Midrasch zu Bamidbar 7:12

Said Rabbi Shmuel bar Ami - from the beginning of Creation the Holy One of Blessing desired to have partnership with the beings in the lower realm. How can you say this? If it was just a question of the accounting [of days] it only needed to say "one, two, three" OR "first, second, third" - this is indeed surprising, since [the account of creation beginning with] one and then second and third. When did the Holy One of Blessing solve this? In the setting up of the Mishkan, as it says: "And the gifter, on the first day, his offering" - this is the first of the creation of the world. Said the Holy One of Blessing: it is as if on that day I created My world. It is taught: twelve tiaras [measures of beauty] that day received - it was first for the creation of the world, first for kings, first for princes, first for the kohanim, first for the Shechinah, as it says (Ex. 25:8) 'And they shall make Me a sanctuary", first for blessing, first for worship, first for forbidden animals, first for laws of slaughtering on the north, first for lowering of fire, as it is said (Lev. 9:24): 'And a fire came forth from God etc'

3) (Vayikra 10:12) "Take the meal-offering": This is the meal-offering of Nachshon (viz. Bamidbar 7:12-13). "remaining (from the fire-offerings of the L–rd"): This is the meal-offering of the eighth day (viz. Vayikra 9:4). "from the fire-offerings of the L–rd": They can eat it only after (the sacrifice of) the fire-offerings.

“All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you” (Song of Songs 4:7).
“All of you is fair, my love” – this is Jacob our patriarch, whose bed was unflawed and no waste was found among it.⁹²Unlike his father and grandfather, all his offspring were righteous.
What is, “all of you is fair, my love”? Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: When Israel stood before Mount Sinai and said: “Everything that God spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), at that moment there were in their midst neither zav, nor leper, nor lame, nor blind, nor mute, nor deaf, nor imbecile, nor depressed, nor fool, nor doubter. Regarding that moment it is stated: “All of you is fair, my love.” When they sinned, there were not easy times, and there were in their midst zav, leper, lame, blind, mute, deaf, imbecile, and fool. At that moment it is stated: “They shall banish from the camp every leper and every zav” (Numbers 5:2).
Rabbi Ḥelbo said: It is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day was [Naḥshon son of Aminadav of the tribe of Judah. And his offering was…]” (Numbers 7:12–13). “On the second day, presented Netanel [son of Tzuar].… his offering was…” (Numbers 7:18–19). Why did the Torah depict Judah as secondary?⁹³In relating Naḥshon’s offering the Torah uses a vav, meaning “and,” in the term vekorbano, “and his offering was,” indicating that there had been someone before him, although there had not been. Regarding Netanel the Torah does not use a vav even though there had been someone before him. It is so Judah would not become arrogant and say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day.
Rabbi Elazar said: It is written: “This was the dedication of the altar on the day it was anointed” (Numbers 7:84). But did each of them not offer one bowl, one ladle? Why does the verse state: “twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve golden ladles” (Numbers 7:84)? It was so that Judah would not say: I presented first, I am the greatest of them all. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He treated them as though they all presented on the first day and on the last day.
Rabbi Berekhya said: It is written: “All these are the tribes of Israel, twelve, [and this is that which their father spoke to them and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them]” (Genesis 49:28). After he blessed them did he bless them again? Rather, it teaches that Jacob our patriarch sat and likened them to beasts. He likened Judah to a lion, as it is stated: “Judah is a lion cub” (Genesis 49:9). Dan to a snake, as it is stated: “Dan will be a serpent on the road” (Genesis 49:17). Naphtali to a hind, as it is stated: “Naphtali is a hind let loose” (Genesis 49:21). Benjamin to a wolf, as it is stated: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf” (Genesis 49:27). Then he called them all wolves, all of them snakes, all of them fiery serpents, all of them scorpions. Know that it is so, as Dan, whom he called a snake, he⁹⁴Moses then called a lion, as it is stated: “Dan is a lion cub” (Deuteronomy 33:22). Rabbi Idi said: We have found in the offerings of the princes that what this one offered that one offered. This one sacrificed a burnt offering, and that one sacrificed a burnt-offering; this one a meal offering and that one a meal offering; this one a sin offering and that one a sin offering; this one a peace offering and that one a peace offering. Why? It is because all of them are faultless and equal to one another.
What led the verse to delineate their genealogy in the book [of Exodus], Reuben, Simeon, and Levi?⁹⁵The verses delineate the genealogies of only these three tribes (see Exodus 6:14–25). Rabbi Ḥanina and Rabbi Levi: one said: It is because their father reprimanded them,⁹⁶When Jacob gave blessings to his sons before his death, he reprimanded Reuben, Simeon, and Levi (see Genesis 49:3–7). In order to emphasize that these tribes were not inferior, the verses list their genealogies as they introduce Moses and Aaron. and one said: It was because it delineated the genealogy of Moses and Aaron.⁹⁷Because the Torah sought to address the genealogy of Aaron and Moses from the tribe of Levi, it began with Reuben, the first of the tribes, and continued through Levi. We do not know who said this and who said that. However, from the fact that Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon in the name of Rabbi Huna: “An ear that heeds life’s reprimand will rest among the wise” (Proverbs 15:31), it is Rabbi Huna⁹⁸This is possibly an alternate pronunciation of the name of Rabbi Ḥanina. Alternatively, the text should either state Rabbi Ḥanina here or Rabbi Huna above. who said because their father reprimanded them. Because they accepted their father’s reprimand they were privileged to have their genealogy delineated alongside Moses and Aaron. That is why it is stated: “All of you is fair.”
Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda said: It is because all the tribes did not preserve their genealogies in Egypt, but Reuben, Simeon, and Levi preserved their genealogy.⁹⁹They married only with families that could prove they were of pure lineage. Rabbi Neḥemya said: It is because all the tribes engaged in idol worship in Egypt, but the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Levi did not engage in idol worship. The Rabbis say: It is because the other tribes did not exercise authority in Egypt, but these tribes exercised authority. How so? When Reuben died,¹⁰⁰Joseph had been the authority figure among the brothers and their descendants in Egypt, but he died before his brothers. At that point, Reuben, the eldest son of Jacob, became the authority figure. authority was transferred to Simeon. When Simeon died, authority was transferred to Levi. When Levi died, authority was going to be transferred to Judah. A Divine voice emerged and said: Leave it until its time arrives. When did its time arrive? After the death of Joshua. That is what is written: “It was after the death of Joshua.… the Lord said: Judah shall ascend” (Judges 1:1–2). He was called three names: Judah, Otniel, and Yabetz. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Levi [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama ben Rabbi Ḥanina: This¹⁰¹Yabetz is Boaz. Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: This¹⁰²Yabetz is Otniel.
It is written: “Son of man, the House of Israel has become dross to Me; they are all…” (Ezekiel 22:18). Zechariah said: I saw them, and they were pure gold: “I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety, with a bowl [gulah] atop it.… and there are two olive trees over it” (Zechariah 4:2–3). There were two amora’im; one said exile [gola], and one said their Redeemer [go’alah]. The one who said gola: As they were exiled to Babylon, and the Divine Presence was exiled with them. The one who said go’alah: It is their redemption, as it is written: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name…” (Isaiah 47:4). The Holy One blessed be He said: Since that is the case:¹⁰³Since in the future they will all be comparable to pure gold, as envisioned by Zechariah. “All of you is fair, my love, and there is no blemish in you.”

One silver basin represents the Torah which has been likened to wine, as it is stated, "And drink of the wine which I have mingled" (Mishlei 9:5). Now because it is customary to drink wine in a basin – as you may gather from the text, "They who drink wine in basins" (Amos 6:6) – therefore, he brought a basin. Why "of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary"? As the numerical value of yayin (wine) is seventy, so there are shivim panim la’Torah (seventy facets/sides of Torah).

Just as one reaps row by row, so the plague acted upon the people (in rotation). Thereupon Aaron took as Moses spoke and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague was begun (Num. 7:12). He found the angel standing among them and afflicting them. Aaron confronted him and would not permit him to continue. He forced him to stand idly among the dead. He said to Aaron: “Let me go that I may complete my task.” Aaron replied: “Moses sent me, and the Holy One, blessed be He, sent you, and both Moses and the Holy One, blessed be He, are in the Tent of Testimony; let us go to them.” The angel refused to go, and so Aaron seized him by his loins and dragged him in, as it is said: And Aaron returned unto Moses unto the door of the Tent of Meeting, and the plague was stayed (Num. 17:15).

Another interpretation (of Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT <MOSES> HAD FINISHED. This text is related (to Ps. 51:20–21 [18–19]): MAKE ZION PROSPER IN YOUR GOOD PLEASURE; <REBUILD THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM>. [THEN YOU SHALL DELIGHT IN SACRIFICES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, <BURNT OFFERINGS, AND WHOLE OFFERINGS>….] <You will do so> because in this world they offered <only> a trifle.¹⁰²Tanh., Numb. 2:15. It is so stated (in Numb. 7:12): AND THE ONE WHO OFFERED HIS SACRIFICE ON THE FIRST DAY <WAS NAHSHON BEN AMMINADAB OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH>. What did he offer as his sacrifice (According to Numb. 7:13–17)? One silver bowl, one ladle, one bull, one ram, one lamb, one he-goat, and for the peace offering, two oxen. Here was all of the sacrifice.¹⁰³The list omits the rest of the peace offering, i.e., five rams, five he-goats, and five yearling lambs. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had set out on the road.¹⁰⁴Lev. R. 7:2. When they brought him a meal befitting the road and befitting the inn,¹⁰⁵Gk.: pandokeion. the king said to them: Are you honoring me like this? Are you treating me like this? Am I not a king? And am I not a temporal ruler? They said to him: Our Lord King, on the road we render according to the road and bring in <food> for you according to the inn. However, let us enter the capital city. Then when you enter your palace,¹⁰⁶Palterin. Cf. Lat.: praetorium; Gk.: praitorion; also Lat.: palatium. you shall see how we will honor you. Similarly when the Tabernacle was erected, the princes offered him a gift:¹⁰⁷Gk.: doron. one ladle, one bull, one ram, one lamb, one he-goat. The Holy One said to them: Is that <fitting for> my glory? They said to him: Sovereign of the Universe, it is in the desert that we are giving you <our gift>,and the offerings before you are in keeping with the desert; however, when we enter your palace, you shall see how many bulls we offer you. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 51:20–21 [18–19]): MAKE <ZION> PROSPER IN YOUR GOOD PLEASURE; <REBUILD THE WALLS OF JERUSALEM>…. THEN WILL <BULLS> BE OFFERED UPON YOUR ALTAR, and not <merely> one bull. So you find this <to have happened the time of> Solomon. [When he built] the Temple <and> wanted to offer sacrifice for the temple dedication, look at what is written there (in I Kings 8:63 // II Chron. 7:5)! SOLOMON SACRIFICED TWENTY-TWO THOUSAND OXEN AND A HUNDRED AND TWENTY THOUSAND SHEEP AS PEACE OFFERINGS, WHICH HE SACRIFICED TO THE LORD. And likewise in the days of Ezra, what is written there (in Ezra 6:17)? THEY OFFERED AT THE DEDICATION OF THIS HOUSE OF GOD ONE HUNDRED BULLS, TWO HUNDRED RAMS, FOUR HUNDRED LAMBS…. Ergo (in Ps. 51:20 [18]): MAKE ZION PROSPER IN YOUR GOOD PLEASURE….

(Bamidbar 7:1) "And it was on the day that Moses had finished setting up the mishkan" (the tabernacle): Scripture here apprises us that all the seven days of consecration Moses would assemble the mishkan every morning and anoint it and dismantle it, and on that day (the eighth) he set it up and anointed it and assembled it and did not dismantle it. R. Yossi b. R. Yehudah says: On the eighth day, too, he anointed it and dismantled it. And it is written (Shemot 40:17) "And it was, in the first month (Nissan) in the second year, on the first day of the month that the mishkan was established — whence we derive that on the twenty-third of Adar Aaron and his sons began to anoint the mishkan and all of its vessels; on Rosh Chodesh (Nissan) it was established; on the second (of Nissan) the red heifer was burned; on the third, its waters were sprinkled (viz. Bamidbar 8:7). On that day (Rosh Chodesh Nissan), the Shechinah reposed in the house, as it is written (Shemot 40:35) "And Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, etc." On that day the chiefs (of the tribes) sacrificed their offerings, as it is written (Bamidbar 7:12) "And the one who presented his offering on the first day…" Why (emphasize) "the first day"? It was the first of all the days of the year. On that day fire descended from heaven and consumed the offerings, as it is written (Vayikra 9:24) "And a fire came forth from before the L-rd and consumed upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fats." On that day the sons of Aaron presented a strange fire, as it is written (Vayikra 10:1) "And Nadav and Avihu the sons of Aaron took, each his censer … (2) and they died before the L-rd." Their death was "before the L-rd," and their falling was outside. How did they leave (the inner sanctum)? R. Yossi was wont to say: An angel propped them dead until they left and they fell in the azarah (the court), as it is written (Ibid. 4) "Draw near and bear your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp." It is not written "from before the L-rd," but "from before the sanctuary." R. Yishmael says: It is derived from the verse itself — "and they died before the L-rd" — that their death was within (the sanctuary) and their falling was within. How did they leave? They dragged them out with iron hooks." (Bamidbar 7:1) "and he anointed it and consecrated it and all of its vessels": I might think that they were anointed and consecrated one by one. It is, therefore, written (Ibid.) "and he anointed them and consecrated them" — he did not consecrate one of them until all of them had been anointed. "and he anointed them": from inside and from outside. R. Yoshiyah says: Wet-measure vessels were anointed inside and outside, and dry-measure vessels, on the inside only, but not on the outside. R. Yonathan says: Wet-measure vessels were anointed on the inside but not on the outside, and dry-measure vessels were anointed neither on the inside nor on the outside. Know this to be so, that they were not anointed, it being written (Vayikra 23:17) "From your dwellings shall you bring two wave loaves. Two-tenths of fine flour shall they be … they shall be baked as firstlings to the L-rd." When are they "to the L-rd"? After they have been baked. Rebbi says: "and he anointed them and consecrated them": Why is this stated? Is it not already written "and he anointed it and consecrated it"? We are hereby apprised that with the anointment of these, all the future vessels were consecrated (i.e., they did not require prior anointment).

(Bamidbar 7:12) "And the one who presented his offering on the first day": What is the intent of this? "first" of all the days of the year (i.e., the first of Nissan). "Nachshon ben Aminadav of the tribe of Judah": Is the intent of this attribution to link him with his tribe or to indicate that he obtained (the offering) from his tribe and brought it? It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 17) "This is the offering of Nachshon ben Aminadav" — his personal offering and not his tribe's. What, then, is the intent of Nachshon ben Aminadav of the tribe of Judah"? To link him with his tribe.