Midrash su Esodo 31:3

Another explanation of It hath been already (Eccles. 1:10). It is written: The Lord by wisdom founded the earth (Prov. 3:19) and also: I have filled him with the spirit of wisdom (Exod. 31:3). This teaches us that the Tabernacle was equal both to all the world and to a human embryo, which is a world in miniature.⁷Ginzberg, Legends of the Jews 5:75, n. 20. How is that so? When the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, He did so just as a child is born to a woman. A child starts to grow at the navel and then develops in all directions, and the Holy One, blessed be He, began the creation of His world at the foundation stone, and built the world upon it. Why was it called a foundation stone? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, began the creation of His world upon it. Then He created the celestial Temple, as it is said: The place, O Lord, which Thou hast made to dwell in (Exod. 15:14). Do not read the word as makom (“foundation”), but as mekuvan (“exactly opposite”). Your dwelling place above is directly opposite Your dwelling place below. The formation of the embryo is like the formation of the world, for just as the embryo is formed in the womb of its mother, so too the world was formed at the foundation stone.

There (in the north) is the abode of the destroying spirits, earthquakes, winds, demons, lightnings and thunders; thence evil issues forth into the world, as it is said, "Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the earth" (Jer. 1:14). Some say by ten Sayings was the world created || and in three (Divine attributes) are these (ten Sayings) comprised, as it is said, "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens, by his knowledge the depths were broken up" (Prov. 3:19, 20). By these three (attributes) was the Tabernacle made, as it is said, "And I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge" (Ex. 31:3). Likewise with these three (attributes) was the Temple made, as it is said, "He was the son of a widow woman of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and knowledge" (1 Kings 7:14). By these three attributes it will be rebuilt in the future, as it is said, "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge are the chambers filled" (Prov. 24:3, 4).

Another comment on Curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Blessed be He, who fashioned man with wisdom just as He created the earth with wisdom, as is said: The Lord with wisdom founded the earth (Prov. 3:19). Concerning Bezalel it is stated: He hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom and understanding, and in knowledge (Exod. 35:31). The very attributes with which the Holy One, blessed be he, created His world and fashioned man were possessed by Bezalel. And he constructed the Tabernacle. Furthermore it is stated: The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by His knowledge the depths were broken up (Prov. 3:19–20). And about Bezalel it is written: And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom and in understanding, and in knowledge (Exod. 35:31). The three attributes mentioned in the verse are referred to in the other: Therefore who doeth great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number (Job 5:9).

… it is written there “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…” (Melachim I 8:27) and here it is written “…the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” (Shemot 40:35) R’ Yehoshua of Sachnin said in the name of R’ Levi ‘to what is this likened? To an open cave at the edge of the sea. When the sea storms the cave is filled, but the sea is not reduced. So too, even though it is written that ‘the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle’ the upper and lower worlds did not lose anything of the brilliance of the glory of the Holy One, just as it is written “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? says the Lord.” (Yirmiyahu 23:24) Therefore it is written here ‘And it was’. Just as the Divine Presence was here below at the beginning of the creation of the world but withdrew to above, now it returned to be below as it had been “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (Bamidbar 7:1) ... [Another explanation. “And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan…” (Numbers 7:1)] R’ Simon said: at the time when the Holy One told Israel to erect the Tabernacle, He hinted that when the Tabernacle below is erected, the Tabernacle above is erected, as it says “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (ibid.) It does not say ‘erecting the Tabernacle’ but rather ‘erecting this (et) the Tabernacle.’ This refers to the Tabernacle above. The Holy One said: in this world, when the Tabernacle was erected, I commanded Aharon and his sons that they bless you. In the time to come I, in my glory, will bless you. So it is written “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 134:3)

See, he hath called by name Bezalel (Exod. 35:30). Observe what He did for Bezalel. The Holy One, blessed be He, instilled wisdom in his heart, as it is said: And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge (ibid., v. 31). It was with these attributes the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, as it is said: The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens; by knowledge the depths were broken up (Prov. 3:19–20). With these same attributes Bezalel erected the Tabernacle.

Now from where did all this glory come?¹⁸Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:4. From the tribe of Judah, since it is stated (in Exod. 35:30): <BEZALEL BEN URI BEN HUR> OF THE TRIBE OF JUDAH. This text is related (to Job 28:27–28): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT; HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT; AND HE SAID TO THE MAN (i.e., to Moses): SEE, THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WISDOM; AND TO DEPART FROM EVIL IS UNDERSTANDING. R. Aha and our masters differ.¹⁹Gen. R. 24:5. Our masters say: Two times he uttered the oracle privately to himself. Then after that he spoke to Israel. Thus it is stated (in Job. 28:27): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT. That was one <time>. (Ibid., cont.:) HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT. That was the second <time>. Then after that he said (in vs. 28): AND HE SAID TO THE MAN (Moses). But R. Aha said: Four times, as stated (in vs. 27): THEN HE SAW AND DECLARED IT; HE ESTABLISHED IT AND ALSO PROBED IT.²⁰Exod. R.40:1. Ergo: Four times.²¹R. Aha understands each verb as referring to a separate revision of the oracle. From whom do you learn it? From Jochebed²²Moses’ mother. and Miriam. What is written (in Exod. 1:15)? THEN THE KING OF EGYPT {PROCLAIMED} [SAID] TO THE <HEBREW> MIDWIVES.²³The midrash assumes that the midwives were Jochebed and Miriam, even though Exod. 1:15 names them Shiphrah and Puah. On the identification of Jochebed and Miriam with Shiphrah and Puah, see Sot. 11b; Sifre to Numb. 10:29–36 (78); Exod. R. 1:16. What did he say to them (in vs. 16)? LOOK AT THE BIRTHSTOOL. Why did he do so? Because the astrologers²⁴Gk.; astrologoi. had said to them: On this day the redeemer of Israel shall be born, but we do not know whether he is an Egyptian or not. At that time he assembled all the Egyptians and said to them: Lend me your sons for one day, since it is stated (in Exod. 1:22): EVERY SON BORN <YOU SHALL THROW INTO THE NILE>. "< Every son> of Israel" is not written here, but EVERY SON, whether Israelite or Egyptian. (Exod. 1:17:) BUT THE MIDWIVES FEARED <GOD>. So how did the Holy One repay them? (Vs. 3:) HE ESTABLISHED HOUSEHOLDS FOR THEM: Priestly households, Levitical households, and kingship. Jochebed received priesthood and kingship as her reward < through her sons>, Moses²⁵According to Deut. 33:5, HE (Moses) BECAME KING IN JESHURUN. See Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:4. and Aaron. What did Miriam receive as her reward? Wisdom, for it is stated (in Job 28:28): SEE, THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS WISDOM. From her he brought forth Bezalel, who was wise, as stated (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT <IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE >.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 35:30): SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED [… IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE]. See the wisdom, [understanding, and knowledge] which I have instilled in his heart (i.e., the heart of Bezalel).²⁶So according to the parallel in Tanh., Exod. 10:5. By these three things were heaven and earth created,²⁷Exod. R. 48:4. as stated (in Prov. 3:19–20): THROUGH WISDOM THE LORD FOUNDED THE EARTH; HE ESTABLISHED THE HEAVENS THROUGH UNDERSTANDING; [THROUGH HIS KNOWLEDGE THE DEPTHS BURST APART]. Moreover, by these three things was the Tabernacle made, as stated (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. Again, by these three things was the Temple made, as stated (in I Kings 7:14): HE (i.e., Hiram) WAS THE SON OF A WIDOW…; AND HE WAS FILLED WITH WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE. And also in the world to come the Temple shall be built on these three things, [as stated (in Prov. 24:3–4): THROUGH WISDOM SHALL A HOUSE BE BUILT, BY UNDERSTANDING SHALL IT BE ESTABLISHED, AND BY KNOWLEDGE SHALL ITS ROOMS BE FILLED WITH ALL PRECIOUS AND LOVELY RICHES. Ergo (in Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM <WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE >….

Another interpretation (of Exod. 31:3): AND I HAVE FILLED HIM <WITH THE DIVINE SPIRIT IN WISDOM, UNDERSTANDING, AND KNOWLEDGE >. Joshua, who came from the tribe of Joseph, was also filled with the spirit of wisdom, as stated (in Deut. 34:9): NOW JOSHUA BEN NUN WAS FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM. Also Othniel ben Kenaz, who was from the tribe of Judah, was filled with the spirit of God, as stated (in Jud. 3:10): AND THE SPIRIT OF {GOD} [THE LORD] CAME UPON HIM. Now all this was by virtue of the blessing with which Moses blessed this tribe, as stated (in Deut. 33:7): AND THIS IS FOR JUDAH, [AND HE SAID: HEAR, O LORD, THE VOICE OF JUDAH….] The Holy One said to Israel: in this world my Spirit shall instill wisdom within you, but in the world to come I <myself> will teach you, as stated (in Ezek. 37:14): I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT WITHIN YOU SO THAT YOU MAY LIVE.

Furthermore it says: Fear not, thou worm Jacob (Isa. 41:14). Why is Israel compared to a worm? To teach us that just as a worm has only a soft and tender mouth with which to strike at a hard cedar tree, so Israel has only its prayers. Idolaters are likened to a cedar, as Scripture states: Behold, the Assyrian was a cedar in Lebanon (Exod. 31:3). And yea, the Lord breaketh in pieces the cedars in Lebanon (Ps. 29:5). Whenever their enemies overpowered them, the Israelites would become penitent and would plead and pray. Hence it says: I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren which I took out of the hand of the Amorites, with my sword and with my bow (Gen 48:29). Did he actually seize it with his sword and his bow? Has it not already been said: For I trust not in my bow, neither can my sword save me (Ps. 44:7)? This implies that my sword refers to prayer and my bow to beseeching. Scripture says: And this for Judah, and he said: “Hear Lord, the voice of Judah,” etc. (Deut. 33:7). Similarly, David said: Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a javelin; but I come to thee in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast taunted (I Sam. 17:45). It says also: Some trust in chariots, and some in horses, but we will make mention of the name of the Lord his God (Ps. 20:8), and it is said: There is none beside Thee to help, between the mighty and him that hath no strength; help us, O Lord our God; for we rely on Thee, and in Thy name are we come against this multitude. Thou art the Lord our God; let not man prevail against thee (II Chron. 14:10). Concerning Moses it states: And Moses sent messengers from Kadesh unto the king of Edom … how our fathers went down into Egypt, and when we cried unto the Lord, He heard our voice (Num. 20:14–15). He said to them: Ye exalt yourselves because of your fathers’ legacy to you, but the voice is the voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esau (Gen. 27:40). Thus the verse The children of Israel cried out unto the Lord indicates that they followed the practices of their fathers. After they cried out to Him, the Holy One, blessed be He, revealed Himself to them, as it is said: But from thence ye will seek the Lord thy God; and thou shall find him (Deut. 4:29).

"And it was on the day that Moses had finished" (Numbers 7:1). This is [the meaning of] that which was stated by the verse (Ecclesiastes 2:21), "there is a person whose fortune was made with wisdom and knowledge" - this is Betsalel, about whom it is written (Exodus 31:3). "And I will fill him with wisdom, understanding and knowledge." "And he must hand it on to be the portion of somebody who did not toil for it" - this is Moshe, who did not toil for it and it is [nonetheless] called by his name, "And it was on the day that Moses had finished." It is not written, "And it was on the day that Betsalel had finished," here, but rather, "And it was on the day that Moses had finished." [Hence,] "and he must hand it on to be the portion of somebody who did not toil for it."