We discussed Exodus, verses 38:4 to 38:21. Much of our discussion focused on the copper or bronze lavers (wash basins) made from women’s mirrors (8).

Mirrors at that time, we noted, were not made of glass but of copper or bronze polished so well that a person’s image would appear in the mirror. Tsav’u can mean either to perform service or to form a crowd or multitude. If the latter is chosen, the passage refers to the mirrors of the women who flocked to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. If the former is selected, the passage refers to the mirrors of the women who served or performed tasks at that entrance. Alter points out that there is hardly any evidence of women’s involvement in sacred service. We discussed the appealing image of women flocking to the entrance to be a part of what was going on, even if they could not enter and participate (appealing and sad, too—since they could not go in). We also discussed the medieval commentators’ comment on turning vanity items into items with sacred purposes. We noted that, at Exodus 35, women were notable in bringing donations for the mishkan.

We noted that verses 38:9-20 correlate with 27:9-19. We noted the phrase “height in the width” is an odd phrase (18).