וְהֵבִ֣יאוּ אֶת־כָּל־אֲחֵיכֶ֣ם מִכָּל־הַגּוֹיִ֣ם ׀ מִנְחָ֣ה ׀ לַֽיהוָ֡ה בַּסּוּסִ֡ים וּ֠בָרֶכֶב וּבַצַּבִּ֨ים וּבַפְּרָדִ֜ים וּבַכִּרְכָּר֗וֹת עַ֣ל הַ֥ר קָדְשִׁ֛י יְרוּשָׁלִַ֖ם אָמַ֣ר יְהוָ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יָבִיאוּ֩ בְנֵ֨י יִשְׂרָאֵ֧ל אֶת־הַמִּנְחָ֛ה בִּכְלִ֥י טָה֖וֹר בֵּ֥ית יְהוָֽה׃
Mereka akan membawa semua saudara kalian dari segala bangsa sebagai persembahan bagi Yang Mahakekal. Mereka akan membawa mereka dengan kuda, dengan kereta, dengan kereta beratap, dengan bagal, dan dengan tari-tarian ke gunung-Ku yang kudus, Yerusalem, firman Yang Mahakekal, sama seperti orang Israel membawa korban sajian dalam bejana yang tahir ke Bait Yang Mahakekal.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
R. Simeon ben Johay said:16See Gen. R. 1:13. Woe to blasphemers who take the name of the Holy One lightly, for one should not say: To the LORD an offering, to the LORD a burnt offering. Rather, < use the biblical wording > (as in Lev. 1:2): WHEN ONE OF YOU PRESENTS AN OFFERING TO THE LORD; (or as in Numb. 8:12): A SIN OFFERING < … > TO THE LORD; (or as in Lev. 23:18; Numb. 8:12; 28:11, 19; 29:8; Jud. 13:16; etc.): A BURNT OFFERING TO THE LORD; (or as in Gen. 4:3; Is. 66:20; Ezek. 46:14; Mal. 2:12; II Chron. 33:23): A MEAL OFFERING TO THE LORD. Learn (from the Hebrew word order in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING CREATED, and after that, GOD. When he mentions his creation,17Gk.: ktisma. < it is only > afterwards < that > he mentions his name.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
“Look from the peak of Amana” – Rabbi Ḥunya said in the name of Rabbi Yusta: The exiles are destined to reach Mount Amana111This is the same as the Mount Hor mentioned in Numbers 34:7–8 (see Targum Yerushalmi there). and recite song, and the nations of the world are destined to bring them like ministers to the messianic king. What is the reason? “Look [tashuri] from the peak of Amana.” Tashuri means nothing other than offering, just as it says: “We have no gift [teshura] to bring to the man” (I Samuel 9:7). It is fitting, but it is not fitting for Me.112This is stated from the perspective of God: Whereas it is fitting for the nations of the world to bring valuable gifts to the messianic king, that is not sufficient from God’s perspective. Did I not do this to you already in the days of Ḥazael? “Ḥazael went to meet him, taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus, forty camel-loads” (II Kings 8:9). Rabbi Yehuda said: Was all the good of Damascus a burden borne by forty camels? Rather, it is to teach you that he had in his possession a gem and pearls that were worth the monetary value of all the good of Damascus, and [thus] it says: “Taking with him as tribute all the good of Damascus.”113If it already occurred that Ḥazael brought such a valuable gift to Elisha, the gift to the messianic king will have to be that much greater. Therefore, the nations of the world will bring him the Jewish exiles as a gift.
Rather, they are destined to bring [the Jews] themselves as gifts to the messianic king. What is the reason? “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, with horses and with chariots and with covered wagons [uvakirkarot]” (Isaiah 66:20). What is uvakirkarot? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: Like those elders who are unable to ride covered wagons and they carry them on sedan chairs. That is what is written: “Render to the Lord, families of the peoples, [render to the Lord glory and splendor]” (Psalms 96:7). Rabbi Aḥa said: It is not written here, “Peoples, render to the Lord families,” but rather, “families of the peoples, render to the Lord glory and splendor” – when you bring them, do not bring them in a demeaning way, but rather with glory and splendor.
By what merit? By the merit that they recited song at the sea. Rav Naḥman said: By the merit of the faith that Abraham had, as it is stated: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Israel saw the great power […and they believed in the Lord]” (Exodus 14:31). He was still leading them; could they not believe? Is there a person who sees and does not believe? Rather, it is due to the merit of the faith that Israel had while in Egypt, as it is stated: “The people believed” (Exodus 4:31).
Rather, they are destined to bring [the Jews] themselves as gifts to the messianic king. What is the reason? “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as an offering to the Lord, with horses and with chariots and with covered wagons [uvakirkarot]” (Isaiah 66:20). What is uvakirkarot? Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda: Like those elders who are unable to ride covered wagons and they carry them on sedan chairs. That is what is written: “Render to the Lord, families of the peoples, [render to the Lord glory and splendor]” (Psalms 96:7). Rabbi Aḥa said: It is not written here, “Peoples, render to the Lord families,” but rather, “families of the peoples, render to the Lord glory and splendor” – when you bring them, do not bring them in a demeaning way, but rather with glory and splendor.
By what merit? By the merit that they recited song at the sea. Rav Naḥman said: By the merit of the faith that Abraham had, as it is stated: “And he believed in the Lord” (Genesis 15:6). Rabbi Ḥelbo said in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Israel saw the great power […and they believed in the Lord]” (Exodus 14:31). He was still leading them; could they not believe? Is there a person who sees and does not believe? Rather, it is due to the merit of the faith that Israel had while in Egypt, as it is stated: “The people believed” (Exodus 4:31).
Bamidbar Rabbah
“They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve bulls, a cart for every two princes and an ox for each one, and they brought them before the Tabernacle” (Numbers 7:3).
“They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts…” – “six” corresponding to the six days of Creation, “six” corresponding to the six orders of Mishna; “six” corresponding to the matriarchs. They were Sarah and Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, Bilha and Zilpa. “Six” corresponding to the six commandments in whose regard the king is commanded every day. They are: “He shall not amass wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17); "only he shall not amass horses” (Deuteronomy 17:16); “and silver and gold he shall not amass greatly” (Deuteronomy 17:17); “You shall not distort judgment, you shall not give preference, and you shall not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19). “Six” corresponding to the six stairs to the throne: “There were six stairs to the throne” (II Chronicles 9:18). On which side? It was on the side that he would ascend and sit.58Namely, the steps were not from the side, but directly facing the chair. When he ascended to sit, on the first stair the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass wives.” When he ascended to sit, on the second stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass horses.” When he ascended to sit, on the third stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “And silver and gold he shall not amass greatly.” When he ascended to sit, on the fourth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not distort judgment.” When he ascended to sit, on the fifth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not give preference.” When he ascended to sit, on the sixth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not take a bribe.” He came to sit on his throne, “armrests on this side and on that side on the place of the seat” (II Chronicles 9:18). How was it? There was a golden scepter hanging behind him with a dove at its head, and a golden crown in the dove’s mouth. He would sit beneath it on the seat. It would touch but not touch.59The crown would just barely touch his head. “Six carts” corresponding to the six firmaments; but are they not seven? Where the King is, is more significant.60The six firmaments correspond to the stairs and the seventh, to the throne.
“Six tzav carts” – what is “tzav”? They resemble palanquins.61They are called tzav, which means turtle, because like the turtle, they were covered. Rabbi Yishmael says: Tzav is nothing other than colored.62Expounded based on the word tzeva, which means color. Tzav is nothing other than well-designed,63Expounded based on the word tzava, which is organized in formation. that they lacked nothing. “Tzav” – Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi]says: Tzav is nothing other than curved; they were covered with coverings like curved roofs. Even though there is no proof of the matter, there is an allusion to the matter: “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, [on horses and in chariots and in covered carts [uvatzabim] and on mules and on camels]” (Isaiah 66:20). “Tzav” – Rabbi Shimon says: Tzav is nothing other than attached, as it is stated: “They will bring your sons beḥotzen…” (Isaiah 49:22).64Beḥotzen is translated into Aramaic as betzivin, in wagons with the covering attached to them. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: They were made like a type of curved tent, like a dome. Rabbi Neḥemya said: They were like the color [ketzivo] of the firmament.
“Twelve bulls” – corresponding to twelve tribes and corresponding to twelve constellations. I hear65Meaning, I understand from here. a cart for each and every one. The verse states: “A cart for every two princes.” I hear two oxen for each prince. The verse states: “And an ox for each one.” Why did they not have half of them bring carts and half of them oxen? It is because they were afraid that perhaps one of their oxen would die or one of their carts would break, the result being that this tribe would have no portion in the Tabernacle.
“They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts…” – “six” corresponding to the six days of Creation, “six” corresponding to the six orders of Mishna; “six” corresponding to the matriarchs. They were Sarah and Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, Bilha and Zilpa. “Six” corresponding to the six commandments in whose regard the king is commanded every day. They are: “He shall not amass wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17); "only he shall not amass horses” (Deuteronomy 17:16); “and silver and gold he shall not amass greatly” (Deuteronomy 17:17); “You shall not distort judgment, you shall not give preference, and you shall not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19). “Six” corresponding to the six stairs to the throne: “There were six stairs to the throne” (II Chronicles 9:18). On which side? It was on the side that he would ascend and sit.58Namely, the steps were not from the side, but directly facing the chair. When he ascended to sit, on the first stair the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass wives.” When he ascended to sit, on the second stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass horses.” When he ascended to sit, on the third stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “And silver and gold he shall not amass greatly.” When he ascended to sit, on the fourth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not distort judgment.” When he ascended to sit, on the fifth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not give preference.” When he ascended to sit, on the sixth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not take a bribe.” He came to sit on his throne, “armrests on this side and on that side on the place of the seat” (II Chronicles 9:18). How was it? There was a golden scepter hanging behind him with a dove at its head, and a golden crown in the dove’s mouth. He would sit beneath it on the seat. It would touch but not touch.59The crown would just barely touch his head. “Six carts” corresponding to the six firmaments; but are they not seven? Where the King is, is more significant.60The six firmaments correspond to the stairs and the seventh, to the throne.
“Six tzav carts” – what is “tzav”? They resemble palanquins.61They are called tzav, which means turtle, because like the turtle, they were covered. Rabbi Yishmael says: Tzav is nothing other than colored.62Expounded based on the word tzeva, which means color. Tzav is nothing other than well-designed,63Expounded based on the word tzava, which is organized in formation. that they lacked nothing. “Tzav” – Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi]says: Tzav is nothing other than curved; they were covered with coverings like curved roofs. Even though there is no proof of the matter, there is an allusion to the matter: “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, [on horses and in chariots and in covered carts [uvatzabim] and on mules and on camels]” (Isaiah 66:20). “Tzav” – Rabbi Shimon says: Tzav is nothing other than attached, as it is stated: “They will bring your sons beḥotzen…” (Isaiah 49:22).64Beḥotzen is translated into Aramaic as betzivin, in wagons with the covering attached to them. It is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: They were made like a type of curved tent, like a dome. Rabbi Neḥemya said: They were like the color [ketzivo] of the firmament.
“Twelve bulls” – corresponding to twelve tribes and corresponding to twelve constellations. I hear65Meaning, I understand from here. a cart for each and every one. The verse states: “A cart for every two princes.” I hear two oxen for each prince. The verse states: “And an ox for each one.” Why did they not have half of them bring carts and half of them oxen? It is because they were afraid that perhaps one of their oxen would die or one of their carts would break, the result being that this tribe would have no portion in the Tabernacle.