Having just written "ha'Chalah ha'Echas" (singular), why does it continue "Vesamta "Osam" (plural)?,
Menachos, 94a: To teach us that, although the Chalos are kneaded one at a time, 1 they are baked in pairs, two at a time. 2
Oznayim la'Torah: This symbolizes the twelve tribes (the sons of Ya'akov) most of whom grew up in pairs. And by the same token, the two rows represent the two groups - the B'nei Le'ah on the one side and the B'nei Rachel together with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah on the other. See Oznayim la'Torah, who elaborates.
What is "Osam" coming to preclude?
Menachos, 94a: It precludes the Sh'tei ha'Lechem from being baked together. 1
See Torah Temimah, note 12.
What is the meaning of "Sheish ha'Ma'araches"?
What is the meaning of "ha'Shulchan ha'Tahor"?
Rashi #1: It means that the Shulchan was made of pure gold'.
Rashi #2: It means that the [bottom] loaves rested on Tiharo shel Shulchan (on the Shulchan itself), 1 and not on the half-canes [that separated between one row of loaves and the row above it].
Yoma 21a: This implies that it can become Tamei. Do not say that it is a stationary Kli Eitz which is not subject to Tum'ah, because on Yom-Tov they would lift it up 2 to show the Olei Regalim that the Lechem ha'Panim was [steaming hot] like when it was removed from the oven [eight days earlier] and announce "See 3 how much Hashem loves you!'
Oznayim la'Torah: Refer to 24:2:1.1:1 and note.
