תּלמוד אויף עמוס 9:1

HALAKHAH: “Similarly, for good deeds. Miriam waited for Moses one hour as it is said³¹⁵Ex. 2:4.: ‘His sister stood by from afar’ etc. Therefore, ³¹⁷This version corresponds to the Mishnah in the Babli. Israel stayed put for her for seven days in the prairie as it is said³¹⁶Num. 12:15.: ‘The people did not travel until Miriam was taken in.’ ” ³¹⁸Ex. rabba 1:26. A similar homily is in the Babli, 11a. Rebbi Joḥanan said, the entire verse was said in the language of inspiration: “His sister stood by,” “I saw the Eternal standing on the altar.³¹⁹Am. 9:1.” “His sister,” “say to wisdom: you are my sister.³²⁰Prov. 7:4.” “From far”, “from far away the Eternal appeared to me³²¹Jer. 31:2..” “To know”, “for the earth will be full of the Eternal’s knowledge.³²²Is. 11:9.” “What will be done with him”, “because the Eternal will not do anything unless He uncovered His counsel to His servants, the prophets.³²³Am. 3:7.”

The Divine Presence would depart from one place and go to another in ten movements: From the Ark’s cover to a cherub; from a cherub to the threshold of the Temple; from the threshold to in between the two cherubs; from in between the two cherubs to the roof of the Sanctuary; from the roof of the Sanctuary to the wall of the outer court; from the wall of the outer court to the altar; from the altar to the city; from the city to the (Temple) Mount; from the (Temple) Mount into the desert. From the Ark’s cover to a cherub, as it is written (II Samuel 22:11), “And He mounted a chariot and flew.” From a cherub to the threshold of the Temple, as it is written (Ezekiel 9:3), “(And the presence of God) went up from the cherub on which it had rested to the threshold of the Temple.” From the threshold to in between the two cherubs, as it is written (Ezekiel 10:18), “And the presence of the Eternal went out from the threshold of the Temple and stopped above the cherubs.” From in between the two cherubs to the roof of the Sanctuary, as it is written (Proverbs 21:9), “It is better to rest upon the corner of a roof.” From the roof of the Sanctuary to the wall of the outer court, as it is written (Amos 7:7), “And behold, my Lord was standing on a wall measured by a plumb line.” From the wall of the outer court to the altar, as it is written (Amos 9:1), “I saw my Lord standing by the altar.” From the altar to the city, as it is written (Micah 6:9), “The voice of the Eternal calls to the city.” From the city to the Mount, as it is written (Ezekiel 11:23), “The Presence of the Eternal ascended from the midst of the city and stood upon the Mount.” From the Mount into the desert, as it is written (Proverbs 21:19), “It is better to dwell in a desert land.” And finally it departed upward, as it says (Hosea 5:15), “I will go and return to My place.”