[6] (Exod. 39:33:) AND THEY BROUGHT THE TABERNACLE UNTO MOSES…. This text is related (to Ps. 31:19 [18]): LET LYING LIPS BE DUMB THAT SPEAK HAUGHTILY AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS. <The verse > speaks about Moses.1 When the Holy One told him to make [a tabernacle], he immediately told them (in Exod. 35:5): TAKE FROM AMONG YOU AN OFFERING FOR THE LORD. So Moses was occupied with the Tabernacle. R. Hanina said: He was occupied with the Tabernacle for six months. For three months they made it, and for three months they had it folded away. Nevertheless they murmured about it and said: See, the Tabernacle is made. Did he not say that he would have his Divine Presence dwell with us? But the Holy One had intended the Tabernacle to go up in the month that our father Abraham had been told the good news about Isaac. He only acted when the month arrived.2 The Holy One said to him (in Exod. 40:2): ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE FIRST MONTH [YOU SHALL SET UP THE TABERNACLE OF THE TESTIMONY]. At that time the Holy One said (in Ps. 31:19 [18]): LET LYING LIPS BE DUMB THAT SPEAK HAUGHTILY AGAINST THE RIGHTEOUS. The very ones who were murmuring against the Tabernacle, began to carry it, with each and every one of them joining in the work, as stated (in Exod. 39:33): AND THEY BROUGHT THE TABERNACLE UNTO MOSES.
[7] [(Exod. 39:33:)
AND THEY BROUGHT THE TABERNACLE UNTO MOSES.] This text is related (to Prov. 31:25): {
MAJESTY} [
STRENGTH]
AND SPLENDOR ARE HER CLOTHING; AND YOU WILL LAUGH3 AT THE LATTER DAY. There is a story about R. Abbahu.
4 When he was departing this world, the Holy One showed him his reward as it was prepared for him in the world to come. He made thirteen rivers of balsam
5 pass before him. When he saw them, he was astonished and said: Are all these for Abbahu? Then he read to himself the verse (Is. 49:4):
I HAVE USED UP MY STRENGTH FOR A VOID AND VANITY; SURELY MY JUDGEMENT IS WITH THE LORD AND MY RECOMPENSE IS WITH MY GOD. [Ergo
(Prov. 31:25):
AND YOU WILL LAUGH AT THE LATTER DAY.] Zavday ben Levi, Levi ben Paytam,
6 and R. Judah ben Levi, each of them individually, [cited] a verse at the time of their departure from the world.
7 One cited
(Ps. 32:6):
THEREFORE LET EVERY SAINT PRAY UNTO YOU <IN ANTICIPATION OF THE TIME OF DISCOVERY >…. The next cited (Ps. 31:20 [19]):
HOW ABUNDANT IS THE GOOD <WHICH YOU HAVE LAID UP FOR THOSE WHO FEAR YOU>. And the other cited (Ps. 5:12 [11]):
BUT LET ALL WHO TAKE REFUGE IN YOU REJOICE. <LET THEM EVER SING FOR JOY, AND YOU SHALL SHELTER THEM.> Ergo, at the time of their departure from the world, the Holy One showed them their reward. Ben 'Azzay said
(Ps. 116:15):
PRECIOUS IN THE EYES OF THE LORD IS THE DEATH OF HIS SAINTS. When does the Holy One show his righteous ones the honor which he has prepared for them? Near their death. Ergo (in Prov. 31:25):
AND YOU WILL LAUGH AT THE LATTER DAY….
8
There is a story about a certain disciple of R. Simeon who went abroad and came back wealthy. When the <other> disciples saw him, they <also> wanted to go abroad. R. Simeon knew < about the situation > and brought them out to a valley which was near his native town of Meron. Then he prayed to the Holy One, and the valley was filled with gold dinars. He said to them, whoever wants to take <some> may take <some>. But they knew that whoever took <some> then was taking it out of his portion in the world to come, for the reward <of Torah> is not in this world but in the world to come. Ergo (in Prov. 31:25): AND YOU WILL LAUGH AT THE LATTER DAY.
There is a story about R. Simeon ben Halafta, that he came <home> on Sabbath eve and did not have anything to eat.9 On Sabbath eve at nightfall he went outside of the city and prayed to the Holy One. Immediately a precious stone was given to him from heaven. So he came in, gave it to the money-changer, and provided for the Sabbath. Then he sat down to eat on the Sabbath night. His wife said to him: Where did these < provisions > come from? He said to her: From what the Holy One supplied. She said to him: If you do not tell me, I am not tasting anything until you will tell me. He said to her: Thus and so is what happened: I prayed, a precious stone was given to me from heaven, and these things came from that. She said to him: I am not tasting anything until you give me your word that you will return it on the evening after the Sabbath. He said to her: Why? She said to him: In the future < life > you will come with your friends; and they will take more, with you taking less than they. Why? Because there is no reward for Torah except in the world to come. Thus it is stated (in Prov. 31:25): AND YOU WILL LAUGH AT THE LATTER DAY. As soon as the Sabbath had gone, he arose and returned it. Immediately it was taken from him.
Another interpretation (of Prov. 31:25):
STRENGTH AND SPLENDOR ARE HER CLOTHING. This is Moses (in Exod. 34:29):
MOSES DID NOT KNOW [
THAT THE SKIN OF HIS FACE WAS SHINING]. (
Prov. 31:25, cont.:)
AND YOU WILL LAUGH. These words are <in reference to incident of> the mockers of Israel, when they murmured after Moses saying: Is it possible for the Divine Presence to come to rest upon the handiwork of Moses? He did not act. However, when the Holy One told him to erect the Tabernacle, he began to laugh at them.
(Prov. 31:25):
AND YOU WILL LAUGH AT THE LATTER DAY.
[8] How many were skilled but could not erect the Tabernacle?10 Solomon said (in Prov. 31:29): MANY DAUGHTERS HAVE DONE VALIANTLY, <BUT YOU SURPASS THEM ALL>. Why? Because they built the Tabernacle but did not know how to set it up. Each and everyone took his work and went to Moses. Each and every one would say: Here is my hook. Here is my board. Here is my bolt. But the Holy Spirit rested upon Moses, and he erected the tabernacle. Still you should not say <that> Moses <did it>. Rather The Tabernacle arose by itself, as stated (in Exod. 40:17): THE TABERNACLE WAS ERECTED. And you should not speak of the Tabernacle < alone being automatically erected >, but also of the Universal House (i.e., the Temple).11 Had it not been for the Holy One helping, neither Solomon nor all Israel would have built it. Where is it shown? Where David says so (in Ps. 127:1): UNLESS THE LORD BUILDS THE HOUSE, [THE BUILDERS' LABOR ON IT IN VAIN]. Therefore, the Tabernacle was erected through work of miracles. As soon as that Tabernacle was erected, all Israel began to rejoice, as stated (in Cant. 3:11): O DAUGHTERS OF ZION, GO FORTH AND GAZE AT KING SOLOMON (rt.: ShLM), <i.e.> at the king to whom peace (rt.: ShLM) belongs, i.e., the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One. (Ibid., cont.:) [IN THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM, for the < verse here> is calling the Tabernacle a crown. Just as this crown is described, so was the Tabernacle described (e.g., in Exod. 36:35): BLUE AND PURPLE.12
(Cant. 3:11): IN THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM. R. Isaac said: I have searched through every bit of the whole Scripture, and not found where Bathsheba made a crown for her son Solomon; yet it says (ibid): IN THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM.13 R. Simeon ben Johay questioned R. Eleazar bar Jose. He said to him: Is it possible that you heard from your father (R. Jose ben Halafta) what the meaning is of (Cant. 3:11): IN THE CROWN WITH WHICH HIS MOTHER CROWNED HIM? He said to him: Daddy said this: It is comparable to a king who had an only daughter, and loved her excessively. He persisted in his love for her until he called her [my sister. He persisted < further > in his love for her until he called her] my mother. So the Holy One loved Israel and called them, my daughter, as stated (in Ps. 45:11 [10]): HEAR, O DAUGHTER, TAKE NOTE. He persisted until he called them, my sister, as stated (in Cant. 5:2): MY SISTER, MY BELOVED. He persisted <further> until he called them, my mother, as stated (in Is. 51:4): HEARKEN UNTO ME, MY PEOPLE, AND <GIVE EAR UNTO ME,> MY NATION (L'WMY)…. MY MOTHER (L'MY) is what is <actually> written.14 R. Simeon ben Johay arose, kissed him on his head, and said: If this had been the only thing I had ever come to hear, it would have been enough for me.
(Cant. 3:11, cont.:) ON HIS WEDDING DAY, at the Sea <of Reeds>. (Ibid., cont.:) ON THE DAY OF HIS JOYFUL HEART, in Jerusalem.
Another interpretation (of Cant. 3:11): ON HIS WEDDING DAY, on Sinai.15 (Ibid., cont.:) ON THE DAY OF HIS JOYFUL HEART, in Jerusalem. David said (in Ps. 48:3 [2]): BEAUTEOUS LANDSCAPE, THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH, <EVEN MOUNT ZION>….16 <It is> like a fig in that it is narrow below and wide above, like what is stated (in Ezek. 41:7): AND IT BECAME WIDER AS IT WOUND ABOUT HIGHER AND HIGHER….
(Ps. 48:3 [2]:) BEAUTEOUS LANDSCAPE (NWP)…. R. Levi said: <Jerusalem> is beautiful (N'P) in itself, because it sifts (rt.: NPH) the peoples of the world.17 Thus it is stated (in Is. 30:28): TO SIFT (HNPH) THE NATIONS WITH THE SIEVE (rt.: NPH) OF DESTRUCTION, AND A MISLEADING BRIDLE SHALL BE IN THE JAWS OF THE PEOPLES.
Another interpretation (of Ps. 48:3 [2]:) BEAUTEOUS LANDSCAPE (NWP), in its waving (rt.: NWP), as stated (in Numb. 8:11): AND LET AARON OFFER (rt.: NWP) <THE LEVITES BEFORE THE LORD AS A WAVE OFFERING (rt.: NWP) FROM THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL>…. (Lev. 23:11:) THEN HE SHALL WAVE (rt.: NWP) THE SHEAF < BEFORE THE LORD>.
(Ps. 48:3 [2]): <BEAUTEOUS LANDSCAPE>, THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH, <EVEN MOUNT ZION>. R. Jonathan ben Eleazar said: There is a story about a certain pragmateutes18 {shepherd} who went to the land of Israel to sell peppers.19 He came and dwelt there, but he did not make a sale. He said: Is this <the city about which> they have said (in Ps. 48:3 [2]): THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH? In one hour he had sold all his peppers. He said: This is surely THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH, EVEN MOUNT ZION, THE REMOTE REGIONS OF ZAPHON, THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Now what is all this glory for? Because it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT KING. Since Jerusalem has been destroyed, (Is. 24:11:) ALL GLADNESS IS OBSCURED; THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH HAS DEPARTED. What is the meaning of IS OBSCURED (rt.: 'RB)?20 "Became dark," qavelah (in Aramaic). <It is> as they say (in Gen. 1:5):21 AND THERE WAS EVENING ('RB). In this world THE JOY OF THE WHOLE EARTH has ceased. When the Holy One returns and rebuilds Jerusalem, he will bring back gladness, as stated (in Is. 51:3): TRULY THE LORD HAS COMFORTED ZION; HE HAS COMFORTED ALL ITS RUINS. HE HAS ALSO MADE ITS DESERT LIKE EDEN AND ITS DRY PLAIN LIKE THE GARDEN OF THE LORD. JOY AND REJOICING SHALL BE FOUND IN IT, THANKSGIVING AND THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
The End of Parashah Pequde
and the End of the Book of Exodus.
1. Exod. R. 52:2.
2. Cf. Tanh., Exod. 11:11, for a longer version.
3. Wattishaq. The biblical context certainly requires the verb to be translated, AND SHE LAUGHS; but wattishaq may also be rendered, AND YOU WILL LAUGH (in the masculine). It is this latter meaning that the midrash assumes throughout this section.
4. Gen. R. 62:2; Exod. R. 52:3; yAZ 3:1 (42c).
5. Gk.: balsamon.
6. Probably ben Petros.
7. Above, Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 10:15, and the note there.
8. Exod. R. 52:3; M. Pss. 92:8; see yBer. 9:3 (13d); Gen. R. 35:2; PRK 11:15. All these parallels identify R. Simon as R. Simon b. Johay.
9. Cf. also Ruth R. 3:4.
10. Exod. R. 52:4.
11. On the Temple erecting itself, see Numb. R. 14:3; PR 6:7.
12. These words also appear with reference to the Tabernacle in Exod. 25:4; 26:1, 31, 36; 27:16; 35:6, 23; 36:8, 37; 38:18. Cf. II Chron. 3:14, which uses the words with reference to the Temple. Nowhere do these words refer to a crown, but cf. Numb. R. 12:8, and Cant. R. 3:11:2 which maintain that the Tabernacle was like a crown because it was set with various elements like blue and purple which one would expect to find in a crown. See also Exod. 28:6, 8, 15, 33; 39: 1–2, 5, 8, 24, 29 where the high-priestly breast plate, the ephod, and various other articles of priestly clothing all have BLUE AND PURPLE.
13. Exod. R. 52:30; Numb. R. 12:8; Cant. R. 3:11:2; PRK 1:3.
14. The midrash apparently assumes a biblical text which read L’WMY (MY NATION) without the Was L’MY, a word which can be voweled to mean MY MOTHER.
15. Cf. Cant. R. 5:11:2; PRK 26:9.
16. See Cant. R. 7:5:3.
17. Cf.: PR 41:2.
18. The Greek word means “trader.”
19. Exod. R. 51:5; PR 41:2.
20. Below, Tanh. (Buber), Lev. 3:9.
21. Also in Gen. 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31.