Did the people actually donate goats?
Rashi (citing Targum Onkelos) and Targum Yonasan: "ve'Izim" refers, not to the goats themselves, but to goat's-hair. 1
Rashi: Since Targum Ohkelos (and Targum Yonasan) writes 'me'Azei", with a 'Mem'. See also Sifsei Chachamim.
What is the definition of "Techeiles", "Argaman" and "Tola'as Shani"?
Yevamos, 4b: Based on the known fact that "Sheish" is linen and all the Bigdei Kehunah are either wool or linen, they are all woolen threads; "Techeiles" is dark blue, "Argaman", purple and "Tola'as Shani", crimson. 1
Seeing as they brought, not goats, but goat's-hair, why does the Torah write "Izim"?
Sifsei Chachamim: Because the women spun it directly from the goats' backs. 1
What is the definition of "Tola'as Shani"?
Rashi #1 (in Vayikra 14:4, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It is wool that has been dyed with a crimson dye.
Rashi #2 (in Gitin 69b) and Rashbam: It is wool that has been dyed red. 1 "Im Yih'yu Chata'eichem ka'Tzemer ka'Sheleg Yalbinu" (Yeshayah 1:18).
R. Bachye (in Pasuk 3) and Rambam (Hilchos Parah Adumah 3:2): It is a crimson dye that is obtained from the granules that contains the silk-worm but not from the silk-worm itself. 2
Ibn Ezra: Many say that it is silk (which silk-worms produce). Abarbanel ? Techeles, Argaman and Tola'as Shani are different colors of silk. 3
Yerushalmi Kil'ayim, 9:1: It is wool that has been dyed with the blood of a crimson worm or the blood of any living creature (like the worm). 4
See Rashbam for sources.
R. Bachye: It cannot refer to the worms themselves, since only Tahor species are eligible for Meleches Shamayim (Shabbos 28a). See Noda bi'Yehudah (2 OC 3). R. Bachye: And it is for the same reason that silk was not donated to use for the Meleches ha'Mishkon.
See R. Bachye (in Pasuk 3) and Torah Temimah note 4 who elaborates. See also Noda bi'Yehudah (2 OC 3).
See previous note.
Did the people actually donate goats?
Rashi (citing Targum Onkelos), R. Bachye and Targum Yonasan: "ve'Izim" refers, not to the goats themselves, but to goat's-hair (wool ? R. Bachye). 1
Rashi: Since Targum Ohkelos (and Targum Yonasan) write 'me'Azei", with a 'Mem'. See also Sifsei Chachamim.
What is "Tola'as Shani"?
Rashi (Vayikra 14:4) and R. Avraham ben ha'Rambam, citing his father: It is colored wool. Rashi (Yeshayah 1:18) ? Tola is seeds used to dye red. There are Tola'im (worms) in each seed 1 .
Rashbam: Tola is a colored garment (like "ha'Emunim Alei Sola" ? Eichah 4:5). Shani is red ? "Im Yihyu Chata'eichem ka'Tzemer ka'Sheleg Yalbinu" (Yeshayah 1:18).
Ibn Ezra: Many say that it is silk (which worms make). Abarvenel ? Techeles, Argaman and Tola'as Shani are different colors of silk 2 .
Rambam (Hilchos Parah Adumah 3:2): The seeds are very red. There is the form of a worm in each seed. R. Bechayei (3) ? the dye cannot be from the worms themselves, for only Tahor species are Kosher for Meleches Shamayim (Shabbos 28a)! Noda bi'Yhudah (2 OC 3) - since the wool is from a Tahor species, we are not concerned if it is dyed from a Tamei species. Pardes Yosef ? the Yerushalmi (Kil'ayim 9:1) says that Tola'as is a living being! The Rambam rejected this due to Shabbos 28a.
R. Bechayei (3): It cannot be silk, which comes from worms, for only Tahor species are Kosher for Meleches Shamayim (Shabbos 28a)! Mizrachi - when a Kohen [Gadol] enters Kodesh ha'Kodoshim "Bigdei Fishtim Yilbashu v'Lo Ya'aleh Aleihem Tzemer" (Yechezkel 44:17). This implies that at other times, he wears only wool and linen!
