In the Parsha Terumah
Plants, Places, Animals
Compiled from: http://bible.ort.org/ The Living Torah by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan
Dugong תחש
The Hebrew term tachash of Exodus 25:5 is considered by some scholars to be a reference to blue processed skins. Other scholars dispute this and suggest instead that the term refers to either an ermine or an okape antelope or an okape or a giraffe or lastly a narwhal or dugong. The above term appears in a text which notes the various types of offerings that the congregation are to bring to the Tabernacle.
The dugong is a large and protected marine mammal.
Diet: Herbivorous
Habitat: Indian Oceans, and the shores of Sinai.
Ermine תחש
The Hebrew term tachash of Exodus 25:5 is considered by some translators to be a reference to blue processed skins. Other scholars dispute this and claim instead that the term should be viewed as a reference to either an ermine or an antelope or an okape or a giraffe or a dugong or a narwhal. The above term appears in a text which notes the various types of offerings that the congregation are to bring to the tabernacle.
The ermine is a color changing member of the mustelid family.
Diet: Carnivorous
Habitat: Europe, North America and Asia.
Janthina חלזון
It is presumed that the Janthina was one of the sources from which a blue dye for the Tabernacle was obtained. It is a non-kosher, deep water snail. See Exodus 25:4. The dye is removed from a cyst near the head, preferably while the animal is still alive.
Diet: Herbivorous
Habitat: Most temperate and tropical oceans.
Narwhal תחש
The Hebrew term tachash of Exodus 25:5 is considered by some translators to be a reference to blue processed skins. Other scholars dispute this and suggest instead that the term refers to either an ermine or an okape antelope or an okape or a giraffe or lastly a narwhal or dugong. The above term appears in a text which notes the various types of offerings that the congregation are to bring to the Tabernacle.
It is a large spiral-tusked marine mammal.
Diet: Fish and mollusks.
Habitat: Arctic Ocean and southern Sinai shores.
Okape תחש
The Hebrew term tachash of Exodus 25:5 is considered by some translators to be a reference to blue processed skins. Other scholars dispute this and suggest instead that the term be viewed as a reference to either an ermine or an okape antelope or an okape or a giraffe or lastly, a narwhal or dugong. The above term appears in a text which notes the various types of offerings that the congregation are to bring to the tabernacle.
The okape is a kosher, rare mammal, which is closely related to the giraffe.
Diet: Herbivorous
Habitat: Central Africa.
Purpura חלזון
Other says this is presumed that the Purpura, a boneless invertebrate, was one of the sources from which a blue dye for the Tabernacle was obtained. It is a non-kosher snail. See Exodus 25:4
Diet: Herbivorous
Habitat: Seas of temperate and tropical climates.
Acacia שטים
The Hebrew term shittim of Exodus 25:5 is considered by some translators to be a reference to the acacia tree. Some scholars dispute this and suggest instead that it is a reference to a member of the cedar family of trees or merely that it denotes "decay-proof wood". The word appears in the text which notes the various types of offerings that the congregation bring to the tabernacle.
The acacia tree is a member of the mimosa family. It has yellowish flowers, sharp thorns and a thick trunk.
Habitat: Lower Galilee, western shores of the Dead Sea, Negev and Sinai deserts.
