출애굽기 25:6의 미드라쉬

"And God called the firmament heavens (shamayim)" (Gen. 1:8). Rav says, [shamayim means] fire (aish) and water (mayim) [mixed together]. Rabbi Abba the son of [Rav] Kahanah said in the name of Rav, the Holy One, Blessed be He took fire (aish) and water (mayim), joined them together and made the heavens ((ai)sh+mayim = shamayim). Another version, [although] the word is written "shamayim," [it can be read as shamim ("evaluate")], for they (i.e., the heavens) shamim (evaluate) the actions of the creations. If they merit it then "the heavens will tell his righteousness" (Ps. 97:6), and if not, "the heavens will reveal his sin" (Job 20:27). Another version, [the heavens are called] shamayim because the creations mishtom'mim ("wonder") about them, saying, "What are they made of, are they made of fire, [or] are they made of water? Water or fire?!!!" Rabbi Pinchas in the name of Rabbi Levi said, he came and revealed it, [as it is said], "He lays the beams of his upper chambers in the waters" (Ps. 104.3), thus you must say, they are made of water. "Spices" (samim (סַּמִּֽים), as referenced in Ex. 25:6, connected to the word "בְּשָׂמִים֙", which can be read "spices" or "in heaven") what are these "spices" [that are referenced]? From them [the heavens] turn green and from them they redden, from them they blacken and from them they whiten, and thus the heavens sometimes are green, and sometimes are red, sometimes are black, and sometimes are white. Rabbi Yitzchak said, "shamayim" means "water travels" (sah mayim), a shipment (טְעוֹן) of water. For example, [this is similar] to milk that was placed in a bowl, before a single drop of m'so (a liquid agent used for curdling milk) drips into it, [the milk] moves back and forth, but as soon as a drop of m'so drips into it, it coagulates and stands still, thus [it says], "The pillars of the heavens tremble" (Job 26:11). The heavens stood still [because God] placed m'so inside them, and so "it was evening and it was morning the second day" (Gen. 1:8). Thus Rav said, "[the waters] were wet on the first day, and on the second day they congealed."

Another interpretation (of Exod. 25:3): AND THIS IS THE PRIESTLY SHARE…: [GOLD, SILVER, AND BRONZE]. GOLD corresponds to the kingdom of Babylon, concerning which is written (in Dan. 2:38): YOU (Nebuchadnezzar) ARE THE HEAD OF GOLD.²¹Tanh., Exod. 7:7; cf. Exod. R. 35:5; above, 3:15. SILVER: This denotes the kingdom of Media, concerning which is written (in Esth. 3:9): THREE THOUSAND TALENTS OF SILVER.²²The money was to be Haman’s payment into the treasury of the king of the Persians and Medes. AND BRONZE: This denotes the kingdom of Greece, which was the least of them all. (Exod. 25:5:) REDDENED (rt.: 'DM) RAM SKINS. This denotes the kingdom of Edom, as stated (in Gen. 25:25): THE FIRST (i.e., Esau) CAME FORTH RUDDY (rt: 'DM).²³See also above, Gen. 8:4. The Holy One said: Although you have seen these four kingdoms exalting over you, by your life, I am producing salvation for you out of the midst of slavery. What is written next (in Exod. 25:6)? OIL FOR LIGHTING (ma'or). What is the meaning of LIGHTING? This denotes the Messianic (Mashiah) King, as stated (in Ps. 132:17): THERE I WILL MAKE A HORN SPROUT FOR DAVID; [I HAVE PREPARED A LAMP FOR MY ANOINTED ONE (Mashiah)].²⁴Below, 8:6. When Daniel saw these [four] kingdoms, he was afraid. It is so stated (in Dan. 7:15): AS FOR ME, DANIEL, MY SPIRIT WAS DISTURBED <WITHIN ME; AND THE VISION OF MY HEAD ALARMED ME>. What did Daniel see? It is simply that, when Nebuchadnezzar saw the dream, Daniel came and interpreted it for him. He said to him (in Dan. 2:38): YOU (Nebuchadnezzar) ARE THE HEAD OF GOLD. (Dan. 2:32:) <THE HEAD OF THAT STATUE WAS OF FINE GOLD;> ITS BREAST AND ITS ARMS WERE OF SILVER. This <silver> denotes the kingdom of Babylon.²⁵Cf. the Oxford MS, marked, “Michael 577, no. 155”; Codex Vaticanus, Ebr., 34; and the parallels in Tanh., Exod. 7:7 and Exod. R. 35:5. They all read here, “Kingdom of Media,” and identify the other kingdoms to fit this rendering. (Dan. 2:39:) BUT ANOTHER KINGDOM SHALL ARISE AFTER YOU, INFERIOR TO YOU. (Dan. 2:32:) ITS BELLY AND ITS THIGHS WERE OF BRONZE. This denotes the kingdom of Media. (Dan. 2:39, cont.:) THEN YET A THIRD KINGDOM, ONE OF BRONZE, WHICH SHALL RULE OVER THE WHOLE EARTH. (Dan. 2:33:) ITS LEGS WERE OF IRON. This denotes the kingdom of Greece. (Dan. 2:40, 42:) BUT THE FOURTH KINGDOM SHALL BE AS STRONG AS IRON<….> {AND ITS} [THE] FEET²⁶The Masoretic Text renders, “AND THE TOES OF THE FEET.” WERE PARTLY {OF} IRON AND PARTLY {OF} CLAY. This is Edom. Why was it likened to iron and clay? Our masters have said: This wicked kingdom is going to use clay coinage.

This is the offering which ye shall take of them: gold, etc. (Exod. 25:3). The gold corresponds to the kingdom of Babylon, as it is written concerning her: Thou art the head of gold (Gen. 2:38); the silver corresponds to the kingdom of Media, as is written: And I will pay ten thousand talents of silver (Est. 3:9); and the brass corresponds to the kingdom of Greece, which was the least (powerful) of all. And rams’ skins dyed red corresponds to the kingdom of Edom, for it is said: And the first came forth ruddy (Gen. 25:25).¹⁰A play on words, linking Esau who was born ruddy (adom) with Edom. The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Even though you suffered because of the four arrogant kingdoms that attacked you, I will bring salvation unto you from the midst of servitude. As it is written: The oil for the light, (Exod. 25:6). This refers to the Messiah, as it is said: There will I make a horn to shoot up unto David, there have I ordered a lamp for Mine anointed (Ps. 132:17).