The candlestick which Moses made in the wilderness was wrought from gold,
and required hammering, and required knops and flowers, as is said, “And
thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold; of beaten work shall the
candlestick be made: his shaft and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and
his flowers, shall be of the same.”(663) “Do I hear that he shall make
separate members and join them to it?” “The teaching says, that ‘they
shall be of the same.’ ” “Whence know we that it extends to the light?”
“The teaching says, ‘Thou shalt make.’ ” “I am of opinion that it should
be extended to the bowls, knops, and flowers. The teaching says ‘it,’ and
what dost thou see to extend it to the light, and withhold it from the
bowls, the knops, and the flowers?” “Because the verse extends and
withholds, (therefore) I extend (it to) the lights that they should be
made with it, and I withhold the bowls, the knops, and the flowers, that
they should not be made with it.” “Whence know we to extend (it to) the
tongs and snuff-dishes?” “The teaching says, ‘thou shalt make.’ ” “I am of
opinion to extend (it to) the snuffers, and the tweezers.” “The teaching
says, ‘it,’ and what dost thou see to extend (it to) the tongs and
snuff-dishes, and to withhold (it from) the snuffers?” “Because the verse
extends and withholds. I extend (it to) the tongs and snuff-dishes, since
they are used with it. And I withhold (it from) the snuffers and tweezers,
since they are not used with it.” As it was made of gold, it required
hammering; when it was not of gold it did not require hammering. When it
was made of gold it required bowls, knops, and flowers; when it was not of
gold it did not require bowls, knops, and flowers. When it was made of
gold it required a talent; when it was not of gold it did not require a
talent. Rabbi Joshua, the son of Korcha, said, “it (the candlestick) was
made of a talent, but the lights, and the tongs, and the snuff-dishes,
were not from the talent,” as is said, “Of a talent of pure gold shall he
make it.”(664) “And what do I establish?” “That all these vessels were
vessels of pure gold. But the trumpets which Moses made in the wilderness
were made of silver only, as is said, ‘Make thee two trumpets of
silver.’ ”(665)
Chapter X
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