Midrash sobre Êxodo 25:40

And Moses said unto the children of Israel: “See, the Lord hath called by name Bezalel” (Exod. 35:30). Scripture states elsewhere: So shalt thou find grace and favor in the sight of God and man (Prov. 3:4). How is this so? At the time that the Holy One, blessed be He, spoke to Moses on the mountain about the construction of the Sanctuary, He revealed to him every vessel that was to be made for the Sanctuary and how to make it, as it is said: And see that thou make them after their pattern (Exod. 25:40). Moses believed that he was to build the Sanctuary, since He had said to him: Thou shalt make the staves, thou shalt make a table, thou shalt make an altar, thou shalt make an ark-cover, and thou shalt make a basin. He told him all about the implements that were to be in the Sanctuary. After He had mentioned every item, Moses said: Master of the Universe, who will do all this? He replied: I have called by name, Bezalel.

We are taught that R. Jose b. R. Juda says: "A fire in the shape of an ark, in the shape of a table and in the shape of a candle-stick, came down from heaven, which Moses saw and make like those shapes, for the passage says (Ex. 25, 40) And see that thou make them after their pattern, which is being shown thee in the mount." According to this then the verse (Ib. 26, 30) And thou shalt rear up the Tabernacle according to its rules thereof which hath been shown thee in the mount, does it also mean [that a fire in the shape of the Tabernacle was shown to Moses]? Here the passage says, according to its rules, but there [concerning the ark, the table, and the candle-stick] it is written according to their pattern. R. Chiya b. Abba said in the name of R. Jochanan that Gabriel attired himself with an apron and showed Moses how to make the candle-stick, as it is written (Num. 8, 4) And this was the work of the candle-stick. In the academy of R. Ishmael it was taught that three things were difficult for Moses to comprehend, until the Holy One, praised be He! showed them to him. The three things are: The candle-stick, the new moon and the [distinction between the clean and unclean] reptiles. Concerning the candle-stick we infer from the above-mentioned passage, And this was the work of the candle-stick; the new moon, as it is written (Ex. 12, 2) This month shall be unto you the beginning of months; reptiles, as it is written (Lev. 11, 29) And these shall be unclean unto you. According to some authorities also the laws concerning slaughtering were difficult for Moses to understand, as it is written (Ex. 29, 38) And this is what thou shall offer upon the altar.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2), “When you set up [the lamps]”: This text is related (to Ps. 139:12), “Even darkness is not dark to You; for night shines as the day, and darkness becomes like the light.” Yet You are saying to us (in Numb. 8:2), “When you set up the lamps!”¹Numb. R. 15:8. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had a friend. The king said to him, “You should know that I am dining with you; so make ready for me.” His friend went [and] prepared a commoner's²Gk.: idiotes. couch [and] a commoner's³Gk.: idiotes. table. When the king arrived, attendants came with him. They set around menorahs of gold before him on either side. When his friend saw all the splendor, he felt ashamed and concealed everything that he had prepared, because everything was [of the type used by] commoners. The king said to him, “What is this? Did I not tell you that I was dining with you? Why did you prepare nothing for me?” His friend said to him, “My lord king, when I saw all this splendor that came with you, I felt ashamed and concealed everything that I had prepared for you, as it consisted of commoner's utensils.” The king said to him, “By your life, I am rejecting all my utensils which I have brought with me, and out of love for you I only wish to use yours.” So it was with the Holy One, blessed be He. He is all light, as stated (in Dan. 2:22), “and the light dwells within Him.” When he says to Israel, “Prepare a menorah and lamps for Me,” what is written there (in Exod. 25:8, 31)? “And let them make Me a sanctuary and I shall dwell within them; And you shall make a menorah of pure gold.” When they had done so, immediately the Divine Presence arrived. What is written there (in Exod. 40:35)? “Now Moses could not enter the tent of meeting… [because the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle].” Immediately He called to Moses, as stated (in Lev. 1:1), “Then [the Lord] called unto Moses.” And it is written (in Numb. 7:89), “When Moses went into the tent of meeting to speak with Him.” But what did He say unto him (in Numb. 8:2)? “When you set up the lamps.” Israel said (in Ps. 43:3), “Send out Your light and Your truth; they will lead me”. Great is the light of the Holy One, blessed be He!⁴Numb. R. 15:9. The sun and the moon give light to the world, but from where do they derive their light? They snatch some sparks of celestial light. It is so stated (in Hab. 3:11), “[Sun and moon remain on high;] they go for the light of Your arrows, for the brightness of Your shining spear.” Great is the celestial light, of which only one part in a hundred has been given to mortals. It is so stated (in Dan. 2:22), “He knows what⁵MH read as M’H which means “a hundred.” is in the darkness, and the light [dwells with Him].” Therefore [the Holy One, blessed be He, says,] “I made sun and moon so that they would give you light, as stated (in Gen. 1:17), “God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” (Numb. 8:2:) “[Let the seven lamps] give their light in front of the menorah.” (David) [Solomon] said (in Prov. 16:15), “In the light of the king's face there is life.”⁶Numb. R. 15:9. R. Jacob bar Jose said, “Joy was withheld from the wicked and given to the righteous, to Israel, because the Holy One, blessed be He, was obliged to dwell among flesh and blood in the light. Thus he said to them (in Numb. 8:2), ‘[Let the seven lamps] give their light in front of the menorah.’” R. Levi said, “A pure menorah descended from the heavens.⁷Numb. R. 15:9. Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Exod. 25:31), ‘And you shall make a menorah of pure gold.’ He said to Him, ‘How shall we make [it]?’ He said to him (ibid. cont.), ‘Of hammered work shall the menorah be made.’ Nevertheless Moses had difficulty; for when he descended, he had forgotten its construction.⁸See Above, Lev. 3:33; Tanh., Lev. 3:8; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Piska 2; PRK 15; PR 15:21; 20:4; Exod. R. 15:28. He went up and said, ‘Master of the world, I have forgotten [it].’ He said to him (in Exod. 25:40), ‘Observe and make [it].’ Thus He took a pattern of fire and showed him its construction,⁹See Men. 29a Bar.; Sifre Numb. 8:4 (61); Numb. R. 15:4, 10. but it was still difficult for Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, ‘Go to Bezalel and he will make it.’ [So] Moses went down to talk to Bezalel, [and] he made it immediately. Moses began to wonder and say, ‘In my case, how many times did the Holy One, blessed be He, show it to me; yet I had difficulty in making it. Now without seeing it, you have made it from your own knowledge. Bezalel (btsl'l), were you perhaps standing in (b) the shadow (tsl) of God ('l) when the Holy One, blessed be He, showed it to me and said (in Exod. 25:31), “And you shall make”?’ Therefore when the Temple was destroyed, the menorah was stored away.” Now this was one of the five things that were stored away: the ark, the menorah, the fire, the holy spirit, and the cherubim.¹⁰Therefore, these five things were lacking from the Second Temple. See Syr. Baruch 6:4–10; TYoma2:15; TSot. 13:1; yTa‘an. 2:1 (65a); yHor. 3:3(2) (47c); Yoma 21b; Hor. 12a; ARN, A, 41. When the Holy One, blessed be He, returns in his mercy to build His house and His Temple, He will restore them to their place and cause Jerusalem to rejoice. Thus it is stated (in Is. 35:1-2), “The desert and the arid land shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and be glad.”¹¹These five expressions of gladness in these verses correspond to the five things that will be restored in the new temple.

Three things Moses found difficult and the Holy One, blessed be He, showed them to him with a finger and these are them: The making of the menorah, the moon, and creeping things.³⁵Below, Numb. 3:4; Mekhilta, Pisha 2; Men. 29a; PRK 5:15; PR 15:21; Numb. R. 15:4; cf. Sifre to Numb. 8:4 (61); Exod. R. 15:28; Numb. R. 15:10; also below, Numb. 3:11, and the notes there. In the making of the menorah, how [was it]? When Moses ascended [Sinai], the Holy One, blessed be He, was showing him on the mountain how he would make the tabernacle. When He showed him the making of the menorah, Moses found it difficult.³⁶Below, Numb. 3:4. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “See, I am making it before you.” What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He showed him white fire, red fire, black fire, and green fire. Then from them He made the menorah, its bowls, its knobs, its blossoms, and the six branches. Then He said to him (in Numb. 8:4), “This is the making of the menorah.” This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, showed him with a finger. But nevertheless, [Moses] found it difficult. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He engraved it on the palm of Moses’ hand. He said to him, “Go down and make it just as I have engraved it on your hand.” Thus it is stated (in Exod. 25:40), “Observe and make them [by means of] their pattern.” Even so, he found it difficult and said (in Exod. 25:31), “with difficulty (mqshh)³⁷While this meaning, so understood by the midrash, is possible, a more usual English translation would read, HAMMERED WORK, or something similar. will the menorah be made,” meaning to say, how difficult it was to make. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Cast the gold into the fire, and it will be made automatically.” So it is stated, “with difficulty will the menorah be made” [be made (a reflexive form, in the niph'al) is what is written, i.e.,] was made of its own accord. This teaches that Moshe had difficulty with the menorah, and the Holy One, blessed be He, showed it to him with a finger, as stated (in Numb. 8:4), “this.” In reference to the moon (yareah), where is it shown [that Moses had difficulty]? (Exod. 12:1-2) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses…, ‘This month (hodesh) for you.’”³⁸Hodesh also means “new moon.” He said to him, “In the month of Nissan, you will see like this and like that and [you shall] sanctify [it].” This teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, showed him with a finger. In reference to creeping things, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Lev. 11:29), “Now this shall be unclean for you from among the swarming things which swarm on the earth.” The Holy One, blessed be He, caught each and every species, showed them to Moses, and said to him, “This you may eat, and this you may not eat.” [Thus it is stated (in Lev. 11:2, 4),] “This is the creature that you may eat …. However this you may not eat.” Moreover, do not be surprised over [this] thing, since it is a fact that the Holy One, blessed be He, showed all creatures to the first Adam, and he gave them names. And where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 2:19), “and all that man called the soul ….” After he had given names to all of them, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “And I, what is My name?” He said to him, “It is Y____.” Thus it is written (in Is. 42:8), “I am Y____; that is My name,”³⁹Below, Numb. 6:12. this My name, which the first Adam gave Me. It is My name, which I have agreed upon [for use] between Me and My creatures. So if in the case of the first Adam, the Holy One, blessed be He, had the creatures pass before Him; in the case of Moses, when the Holy One, blessed be He, wanted to warn Israel about the unclean and about the clean, are you surprised that He showed him and said to him, “These you may eat, and these you may not eat?” Lest your [evil] drive lead you astray, saying that the Holy One, blessed be He, has forbidden Israel from having good things, the Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Whatever I have forbidden you from having, I have permitted you to have [something] that corresponds to it.⁴⁰Cf. Hul. 109b; Lev. R. 22:10. How is this? I have forbidden you menstrual blood; I have permitted you virginal blood. I have forbidden you [animal] blood; I have permitted you the liver, which is wholly blood. I have forbidden you the flesh of swine; I have permitted you the tongue of a fish with the name shibbuta, which resembles swine.⁴¹According to Jastrow, s.v., a shibbuta was probably a mullet. The Arukh (Plenus Aruch, ed. A. Kohut [Vienna: G. Broeg, 1878–92], s.v.) suggests that the fish here is a sturgeon. In any case shibbuta apparently had a pork taste. So Rashi on Hul. 109a. I have forbidden you [another] man's wife; I have permitted you a man’s divorcee. I have forbidden a gentile woman; I have permitted a beautiful woman [captive]. I have forbidden you a brother's wife; I have permitted her for you after his death, with no children, as stated (in Deut. 25:5), ‘her brother-in-law shall have sexual intercourse with her.’ I have forbidden you mingled seeds, but I have permitted you a sindon⁴²The Greek word, sindon, designates a garment of fine Indian linen. with a woolen fringe.⁴³See Jastrow, s.v., SDYN. I have forbidden you the fat of cattle, but I have permitted you the fat of game animals.” R. Bisna said in the name of R. Hiyya, “What the Holy One, blessed be He, forbade for cattle He permitted for game animals, and what He forbade for game animals He permitted for fowl, and what He forbade for fowl He permitted for fish. How? He forbade the fat in the case of cattle; He permitted it in the case of game animals. He forbade the thigh muscle in the case of game animals; He permitted it in the case of fowl. He forbade blood in the case of fowl; He permitted it in the case of fish. And why all this? In order to give Israel a good reward for observing the commandments.” Ergo, it states (II Sam. 22:31 = Ps. 18:31) “As for God, His way is perfect…”; for all the ways of the Holy One, blessed be He, are perfect.⁴⁴Gen. R. 44:1; cf. Lev. R. 13:3. And likewise, what does the Holy One, blessed be He, care whether one ritually slaughters cattle and eats [the meat] or whether one slaughters cattle by stabbing and eats it? Will some such thing benefit Him (i.e., the Holy One, blessed be He,) or harm Him? Or what does He care whether one eats carcasses or eats what is clean? Solomon said [about this] (in Prov. 9:12), “If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; [and if you scoff, you will bear it alone].” Thus, the commandments were given only to purify (rt.: tsrp) [mortals] through them, as stated (in II Sam. 22:31 = Ps. 18:31, cont.), “the word of the Lord is pure (rt.: tsrp).” Why? So that He might be a shield over you, [as stated] (ibid., cont.), “He is a shield for all who take refuge in Him.” Ergo (in Lev. 11:2:), “These are the creatures [that you may eat].”

(Lev. 11:2:) THESE ARE THE CREATURES THAT YOU MAY EAT. Three things Moses found difficult, the making of the menorah, the moon, and creeping things.⁴⁵Below, Numb. 3:4; Tanh., Lev. 3:8; Mekhilta, Pisha 2; Men. 29a; PRK 5:15; PR 15:21; Numb. R. 15:4; cf. Sifre to Numb. 8:4 (61); Exod. R. 15:28; Numb. R. 15:10; also below, Numb. 3:11, and the notes there. In making of the menorah, how < was it >? When Moses ascended < Sinai >, the Holy One was showing him on the mountain how he would make the Tabernacle. When he showed him the making of the menorah, Moses found it difficult.⁴⁶Below, Numb. 3:4. The Holy One said to him: See, I am making it before you. What did the Holy One do? He showed him white fire, [red fire,] black fire, and green fire. Then from them he made the menorah, its bowls, its pomegranates, its blossoms, and the six branches. Then he said to him (in Numb. 8:4): THIS IS THE MAKING OF THE MENORAH. When the Holy One showed him with the finger, he nevertheless found it difficult. What did the Holy One do? He engraved it on the his hand. He said to him: Go down and make it just as I have engraved it on your hand. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 25:40): OBSERVE AND MAKE THEM {LIKE} [BY MEANS OF] THEIR PATTERN. But where is it shown that he engraved it on his hand? Where it is stated (in Ezek. 8:3): HE STRETCHED OUT THE PATTERN OF A HAND. Now PATTERN can only be for the making of the menorah, concerning which it is stated (in Exod. 25:40): OBSERVE AND MAKE THEM {LIKE} [BY MEANS OF] THEIR PATTERN < WHICH YOU ARE BEING SHOWN ON THE MOUNTAIN >. Even so, he found it difficult and said (in Exod. 25:31): WITH DIFFICULTY (MQShH)⁴⁷While this meaning, so understood by the midrash, is possible, a more usual English translation would read, HAMMERED WORK, or something similar. [WILL THE MENORAH BE MADE]. How difficult was it to make? The Holy One said to him: Cast the gold into the fire, and it will be made automatically. So it is stated: WITH DIFFICULTY WILL THE MENORAH BE MADE. [BE MADE (a reflexive form, in the niph'al) is what is written], < i.e., > was made of its own accord.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2): <LET THE SEVEN LAMPS> GIVE THEIR LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH. {David} [Solomon] said (in Prov. 16:15): IN THE LIGHT OF THE KING's FACE THERE IS LIFE.²⁶Tanh. Numb. 8:2; Numb. R. 15:9. R. Jacob bar Jose said: Joy was withheld from the wicked and given to Israel, because the Holy One was obliged to dwell among flesh and blood in the light. Thus he said to them (in Numb. 8:2): <LET THE SEVEN LAMPS> GIVE THEIR LIGHT IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH. R. Levi said: A pure menorah descended from the heavens.²⁷Numb. R. 15:9. Why? Because the Holy One said to Moses (in Exod. 25:31): YOU SHALL ALSO MAKE A MENORAH OF PURE GOLD. He said to him: How shall we make <it>? He said to him (ibid. cont.): OF HAMMERED WORK SHALL THE MENORAH BE MADE. Nevertheless Moses had difficulty; for when he descended he had forgotten its construction.²⁸See Above, Lev. 3:33; Tanh., Lev. 3:8; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmail, Pisha 2; PRK 15; PR 15:21; 20:4; Exod. R. 15:28. He went up and said: Sovereign of the World I have forgotten <it>. He said to him (in Exod. 25:40): OBSERVE AND MAKE <IT>. Thus he took a pattern of fire and showed him its construction,²⁹See Men. 29a Bar.; Sifre Numb. 8:4 (61); Numb. R. 15:4, 10. but it was still difficult for Moses. The Holy One said to him: Go to Bezalel and he will make it. <So> Moses went down to talk to Bezalel, <and> he made it immediately. Moses began to be wonder and say: In my case, how many times did the Holy one show it to me; yet I had difficulty in making it. Now without seeing it you have made it from your own knowledge. Bezalel (BTsL'L), were you perhaps standing in (B) the shadow (TsL) of God ('L) when the Holy One showed it to me? Therefore when the temple was destroyed, the menorah was stored away. Now this was one of the five things that were stored away: The ark, the menorah, the fire, the Holy Spirit, and the cherubim.³⁰Therefore, these five things were lacking from the Second Temple. See Syr. Baruch 6:4–10; TYoma2:15; TSot. 13:1; yTa‘an. 2:1 (65a); yHor. 3:3(2) (47c); Yoma 21b; Hor. 12a; ARN, A, 41. When the Holy One in his mercy returns to build his house and his temple, he will restore them to their place and cause Jerusalem to rejoice. Thus it is stated (in Is. 35:1–2): THE DESERT AND THE ARID LAND SHALL BE GLAD, <AND THE WILDERNESS SHALL REJOICE AND BLOSSOM LIKE A CROCUS.> It also says (in vs. 2): IT SHALL BLOSSOM ABUNDANTLY. IT SHALL ALSO BE GLAD AND GIVE PRAISE. THE GLORY OF LEBANON HAS BEEN GIVEN IT, THE SPLENDOR OF CARMEL AND SHARON. THEY SHALL BEHOLD THE GLORY OF THE LORD, THE SPLENDOR OF OUR GOD.³¹These five sentences of gladness correspond to the five things that will be restored in the new temple.

“At the crown with which his mother crowned him,” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai asked Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei, he said to him: ‘Have you possibly heard from your father what is: “At the crown with which his mother crowned him”?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to him: ‘What?’ He said to him: ‘[It is analogous] to a king who had an only daughter and he loved her exceedingly much and would call her: My daughter. He did not stop loving her until he called her: My sister. He did not stop loving her until he called her: My mother. So too, the Holy One blessed be He loved Israel exceedingly much, and called them My daughter; that is what is written: “Hear, My daughter, and see” (Psalms 45:11); He did not stop loving them until He called them My sister, as it is stated: “Open for me, my sister, my lover” (Song of Songs 5:2); He did not stop loving them until he called them My mother, as it is stated: “Heed Me My people, listen to Me My nation [uleumi]” (Isaiah 51:4), My mother [ule’imi] is written.’¹¹²The verse already mentioned “people” such that “nation” is extraneous. The midrash explains that the verse mentions the word nation [le’umi] because when written without a vav, it can be read “my mother” [le’imi] (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai stood, kissed him on his head, and said: ‘Had I come only to hear from you this explanation, it would have sufficed for me.’
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: We have reviewed the whole Bible in its entirety and we have not found that Batsheva crafted a crown for Solomon her son, and you say: “At the crown with which his mother crowned him”? Rather, just as a crown is set with jewels and pearls, so the Tent of Meeting was conspicuous with sky-blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and linen.¹¹³Thus, the crown mentioned in the verse is not an actual crown that Solomon’s mother made for him, but is rather a description of the beautiful cloth used to cover the Tabernacle. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: You find that when that the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Craft for Me a Tabernacle,’ he could have positioned four poles and stretched a curtain over them, and it would have been a Tabernacle. However, the Holy One blessed be He did not do so, but rather, He took him up On High and He showed him red, green, black, and white fire, and said to him: ‘Craft like this for Me.’ [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, from where do I have black, red, green, and white fire?’ He said to [Moses]: “In their configuration, that you are being shown on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40).¹¹⁴It is to be made in this pattern, but not with fire.
Rabbi Avun said: [This is analogous] to a king who had a fine image. He said to a member of his household: ‘Craft me one like it.’¹¹⁵He asked him to recreate his image through artwork. He said: ‘My lord the king, am I able to craft one like it?’ He said to him: ‘You, with your materials, and I with my glory.’¹¹⁶He said: ‘I am asking you to create an artistic representation, I am not expecting it to match reality precisely.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “See and craft” (Exodus 25:40). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, am I a god that I can craft something like that?’ He said to him: “In their configuration...”
Rabbi Berekhya [said] in the name of Rabbi Betzalel: [This is analogous] to a king who appeared to a member of his household in a fine bejeweled garment. He said to him: ‘Craft me one like this.’ He said: ‘My lord the king, am I able to craft one like this?’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Craft for Me a Tabernacle.’ He said to him: ‘Master of the universe, am I able to craft one like this?’ He said to him: “In their configuration.” Just as you see On High, craft below.
It does not say here: “Stand up acacia wood,” but rather, “[acacia wood], standing” (Exodus 26:15), as though they are placed among the hosts On High. If you craft [something] below that is like that which is On High, I will abandon My heavenly council and descend and restrict My Divine Presence in your midst below. How so? Just as above Seraphim are standing, so too, below, acacia wood is standing. Just as above there are stars, so too, below¹¹⁷In the Tabernacle. there are stars. Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba said: This teaches that there were gold hooks in the Tabernacle that look like stars in the sky.
“On the day of his wedding,” this is Sinai; they were like bridegrooms. “And on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” these are words of Torah, just as it says: “The precepts of the Lord are upright, bringing joy to the heart” (Psalms 19:9). Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” this is the Tent of Meeting. “And on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” this is the Temple.

(Numb. 7:1:) “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” This text is related (to Prov. 27:18), “The one who tends a fig tree shall eat its fruit.” The Holy One, blessed be He, does not deprive any creature of a reward.⁸⁰Numb. R. 12:9. It is simply that in the case of anyone who toils and devotes his life to something, the Holy One, blessed be He, does not deprive him of his reward.⁸¹Cf. Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Shirata, 1; PR 5:2, 6. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 27:18), “The one who tends a fig tree shall eat its fruit.” Do you want to understand? Solomon built the Temple, as stated (in I Kings 6:14), “So Solomon finished building the house.” But because David had devoted his life to the Temple which would be built, as stated (in Ps. 132:1-5), “Lord, remember David and all his hardships. How he swore to the Lord, [vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob]: Surely I will not come into the shelter of my house, […] until I find a place for the Lord,” the Holy One, blessed be He, did not deprive him of his reward. Rather He had it written in his name, as stated (in Ps. 30:1 [introduction]), “A psalm. A song of the dedication of the House of David.” And did David dedicate it? And behold Solomon dedicated it. It is simply that since David devoted his life to it, it is called by his name. Ergo Solomon said it well (in Prov. 27:18), “The one who tends a fig tree shall eat its fruit […].” So also you find in the case of the Tabernacle, when everyone devoted their lives [to it] and made the Tabernacle. All Israel volunteered. The women spun the goat's hair; and similarly (in Exod. 36:8), “Then all the wise-hearted ones among the workers [made the Tabernacle]. And likewise (according to Exod. 36:1), “Then let Bezalel and Oholiab [and all the wise-hearted ones …] do [all that the Lord has commanded].” But because Moses devoted his life to [the Tabernacle], it was called by his name, as stated (in Exod. 25:40), “Observe and make them [by means of] their pattern.” And Moshe went and devoted his life to each and every thing, so that they should make it just as the Holy One, blessed be He, had shown him on the mountain, so that they would not err with it. It is therefore written about each and every thing (in Exod. 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, cf. 42), “as the Lord commanded Moses.” And so it says (in vs. 43), “When Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it […; then Moses blessed them].” And with what blessing did he bless them? He said to them, “May the Divine Presence dwell in the work of your hands.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Because Moses has devoted his life to the Tabernacle, I will only write about it in his name.” Thus it is stated (in Numb. 7:1), “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.”

10 R. Levi bar Rabbi said, “A pure menorah descended from the heavens. Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Exod. 25:31), ‘And you shall make a menorah of pure gold.’ He said to Him, ‘How shall we make [it]?’ He said to him (ibid. cont.), ‘Of hammered work shall the menorah be made.’ Nevertheless Moses had difficulty; for when he descended, he had forgotten its construction.¹¹See Tanh., Lev. 3:8; Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Piska 2; PRK 15; PR 15:21; 20:4; Exod. R. 15:28. He went up and said, ‘Master of the world, I have forgotten [it].’ He showed Moses, but it was still difficult for him. He said to him (in Exod. 25:40), ‘Observe and make [it].’ Thus He took a pattern of fire and showed him its construction,¹²See Men. 29a Bar.; Sifre Numb. 8:4 (61); Numb. R. 15:4. but it was still difficult for Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, ‘Go to Bezalel and he will make it.’ [So] Moses spoke to Bezalel, [and] he made it immediately. Moses began to wonder and say, ‘In my case, how many times did the Holy One, blessed be He, show it to me; yet I had difficulty in making it. Now without seeing it, you have made it from your own knowledge. Bezalel (btsl'l), were you perhaps standing in (b) the shadow (tsl) of God ('l) when the Holy One, blessed be He, showed it to me?’ Therefore when the Temple was destroyed, the menorah was stored away.” Now this was one of the five things that were stored away: the ark, the menorah, the fire, the holy spirit, and the cherubim.¹³Therefore, these five things were lacking from the Second Temple. See Syr. Baruch 6:4–10; TYoma2:15; TSot. 13:1; yTa‘an. 2:1 (65a); yHor. 3:3(2) (47c); Yoma 21b; Hor. 12a; ARN, A, 41. When the Holy One, blessed be He, returns in his mercy to build His house and His Temple, He will restore them to their place and cause Jerusalem to rejoice. Thus it is stated (in Is. 35:1-2), “The desert and the arid land shall be glad, and the wilderness shall rejoice and blossom like a crocus. It shall blossom abundantly and be glad.”¹⁴These five expressions of gladness in these verses correspond to the five things that will be restored in the new temple.

Rabbi Levi son of Rabbi says: A pure Menorah came down from heaven, as The Holy One Who is Blessed said to Moshe "You will make a Menorah of pure gold [alt: a pure Menorah of gold]" (Shmot 25:31) [Moshe] responded: how will we make it? [God] responded "It will be made of hammered work [mikshah]" (Shmot 25:31). Nevertheless, Moshe struggled [nitkasha] and went down and forgot its manner of work. He went up and said: My Master, how will we make it? [God] said "It will be made of hammered work." Nevertheless, Moshe struggled and went down and forgot. He went up and said: My Master, I forgot it. [God] showed Moshe and Moshe still struggled. [God] said to him: "See and do" (Shmot 25:40), and took a Menorah of fire and showed him how it was made. Nevertheless, it was a struggle for Moshe. The Holy One Who is Blessed said to him: Go to Betzalel, and he will make it. [Moshe] told Betzalel and he immediately made it. He was amazed and said: For me, how many times did the Holy One Who is Blessed show me and I struggled to make it, but for you, who never saw it, you make it from your thoughts! Betzalel, you were standing in the shadow of God [b'tzel el] when the Holy One Who is Blessed showed me how to make it. Therefore, when the Temple was destroyed, the Menorah was hidden. And this is one of the five things that was hidden: the ark, the Menorah, the fire, the holy spirit, and the cherubs. When the Holy One Who is Blessed returns in [God]'s mercy and builds [God]'s house and sanctuary, [God] will bring them back to their place to make Jerusalem rejoice, as it says, "The arid desert shall be glad, The wilderness shall rejoice" (Isaiah 35:1), "It shall blossom abundantly, It shall also exult" (Isaiah 35:2).

13 (Numb. 10:1–2) “Then the Lord spoke [unto Moses saying, ‘Make two silver trumpets (hatsotserot)’”: This text is related (to Ps. 24:7), “O gates, lift up your heads, [be lifted up, you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in].” When Solomon was bringing the ark into the Temple, he began to say, “O gates, lift up your heads...,” because the openings were [too] low. [Then] he said, “Be lifted up you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in.” The gates said to him (in vss. 8 and 10), “Who is this king of glory? The gates immediately wanted to break his head [and would have done so,] if he had not said (in vs. 10), “The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Again he said (in vs. 8), “The Lord strong and mighty [...].” He said to them, “Expand yourselves, for the King of glory is coming upon you. They immediately showed Him honor (kavod), and raised themselves up.¹⁹Lam. R. 2:9 (13). So the ark entered. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “You have shown Me honor. Upon your lives, when I destroy My house, no one will prevail against you.” You know that all the implements of the Temple went into exile in Babylon as stated (in Dan. 1:2), “Then the Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his hand, with some of the implements from the house of God; [and he brought them to the land of Shinar].” But the Temple gates were hidden in their place, as stated (in Lam. 2:9), “Her gates have sunk into the ground.” What is the meaning (of Ps. 24:10), “the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah?” That He imparts some of His glory to those who fear Him.²⁰ See PRK 32:9 (= Suppl. 1:9); M. Pss. 90:1. How? He is called "God" (elohim, a term denoting a power), and he called Moses "elohim," as stated (in Exod. 7:1), “See I have set you as elohim to Pharaoh.” He (the Holy One, blessed be He,) causes the dead to live, and he imparted some of His glory to Elijah. Thus he (i.e., Elijah) caused the dead to live, as stated (in I Kings 17:23), “and Elijah said, ‘See your son is alive.’” And He put His own clothing on the messianic king, as stated (in Ps. 21:6), “honor and majesty You shall lay upon him.” What is written [about the Holy One, blessed be He], (in Ps. 47:6)? “God has ascended amid acclamation; the Lord with the sound of a horn (shofar).” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I have made you a king. It is so stated (in Deut. 33:5), ‘Then he became king in Jeshurun.’ Just as when the king goes forth, they sound trumpets before him, so also for you, (in Numb. 10:2:), ‘Make for yourself two silver trumpets.’ [This is] so that will they sound the trumpets before you when you take out and bring in Israel, as stated (Numb.10:3), ‘And they shall blow them and the whole community shall assemble before you.’” Hence (Numb. 10:2:), “Make for yourself [two silver trumpets].”

Another interpretation (of Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED. This text is related (to Prov. 27:18): THE ONE WHO TENDS A FIG TREE SHALL EAT ITS FRUIT. The Holy One does not deprive any creature of a reward.⁹³Tanh., Numb. 2:13; Numb. R. 12:9. It is simply that in the case of anyone who toils and devotes his life to something, the Holy One does not deprive him of his reward.⁹⁴Cf. Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Shirata, 1; PR 5:2, 6. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 27:18): THE ONE WHO TENDS A FIG TREE SHALL EAT ITS FRUIT. Do you want to understand? Solomon built the Temple, as stated (in I Kings 6:14): SO SOLOMON FINISHED BUILDING THE HOUSE; but because David had devoted his life to the Temple which would be built, as stated (in Ps. 132:1–5: LORD REMEMBER DAVID AND ALL HIS HARDSHIPS, HOW HE SWORE TO THE LORD, VOWED TO THE MIGHTY ONE OF JACOB: SURELY I WILL NOT COME INTO THE SHELTER OF MY HOUSE, NOR WILL I GO UP UPON THE BED THAT IS SPREAD FOR ME, [… ] UNTIL I FIND A PLACE FOR THE LORD, the Holy One did not deprive him of his reward. Rather he had it written in his name, as stated (in Ps. 30:1 [introduction]): A PSALM. A SONG OF THE DEDICATION OF THE HOUSE OF DAVID. [It does not say, "of Solomon," but, OF DAVID.] Solomon said it well (in Prov. 27:18): THE ONE WHO TENDS A FIG TREE SHALL EAT ITS FRUIT. So also you find in the case of the Tabernacle, when everyone devoted their lives <to it> and made the Tabernacle. All Israel volunteered. The women spun the goat's hair; and similarly (in Exod. 36:8): THEN ALL THE WISE-HEARTED ONES <AMONG THE WORKERS MADE THE TABERNACLE>. And likewise (according to Exod. 36:1): THEN LET BEZALEL AND OHOLIAB <AND ALL THE WISE-HEARTED ONES … > DO <ALL THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED>. < However, they only did so> because Moses devoted his life to <the Tabernacle>, so that it would be made just as the Holy One has shown him on the Mountain, as stated (in Exod. 25:40): OBSERVE AND MAKE THEM {LIKE} [BY MEANS OF] THEIR PATTERN…. Thus Moses went and devoted his life, so that they would not go astray. It is therefore written (in Exod. 39:1, 5, 7, 21, 26, 29, 31, cf. 42): AS THE LORD COMMANDED MOSES. And so it says (in vs. 43): WHEN MOSES SAW ALL THE WORK, <AND BEHOLD, THEY HAD DONE IT> …; THEN MOSES BLESSED THEM. And with what blessing did he bless them? He said to them: May the Divine Presence dwell in the work of your hands. The Holy One said: Because Moses has devoted his life to the Tabernacle, I will only write about it in his name. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED.⁹⁵In other words, although others had worked on the Tabernacle, it says only of Moses that he finished it. Cf. William Braude, Pesikta Rabbati (“Yale Judaica Series,” 18; New Haven: Yale, 1968), vol. 1, p. 91, n. 1 & 95, n. 19, who suggests that KLWT (HAD FINISHED) may be taken in the sense of THE END OF ONE’S STRENGTH and that the midrash understands the verse as follows: “AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES’ STRENGTH HAD ALL BUT GIVEN OUT BECAUSE OF THE SETTINGS UP OF THE TABERNACLE.”

(Bamidbar 8:4) "And this was the work of the menorah. (It was made of one talent of) beaten gold, from its base (the thickest part) until its flower (its most delicate part) — of beaten work. According to the sight that the L-rd had shown Moses, so did he make the menorah.": R. Yishmael says: This is one of the three things which Moses had difficulty in visualizing until the Holy One Blessed be He showed it to him with His "finger." Similarly (Shemot 12:2) "This month shall be unto you the beginning of months," (Moses pointing to the moon). Similarly, (Vayikra 11:29) "And thus to you is what is unclean," (Moses actually pointing to the unclean animals). "of beaten work" ("mikshah") [acronym of] "min kasheh," from the (gold) bar itself, with a (goldsmith's) hammer. "from its base until its flower": This (that it is from the bar itself) tells me only of its base and its flower. Whence do I derive (the same for) its bowls, its knobs and its flowers? From (Shemot 25:31) "And you shall make a menorah of pure gold. Of beaten work shall the menorah be made: its shaft and its branches, its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers." — But perhaps they (bowls, knobs, and flowers shall be made individually (and then attached to the shaft). It is, therefore, written (Ibid.) "From it (the one bar) shall they be." (Bamidbar, Ibid.) "of beaten work": Why is this re-stated? Is it not already written (Ibid.) "of beaten gold'? Because we find with the trumpets that if they could not be made of (one) beaten work, they may be made of fragments, I might think that the same applies to the menorah; it is, therefore, re-stated "of beaten work." Scripture repeats to invalidate (unbeaten work). From here they ruled: If there were no gold (for the menorah), it may be made of silver or iron or lead. These are the words of Rebbi. R. Yehudah says: even of wood. But if they cannot make it of one bar, they may not make it of fragments. As opposed to the trumpets. If they cannot make them of silver, they may not make them of gold; but if they cannot make them of one bar, they may make them of fragments. We find, then, that what is valid with the menorah is invalid with the trumpets, and vice versa. This tells me only of the menorah. Whence do I derive (the same for) its bowls, its knobs, and its flowers? From (Shemot 25:36) "All (of the above) one beaten work. I might think the same applies to its lamps and its tongs and its snuff dishes; it is, therefore, written (in respect to these, Ibid. 39) "Of a talent of pure gold shall he make it (the menorah) with all of these (the aforementioned) vessels. They are made from the talent and of gold, but they do not come from the (one) beaten work. "According to the sight that the L-rd had shown Moses": What is the intent of this? If to teach that the Holy One Blessed be He showed this to Moses in a vision, is it not already written (Shemot 25:40) "And see and make (it) according to their form which you were shown in the mountain"? We are hereby taught that the Holy One Blessed be He showed Moses the completed mishkan and the completed vessels and the completed menorah. If so, what is the intent of "According to the sight that the L-rd had shown Moses thus did he do"? To apprise us of the nobility of Moses — Precisely as the L-rd said to him, thus did he do.