Midrash sobre Êxodo 7:4

Another interpretation (of Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME (li) A PRIESTLY SHARE. Every offering concerning which li ("to me") is used contains a blessing.¹⁴Tanh., Exod. 7:4. The priestly share contains a blessing. R. Johanan said: Israel brought everything for working on the Tabernacle on two mornings.¹⁵Below, Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 11:2; Numb. 2:29; Tanh., Exod. 11:5; Numb. 2:27; Deut. 4:5; Exod. R. 41:2; 51:2; Numb. R. 2:10; 12:16; M. Pss. 101:4. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Exod. 36:3): AND THEY STILL BROUGHT FREEWILL OFFERINGS UNTO HIM IN THE MORNING, IN THE MORNING.¹⁶So in literal translation, which conveys R. Johanan’s understanding of the verse. A more usual translation would read: AND THEY STILL BROUGHT FREEWILL OFFERINGS UNTO HIM EVERY MORNING. So a blessing was given in the priestly share of the Tabernacle. (Exod. 25:2) AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE.

[Another interpretation (of Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE.] The Holy One said to them: I am not bothering with <any> other people except you. What is written (in Hab. 2:4)? LO, HIS INNER SOUL IS ARROGANT, NOT UPRIGHT; BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS. LO, <HIS INNER SOUL> IS ARROGANT. This refers to Nebuchadnezzar. How? The Holy One had made him king over all the world but he was unhappy with his lot. (Ibid.:) HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. Then he looked at himself and felt ashamed;¹⁷Cf. PRK 13:8, according to which Nebuchadnezzar was a dwarf. Similarly Tanh., Exod. 7:4, which finds a clue to his smallness in his name. but he said: I am king. Thus it says: HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS (rt.: 'MN). In the world to come the Holy One will judge the children of Adam, each and every one along with the children of his handiwork (rt.: 'MN); BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE with fidelity (rt.: 'MN). The Holy One said to them: Each and every one {is from} [lives off] his handiwork (rt.: 'MN). Now I have redeemed you from Egypt, but you are not setting aside for me a priestly share. (Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE….

What is written above (in Exod. 11:9) on the matter? NOW THE LORD HAD SAID UNTO MOSES: PHARAOH WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU…. R. Judah and R. Nehemiah disagree. R. Judah says: This parashah says at the beginning of the plagues (in Exod. 7:4): PHARAOH WILL NOT HEARKEN UNTO YOU. But R. Nehemiah says: <The warning> is stated in its <present> place (in Exod. 11:9, which continues): <IN ORDER THAT MY WONDERS MAY BE MULTIPLIED IN THE LAND OF EGYPT, > in the sea more than in Egypt. (Exod. 11:10) SO MOSES AND AARON PERFORMED ALL THESE WONDERS…. The Holy one wished to credit this parashah to Moses alone.³⁷See Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34, which gives the following marginal addition: R. Jacob said: A defense (Gk.: synegoria) was entered before the Holy One. It said to him: Sovereign of the Universe, (according to Exod. 11:10) MOSES AND AARON PERFORMED….; yet you wish to credit this parashah to Moses alone! The Holy One said to it: You have taught well. As you (Moses and Aaron) live, I am crediting it to both of you. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 12:1): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON …