Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu continues recounting the aftermath of the cheit ha'egel, describing how Hashem commanded him to carve out the second luchos and build a wooden aron to hold them. Moshe recalls going up the mountain, receiving the second luchos with the Aseres HaDibros, and placing them in the aron upon his descent, where they remained safe and sound.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

בָּעֵתAt the timeהַהִואthatאָמַרsaidיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meפְּסָלcarveלְךָfor yourselfשְׁנֵיtwoלֻוחֹתtablets ofאֲבָנִיםstoneכָּרִאשֹׁנִיםlike the firstוַעֲלֵהand ascendאֵלַיto Meהָהָרָהto the mountainוְעָשִׂיתָand you shall makeלְּךָfor yourselfאֲרוֹןan ark ofעֵץ׃wood

רַשִׁ״י

בעתAt the timeההוא.thatלְסוֹףat the end ofאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdaysנִתְרַצָּהHe was reconciledלִיwith meוְאָמַרand He saidלִיto meפסלhewלךfor yourself,וְאַחַרand afterכָּךְthatועשיתand you shall makeלךfor yourselfארוןan Ark,וַאֲנִיand Iעָשִׂיתִיmadeאָרוֹןan Arkתְּחִלָּה,firstשֶׁכְּשֶׁאָבֹאfor when I comeוְהַלּוּחוֹתand the tabletsבְּיָדִיin my handהֵיכָןwhereאֶתְּנֵם?shall I place themוְלֹאand notזֶהthisהוּאisהָאָרוֹןthe Arkשֶׁעָשָׂהwhich madeבְצַלְאֵל,Bezalelשֶׁהֲרֵיfor beholdמִשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleלֹאnotנִתְעַסְּקוּdid they occupy themselvesבוֹwith itעַדuntilלְאַחַרafterיוֹםthe Day ofהַכִּפּוּרִים,Atonementכִּיforבְּרִדְתּוֹupon his descentמִןfromהָהָרthe mountainצִוָּהhe commandedלָהֶםthemעַלconcerningמְלֶאכֶתthe work ofהַמִּשְׁכָּן,the Tabernacleוּבְצַלְאֵלand Bezalelעָשָׂהmadeמִשְׁכָּןthe Tabernacleתְּחִלָּהfirstוְאַחַרand afterכָּךְthatאָרוֹןthe Arkוְכֵלִים,and vesselsנִמְצָאit turns outזֶהthisאָרוֹןan Arkאַחֵרotherהָיָה,wasוְזֶהוּand this isשֶׁהָיָהwhich wasיוֹצֵאgoing outעִמָּהֶםwith themלַמִּלְחָמָה,to battleוְאוֹתוֹand thatשֶׁעָשָׂהwhich madeבְצַלְאֵלBezalelלֹאnotיָצָאdid go outלַמִּלְחָמָה,to battleאֶלָּאexceptבִּימֵיin the days ofעֵלִי,Eliוְנֶעֶנְשׁוּand they were punishedעָלָיוfor itוְנִשְׁבָּהand it was capturedתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiשקליםShekalimוand:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

וְאֶכְתֹּבand I will writeעַלuponהַלֻּחֹתthe tabletsאֶת—הַדְּבָרִיםthe wordsאֲשֶׁרthatהָיוּwereעַלuponהַלֻּחֹתthe tabletsהָרִאשֹׁנִיםthe firstאֲשֶׁרwhichשִׁבַּרְתָּyou smashedוְשַׂמְתָּםand you shall place themבָּאָרוֹן׃in the ark

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וָאַעַשׂAnd I madeאֲרוֹןan ark ofעֲצֵיwood ofשִׁטִּיםshittimוָאֶפְסֹלand I carvedשְׁנֵיtwoלֻחֹתtablets ofאֲבָנִיםstoneכָּרִאשֹׁנִיםlike the firstוָאַעַלand I went upהָהָרָהthe mountainוּשְׁנֵיand the two ofהַלֻּחֹתthe tabletsבְּיָדִי׃in my hand

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

וַיִּכְתֹּבAnd He wroteעַלuponהַלֻּחֹתthe tabletsכַּמִּכְתָּבlike the writingהָרִאשׁוֹןthe firstאֵת—עֲשֶׂרֶתthe tenהַדְּבָרִיםcommandmentsאֲשֶׁרwhichדִּבֶּרspokeיְהוָהHashemאֲלֵיכֶםto youבָּהָרon the mountainמִתּוֹךְfrom the midst ofהָאֵשׁthe fireבְּיוֹםon the day ofהַקָּהָלthe assemblyוַיִּתְּנֵםand He gave themיְהוָהHashemאֵלָי׃to me

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

וָאֵפֶןAnd I turnedוָאֵרֵדand I descendedמִןfromהָהָרthe mountainוָאָשִׂםand I placedאֶת—הַלֻּחֹתthe tabletsבָּאָרוֹןin the arkאֲשֶׁרthatעָשִׂיתִיI madeוַיִּהְיוּand they wereשָׁםthereכַּאֲשֶׁרasצִוַּנִיcommanded meיְהוָה׃Hashem

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

וּבְנֵיAnd the children ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelנָסְעוּjourneyedמִבְּאֵרֹתfrom Beerothבְּנֵיof the children ofיַעֲקָןYaakanמוֹסֵרָהto MoserahשָׁםthereמֵתdiedאַהֲרֹןAharonוַיִּקָּבֵרand he was buriedשָׁםthereוַיְכַהֵןand served as priestאֶלְעָזָרElazarבְּנוֹhis sonתַּחְתָּיו׃in his stead

רַשִׁ״י

ובניAnd the children ofישראלYisraelנסעוjourneyedמבארתfrom the wells ofבניthe children ofיעקןYaakanמוסרה.to Moserahמָהwhatעִנְיָןconnectionזֶהhas thisלְכָאן?to hereוְעוֹד,and furthermoreוְכִיdid indeedמִבְּאֵרוֹתfrom the wells ofבְּנֵיthe children ofיַעֲקָןYaakanנָסְעוּthey journeyלְמוֹסֵרָה,to Moserahוַהֲלֹאbut did they notמִמּוֹסֵרָהfrom Moserahבָּאוּcomeלִבְנֵיto the children ofיַעֲקָן,Yaakanשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is said"וַיִּסְעוּand they journeyedמִמֹּסֵרוֹתfrom Moserothוְגוֹ'"etcבמדברBamidbarל"ג33,וְעוֹד,and furthermoreשָׁםthereמֵתdiedאַהֲרֹן,Aharonוַהֲלֹאbut did he notבְּהֹרat Horהָהָרthe mountainמֵת,dieצֵאgoוַחֲשֹׁבand calculateוְתִמְצָאand you will findשְׁמוֹנָהeightמַסָּעוֹתjourneysמִמּוֹסֵרוֹתfrom Moserothלְהֹרto Horהָהָר?the mountainאֶלָּאratherאַףevenזוֹthisמִןis ofהַתּוֹכֵחָה,the rebukeוְעוֹדand furthermoreזֹאתthisעֲשִׂיתֶם,you didכְּשֶׁמֵּתwhen diedאַהֲרֹןAharonבְּהֹרat Horהָהָרthe mountainלְסוֹףat the end ofאַרְבָּעִיםfortyשָׁנָהyearsוְנִסְתַּלְּקוּand departedעַנְנֵיthe clouds ofכָבוֹד,gloryיְרֵאתֶםyou fearedלָכֶםfor yourselvesמִמִּלְחֶמֶתfrom the war ofמֶלֶךְthe king ofעֲרָד,Aradוּנְתַתֶּםand you appointedרֹאשׁa leaderלַחֲזֹרto returnלְמִצְרַיִםto Mitzrayimוַחֲזַרְתֶּםand you turned backלַאֲחוֹרֵיכֶםon your backward stepsשְׁמוֹנָהeightמַסָּעוֹתjourneysעַדuntilבְּנֵיthe children ofיַעֲקָן,Yaakanוּמִשָּׁםand from thereלְמוֹסֵרָה,to Moserahשָׁםthereנִלְחֲמוּfoughtבָּכֶםwith youבְּנֵיthe children ofלֵוִיLeviוְהָרְגוּand they killedמִכֶּםof youוְאַתֶּםand youמֵהֶם,of themעַדuntilשֶׁהֶחֱזִירוּthey forced backאֶתְכֶםyouבְּדֶרֶךְon the way ofחֲזָרַתְכֶם,your retreatוּמִשָּׁםand from thereחֲזַרְתֶּםyou returnedהַגֻּדְגֹּדָהto Gudgodahהוּאwhich isחֹרChorהַגִּדְגָּד.Hagidgad

פָּסוּק ז

Pasuk 7

מִשָּׁםFrom thereנָסְעוּthey journeyedהַגֻּדְגֹּדָהto Gudgodוּמִןand fromהַגֻּדְגֹּדָהGudgodיָטְבָתָהto Jotbathאֶרֶץa land ofנַחֲלֵיstreams ofמָיִם׃water

רַשִׁ״י

ומןAnd fromהגדגדהGudgodahוגו'.etc.וּבְמוֹסֵרָהand at Moseraעֲשִׂיתֶםyou madeאֵבֶלa mourningכָּבֵדheavyעַלoverמִיתָתוֹthe deathשֶׁלofאַהֲרֹןAharonשֶׁגָּרְמָהwhich causedלָכֶםto youזֹאת,thisוְנִדְמָהand it seemedלָכֶםto youכְּאִלּוּas ifמֵתhe diedשָׁםthereתלמודTalmudירושלמיYerushalmiסוטהSotahא';1מכילתאMekhiltaשמותShemosט"ו;15תנחומאTanchumaחקתChukas;וְסָמַךְAnd juxtaposedמֹשֶׁהMosheתּוֹכֵחָהreproofזוֹthisלְשִׁבּוּרto the breakingהַלּוּחוֹתof the tabletsלוֹמַרto sayשֶׁקָּשָׁהthat is grievousמִיתָתָןthe deathשֶׁלofצַדִּיקִיםrighteous onesלִפְנֵיbeforeהַקָּבָּ"הthe Holy Oneכַּיּוֹםlike the dayשֶׁנִּשְׁתַּבְּרוּthat were brokenבוֹon itהַלּוּחוֹת,the tabletsוּלְהוֹדִיעֲךָand to inform youשֶׁהֻקְשָׁהthat it was hardלוֹto Himמַהwhatשֶּׁאָמְרוּthat they said"נִתְּנָהlet us appointרֹאשׁ"a leaderבמדברBamidbarי"ד14לִפְרֹשׁto separateמִמֶּנּוּfrom Him–כַּיּוֹםlike the dayשֶׁעָשׂוּthat they madeבוֹon itאֶת—הָעֵגֶלthe calfויקראVayikraרבהRabbahכ'20:

פָּסוּק ח

Pasuk 8

בָּעֵתAt the timeהַהִואthatהִבְדִּילseparatedיְהוָהHashemאֶת—שֵׁבֶטthe tribe ofהַלֵּוִיLeviלָשֵׂאתto carryאֶת—אֲרוֹןthe Ark ofבְּרִיתthe covenant ofיְהוָהHashemלַעֲמֹדto standלִפְנֵיbeforeיְהוָהHashemלְשָׁרְתוֹto minister to Himוּלְבָרֵךְand to blessבִּשְׁמוֹin His Nameעַדuntilהַיּוֹםthe dayהַזֶּה׃this

רַשִׁ״י

בעתAt the timeההואthatהבדילseparatedה'Hashemוגו'.etc.מוּסָבis connectedלָעִנְיָןto the matterהָרִאשׁוֹן:the first

רַשִׁ״י

בעתAt the timeההואthat,בַּשָּׁנָהin the yearהָרִאשׁוֹנָהfirstלְצֵאתְכֶםof your going outמִמִּצְרַיִם,from Mitzrayimוּטְעִיתֶםand you went astrayבָּעֵגֶלwith the calfוּבְנֵיand the sons ofלֵוִיLeviלֹאdid notטָעוּ,go astrayהִבְדִּילָםseparated themהַמָּקוֹםthe Omnipresentמִכֶּם;from youוְסָמַךְand He juxtaposedמִקְרָאverseזֶהthisלַחֲזָרַתto the retreat ofבְּנֵיBneiיַעֲקָןYaakanלוֹמַרto sayשֶׁאַףthat evenבְּזוֹin thisלֹאdid notטָעוּgo astrayבָהּin itבְּנֵיthe sons ofלֵוִיLeviאֶלָּאbut ratherעָמְדוּthey stoodבֶּאֱמוּנָתָם:in their faith

רַשִׁ״י

לשאתto bearאת—ארון.the Arkהַלְוִיִם:the Levites

רַשִׁ״י

לעמדto standלפניbeforeה'Hashemלשרתוto minister to Himולברךand to blessבשמו.in His Nameהַכֹּהֲנִים,the Kohanimוְהוּאand this isנְשִׂיאַתthe raising ofכַּפַּיִםthe handsערכיןArakhinי"א11a:

פָּסוּק ט

Pasuk 9

עַלThereforeכֵּן·לֹאnotהָיָהthere wasלְלֵוִיfor Leviחֵלֶקa portionוְנַחֲלָהand an inheritanceעִםwithאֶחָיוhis brothersיְהוָהHashemהוּאHeנַחֲלָתוֹis his inheritanceכַּאֲשֶׁרasדִּבֶּרspokeיְהוָהHashemאֱלֹהֶיךָyour Godלוֹ׃to him

רַשִׁ״י

עלThereforeכן·לאnotהיהdid haveללויto Leviחלק.a portionלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהֻבְדְּלוּthat they were separatedלַעֲבוֹדַתfor the service ofמִזְבֵּחַthe altarוְאֵינָןand they are notפְּנוּיִיןfreeלַחֲרֹשׁto plowוְלִזְרֹעַ:and to sow

רַשִׁ״י

ה'HashemהואHeנחלתו.is his inheritanceנוֹטֵלhe receivesפְּרָסa portionמְזֻמָּןreadyמִבֵּיתfrom the house ofהַמֶּלֶךְ:the King

פָּסוּק י

Pasuk 10

וְאָנֹכִיAnd Iעָמַדְתִּיstoodבָהָרon the mountainכַּיָּמִיםlike the daysהָרִאשֹׁנִיםthe firstאַרְבָּעִיםfortyיוֹםdayוְאַרְבָּעִיםand fortyלָיְלָהnightוַיִּשְׁמַעand hearkenedיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meגַּםalsoבַּפַּעַםat the timeהַהִואthatלֹאnotאָבָהdid wantיְהוָהHashemהַשְׁחִיתֶךָ׃to destroy you

רַשִׁ״י

ואנכיAnd Iעמדתיstoodבהר.on the mountלְקַבֵּלto receiveהַלּוּחוֹתthe tabletsהָאַחֲרוֹנוֹת,the latterוּלְפִיAnd becauseשֶׁלֹּאthat notפֵּרֵשׁhe specifiedלְמַעְלָהaboveכַּמָּהhow muchעָמַדhe stoodבָּהָרon the mountבַּעֲלִיָּהin the ascentאַחֲרוֹנָהlatterזוֹ,thisחָזַרhe returnedוְהִתְחִילand beganבָּהּ:with it

רַשִׁ״י

כימיםAs the daysהראשנים.the formerשֶׁלofלוּחוֹתthe tabletsהָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת,the firstמַהjust asהֵםtheyבְּרָצוֹןwere in goodwillאַףsoאֵלּוּtheseבְּרָצוֹן,were in goodwillאֲבָלbutהָאֶמְצָעִיִּיםthe middle onesשֶׁעָמַדְתִּיthat I stoodשָׁםthereלְהִתְפַּלֵּלto prayעֲלֵיכֶםfor youהָיוּwereבְכַעַס:in anger

פָּסוּק יא

Pasuk 11

וַיֹּאמֶרAnd He saidיְהוָהHashemאֵלַיto meקוּםAriseלֵךְgoלְמַסַּעfor the journeyלִפְנֵיbeforeהָעָםthe peopleוְיָבֹאוּand they shall enterוְיִרְשׁוּand they shall inheritאֶת—הָאָרֶץthe landאֲשֶׁרwhichנִשְׁבַּעְתִּיI sworeלַאֲבֹתָםto their fathersלָתֵתto giveלָהֶם׃to them

רַשִׁ״י

ויאמרAnd He saidה'Hashemאליto meוגו'.etc.אַףevenעַל·פִּיthoughשֶׁסַּרְתֶּםthat you turnedמֵאַחֲרָיוfrom after Himוּטְעִיתֶםand you strayedבָּעֵגֶל,with the calfאָמַרHe saidלִיto meלֵךְgoנְחֵהleadאֶת—הָעָםthe peopleשמותShemosל"ב32:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah then transitions to the journeys of Bnei Yisrael, noting the death and burial of Aaron HaKohen at Moserah and the succession of his son Elazar to the Kehunah. Moshe explains how Hashem set apart the shevet of Levi to carry the Aron, stand in service before Hashem, and bless the people, which is why they do not receive a standard portion in the land. Finally, Moshe recalls how he stayed on the mountain for forty days and forty nights to plead for the nation, and how Hashem accepted his tefillos, sparing Bnei Yisrael and commanding them to resume their journey to inherit the land promised to their Avos.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah tells us that Moshe Rabbeinu was commanded to make a wooden ark to hold the second Luchos, and Rashi explains a beautiful, deep point here. This was not the main Aron made later by Betzalel; this was a special, temporary Aron that Moshe made himself. Whenever Klal Yisrael went out to war, this specific Aron, containing the broken pieces of the first Luchos, went out with them.

Think about the depth of this chiddush. The first Luchos were broken because of the Cheit HaEigel, a time of terrible failure and brokenness. Lichoira, we would want to hide those broken pieces away, to forget our spiritual downfalls. Yet Hashem commands that the broken pieces must be carried with us, right into the battlefield. The Torah is teaching us that our brokenness, our past struggles, and the times we fell are not meant to be erased. When we do teshuvah, those very struggles become a source of strength that helps us fight our daily battles against the yetzer hara.

You might feel that because you have slipped in your avodas Hashem, you are no longer fit to stand before Hashem or fight the spiritual battles of life. The Torah is telling you the exact opposite. Do not leave your broken pieces behind. Carry them with you as a reminder of Hashem's infinite rachmanus and your own resilience.

Today, when you experience a moment of frustration or remember a past spiritual failure, do not let it bring you down. Instead, use that memory as a catalyst to daven with more heart, reminding yourself that Hashem wants you to move forward specifically with the lessons of your past.