Êxodo 25:3 Midrash: Vayikra Rabbah, Mekhilta DeRabbi Yishmael, Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Midrash Tanchuma

Rabbi Tanḥuma began: “There is gold, and an abundance of gems, but lips of knowledge are a precious vessel” (Proverbs 20:15) – the way of the world is that a person who has gold, silver, jewels, gems, and all the objects of desire in the world, but he does not have goodness and wisdom, what acquisition does he have? The parable says: If you acquired knowledge what do you lack; if you lack knowledge, what have you acquired? “There is gold” – everyone brought his gift of gold to the Tabernacle. That is what is written: “This is the gift [you shall take from them: gold]” (Exodus 25:3). “An abundance of gems” – this is the gift of the princes, as it is stated: “The princes brought [the onyx stones and the stones for setting for the ephod and for the breast piece]” (Exodus 35:27). “But lips of knowledge are a precious vessel” – Moses’s soul was despondent, and he said: Everyone brought his gift offering for the Tabernacle, but I did not bring; so the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, your speech is dearer to me than all of it,’ as from all of them, the divine speech called only to Moses: “He called to Moses.”

(Exodus 23:10) "Six years shall you sow your land": R. Eliezer says: When Israel does the L–rd's will, they observe one shemitah (fallow year) in a seven-year period, as it is written "And six years shall you sow your land." And when they do not do His will, they observe four shemitoth in one seven-year period. How so? (The land is left) fallow one year and sown the next year, etc., so that they are found to observe four shemitoth in one seven-year period.

(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….