כָּל־כְּבוּדָּ֣ה בַת־מֶ֣לֶךְ פְּנִ֑ימָה מִֽמִּשְׁבְּצ֖וֹת זָהָ֣ב לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
Buong karangalan ang anak na babae ng hari na nasa loob; ang kanyang kasuotan ay higit pa sa mga ginintuang kabitan ng hiyas.
Bamidbar Rabbah
Another matter: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” – Before the Tent of Meeting stood, He spoke with him at the bush, as it is stated: “God called to him from within the bush” (Exodus 3:4). Then, “God said to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying.” (Exodus 12:1) He spoke with him in Midian, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses in Midian” (Exodus 4:19). He spoke to him in Sinai, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai…saying.” Once the Tent of Meeting stood, He said: Modesty [tzeniut] is preferable, as it is stated: “And to walk humbly [hatzne’a] with your God” (Micah 6:8) – He speaks with him in the Tent of Meeting.
Likewise, David said: “All of the glory of a king’s daughter is within, her dress interwoven with gold” (Psalms 45:14). “A king’s daughter” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “I will deliver Egypt into the hand of a harsh master” (Isaiah 19:4) – these are the plagues that came upon Egypt. “And a strong [oz] king will rule over them” (Isaiah 19:4) – this is Moses, who was the king of the Torah, which is called oz, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength [oz] to His people” (Psalms 29:11). Therefore, “all of the glory of a king’s daughter is within.”5Thus, the verse that implies that modesty is appropriate for the king's daughter refers to Moses, to whom God spoke from within the Tent of Meeting.
“[All of the glory [kevudah] of a king’s daughter is within,] her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold” – this is Aaron, as it is stated: “You shall make settings [mishbetzot] of gold” (Exodus 28:13). From here they said: A woman who conducts herself modestly, even if she is an Israelite, is worthy to marry a priest and to produce High Priests, as it is stated: “Her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold.” The Holy One blessed be He said: This is My honor [kavod], that I will speak within. As it is stated: “When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting [to speak with Him]” (Numbers 7:89).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: If the nations of the world would know how much the Temple benefited them, they would have surrounded it with fortifications to protect it, as it was more beneficial for them than it was for Israel, as Solomon prayed: “To the foreigner, as well, who is not of Your people Israel” (I Kings 8:41), and it is written: “You will act in accordance with everything that the foreigner calls to You” (I Kings 8:43). But when he comes to Israel, what is written? “May You grant to each man according to all his ways, as you know his heart” (II Chronicles 6:30) – if he was worthy of it, He would give to him; if not, He would not give to him. Do not say: The Temple [alone benefits all nations]; rather, were it not for Israel, rain would not fall, the sun would not shine, as it is due to their merit that the Holy One blessed be He brings wellbeing to the world. In the World to Come, the nations of the world will see Israel, how the Holy One blessed be He is with them, and they will come to cleave to them, as it is stated: “[So said the Lord of hosts:] In those days, ten men of all the languages of the nations will take hold; [they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Judean man, saying: Let us go with you, as we have heard that God is with you]” (Zechariah 8:23).
Likewise, David said: “All of the glory of a king’s daughter is within, her dress interwoven with gold” (Psalms 45:14). “A king’s daughter” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “I will deliver Egypt into the hand of a harsh master” (Isaiah 19:4) – these are the plagues that came upon Egypt. “And a strong [oz] king will rule over them” (Isaiah 19:4) – this is Moses, who was the king of the Torah, which is called oz, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength [oz] to His people” (Psalms 29:11). Therefore, “all of the glory of a king’s daughter is within.”5Thus, the verse that implies that modesty is appropriate for the king's daughter refers to Moses, to whom God spoke from within the Tent of Meeting.
“[All of the glory [kevudah] of a king’s daughter is within,] her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold” – this is Aaron, as it is stated: “You shall make settings [mishbetzot] of gold” (Exodus 28:13). From here they said: A woman who conducts herself modestly, even if she is an Israelite, is worthy to marry a priest and to produce High Priests, as it is stated: “Her dress interwoven [mimishbetzot] with gold.” The Holy One blessed be He said: This is My honor [kavod], that I will speak within. As it is stated: “When Moses went into the Tent of Meeting [to speak with Him]” (Numbers 7:89).
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: If the nations of the world would know how much the Temple benefited them, they would have surrounded it with fortifications to protect it, as it was more beneficial for them than it was for Israel, as Solomon prayed: “To the foreigner, as well, who is not of Your people Israel” (I Kings 8:41), and it is written: “You will act in accordance with everything that the foreigner calls to You” (I Kings 8:43). But when he comes to Israel, what is written? “May You grant to each man according to all his ways, as you know his heart” (II Chronicles 6:30) – if he was worthy of it, He would give to him; if not, He would not give to him. Do not say: The Temple [alone benefits all nations]; rather, were it not for Israel, rain would not fall, the sun would not shine, as it is due to their merit that the Holy One blessed be He brings wellbeing to the world. In the World to Come, the nations of the world will see Israel, how the Holy One blessed be He is with them, and they will come to cleave to them, as it is stated: “[So said the Lord of hosts:] In those days, ten men of all the languages of the nations will take hold; [they will take hold of the corner of the garment of a Judean man, saying: Let us go with you, as we have heard that God is with you]” (Zechariah 8:23).
Bamidbar Rabbah
“…and they had no children. Elazar and Itamar served as priests.” Rabbi Yaakov bar Aivu in the name of Rabbi Aḥa: If they had sons, they would have taken precedence over Elazar and Itamar, as whoever takes precedence for inheritance takes precedence regarding honor, provided that he conducts himself in accordance with the custom of his fathers.
“Elazar and Itamar served as priests in the presence of [al penei] Aaron, their father.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: During his lifetime; Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: After his death. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, who said during his lifetime, here, it is stated al penei and there it is stated al penei, as it is written: “Haran died al penei Teraḥ his father” (Genesis 11:28). Just as al penei stated there is during his lifetime, so, too, al penei that is stated here is during his lifetime. According to the opinion of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, who said after his death, here, it is stated al penei and there it is stated al penei, as it is written: “Abraham rose from al penei his dead” (Genesis 23:3). Just as al penei stated there is after death, so, too, al penei that is stated here is after his death. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, who said during his lifetime, if impurity befell Aaron, Elazar served; if impurity befell Elazar, Itamar served.
There was an incident involving Shimon ben Kimḥit who went out to speak with the king of the Arabs, and a drop of saliva sprayed from his mouth onto his garments and impurified him. Yehuda, his brother, entered and served in his stead in the High Priesthood. That day, their mother saw her two sons as High Priests. The Sages taught: Kimĥit had seven sons, and all of them served in the High Priesthood. The Sages said to her: ‘What good deeds do you have to your credit?’ She said to them: ‘So help me, in all my days, the beams of my house never saw the hair of my head.’ They said: ‘All flour [kimḥa] is flour [kimḥin], but Kimḥit’s flour [kimḥa] is fine flour.’ They read this verse in her regard: “All the glory of the king’s daughter is within” (Psalms 45:14).
According to the opinion of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba who said: After his death, when Aaron died, Elazar his son served. When Elazar died, Itamar served. That is why it is stated: “Elazar and Itamar served as priests al penei Aaron, their father.”
“Elazar and Itamar served as priests in the presence of [al penei] Aaron, their father.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: During his lifetime; Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: After his death. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, who said during his lifetime, here, it is stated al penei and there it is stated al penei, as it is written: “Haran died al penei Teraḥ his father” (Genesis 11:28). Just as al penei stated there is during his lifetime, so, too, al penei that is stated here is during his lifetime. According to the opinion of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba, who said after his death, here, it is stated al penei and there it is stated al penei, as it is written: “Abraham rose from al penei his dead” (Genesis 23:3). Just as al penei stated there is after death, so, too, al penei that is stated here is after his death. According to the opinion of Rabbi Yitzḥak, who said during his lifetime, if impurity befell Aaron, Elazar served; if impurity befell Elazar, Itamar served.
There was an incident involving Shimon ben Kimḥit who went out to speak with the king of the Arabs, and a drop of saliva sprayed from his mouth onto his garments and impurified him. Yehuda, his brother, entered and served in his stead in the High Priesthood. That day, their mother saw her two sons as High Priests. The Sages taught: Kimĥit had seven sons, and all of them served in the High Priesthood. The Sages said to her: ‘What good deeds do you have to your credit?’ She said to them: ‘So help me, in all my days, the beams of my house never saw the hair of my head.’ They said: ‘All flour [kimḥa] is flour [kimḥin], but Kimḥit’s flour [kimḥa] is fine flour.’ They read this verse in her regard: “All the glory of the king’s daughter is within” (Psalms 45:14).
According to the opinion of Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba who said: After his death, when Aaron died, Elazar his son served. When Elazar died, Itamar served. That is why it is stated: “Elazar and Itamar served as priests al penei Aaron, their father.”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Numb. 1:1:) THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT, IN THE TENT OF MEETING. Before the Tent of Meeting was set up, he spoke with him in the bush, as stated (in Exod. 3:2): THEN THE ANGEL OF THE LORD {CALLED} [APPEARED] UNTO HIM IN A FLAME OF FIRE FROM THE MIDST OF A BUSH.20Tanh., Numb. 1:3; Numb. R. 1:3. [After that he spoke with him in Midian, as stated (in Exod. 4:19): THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES IN MIDIAN.] After that he spoke with him in Egypt, as stated (in Exod. 12:1): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES AND UNTO AARON IN THE LAND OF EGYPT. After that he spoke with him in Sinai, as stated (in Lev. 25:1): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI. When the Tent of Meeting was set up, he said: Humility is beautiful, as stated (in Micah 6:8): <HE HAS TOLD YOU, O HUMAN, WHAT IS GOOD…,> AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH {THE LORD} YOUR GOD. He began to speak with him in the Tent of Meeting. Likewise David also says (in Ps. 45:14 [13]): ALL GLORIOUS IS THE KING'S DAUGHTER WITHIN; [HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE]. THE KING'S DAUGHTER: This <king> is Moses, as stated (in Is. 19:4): AND I WILL DELIVER THE EGYPTIANS INTO THE HAND OF A HARSH LORD. These21Since LORD (adonim) is a plural of excellence or majesty, it is readily seen as representing a plurality of plagues. are the plagues which came upon the Egyptians. (Ibid., cont.:) AND A STRONG KING SHALL RULE OVER THEM. This is Moses, who was king of Torah, which is called STRENGTH, where it is stated (in Ps. 29:11): THE LORD WILL GRANT STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE. Ergo (in Ps. 45:14 [13]): ALL GLORIOUS IS THE KING'S DAUGHTER WITHIN. (Ibid., cont.:) HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE. This is Aaron, since it is stated (in Exod. 28:13): AND YOU SHALL MAKE A GOLD BROCADE. Hence, our masters have said: Every bride who conceals herself (because of humility, i.e., modesty), even though she be an <ordinary> Israelite woman, is worthy of being married to a priest and to raise up high priests, since it is stated (in Ps. 45:14 [13]): HER CLOTHING IS OF GOLD BROCADE. The Holy One said: Likewise it befits him to speak from within, as stated (in Numb. 7:89): [WHEN22This bracketed section ends in the first part of section 10 and represents a missing page in Buber’s primary Oxford Ms. MOSES WENT INTO THE TENT OF MEETING TO SPEAK WITH HIM, HE WOULD HEAR THE VOICE SPEAKING UNTO HIM. R. Joshua ben Levi said: If the people of the world had known how auspicious the Temple was for them, they would have surrounded it with military encampments23Lat. castra. in order to protect it,24Lev. R. 1:11. since it was more auspicious for them than for any of Israel; for thus did Solomon set forth in his prayer (in II Chron. 6:32-33 // I Kings 8:41-42):25The passage is actually a conflation of the parallel passages, which Buber has emended to agree with Chron. 6:32-33. AND LIKEWISE, {IN THE CASE OF} [UNTO] THE FOREIGNER, WHO IS NOT OF YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL AND COMES FROM A DISTANT LAND FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR GREAT NAME, YOUR MIGHTY HAND, AND YOUR OUTSTRETCHED ARM, IF {HE COMES} [THEY COME] UNTO THIS HOUSE TO PRAY, MAY YOU HEARKEN <UNTO HIM> FROM HEAVEN, EVEN FROM THE PLACE WHERE YOU DWELL, AND DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT THE FOREIGNER CRIES OUT UNTO YOU, IN ORDER THAT ALL THE PEOPLES OF THE EARTH MAY KNOW YOUR NAME [AND] FEAR YOU, AS DO YOUR PEOPLE ISRAEL, AND THAT THEY MAY KNOW THAT YOUR NAME IS CALLED UPON IN THIS HOUSE WHICH I HAVE BUILT. But when he comes to Israel, what is written (in II Chron. 6:30 = I Kings 8:39)? AND YOU SHALL GIVE TO EACH ONE ACCORDING TO ALL HIS WAYS, SINCE YOU KNOW HIS HEART. Solomon said: Sovereign of the Universe, if he is worthy, give to him; if he is not worthy, do not give to him. Moreover, you should not <only> say that the temple <was auspicious for them>.26So Tanh. Numb. 1:3. In fact, if it had not been for Israel, no rain would ever have come down27Cf. Gen. R. 39:12. nor would the sun have shown; for it was through their merit that the Holy One brought relief to the world. Also in the world to come, when the peoples of the world shall see, in the case of Israel, how the Holy One is with them, they shall come to join them, as stated (in Zech. 8:23): IN THOSE DAYS WHEN TEN PEOPLE FROM ALL THE LANGUAGES OF THE NATIONS TAKE HOLD, THEY SHALL TAKE HOLD OF THE SKIRT OF A JEWISH PERSON, [SAYING]: LET US GO WITH YOU FOR WE HAVE HEARD THAT GOD IS WITH YOU.