The Torah Portion Vayakhel begins with the following: “and Moses assembled all of the congregation of the Children of Israel and said to them, “These are the things that the Lord commanded to do them: Six days work shall be done, and in the seventh day you shall have a holy thing, a Sabbath, a ceasing to the Lord. Any one who does work in it shall be put to death. Your shall not burn a fire in all of your homes on the Sabbath day.” Exodus 35:1-3.
This Commandment augments the Ten Commandments’ Sabbath provision that simply prohibited “labor” on the day of rest. Exodus 20:10. The original Commandment did not further define what constitutes “labor”.
Unlike the Ten Commandments, Vayakhel’s law includes a penalty for the Sabbath violation- death. This new law also impliedly indicates that burning a fire is to be considered as an act of labor.
Was there a reason the new commandment?
Legislating bodies often elaborate on laws. Sometimes, there is the need to “roll” out legislation over time. As the Ten Commandments contained no penalty, it was simply a matter of time upon which a sanction would have to be propounded. Further, on an aesthetic level, the Ten Commandments was more attractive sans death penalty provisions. Also, in moving forward, the Vayakhel provision expanded the populace’s understanding of what constituted labor within a Ten Commandments’ framework.
These happenings and enactments are uniquely tied to foregoing event from the Book of Numbers. Connected with that is that, in Vayakhel, the Biblical theme of the law being delivered to the entire congregation was once again followed. Given the harsh penalty, fairness demanded that all were educated as to the statutes. Further, it was incumbent that future generations be similarly versed.
In Numbers 15:32, a man was caught collecting wood on the Sabbath. He was sentenced to be stoned by the congregation as a result. The act of gathering wood ties into Vayakhel’s commandments. It is reasonable to imply that gathering wood was done with the intent on creating a fire on the Sabbath.
The notion that kindling a fire to be a great offense makes sense within a campground setting. Any fire certainly would attack attention both visually and by odor. Such a fire would serve as a demoralizing force to others. Likewise, it would be recognized as open view violation of the Lord; an offense for all to see.
In sum, Vayakhel brings to the picture that the Ten Commandments are not a set of laws that are complete and stand-alone. Rather, there are additional commandments within the Torah which elucidate upon them.
Be well!!
Please like, follow, share or comment
The Ten Commandments Project 