Parshat Pekudei Summary

Parshat Pekudei is the 11th and final parsha in Sefer Shemot (also known as Exodus).

This parsha is verses Shemot 38:21 – 40:38, or a total of 92 verses.

Here is a brief summary for each aliyah.

Aliyah 1: Shemot 38:21 – 39:1, 12 verses

The previous parsha (Vayakhel) describes the building of the Tabernacle and all of its vessels. LINK

This parsha begins with Moses giving an accounting of the precious materials used to build the Tabernacle. He counts and measures the amount of gold, silver, copper that were used.

His audit showed that all of the donated materials were used properly.

Aliyah 2: Shemot 39:2 – 39:21, 20 verses

The priests who served in the Tabernacle and Temple were required to wear special garments. This reading describes making the Breastplate and Ephod that the High Priest wore.

Aliyah 3: Shemot 39:22 – 39:32, 11 verses

The remaining special garments to be worn by the priests are now described as each one is fabricated.

Aliyah 4: Shemot 39:33 – 39:43, 11 verses

Bezalel and Oholiab and the people who worked with them completed building all of the Tabernacle. They bring all of the individual parts to Moses. Moses praises them for completing the work in exactly the proper way.

Aliyah 5: Shemot 40:1 – 40:16, 16 verses

God commands Moses to erect the Tabernacle on the first day of Nisan, the first month of the Jewish year. He tells him what order to follow and how to arrange everything.

Moses is also required to take some of the anointing oil and to anoint every part of the Tabernacle.

Aliyah 6: Shemot 40:17 – 40:27, 11 verses

Moses erects the Tabernacle on the first day of the first month of the second year after the Jewish people left Egypt. In other words, this was the one year anniversary of their leaving Egypt.

Aliyah 7: Shemot 40:28 – 40:38, 11 verses

Moses finishes erecting the Tabernacle and the courtyard. He places everything in its proper place. Then the glory of God fills the Tabernacle.

Haftarah Summary

Sephardic tradition: 1 Kings 7:40-50. This is the same haftarah that Ashkenazim read for Parshat Vayakhel.

Ashkenazi tradition: 1 Kings 7:51-8:21. This portion is about the completion of the Temple built by King Solomon. King Solomon blesses the Jewish people. He then recounts that his father King David wanted to build the Temple but God did not let him do it.

Further Reading

If you are interested to read more about Parshat Pekudei, here are some questions for you to think about.