of this verse is that they should not bring anything more for the sacred work. Scripture, however, states, Let them not make any more ‘mlachah’ [using the verb “to make”] in order to include therein the women, that they should no longer spin the goats’ hair.54 Thus even the act of bringing is here referred to as “making,” and [it was now Moses’ wish] to restrain them altogether [from bringing more donations, and from making any work in their homes, as explained].