אַ֤ךְ ׀ קָר֣וֹב לִירֵאָ֣יו יִשְׁע֑וֹ לִשְׁכֹּ֖ן כָּב֣וֹד בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃
Tunay na malapit ang Kanyang kaligtasan sa mga may takot sa Kanya, upang manahan ang kaluwalhatian sa aming lupain.
Midrash Tanchuma
For Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work alludes to the Tent of Meeting. I will exult in the works of Thy hands refers to the building of the Temple, may it be rebuilt speedily in our time. How great are thy works, O Lord: Thy thoughts are very deep (ibid., v. 6) relates to the fact that You decided to combine the celebration of the erection of the Tabernacle with the celebration of the birthday of our patriarch Isaac. That day he received ten crowns, as discussed in Seder Olam.20See Seder Olam 7. Seder Olam is a tannaitic midrash dealing with chronological matters. See Strack, Introduction to Talmud and Midrash, p. 225. The ten crowns are ten events that occurred on that day. See the lis tin Ginzberg, Legends, vol. III, p. 181.. Therefore it says: A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a food understand this (ibid., v. 7). A brutish man knoweth not alludes to the scoffers and fools of that generation, who did not know the thoughts of the Holy One, blessed be He. Neither doth a fool understand refers to those who do not realize that none of them would be able to rear it, neither Bezalel nor Oholiab nor the wise men who had performed the work. Only Moses would come and do his part, since he was troubled by the fact that he had not participated at all in the work done on the Tabernacle. Therefore Moses reared the Tabernacle, and neither Bezalel nor Oholiab nor the wise could do it. And it is written: And it came to pass on that day that Moses made an end of setting up the Tabernacle (Num. 7:1). When the Tabernacle was set up, the Shekhinah descended into it immediately, as it is said: And Moses was not able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud abode thereon, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle (Exod. 40:35). It is written elsewhere: For the cloud of the Lord was upon the Tabernacle by day (ibid., v. 38) to fulfill what is written: Surely His salvation is nigh them that fear Him; that glory may dwell in our land (Ps. 85:10). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: In this world My Shekhinah will dwell among you and within your sight, as it is said: And the appearance of the glory of the Lord (Exod. 24:1), but in the future the Shekhinah will never depart from you, as it is said: In that day I will dwell therein among the children of Israel and will not forsake My people Israel (I Kings 6:13). Blessed be the Lord forever. Amen. Selah.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“It was on the day that Moses concluded erecting the Tabernacle, he anointed it and sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels; he anointed them and sanctified them” (Numbers 7:1).
“It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones; let them not return to folly” (Psalms 85:9). You find that when Israel performed that act1The Golden Calf., and the Holy One blessed be He grew angry at them, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people…” (Exodus 32:9),2The following verse says: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will destroy them” (Exodus 32:10). "Leave me [and I will destroy them…]" (Deuteronomy 9:14). Immediately, Moses stood and asked for mercy from before Him so that He would reconcile with them, just as it is stated: “Moses implored…” (Exodus 32:11). The Holy One blessed be He reconciled with them, as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil…” (Exodus 32:14). Nevertheless, umbrage remained in His heart in their regard, as it is stated: “On the day of My reckoning, I will reckon their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). When the Tabernacle was crafted, Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses went and bent his ear in the Tabernacle. He said: Do you say that umbrage remains in the heart of the Holy One blessed be He in Israel’s regard? That is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say” (Psalms 85:9). What is “the Almighty [ha’el] Lord? Moses said: Until now has He remained in His anger against them and is He barely with them? Ha’el is nothing other than an expression of strength, just as it says: “And he took the mighty of [eilei] the land” (Ezekiel 17:13). Or is He reconciled with them and He is acting with them with the attribute of mercy; that is what is written: “Lord.” Lord is nothing other than the attribute of mercy, as it is stated: “Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He placated him that He has no umbrage in His heart, just as it is written: “The Lord passed [vayaavor] before him” (Exodus 34:6), that He removed [shehe’evir] His fury from them and overlooked [ve’avar] their transgressions. Rabbi Simon said: Why does it say “Lord, Lord” twice? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He placated him and said to Moses: Just as in the past I would act with them with the attribute of mercy before they performed that act, so, too, now, I will act with them with the attribute of mercy.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: At that moment, Moses heard a pleasant voice, an excellent voice. In the past, Moses would stand, and the divine speech would enter his ear like a current of water. No one of Israel could hear it, but when his face would redden they knew that divine speech had come to him. Once the Tabernacle was crafted, he heard a pleasant voice. What did he hear? “For He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘In the past there was enmity between Me and My children, hatred between Me and My children, contention between Me and My children, but now that the Tabernacle was crafted there is love between Me and My children, peace between Me and My children.’ That is, “for He will speak peace to His people” (Psalms 85:9) – this is Israel, for crafting the Tabernacle. “And to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9) – this is the tribe of Levi, in whose regard it is written: “And of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim for Your pious one” (Deuteronomy 33:8). From where do you know that the verse is speaking regarding the Tabernacle? It is because it is written thereafter: “Indeed, His salvation is near for those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalms 85:10). When was there peace for Israel? When the glory of the Holy One blessed be He dwelled in the Tabernacle. It is just as it says: “And the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34).
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why would I teach this matter from the book of Psalms? It is a matter of Torah. Even from its location there is nothing lacking. See what is written: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26). When? It was “on the day that Moses concluded [erecting the Tabernacle].”
“It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones; let them not return to folly” (Psalms 85:9). You find that when Israel performed that act1The Golden Calf., and the Holy One blessed be He grew angry at them, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people…” (Exodus 32:9),2The following verse says: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will destroy them” (Exodus 32:10). "Leave me [and I will destroy them…]" (Deuteronomy 9:14). Immediately, Moses stood and asked for mercy from before Him so that He would reconcile with them, just as it is stated: “Moses implored…” (Exodus 32:11). The Holy One blessed be He reconciled with them, as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil…” (Exodus 32:14). Nevertheless, umbrage remained in His heart in their regard, as it is stated: “On the day of My reckoning, I will reckon their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). When the Tabernacle was crafted, Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses went and bent his ear in the Tabernacle. He said: Do you say that umbrage remains in the heart of the Holy One blessed be He in Israel’s regard? That is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say” (Psalms 85:9). What is “the Almighty [ha’el] Lord? Moses said: Until now has He remained in His anger against them and is He barely with them? Ha’el is nothing other than an expression of strength, just as it says: “And he took the mighty of [eilei] the land” (Ezekiel 17:13). Or is He reconciled with them and He is acting with them with the attribute of mercy; that is what is written: “Lord.” Lord is nothing other than the attribute of mercy, as it is stated: “Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He placated him that He has no umbrage in His heart, just as it is written: “The Lord passed [vayaavor] before him” (Exodus 34:6), that He removed [shehe’evir] His fury from them and overlooked [ve’avar] their transgressions. Rabbi Simon said: Why does it say “Lord, Lord” twice? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He placated him and said to Moses: Just as in the past I would act with them with the attribute of mercy before they performed that act, so, too, now, I will act with them with the attribute of mercy.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: At that moment, Moses heard a pleasant voice, an excellent voice. In the past, Moses would stand, and the divine speech would enter his ear like a current of water. No one of Israel could hear it, but when his face would redden they knew that divine speech had come to him. Once the Tabernacle was crafted, he heard a pleasant voice. What did he hear? “For He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘In the past there was enmity between Me and My children, hatred between Me and My children, contention between Me and My children, but now that the Tabernacle was crafted there is love between Me and My children, peace between Me and My children.’ That is, “for He will speak peace to His people” (Psalms 85:9) – this is Israel, for crafting the Tabernacle. “And to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9) – this is the tribe of Levi, in whose regard it is written: “And of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim for Your pious one” (Deuteronomy 33:8). From where do you know that the verse is speaking regarding the Tabernacle? It is because it is written thereafter: “Indeed, His salvation is near for those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalms 85:10). When was there peace for Israel? When the glory of the Holy One blessed be He dwelled in the Tabernacle. It is just as it says: “And the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34).
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why would I teach this matter from the book of Psalms? It is a matter of Torah. Even from its location there is nothing lacking. See what is written: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26). When? It was “on the day that Moses concluded [erecting the Tabernacle].”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
[(Numb. 7:1:) SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED.] R. Judah bar Simon said: On the day that the Tabernacle was erected, Moses entered and heard a majestic voice, a beautiful voice, a praiseworthy voice.112Tanh., Numb. 2:25; similarly Numb. R. 12:1; PR 5:11. Moses said (in Ps. 85:9 [8]): LET ME HEAR WHAT GOD, THE LORD, WILL SPEAK. Is he speaking with severity? Is he speaking with compassion? LET ME HEAR WHAT GOD, THE LORD, WILL SPEAK. The Holy One said to him: Moses, I am speaking peace; there is nothing in my heart against my children, as stated (ibid.): FOR HE WILL SPEAK [PEACE UNTO HIS PEOPLE AND UNTO HIS SAINTS; SO LET THEM NOT TURN TO FOLLY. It is also written after this (in vs. 10 [9]): SURELY HIS SALVATION IS NEAR FOR THOSE WHO FEAR HIM, <FOR HIS GLORY TO DWELL IN OUR LAND>. When? On the day that the Tabernacle was erected, [for R. Joshua the Priest has said in the name of R. Eliezer] that, before the Tabernacle was erected, there was strife between the Holy One and Israel; but on the day that the Tabernacle was erected, a peace was concluded, as stated (in vs. 9 [8]): FOR HE WILL SPEAK PEACE UNTO HIS PEOPLE AND UNTO HIS SAINTS; SO LET THEM NOT TURN TO FOLLY. R. Simeon b. Laqish said concerning it (the verse): What <reason> is there for me to learn <this> from the book of Psalms? It is a matter of <record in> Torah; for even in the place <under consideration> (i.e., in Numb. 7:1), there is nothing at all lacking (which is found in Ps. 85:9–10 [8–9]). What is written above on the matter (in Numb. 6:26)? THE LORD LIFT UP HIS FACE UNTO YOU AND GRANT YOU PEACE. When? (According to 7:1) on the day that the Tabernacle was erected.