שמות, פרק ל׳, פסוק כ״ו

The physical act of anointing the Tabernacle and its vessels serves as a bridge, transforming ordinary objects into holy ones and preparing the entire space to house the presence of God. This process acts as a mark of divine choice, setting the items apart and making them ready to receive heavenly blessing. The specific choice of oil for this task is deeply symbolic. Oil represents honor and greatness, and because it naturally preserves things over time, it points to a sense of eternal holiness [אברבנאל].

The instruction involves taking a specific portion of the prepared anointing oil to sanctify the space [אבן עזרא הקצר, חזקוני, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. A practical question arises regarding how a limited amount of oil could possibly cover an entire structure, especially when smearing oil would likely ruin the magnificent fabric curtains. The process, however, did not require covering the entire surface of every item. Simply sprinkling a few drops on the edge of a vessel or curtain left a small mark of holiness without causing any damage [קאסוטו].

The primary approach among commentators is that the oil was not applied randomly. The vessels of the Tabernacle and the priests were anointed by tracing the shape of the Greek letter Chi, which resembles the Hebrew letters Nun or Kaf. This method stands in contrast to the anointing of kings, who received the oil in the shape of a crown surrounding their heads [רש״י, מזרחי, שפתי חכמים, ביאור יש״ר, פרדס יוסף, קאסוטו]. The shape of the letter Kaf holds special meaning, as it represents the word for priest and the sacred work done by their hands. Furthermore, while human beings are anointed on the head—the center of intellect and leadership—the vessels of the Tabernacle were anointed anywhere on their surface. Since inanimate objects have no head, their holiness spreads equally throughout all their parts [אברבנאל].

The command covers the entire Tent of Meeting, which includes the complete Tabernacle and everything inside it [אבן עזרא הקצר], with a special focus on the fine linen and goat-hair curtains that formed the structure [העמק דבר]. Following this broad instruction, the Ark of the Testimony receives its own specific mention. Even though the Ark was located inside the Tent and was already covered by the general command, it is highlighted separately because it stands as the most honored and important vessel within the entire Tabernacle [אבן עזרא].