וַיִּזְבַּ֞ח הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה֮ אֶת־זֶ֣בַח הַבָּקָ֗ר עֶשְׂרִ֤ים וּשְׁנַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֔לֶף וְצֹ֕אן מֵאָ֥ה וְעֶשְׂרִ֖ים אָ֑לֶף וַֽיַּחְנְכוּ֙ אֶת־בֵּ֣ית הָֽאֱלֹהִ֔ים הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וְכָל־הָעָֽם׃
Raja Salomo mempersembahkan korban sembelihan berupa dua puluh dua ribu ekor lembu dan seratus dua puluh ribu ekor kambing domba. Demikianlah raja dan seluruh bangsa itu menahbiskan Bait Allah.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
Another matter, “you are fair, my love, like Tirtza,” when you wish [at rotza]. When you wish,8When you wish to wholeheartedly fulfill My will. you need not seek to learn from anyone. Who said to them to bring wagons and cattle to bear the Tabernacle? Was it not of their own accord that they brought them? That is what is written: “They brought their offering before the Lord: six covered wagons [and twelve oxen, a wagon for every two princes and an ox for each; they brought them before the Tabernacle]” (Numbers 7:3), corresponding to the six firmaments. But are they not seven? Rabbi Avun said: Where the king rests under his canopy [is not counted among the rest]. Six corresponding to six earths: Eretz, arka, adama, gei, tziya, neshiya, tevel;9These are seven terms used in the Bible to refer to the earth. However, since tevel is singled out as uniquely governed by God’s righteousness, it is not included with the others. and it is written: “He will judge the world [tevel] with righteousness” (Psalms 98:9). Six corresponding to the six orders of Mishna; six corresponding to the six days of Creation; six corresponding to the six matriarchs: Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, Leah, Zilpa, and Bilha.
“Covered [tzav],” like canopies; tzav, colored;10This is due to the similarity between the word tzav and the word color (tzeva). tzav, arranged in order;11This is due to the similarity between the word tzav and the word tzava, army, which indicates ordered rows of soldiers. tzav, that the hosts [tzava] of Levites stood over them. It was taught in the name of Neḥemya: They were like covered wagons, so the service vessels would not [fall and] break.
“And twelve oxen,” corresponding to the twelve princes: “A wagon for every two princes, and an ox for each” (Numbers 7:3), this teaches that they did not purchase them with money; rather, this one brought an ox and this one brought an ox, this one brought a wagon and this one brought a wagon. “They brought them before the Tabernacle,” this teaches that they gave them to the congregation.
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying” (Numbers 7:4). What is “saying”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Go out and say to them words of praise and consolation.’ Rabbi Hoshaya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I ascribe to you [merit] as though I needed [something] in which to hold my world, and you brought it to me.’
At that moment, Moses was afraid. He said in his heart: Perhaps the Divine Spirit has left me, and has rested on the princes, or perhaps a different prophet arose and introduced this halakha.12Moses was commenting on the fact that he had not been commanded to tell the princes to make this donation, but clearly God was very pleased with it. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, had I said to them that they should bring [these items], I would have told you to tell them; however, “take from them, and they shall be”’ (Numbers 7:5). What is “take from them”? These matters originated with them.
Who gave them the counsel? Rabbi Simon said: It was the tribe of Issachar. They said to them: ‘This Tabernacle that you are crafting, does it float in the air? Craft wagons for it upon which it may be carried.’ That is why the verse praises the tribe of Issachar, as it is stated: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times” (I Chronicles 12:33). What is “of the times”? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: For astrology. Rabbi Yosei bar Kasrai said: For intercalation. “To know what Israel should do” (I Chronicles 12:33), as they knew how to cure skin disease. “Their leaders were two hundred” (I Chronicles 12:33), these are the two hundred heads of Sanhedrins13This refers to the twenty-three person courts that presided in each major city. that the tribe of Issachar produced. “And all their brethren at their command” (I Chronicles 12:33), this teaches that all their brethren would agree with their [decisions in] halakha, like halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.
At that moment, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, perhaps one of the oxen will die, or one of the wheels will break and the offering of the princes would be invalidated, resulting in the Tabernacle service being abrogated?’ Immediately, “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take from them, and they shall be to perform…” (Numbers 7:4-5). “They shall be”—I will grant them existence so that they will live and endure in the world for ever and ever. Until when did they endure? Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of bar Kapara: Until the Gilgal; that is what is written in Hosea: “In Gilgal they slaughtered oxen, their altars are like heaps upon the furrows of the field” (Hosea 12:12). Where did they sacrifice them?14This question assumes that they were not sacrificed in Gilgal, as stated above. Alternatively, the midrash means that the merit of these offerings lasted until Israel worshipped idolatry in Gilgal, and the oxen were actually sacrificed afterward (see Etz Yosef). Rabbi Avun said: They sacrificed them in Nov. Rabbi Abba said: They sacrificed them in Givon. Levi said: They sacrificed them in Shilo. The Rabbis say: They sacrificed them in the permanent Temple. Rabbi Ḥama said: The source for the Rabbis is as it is written: “King Solomon slaughtered a feast offering of…cattle [zevaḥ habakar]” (II Chronicles 7:5). Zevaḥ bakar is not written, but rather, zevaḥ habakar.15It is written with the definite article, so that it reads in a literal sense “a feast offering of the cattle.” Which cattle? You must say: “The two wagons and the four cattle” (Numbers 7:7), and it is written: “the four wagons and the eight cattle” (Numbers 7:8).
Rabbi Meir says: They endure [even] now, and they have not become blemished, they have not grown old, and they have not become tereifa, but rather, they are alive and well. The matters may be inferred a fortiori: If the oxen that were assigned by man to the Tabernacle service, [God] granted them existence to live and endure for ever and ever, Israel, which cleaves to He who endures forever, all the more so, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave to the Lord your God, all of you live today” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
“Covered [tzav],” like canopies; tzav, colored;10This is due to the similarity between the word tzav and the word color (tzeva). tzav, arranged in order;11This is due to the similarity between the word tzav and the word tzava, army, which indicates ordered rows of soldiers. tzav, that the hosts [tzava] of Levites stood over them. It was taught in the name of Neḥemya: They were like covered wagons, so the service vessels would not [fall and] break.
“And twelve oxen,” corresponding to the twelve princes: “A wagon for every two princes, and an ox for each” (Numbers 7:3), this teaches that they did not purchase them with money; rather, this one brought an ox and this one brought an ox, this one brought a wagon and this one brought a wagon. “They brought them before the Tabernacle,” this teaches that they gave them to the congregation.
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying” (Numbers 7:4). What is “saying”? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Go out and say to them words of praise and consolation.’ Rabbi Hoshaya said: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘I ascribe to you [merit] as though I needed [something] in which to hold my world, and you brought it to me.’
At that moment, Moses was afraid. He said in his heart: Perhaps the Divine Spirit has left me, and has rested on the princes, or perhaps a different prophet arose and introduced this halakha.12Moses was commenting on the fact that he had not been commanded to tell the princes to make this donation, but clearly God was very pleased with it. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, had I said to them that they should bring [these items], I would have told you to tell them; however, “take from them, and they shall be”’ (Numbers 7:5). What is “take from them”? These matters originated with them.
Who gave them the counsel? Rabbi Simon said: It was the tribe of Issachar. They said to them: ‘This Tabernacle that you are crafting, does it float in the air? Craft wagons for it upon which it may be carried.’ That is why the verse praises the tribe of Issachar, as it is stated: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times” (I Chronicles 12:33). What is “of the times”? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: For astrology. Rabbi Yosei bar Kasrai said: For intercalation. “To know what Israel should do” (I Chronicles 12:33), as they knew how to cure skin disease. “Their leaders were two hundred” (I Chronicles 12:33), these are the two hundred heads of Sanhedrins13This refers to the twenty-three person courts that presided in each major city. that the tribe of Issachar produced. “And all their brethren at their command” (I Chronicles 12:33), this teaches that all their brethren would agree with their [decisions in] halakha, like halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.
At that moment, Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, perhaps one of the oxen will die, or one of the wheels will break and the offering of the princes would be invalidated, resulting in the Tabernacle service being abrogated?’ Immediately, “The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take from them, and they shall be to perform…” (Numbers 7:4-5). “They shall be”—I will grant them existence so that they will live and endure in the world for ever and ever. Until when did they endure? Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of bar Kapara: Until the Gilgal; that is what is written in Hosea: “In Gilgal they slaughtered oxen, their altars are like heaps upon the furrows of the field” (Hosea 12:12). Where did they sacrifice them?14This question assumes that they were not sacrificed in Gilgal, as stated above. Alternatively, the midrash means that the merit of these offerings lasted until Israel worshipped idolatry in Gilgal, and the oxen were actually sacrificed afterward (see Etz Yosef). Rabbi Avun said: They sacrificed them in Nov. Rabbi Abba said: They sacrificed them in Givon. Levi said: They sacrificed them in Shilo. The Rabbis say: They sacrificed them in the permanent Temple. Rabbi Ḥama said: The source for the Rabbis is as it is written: “King Solomon slaughtered a feast offering of…cattle [zevaḥ habakar]” (II Chronicles 7:5). Zevaḥ bakar is not written, but rather, zevaḥ habakar.15It is written with the definite article, so that it reads in a literal sense “a feast offering of the cattle.” Which cattle? You must say: “The two wagons and the four cattle” (Numbers 7:7), and it is written: “the four wagons and the eight cattle” (Numbers 7:8).
Rabbi Meir says: They endure [even] now, and they have not become blemished, they have not grown old, and they have not become tereifa, but rather, they are alive and well. The matters may be inferred a fortiori: If the oxen that were assigned by man to the Tabernacle service, [God] granted them existence to live and endure for ever and ever, Israel, which cleaves to He who endures forever, all the more so, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave to the Lord your God, all of you live today” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Take from them, and they shall be to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting, and you shall give them to the Levites, each according to his service” (Numbers 7:4–5).
“They brought their offering before the Lord” (Numbers 7:3) – it teaches that they brought them and gave them to the congregation. They came and stood before the Tabernacle, but he did not accept it from them, until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Almighty: “Take from them.” That is what is written: “The Lord spoke to Moses saying [lemor]: Take from them….” What is lemor? Rav Hoshaya taught: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: Go out and say to them words of conciliation and words of comfort.
“Take from them” – at that moment Moses was concerned, and said: Say that, perhaps, the Divine Spirit has departed from me and rested upon the princes. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Moses, had I wished to tell them that they should bring, I would have said it to you so you would say it to them. Rather, “take from them” – this matter was from them, and their thought accorded with the thought on High.
Moses was concerned, and said: Say that, perhaps, one of the carts broke or one of the oxen died, the result being that the offering of the princes would be disqualified. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “They shall be to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting.” He granted them existence so that they would exist forever.
Until when were they alive? Rabbi Yuda in the name of Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Naḥman and Rabbi Ḥoneya in the name of bar Kappara said: It was until “at Gilgal they slaughtered bulls” (Hosea 12:12). Where did they sacrifice them?66The midrash is now presenting a different opinion. They sacrificed them at Nov. Rabbi Abbahu said: They sacrificed them at Givon. Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: They sacrificed them in the eternal Temple.
Rabbi Levi said: The source of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina is, as it is written: “King Solomon slaughtered an offering of…[bulls [habakar]]” (II Chronicles 7:5).67The use of the definite article in the word habakar indicates that the reference is also to bulls, of which we have previous knowledge. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: Until now the carts and the oxen are in existence. They have not been blemished, have not aged, have not been mauled, and have not been broken. Can these matters not be inferred a fortiori? If the carts that were associated with the labor of the Tent of Meeting were granted existence to the extent that they exist forever, Israel, who cleave to the Holy One blessed be He, all the more so, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave to the Lord your God, [all of you are alive today]” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
“You shall give them to the Levites, each according to his service” – in accordance with the exertion that his burden demanded; allot more carts to ease his burden.
“They brought their offering before the Lord” (Numbers 7:3) – it teaches that they brought them and gave them to the congregation. They came and stood before the Tabernacle, but he did not accept it from them, until it was stated to him from the mouth of the Almighty: “Take from them.” That is what is written: “The Lord spoke to Moses saying [lemor]: Take from them….” What is lemor? Rav Hoshaya taught: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: Go out and say to them words of conciliation and words of comfort.
“Take from them” – at that moment Moses was concerned, and said: Say that, perhaps, the Divine Spirit has departed from me and rested upon the princes. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Moses, had I wished to tell them that they should bring, I would have said it to you so you would say it to them. Rather, “take from them” – this matter was from them, and their thought accorded with the thought on High.
Moses was concerned, and said: Say that, perhaps, one of the carts broke or one of the oxen died, the result being that the offering of the princes would be disqualified. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “They shall be to perform the service of the Tent of Meeting.” He granted them existence so that they would exist forever.
Until when were they alive? Rabbi Yuda in the name of Rabbi Shmuel ben Rabbi Naḥman and Rabbi Ḥoneya in the name of bar Kappara said: It was until “at Gilgal they slaughtered bulls” (Hosea 12:12). Where did they sacrifice them?66The midrash is now presenting a different opinion. They sacrificed them at Nov. Rabbi Abbahu said: They sacrificed them at Givon. Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: They sacrificed them in the eternal Temple.
Rabbi Levi said: The source of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina is, as it is written: “King Solomon slaughtered an offering of…[bulls [habakar]]” (II Chronicles 7:5).67The use of the definite article in the word habakar indicates that the reference is also to bulls, of which we have previous knowledge. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Meir: Until now the carts and the oxen are in existence. They have not been blemished, have not aged, have not been mauled, and have not been broken. Can these matters not be inferred a fortiori? If the carts that were associated with the labor of the Tent of Meeting were granted existence to the extent that they exist forever, Israel, who cleave to the Holy One blessed be He, all the more so, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave to the Lord your God, [all of you are alive today]” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
“You shall give them to the Levites, each according to his service” – in accordance with the exertion that his burden demanded; allot more carts to ease his burden.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 7:1), “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” This text is related (to Ps. 51:20–21), “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. [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 he-goat […]; and for the peace offering, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats […].” [Here was all of the sacrifice.] There is a parable: To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had set out on the road.86Lev. R. 7:2. When they brought him a meal befitting the road and befitting the inn,87Gk.: pandokeion. the king said to them, “Are you honoring me like this? Are you treating me like this? Am I not a king? Do I not rule the world?” 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,88Palterin. 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,89Gk.: doron. one ladle, one bull, one ram, one lamb, one he-goat. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “Is that [fitting for] My glory?” They said to him, “Master 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), “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 […].” And not [merely] one bull. So you find this [to have happened] when Solomon 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….”