Midrash su Esodo 25:1

(Exod. 25:1–2:) THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES, SAYING: SPEAK UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND LET THEM TAKE (rt.: LQH) FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE…. This text is related (to Prov. 4:2): FOR I GAVE YOU GOOD INSTRUCTION…. INSTRUCTION (LQH) <denotes> my Torah.¹Tanh., Exod. 7:2. <It was> customary for two traders²Gk.: pragmateutai. This interpretation follows the reading from the parallel text in Tanh., Exod. 7:2. The spelling, PRGMTYN, in the Buber text suggests the Greek pragmata (“affairs,” “business”) and does not fit the context. to be in the <same> district. One took in (rt.: LQH) raw silk,³Gk.: metaxa. and the other took in finished silk.⁴Gk.: holoserikon. Cf. the parallel Tanh. text, which reads “pepper” (pilpelin) here. They stood side by side. One said to his companion: Do you want to make a change? He said: Yes. <So> they changed <roles> with each other. The first handed over the raw silk and took the finished silk for himself. It turned out that a single commodity <remained> in the hands of the one, and a single commodity <remained> in the hands of the other. But Torah is not like that. One learns the <talmudic> order, "Seeds (Zera'im)," while another learns the order, "Damages (Neziqin)." Both of them stood side by side. One said to his companion: Teach me the order, "Seeds," and I shall teach you the order, "Damages." It turned out that the one had two <orders> in hand, and the other had two < orders > in hand. Is there <any> merchandise greater than this? Ergo (in Prov. 4:2): FOR I GAVE YOU GOOD INSTRUCTION….

(Exod. 25:3–7:) AND THIS IS THE PRIESTLY SHARE THAT YOU SHALL TAKE FROM THEM: <GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE; > BLUE, PURPLE, <AND SCARLET YARNS; FINE LINEN, GOAT HAIR, REDDENED> RAM SKINS, DOLPHIN SKINS, AND ACACIA WOOD;> OIL FOR LIGHTING, <SPICE FOR ANOINTING OIL AND FOR AROMATIC INCENSE, ONYX STONES>…. R. Judah bar Simon said: <The Holy One said to Israel:>¹⁸This necessary addition to the text comes from the parallel in Tanh., Exod. 7:5. Do not think that you are repaying me thirteen things¹⁹Presumably the thirteen types of offerings mentioned in Exod. 25:1–7; but these verses mention more than thirteen. which correspond to thirteen things which I set aside for you in Egypt. These were the following (according to Ezek. 16:10–12, 19): I CLOTHED YOU WITH EMBROIDERY, SHOD YOU WITH DOLPHIN SKIN, WRAPPED YOU IN FINE LINEN, COVERED YOU WITH SILK, ADORNED YOU WITH JEWELS, PUT BRACELETS ON YOUR ARMS, AND A CHAIN AROUND YOUR NECK; I PUT A RING ON YOUR NOSE, EARRINGS ON YOUR EARS, AND A SPLENDID CROWN UPON YOUR HEAD…. AND MY BREAD WHICH I GAVE YOU, < BREAD > OF FINE FLOUR, OIL, AND HONEY, <THIS BREAD> I GAVE YOU TO EAT. Ergo, the thirteen things which you have set aside for me correspond to (but do not repay) the thirteen things which I set aside for you in Egypt. In the age to come I am repaying you these corresponding thirteen things, those which are mentioned (in Is. 4:5–6): FOR THE LORD WILL CREATE OVER THE [WHOLE] SITE OF MOUNT ZION <AND OVER ITS ASSEMBLY A CLOUD AND SMOKE BY DAY AND THE BRIGHTNESS OF A FLAMING FIRE BY NIGHT >…. AND THERE SHALL BE A SUKKAH AS A SHADE FROM THE HEAT BY DAY….