וַיְהִ֛י בְּעַשְׁתֵּֽי־עֶשְׂרֵ֥ה שָׁנָ֖ה בְּאֶחָ֣ד לַחֹ֑דֶשׁ הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־יְהוָ֖ה אֵלַ֥י לֵאמֹֽר׃
제십일년 어느달 초 일일에 여호와의 말씀이 내게 임하여 가라사대
Bamidbar Rabbah
“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year of their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying” (Numbers 1:1).
“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – that is what the verse said: “[Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains]; Your justice is like the great depths” (Psalms 36:7).1“Great depths” refers to punishment of the wicked. Rabbi Meir said: It is analogized to the righteous in their abode, and it is analogized to the wicked in their abode. It is analogized to the righteous in their abode: “In a good pasture I will herd them, and on the mountains of the height of Israel will be their grazing place” (Ezekiel 34:14). It is analogized to the wicked in their abode: “So said the Lord God: On the day that it descended to the grave I caused mourning; I covered the depths for it” (Ezekiel 31:15). With what are the wicked covered when they descend to the grave? It is with the depths.
Ḥizkiya bar Rabbi Ḥiyya said: This vat, with what does one cover it? It is with an earthenware vessel, what it is from; just as it is from earthenware, so one covers it with earthenware. So it is with the wicked. What is written in their regard? “Their actions are in the dark, and they say: Who sees us and who knows of us?” (Isaiah 29:15). Because [their actions] are dark, the Holy One blessed be He sends them down to the grave, which is dark, and covers them with the depths that are dark, as it is stated: “And darkness upon the surface of the depths” (Genesis 1:2). That is, “Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains” – the righteousness that you bring upon the world is as conspicuous as these mountains. “Your justice is like the great depths” – the justice that You perform in this world; “the great depths” – just as the depths are concealed, so the justice that you effect is concealed. How so? When Jerusalem was destroyed, it was destroyed on the ninth of Av. When He shows it to Ezekiel, He shows it to him on the first of the month.2The prophecy in Ezekiel 26:1–2 references the destruction of Jerusalem. The date the midrash gives is the first day of the month, but it does not mention which month. The midrash is stating that God showed the Destruction to Ezekiel on a different day than it actually occurred. Why? It was so as not to reveal on which day it was destroyed. However, when He comes to exalt Israel, he reveals: which day, which place, which month, which year, which era: “[The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year] of their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying” (Numbers 1:1). What did He say to them? “Take a census of the entire congregation of the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:2).
“The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – that is what the verse said: “[Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains]; Your justice is like the great depths” (Psalms 36:7).1“Great depths” refers to punishment of the wicked. Rabbi Meir said: It is analogized to the righteous in their abode, and it is analogized to the wicked in their abode. It is analogized to the righteous in their abode: “In a good pasture I will herd them, and on the mountains of the height of Israel will be their grazing place” (Ezekiel 34:14). It is analogized to the wicked in their abode: “So said the Lord God: On the day that it descended to the grave I caused mourning; I covered the depths for it” (Ezekiel 31:15). With what are the wicked covered when they descend to the grave? It is with the depths.
Ḥizkiya bar Rabbi Ḥiyya said: This vat, with what does one cover it? It is with an earthenware vessel, what it is from; just as it is from earthenware, so one covers it with earthenware. So it is with the wicked. What is written in their regard? “Their actions are in the dark, and they say: Who sees us and who knows of us?” (Isaiah 29:15). Because [their actions] are dark, the Holy One blessed be He sends them down to the grave, which is dark, and covers them with the depths that are dark, as it is stated: “And darkness upon the surface of the depths” (Genesis 1:2). That is, “Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains” – the righteousness that you bring upon the world is as conspicuous as these mountains. “Your justice is like the great depths” – the justice that You perform in this world; “the great depths” – just as the depths are concealed, so the justice that you effect is concealed. How so? When Jerusalem was destroyed, it was destroyed on the ninth of Av. When He shows it to Ezekiel, He shows it to him on the first of the month.2The prophecy in Ezekiel 26:1–2 references the destruction of Jerusalem. The date the midrash gives is the first day of the month, but it does not mention which month. The midrash is stating that God showed the Destruction to Ezekiel on a different day than it actually occurred. Why? It was so as not to reveal on which day it was destroyed. However, when He comes to exalt Israel, he reveals: which day, which place, which month, which year, which era: “[The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year] of their exodus from the land of Egypt, saying” (Numbers 1:1). What did He say to them? “Take a census of the entire congregation of the children of Israel” (Numbers 1:2).
Midrash Tanchuma
Then washed I thee with water indicates that you must make a laver2To be placed in the Temple courtyard for the use of the priests. for Me. I anointed thee with oil corresponds to the anointing oil (that must be available).3For anointing the High Priest. I clothed thee also with richly woven work corresponds to the embroidered garments (worn in the Temple). And shod thee with sealskin (tahash) corresponds to the tehashim that were used (for the cover of the Holy of Holies). And I wound fine linen about thy head corresponds to the twisted linen (of the priests’ garments). And covered thee with silk corresponds to the clouds of glory, as it is said: The pillar of cloud departed not from before the people (Exod. 13:22), and that corresponds to the curtains of goats’ hair. I decked thee also with ornaments alludes to the purple cloak, and that corresponds to the ark and its overlay. And I put a ring upon thy nose corresponds to the nose rings and earrings that (the women brought to donate for the gold of the Tabernacle and priestly garments). A beautiful crown upon thy head corresponds to the ark cover and the gold rim around the table. Behold, I will cause to rain bread (Exod. 16:4) corresponds to the show-bread. And the Lord went before them by day (ibid. 13:21) corresponds to His injunction that the Israelites shall burn a lamp continually.