민수기 7:15의 미드라쉬

“…seventy shekels according to the holy shekel…” (Numbers 7:13) Seventy in parallel to the seventy nations which descended from him (from Adam). Another explanation. Why seventy? In parallel to the seventy verses from the beginning of the book of Genesis to the curse of the snake. R’ Pichas said: there are two enemies who were not cursed until seventy verses had been completed about them – the snake and Haman the wicked. Regarding the snake, from “In the beginning…” (Genesis 1:1) until “…cursed be you more than all the cattle…” (Genesis 3:14) is seventy verses. Regarding Haman, from “After these events, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman…” (Esther 3:1) until “And they hanged Haman…” (Esther 7:10) is seventy verses. For the purpose of seventy he was hanged on fifty (cubits of wood). Another explanation. In parallel to the seventy holy names from ‘In the beginning’ until the story of the snake. And if you say there is one more (than seventy) “…and you will be like gods…” (Genesis 3:5) is not a holy name. Another explanation. In parallel to the seventy years before Terach gave birth to Avraham, as it says “And Terach lived seventy years…” (Genesis 11:26) Two people lived in two generations for seventy years. Kenan in the first generation, “And Kenan lived seventy years…” (Genesis 5:12) and Terach in the second generation. Another explanation. Parallel to the seventy days which they wept over Yaakov the pious, as it says “…and the Egyptians wept over him for seventy days.” (Genesis 50:3) Another explanation. Parallel to the seventy days of goodness which the Holy One gave to Israel – seven days of Passover, eight days of Sukkot, Rosh HaShanah, Yom Kippur, Shavuot and the fifty two days of Shabbat in the solar year make seventy. Another explanation. Parallel to the seventy names of the Holy One, the seventy names of Israel, the seventy names of the Torah, the seventy names of Jerusalem. Another explanation. Parallel to the seventy years that Adam took away from his life and gave to David ben Yishai. It was fit that he live for a thousand years, as it says “…for on the day that you eat thereof, you shall surely die.” (Genesis 2:17) And a day to the Holy One is a thousand years, as it says “For a thousand years are in Your eyes like yesterday, which passed, and a watch in the night.” (Psalms 90:4)

Incense is precious to the Holy One, blessed be He,. You know this to be so because David was anxious to burn incense, as it is said: I will offer unto Thee burnt-offerings of fatlings with the sweet smoke of rams; I will offer bullocks with goats (Ps. 66:15). Hence you find that no sacrifices in the entire world were praised as highly as those of the leaders. Why? Because they offered incense prior to making their sacrifices, as Scripture states concerning each of their offerings: One golden pan of ten shekels, full of incense (Num. 7:20), and after that is written: One young bullock, etc. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, praised each of their sacrifices. He said: This is the sacrifice of so-and-so, this is the sacrifice of so-and-so, as though saying: “It was pleasing to Him, and He was praising them.” Similarly you find that though Ahaz suspended the study of the Torah and closed the schoolhouses, as it is said: Bind up the testimony, seal the instruction among My disciples (Isa. 8:16), and served idols and did many things to anger the Holy One, blessed be He, when the Holy One, blessed be He, weighed all his deeds, He [simply] said: How can I forgive all this? as it is said: Also they have shut up the doors of the porch, and put out the lamps, and have not burned incense nor offered burnt-offerings in the holy place unto the God of Israel. Therefore, the wrath of the Lord was upon Judah and Jerusalem, and He hath delivered them to be a horror, and astonishment, and a hissing, as you see with your eyes. For lo, our fathers have fallen by the sword, and our sons and our daughters and our wives are in captivity because of all this (II Chron. 29:7–9). What does all this refer to? His failure to burn incense.

(Bamidbar 7:15) "One young bullock": There was no other like it in its herd. "one ram": There was no other like it in its herd. "one lamb of its first year": (within) its first year, and not the (one-year) count of the world. "one lamb … for a burnt-offering": We are hereby taught that all are valid as a burnt-offering. — But perhaps "a lamb," where it is explicitly stated, is valid, but the others not! It is, therefore, written (Ibid. 87) "All the cattle for the burnt-offering: twelve bullocks, etc.", to indicate that all are valid as burnt-offerings.