וַיָּבִ֨יאוּ אֶת־קָרְבָּנָ֜ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהוָ֗ה שֵׁשׁ־עֶגְלֹ֥ת צָב֙ וּשְׁנֵ֣י עָשָׂ֣ר בָּקָ֔ר עֲגָלָ֛ה עַל־שְׁנֵ֥י הַנְּשִׂאִ֖ים וְשׁ֣וֹר לְאֶחָ֑ד וַיַּקְרִ֥יבוּ אוֹתָ֖ם לִפְנֵ֥י הַמִּשְׁכָּֽן׃
Mereka membawa persembahan mereka ke hadapan Yang Mahakekal: enam kereta beratap dan dua belas ekor lembu, satu kereta untuk setiap dua pemimpin dan seekor lembu untuk setiap pemimpin. Mereka membawanya ke depan Kemah Suci.
Pesikta DeRav Kahana
"And the chieftains of Israel -- they are the chieftains of the tribes -- brought near [their offerings]" (Num. 7:2): This was in Egypt. "And they are those who are presiding over the counting" (ibid.): This was over the [tribal] banners (i.e., in the desert).
"And they brought their offerings before Hashem: Six covered wagons, etc." (Num. 7:3): Corresponding to the six days of Creation. Six corresponding to six orders of the Mishnah. Six corresponding to the six Matriarchs. And who are they? Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Bilhah, [and] Zilpah.
Said Rabbi Yochanan: Six corresponding to [the six] commandments that were commanded to the king. And which are they? "He shall not multiply wives for himself" (Deut. 17:17); "And he shall not multiply horses for himself" (Deut. 17:16); "And silver and gold he shall not multiply for himself" (Deut. 17:17); "He shall not pervert judgment, nor show favoritism, nor take a bribe" (Deut. 17:19). Six corresponding to the "six steps [that led up] to the throne" (1 Kings 10:19). How so? He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the first step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not multiply wives for himself." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the second step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not multiple horses for himself." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the third step, the crier goes out and says, "And gold and silver he shall not multiply for himself greatly." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the fourth step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not pervert judgment." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the fifth step, the crier goes out and says, "Nor show favoritism." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the sixth step, the crier goes out and says, "Nor take a bribe." He comes to sit, and upon [reaching] the seventh step, he says to him, "Know before whom you are sitting" (cf. Avot 3:1). "... And the throne had a back with a rounded top" (1 Kings 10:19). Said Rabbi Acha, like that soft-backed chair of Moses. "... And the throne had armrests on this side and that side of the seat" (ibid.). How so? There was a golden scepter behind it, and a dove on its head, and a golden crown in the dove's mouth, and he would sit under it in the seat [of throne], and it would touch yet not touch.
Six [covered wagons] corresponding to six firmaments. But are they not seven? Said Rabbi Avin, where the king resides (i.e., in the seventh heaven), there is the crown property.
"And they brought their offerings before Hashem: Six covered wagons, etc." (Num. 7:3): Corresponding to the six days of Creation. Six corresponding to six orders of the Mishnah. Six corresponding to the six Matriarchs. And who are they? Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah, Bilhah, [and] Zilpah.
Said Rabbi Yochanan: Six corresponding to [the six] commandments that were commanded to the king. And which are they? "He shall not multiply wives for himself" (Deut. 17:17); "And he shall not multiply horses for himself" (Deut. 17:16); "And silver and gold he shall not multiply for himself" (Deut. 17:17); "He shall not pervert judgment, nor show favoritism, nor take a bribe" (Deut. 17:19). Six corresponding to the "six steps [that led up] to the throne" (1 Kings 10:19). How so? He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the first step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not multiply wives for himself." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the second step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not multiple horses for himself." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the third step, the crier goes out and says, "And gold and silver he shall not multiply for himself greatly." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the fourth step, the crier goes out and says, "He shall not pervert judgment." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the fifth step, the crier goes out and says, "Nor show favoritism." He ascended to sit, and upon [reaching] the sixth step, the crier goes out and says, "Nor take a bribe." He comes to sit, and upon [reaching] the seventh step, he says to him, "Know before whom you are sitting" (cf. Avot 3:1). "... And the throne had a back with a rounded top" (1 Kings 10:19). Said Rabbi Acha, like that soft-backed chair of Moses. "... And the throne had armrests on this side and that side of the seat" (ibid.). How so? There was a golden scepter behind it, and a dove on its head, and a golden crown in the dove's mouth, and he would sit under it in the seat [of throne], and it would touch yet not touch.
Six [covered wagons] corresponding to six firmaments. But are they not seven? Said Rabbi Avin, where the king resides (i.e., in the seventh heaven), there is the crown property.
Pesikta DeRav Kahana
Tzav (Num. 7:3).*The verse states that the tribal leaders brought six "tzav" wagons (שש עגלת-צב). The midrash now discusses the meaning of this unusual word, often translated (in conjunction with eglot) as "litter-wagons" (see Jastrow), i.e., luxurious cushioned and covered transport for dignitaries, supported by two horizontal poles and carried by servants. However, tzav is susceptible to other meanings as well, which the midrash also explores.
They resembled palanquins -- distinguished with dye (tzeva)*צב מצויינת; alt., צב מצויירות ("colored with dye"), designed like a turtle (tzav) (i.e., with walls and a rounded covering). It was taught in the name of Rabbi Nechemiah, they were like a type of arched carriage (kamrasta).
"... And twelve oxen, a wagon for every two chieftains [and an ox for each individual]" (ibid.). It teaches that [every] two chieftains brought one wagon, and each and every tribe brought an ox.
"And Hashem said to Moses, saying." (Num. 7:4.)
What is this "saying"? It was taught by Rabbi Hoshaiah: The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "Go out and say to them, to Israel, words of encouragement, words of comfort." And Moses was afraid, and he said, "Say, perhaps, that the Holy Spirit has departed from me and has rested upon the chieftains." The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "Had I wished to tell them to bring forth their offerings, I would have told you to tell that to them. Rather, [I told you to] 'take [these offerings] from them' (Num. 7:5)." This matter was "from them." And who gave them this advice? The tribe of Issachar gave them this advice. There it says, "And from the children of Issachar were those who possessed understanding of the signs (iytim)." (1 Chr. 12:33.) What are "iytim"? Rabbi Tanchuma says, [the signs of the changing] of the seasons. And Rabbi Yosei bar Katzri says, [the signs of the] intercalculation of the years. "Their heads were two hundred." (Ibid.) These were the two hundred heads of the Sanhedrin, who Issachar had caused to arise. "...And all their brethren [followed] their command (pihem; lit., 'their mouths')." (Ibid.) This teaches that they were in agreement with the halacha [that issued] from their mouths. They said to them, "Does the Tent of Meeting that you are fashioning hover in the air? Rather, make wagons for it and load it onto them." And Moses was afraid, and he said, "Say, perhaps, that one of the wagons might break, or one of the oxen may die, and that the chieftains' offerings may become disqualified?" The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "And let them serve for the service [of transporting] the Tent of Meeting." (Num. 7:5.) He granted them existence so that they would endure forever. Until what point did they endure? Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman, Rabbi Choneya in the name of Bar Kappara: Until "they sacrificed bulls in Gilgal" (Hos. 12:12). And where did they sacrifice them? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana says, in Nob they sacrificed them. Rabbi Avahu said, in Gibeon they sacrifced them. Said Rabbi Levi, the explanation of Rabbi Chama bar Chanina: "Solomon sacrificed as peace offerings, which were sacrificed for Hashem, twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, etc." (1 Kings 8:63.) It was taught in the name of Rabbi Meir, they have endured until now, and they have not become filthy, and they have not aged, and they have not become been rendered tereifot. And behold, these matters are derived from a fortiori reasoning: Just as the carts that were connected (nid'vaku) with the labor of the Tent of Meeting were given an existence that they endured forever, all the more so Israel, who cleave (d'vukim) in unity with the Holy One Blessed be He, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave (had'vaykim) to Hashem your God, all of you are alive today” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
The end [of the chapter].
They resembled palanquins -- distinguished with dye (tzeva)*צב מצויינת; alt., צב מצויירות ("colored with dye"), designed like a turtle (tzav) (i.e., with walls and a rounded covering). It was taught in the name of Rabbi Nechemiah, they were like a type of arched carriage (kamrasta).
"... And twelve oxen, a wagon for every two chieftains [and an ox for each individual]" (ibid.). It teaches that [every] two chieftains brought one wagon, and each and every tribe brought an ox.
"And Hashem said to Moses, saying." (Num. 7:4.)
What is this "saying"? It was taught by Rabbi Hoshaiah: The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "Go out and say to them, to Israel, words of encouragement, words of comfort." And Moses was afraid, and he said, "Say, perhaps, that the Holy Spirit has departed from me and has rested upon the chieftains." The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "Had I wished to tell them to bring forth their offerings, I would have told you to tell that to them. Rather, [I told you to] 'take [these offerings] from them' (Num. 7:5)." This matter was "from them." And who gave them this advice? The tribe of Issachar gave them this advice. There it says, "And from the children of Issachar were those who possessed understanding of the signs (iytim)." (1 Chr. 12:33.) What are "iytim"? Rabbi Tanchuma says, [the signs of the changing] of the seasons. And Rabbi Yosei bar Katzri says, [the signs of the] intercalculation of the years. "Their heads were two hundred." (Ibid.) These were the two hundred heads of the Sanhedrin, who Issachar had caused to arise. "...And all their brethren [followed] their command (pihem; lit., 'their mouths')." (Ibid.) This teaches that they were in agreement with the halacha [that issued] from their mouths. They said to them, "Does the Tent of Meeting that you are fashioning hover in the air? Rather, make wagons for it and load it onto them." And Moses was afraid, and he said, "Say, perhaps, that one of the wagons might break, or one of the oxen may die, and that the chieftains' offerings may become disqualified?" The Holy One Blessed be He said to Moses, "And let them serve for the service [of transporting] the Tent of Meeting." (Num. 7:5.) He granted them existence so that they would endure forever. Until what point did they endure? Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman, Rabbi Choneya in the name of Bar Kappara: Until "they sacrificed bulls in Gilgal" (Hos. 12:12). And where did they sacrifice them? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana says, in Nob they sacrificed them. Rabbi Avahu said, in Gibeon they sacrifced them. Said Rabbi Levi, the explanation of Rabbi Chama bar Chanina: "Solomon sacrificed as peace offerings, which were sacrificed for Hashem, twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred twenty thousand sheep, etc." (1 Kings 8:63.) It was taught in the name of Rabbi Meir, they have endured until now, and they have not become filthy, and they have not aged, and they have not become been rendered tereifot. And behold, these matters are derived from a fortiori reasoning: Just as the carts that were connected (nid'vaku) with the labor of the Tent of Meeting were given an existence that they endured forever, all the more so Israel, who cleave (d'vukim) in unity with the Holy One Blessed be He, as it is stated: “But you, who cleave (had'vaykim) to Hashem your God, all of you are alive today” (Deuteronomy 4:4).
The end [of the chapter].
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).