“They brought the Tabernacle to Moses: The Tent and all its vessels, its hooks, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets” (Exodus 39:33). “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.” Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba began: “In embroidery she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her, brought to you” (Psalms 45:15). What is “in embroidery”? This is the Tabernacle that is embroidered, as it is written: “And an embroiderer in sky blue wool” (Exodus 38:23). That is “in embroidery.” What is “she is led to the king”? This is Moses, who was called king, as it is written: “He became king in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people were assembled, the tribes of Israel together” (Deuteronomy 33:5). “She is led,” this is that they brought him the Tabernacle. “Her virgin companions follow her,” this is Israel, who were called virgins, as it is written: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountain, a sealed spring” (Song of Songs 4:12).1The imagery of the locked garden and fountain and the sealed spring represents virginity; one who has protected herself from exploitation. The point is that Israel remained unblemished by refraining from idolatry (Yefei To’ar). “Her companions,” as they are the companions of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “For the sake of my brothers and companions, I now say: Peace be with you” (Psalms 122:8). “Brought to you” – on the day that the Tabernacle was completed, they brought it to him. That is why it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.”
Another matter, “they brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Mute the lying lips that speak falsehood [atak] against the righteous with arrogance and contempt” (Psalms 31:19). How so? A person confesses on Yom Kippur; if another Yom Kippur comes and he mentions his [past] iniquities, the Holy One blessed be He says to him: ‘Mute the lying lips.’ What is atak? Matters that have already passed, like that which is stated: “He relocated [vayatek] from there to the mountain, east of Beit El, and he pitched his tent, Beit El to the west, and Ai to the east; he built there an altar to the Lord, and proclaimed the name of the Lord” (Genesis 12:8). “With arrogance and contempt” – the Holy One blessed be He says to him: ‘Did you have no sins from this year that you boasted “with arrogance and contempt”?’2Confessing sins from a previous year is arrogant in that it implies that one has no current sins to confess. Another matter, “mute the lying lips” is speaking of Moses. When the Holy One blessed be He said to craft for Him a Tabernacle, Moses immediately said to Israel: “Let them bring Me a gift” (Exodus 25:2). Moses was involved in the Tabernacle, and the cynics of Israel were saying: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He was involved with the Tabernacle for six months. They crafted it in three months and they folded it up for three months. Nevertheless, they were mocking him, and saying: ‘It has been crafted, did Moses not say that His Divine Presence would rest in our midst?’3Despite the fact that the construction of the Tabernacle in only three months would not have been possible without divine assistance, the cynics still expressed their cynicism due to the fact that it was not yet assembled and the Divine Presence was not yet apparent (Yefei To’ar). But the Holy One blessed be He intended to set up the Tabernacle in the month that Isaac our patriarch was born. He did not act,4God did not command Moses to assemble the Tabernacle for three months after its construction. but when that month arrived the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall erect the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:2). At that moment, the Divine Spirit said: “Mute the lying lips,” those mocking him. He did not act,5Moses did not act on his own. but when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses to erect the Tabernacle, [the people] began to carry it, each and every one of them [the product of] his labor, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.”
“They brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Might and grandeur are her garment, and she laughs at the final day” (Proverbs 31:25). What is “at the final day”? It is that all the reward of the righteous is prepared for them in the World to Come. That is, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving Rabbi Abahu who was departing from the world and saw all the good that was prepared for him in the World to Come. He began rejoicing and said: ‘All this is for Abahu? “But I said: For nothing I labored, I expended my strength for emptiness and futility; indeed, my portion is from the Lord and my accomplishment is from my God”’ (Isaiah 49:4).6He had thought that he was undeserving. That is, “she laughs at the final day.” Another matter, when is the Torah favorable [mesaḥeket] for one who toils in it? On the final day, as it is stated: “She laughs [vatisḥak] at the final day.” Zavdi ben Levi, Rabbi Yosei ben Patros, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, each and every one of them recited a verse at the moment of their departure from the world. One of them recited: “Therefore, everyone who is pious to You should pray at the time of searching, so the torrent of mighty waters does not reach him” (Psalms 32:6). One recited: “How great is Your goodness that You have in store for those who fear You, which You have created for those taking refuge in You, to be bestowed before the people” (Psalms 31:20). And one recited: “For our heart rejoices in Him” (Psalms 33:21). That is [proof] that at the time of departure of the righteous, the Holy One blessed be He shows them the reward that they are given and causes them to rejoice. Ben Azai said: “Weighty [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). When does the Holy One blessed be He inform the righteous of the honor [yekar] that is prepared for them? It is adjacent to their death, as it is stated: “The death of His pious ones.” At that moment they see and laugh. That is why, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving a certain disciple of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai who went out of the Land of Israel and returned wealthy. The disciples would see him and envy him, and they, too, sought, to go out of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Shimon knew and he took them to a certain valley near Meron. He prayed, saying: ‘Valley, valley, fill with gold dinars!’ It began flowing with gold dinars before them. He said to them: ‘If it is gold you seek, here is gold, take it for yourselves; however, know that anyone who takes now, it is his portion of the World to Come that he is taking, as the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come.’ That is, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta who arrived [home] on the day before Shabbat and he did not have a source of sustenance.7He did not have enough money to buy food for Shabbat. He exited the city and prayed before God and he was given a gem from the heavens. He gave it to a money changer and bought provisions for that Shabbat. His wife said: ‘From where are these [provisions]?’ He said: ‘From the sustenance provided by the Holy One blessed be He.’ She said to him: ‘If you do not tell me where they are from, I will not taste anything.’ He began relating to her, he said to her: ‘This is how I prayed before God, and it was given me from the heavens.’ She said to him: ‘I will not taste anything until you say to me that you will return it at the conclusion of Shabbat.’ He said to her: ‘Why?’ She said to him: ‘Would you like your table to be lacking and the table of your colleagues intact?’8Do you want to be lacking in the World to Come? Rabbi Shimon went and informed Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] of the incident. He said to him: ‘Tell her that if your table is lacking, I will complete it from my portion.’ He went and told it to her. She said to him: ‘Go with me to the one who taught you Torah.’ She said to him: ‘Rabbi, does a person see his counterpart in the World to Come? Does each and every righteous one not have a world to himself, as it is stated: “For the man goes to his eternal [olamo] home, and the mourners will circle in the streets” (Ecclesiastes 12:5)? Olamim is not written, but rather, olamo.’9The singular term is used rather than the plural, indicating that each righteous individual sees only his own eternal home and not multiple eternal homes. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could not refute the argument of Rabbi Shimon’s wife. When [Rabbi Shimon] heard that, he went to return it. Our Rabbis say, the latter miracle was greater than the former. When he extended his hand to return it, immediately, an angel descended and took it from him. Why? Because the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come, for the final day. That is, “she laughs at the final day.” Another matter, “might and grandeur are her garment” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). “She laughs at the final day,” these are the cynics of Israel, who mocked him and said to one another: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ He did not act,10Moses did not respond to their mocking (Etz Yosef). but when God said to him to erect the Tabernacle, he began laughing at them, as it is stated: “She laughs at the final day.” He said to them: ‘Come, let us erect the Tabernacle.’ They began to carry it and come to him, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle.”
There were numerous wise men there, and they came to Moses, but they were unable to erect it. As Solomon said: “Many daughters have performed valiantly, but you have surpassed [alit] them all” (Proverbs 31:29); as Moses was the most excellent [meuleh] of them all. “But you have surpassed them all.” Why? Because they crafted the Tabernacle but were unable to put it together. What did they do? Each and every one took [the product of] his labor and they came to Moses. They said: ‘Here are the boards, here are the bars.’ When Moses saw them, the Divine Presence immediately rested upon him and he erected it. Do not say that Moses set it up; rather, miracles were performed regarding the Tabernacle and it stood on its own, as it is stated: “The Tabernacle was erected” (Exodus 40:17).11The verse states that the Tabernacle was erected rather than stating that people erected it, implying that it stood on its own. If you are astonished about this, note that when Solomon built the Temple, it was built on its own. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Everything assisted him when he built the House of God, [including] the angels12Translation based on Matnot Kehuna. and the spirits. From where is it derived? As it is written: “The House, in its construction, was built of whole stones that were transported; hammers, the axe, or any iron tools were not heard in the House in its construction” (I Kings 6:7). It was built on its own. Therefore, it was built with miraculous acts.13The reflexive Hebrew term behibanoto, translated as “in its construction,” can also be translated “as it built itself.” Likewise, when the Tabernacle was erected, it was established with miraculous acts. That is, “they brought the Tabernacle.”
Another matter, “they brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Emerge, daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart” (Song of Songs 3:11). When was this verse stated? On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, when there was great celebration in Israel because the Holy One blessed be He rested amongst them. “Daughters of Zion [tziyon]” – the children who are conspicuously [hametzuyanim] Mine, as acknowledged by the idolaters.14Jewish children, who are conspicuous in their manner of dress, including ritual fringes, in their hairstyle, and in their manner of behavior (Matnot Kehuna; Etz Yosef). Just as a signpost is pointed at with a finger, so, too, Israel is pointed at with a finger.15Just as a signpost is conspicuous and easily identified, so are Jews. That is, “the daughters of Zion.” “[Look] at King Solomon [Shlomo],” at the King of Whom [it may be said] that peace [hashalom] is His; that is the King of kings the Holy One blessed be He. “With the crown with which his mother crowned him,” this is the Tabernacle. Why did he call it a crown? Because just as a crown is beautifully designed, so, too, the Tabernacle was beautifully designed, as it is stated: “And the embroiderer in sky blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and in linen, and of the weaver, performers of all craftsmanship and devisers of designs” (Exodus 35:35). That is, “with the crown with which his mother crowned him.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: I reviewed the entire Bible and I did not find that Batsheva crafted a crown for Solomon.16Therefore, the verse is not to be taken literally but rather as an allusion to the Tabernacle. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai asked Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei: ‘Did you, perhaps, hear from your father what is meant by [the phrase]: “With the crown with which his mother crowned him”?’ He said to him: ‘Yes; it is analogous to a king who had an only daughter and he loved her exceedingly. He called her: My daughter. He did not cease increasing his love for her until he called her: My sister, and until he called her: My mother.17A daughter is subservient to her father; a sister is equal to her brother, whereas a mother is owed honor and respect from her child as a matter of course and of law. Thus, each title reflects ever greater levels of love and dedication (Etz Yosef). So, initially, the Holy One blessed be He called Israel a daughter, as it is stated: “Listen, daughter, and take note; incline your ear. Forget your people and your father’s house” (Psalms 45:11). He did not cease increasing His love for them until he called them: My sister, as it is stated: “Open for me, my sister, my love, my faultless dove, for my head is filled with dew, my locks, with drops of night” (Song of Songs 5:2). He did not cease increasing His love for them until he called them: My mother, as it is stated: “Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation [uleumi]; for Torah will emerge from Me and My judgment I will lay down as a light for peoples”’ (Isaiah 51:4).18Uleumi is expounded as though it were written ule’imi, to My mother. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai stood and kissed him on the head. “On the day of his wedding,” at Sinai; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in Jerusalem. Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” at the sea; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in the Tent of Meeting. Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” in the Tabernacle; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in the Temple. Likewise, David said: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world, is Mount Zion, the northern summit, the city of the great King.” (Psalms 48:3). “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world.” Rabbi Yonatan ben Elazar said: There was an incident involving a certain merchant who went to Jerusalem to sell his merchandise. He went and sat there but did not sell [anything]. He said: ‘Is this [the city] of which they say it is the “joy of the entire world”?’ A short time later he sold all his merchandise. He said: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There was a dome of accounting outside of Jerusalem, and anyone who sought to take an accounting would go and take an accounting there,19Anyone who wanted to take an accounting of his expenditures or business activity could stop under this dome and make his calculations. so that he would not take an accounting in Jerusalem and be distressed,20He might be upset if his business activity was not as successful as he had hoped. for it is called “joy of the entire world.” Why is it the object of all this praise? Because it is “the city of the great King.” But when it was destroyed: “All joy is negated [arva], gladness of the land is exiled” (Isaiah 24:11). What is arva? It grew dark, just as it says: “It was evening [erev] and it was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:5). In this world, “the joy of the entire world” is suspended. But when the Holy One blessed be He will rebuild Jerusalem, He will restore all the joy to its midst, as it is stated: “For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all its ruins; He will render its wilderness like Eden and its desert like a garden of the Lord. Gladness and joy will be found in it, thanksgiving and the sound of music” (Isaiah 51:3).
וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל משֶׁה. רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בַּר אַבָּא פָּתַח (תהלים מה, טו): לִרְקָמוֹת תּוּבַל לַמֶּלֶךְ בְּתֻלוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶיהָ מוּבָאוֹת לָךְ, מַהוּ לִרְקָמוֹת, זֶה הַמִּשְׁכָּן שֶׁהוּא מְצֻיָּר, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שמות לח, כג): וְרֹקֵם בַּתְּכֵלֶת, הֱוֵי: לִרְקָמוֹת. מַהוּ תּוּבַל לַמֶּלֶךְ, זֶה משֶׁה שֶׁנִּקְרָא מֶלֶךְ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (דברים לג, ה): וַיְהִי בִישֻׁרוּן מֶלֶךְ בְּהִתְאַסֵּף רָאשֵׁי עָם יַחַד שִׁבְטֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל. תּוּבַל, שֶׁהֵבִיאוּ לוֹ הַמִּשְׁכָּן. בְּתֻלוֹת אַחֲרֶיהָ רֵעוֹתֶיהָ, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ בְּתוּלוֹת, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (שיר השירים ד, יב): גַּן נָעוּל אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה גַּל נָעוּל מַעְיָן חָתוּם. רֵעוֹתֶיהָ, שֶׁהֵן רֵעָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קכב, ח): לְמַעַן אַחַי וְרֵעָי אֲדַבְּרָה נָּא שָׁלוֹם בָּךְ. מוּבָאוֹת לָךְ, שֶׁבַּיּוֹם שֶׁנִּגְמַר הַמִּשְׁכָּן הֱבִיאוּהוּ אֶצְלוֹ, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל משֶׁה.
“They brought the Tabernacle to Moses: The Tent and all its vessels, its hooks, its boards, its bars, its pillars, and its sockets” (Exodus 39:33).
“They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.” Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba began: “In embroidery she is led to the king; her virgin companions follow her, brought to you” (Psalms 45:15). What is “in embroidery”? This is the Tabernacle that is embroidered, as it is written: “And an embroiderer in sky blue wool” (Exodus 38:23). That is “in embroidery.” What is “she is led to the king”? This is Moses, who was called king, as it is written: “He became king in Yeshurun, when the heads of the people were assembled, the tribes of Israel together” (Deuteronomy 33:5). “She is led,” this is that they brought him the Tabernacle. “Her virgin companions follow her,” this is Israel, who were called virgins, as it is written: “A locked garden is my sister, my bride; a locked fountain, a sealed spring” (Song of Songs 4:12).1The imagery of the locked garden and fountain and the sealed spring represents virginity; one who has protected herself from exploitation. The point is that Israel remained unblemished by refraining from idolatry (Yefei To’ar). “Her companions,” as they are the companions of the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “For the sake of my brothers and companions, I now say: Peace be with you” (Psalms 122:8). “Brought to you” – on the day that the Tabernacle was completed, they brought it to him. That is why it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים לא, יט): תֵּאָלַמְנָה שִׂפְתֵי שֶׁקֶר הַדֹּבְרוֹת עַל צַדִּיק עָתָק בְּגַאֲוָה וָבוּז, כֵּיצַד אָדָם מִתְוַדֶּה בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים, אִם בָּא יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אַחֵר וְהִזְכִּיר עֲוֹנוֹתָיו, אוֹמֵר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא: תֵּאָלַמְנָה שִׂפְתֵי שָׁקֶר. מַהוּ עָתָק, דְּבָרִים שֶׁל סִלּוּקִים, כְּעִנְיַן שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יב, ח): וַיַּעְתֵּק מִשָּׁם הָהָרָה מִקֶּדֶם לְבֵית אֵל וַיֵּט אָהֳלֹה בֵּית אֵל מִיָּם וְהָעַי מִקֶּדֶם וַיִּבֶן שָׁם מִזְבֵּחַ לַה' וַיִּקְרָא בְּשֵׁם ה'. בְּגַאֲוָה וָבוּז, אוֹמֵר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא הָיָה בְּיָדֶיךָ עֲוֹנוֹת מִשֶּׁל שָׁנָה זוֹ שֶׁהָיִיתָ מִתְגָּאֶה בְּגַאֲוָה וָבוּז. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תֵּאָלַמְנָה שִׂפְתֵי שָׁקֶר, מְדַבֵּר בְּמשֶׁה, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת לוֹ מִשְׁכָּן, מִיָּד אָמַר משֶׁה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (שמות כה, ב): וְיִקְחוּ לִי תְרוּמָה, הָיָה משֶׁה עוֹשֶׂה בַּמִּשְׁכָּן וְהָיוּ לֵיצָנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה עַל יְדֵי בֶּן עַמְרָם. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שִׁשָּׁה חֳדָשִׁים הָיָה עוֹסֵק בַּמִּשְׁכָּן, שְׁלשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים עֲשָׂאוּהוּ וּשְׁלשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים קִפְּלוּהוּ, אַף עַל פִּי כֵן הָיוּ מְלִיצִין אַחֲרָיו וְאוֹמְרִים הֲרֵי נַעֲשָׂה, לֹא הָיָה משֶׁה אוֹמֵר שֶׁיַּשְׁרֶה שְׁכִינָתוֹ אֶצְלֵנוּ. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נִתְכַּוֵּן לְהַעֲמִיד הַמִּשְׁכָּן בַּחֹדֶשׁ שֶׁנּוֹלַד בּוֹ יִצְחָק אָבִינוּ, לֹא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ אוֹתוֹ הַחֹדֶשׁ אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה (שמות מ, ב): בְּיוֹם הַחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן תָּקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אָמְרָה רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ: תֵּאָלַמְנָה שִׂפְתֵי שָׁקֶר, אוֹתָם שֶׁמְּלִיצִים אַחַר משֶׁה, לֹא עָשָׂה, אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר הָאֱלֹהִים לְמשֶׁה שֶׁיָּקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הִתְחִילוּ טוֹעֲנִין אוֹתוֹ וּבָאִין כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִמְּלַאכְתּוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אֶל משֶׁה.
Another matter, “they brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Mute the lying lips that speak falsehood [atak] against the righteous with arrogance and contempt” (Psalms 31:19). How so? A person confesses on Yom Kippur; if another Yom Kippur comes and he mentions his [past] iniquities, the Holy One blessed be He says to him: ‘Mute the lying lips.’ What is atak? Matters that have already passed, like that which is stated: “He relocated [vayatek] from there to the mountain, east of Beit El, and he pitched his tent, Beit El to the west, and Ai to the east; he built there an altar to the Lord, and proclaimed the name of the Lord” (Genesis 12:8). “With arrogance and contempt” – the Holy One blessed be He says to him: ‘Did you have no sins from this year that you boasted “with arrogance and contempt”?’2Confessing sins from a previous year is arrogant in that it implies that one has no current sins to confess.
Another matter, “mute the lying lips” is speaking of Moses. When the Holy One blessed be He said to craft for Him a Tabernacle, Moses immediately said to Israel: “Let them bring Me a gift” (Exodus 25:2). Moses was involved in the Tabernacle, and the cynics of Israel were saying: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ Rabbi Yoḥanan said: He was involved with the Tabernacle for six months. They crafted it in three months and they folded it up for three months. Nevertheless, they were mocking him, and saying: ‘It has been crafted, did Moses not say that His Divine Presence would rest in our midst?’3Despite the fact that the construction of the Tabernacle in only three months would not have been possible without divine assistance, the cynics still expressed their cynicism due to the fact that it was not yet assembled and the Divine Presence was not yet apparent (Yefei To’ar). But the Holy One blessed be He intended to set up the Tabernacle in the month that Isaac our patriarch was born. He did not act,4God did not command Moses to assemble the Tabernacle for three months after its construction. but when that month arrived the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall erect the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting” (Exodus 40:2). At that moment, the Divine Spirit said: “Mute the lying lips,” those mocking him. He did not act,5Moses did not act on his own. but when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses to erect the Tabernacle, [the people] began to carry it, each and every one of them [the product of] his labor, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle to Moses.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי לא, כה): עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁה וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, מַהוּ לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, שֶׁכָּל מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים מְתֻקָּן לָהֶם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, הֱוֵי: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי אַבָּהוּ שֶׁהָיָה מִסְתַּלֵּק מִן הָעוֹלָם וְרָאָה כָּל הַטּוֹב שֶׁמְתֻקָּן לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, הִתְחִיל שָׂמֵחַ וְאָמַר כָּל אִלֵּין דְּאַבָּהוּ, (ישעיה מט, ד): וַאֲנִי אָמַרְתִּי לְרִיק יָגַעְתִּי לְתֹהוּ וְהֶבֶל כֹּחִי כִלֵּיתִי אָכֵן מִשְׁפָּטִי אֶת ה' וּפְעֻלָּתִי אֶת אֱלֹהָי, הֱוֵי: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אֵימָתַי הַתּוֹרָה מְשַׂחֶקֶת לְמִי שֶׁהוּא עָמֵל בָּהּ לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, הֱוֵי: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. זַבְדִּי בֶּן לֵוִי וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בֶּן פַּטְרוֹס וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי קָרְאוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מֵהֶן בִּשְׁעַת סִלּוּקָן מִן הָעוֹלָם, אֶחָד מֵהֶן קָרָא (תהלים לב, ו): עַל זֹאת יִתְפַּלֵּל כָּל חָסִיד אֵלֶיךָ לְעֵת מְצוֹא רַק לְשֵׁטֶף מַיִם רַבִּים אֵלָיו לֹא יַגִּיעוּ. וְהָאֶחָד קָרָא (תהלים לא, כ): מָה רַב טוּבְךָ אֲשֶׁר צָפַנְתָּ לִירֵאֶיךָ פָּעַלְתָּ לַחוֹסִים בָּךְ נֶגֶד בְּנֵי אָדָם. וְהָאֶחָד קָרָא (תהלים לג, כא): כִּי בוֹ יִשְׂמַח לִבֵּנוּ. הֱוֵי בִּשְׁעַת סִלּוּקָן שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַרְאֶה לָהֶם מַתַּן שְׂכָרָן וּמְשַׂמְּחָן. אָמַר בֶּן עֲזַאי (תהלים קטז, טו): יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי ה' הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו, אֵימָתַי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מוֹדִיעַ לַצַּדִּיקִים הַיְּקָר שֶׁמְתֻקָּן לָהֶם, סָמוּךְ לְמִיתָתָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: הַמָּוְתָה לַחֲסִידָיו, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הֵם רוֹאִין וְשׂוֹחֲקִים, לְפִיכָךְ: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּתַלְמִיד אֶחָד שֶׁל רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי שֶׁיָּצָא חוּצָה לָאָרֶץ וּבָא עָשִׁיר, וְהָיוּ הַתַּלְמִידִים רוֹאִין אוֹתוֹ וּמְקַנְּאִין בּוֹ וְהָיוּ מְבַקְּשִׁים הֵן לָצֵאת לְחוּצָה לָאָרֶץ, וְיָדַע רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְהוֹצִיאָן לְבִקְעָה אַחַת שֶׁל פְּנֵי מֵרוֹן, וְנִתְפַּלֵּל וְאָמַר בִּקְעָה בִּקְעָה מִלְּאִי דִּינָרֵי זָהָב, הִתְחִילָה מוֹשֶׁכֶת דִּינָרֵי זָהָב לִפְנֵיהֶן. אָמַר לָהֶם אִם זָהָב אַתֶּם מְבַקְּשִׁים הֲרֵי זָהָב, טְלוּ לָכֶם, אֶלָּא הֱיוּ יוֹדְעִין כָּל מִי שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֵל עַכְשָׁו חֶלְקוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הַבָּא הוּא נוֹטֵל, שֶׁאֵין מַתַּן שְׂכַר הַתּוֹרָה אֶלָּא לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, הֱוֵי: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא שֶׁבָּא עֶרֶב שַׁבָּת וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ מֵאָן לְהִתְפַּרְנֵס, יָצָא לוֹ חוּץ מִן הָעִיר וְהִתְפַּלֵּל לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים, וְנִתַּן לוֹ אֶבֶן טוֹבָה מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם, נְתָנָהּ לְשֻׁלְחָנִי וּפִרְנֵס אוֹתָהּ שַׁבָּת, אָמְרָה אִשְׁתּוֹ מֵהֵיכָן אֵלּוּ, אָמַר לָהּ מִמַּה שֶּׁפִּרְנֵס הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמְרָה אִם אֵין אַתָּה אוֹמֵר לִי מֵהֵיכָן הֵן אֵינִי טוֹעֶמֶת כְּלוּם. הִתְחִיל מְסַפֵּר לָהּ, אָמַר לָהּ כָּךְ נִתְפַּלַּלְתִּי לִפְנֵי הָאֱלֹהִים וְנִתַּן לִי מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם. אָמְרָה לוֹ אֵינִי טוֹעֶמֶת כְּלוּם עַד שֶׁתֹּאמַר לִי שֶׁתַּחֲזִירָהּ מוֹצָאֵי שַׁבָּת. אָמַר לָהּ לָמָּה, אָמְרָה לוֹ אַתָּה רוֹצֶה שֶׁיְהֵא שֻׁלְחָנְךָ חָסֵר וְשֻׁלְחַן חֲבֵירֶךָ מָלֵא. וְהָלַךְ רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן וְהוֹדִיעַ מַעֲשֶׂה לְרַבִּי. אָמַר לוֹ לֵךְ אֱמֹר לָהּ אִם שֻׁלְחָנֵךְ חָסֵר אֲנִי אֲמַלְּאֶנּוּ מִשֶּׁלִּי. הָלַךְ וְאָמַר לָהּ. אָמְרָה לוֹ לֵךְ עִמִּי לְמִי שֶׁלִּמֶּדְךָ תּוֹרָה, אָמְרָה לוֹ רַבִּי וְכִי רוֹאֶה אָדָם לַחֲבֵרוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, לֹא כָּל צַדִּיק וְצַדִּיק הֲוָה לֵיהּ עוֹלָם בְּעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת יב, ה): כִּי הֹלֵךְ הָאָדָם אֶל בֵּית עֹלָמוֹ וְסָבְבוּ בַשּׁוּק הַסּוֹפְדִים, עוֹלָמִים אֵין כְּתִיב אֶלָּא עֹלָמוֹ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע כֵּן הָלַךְ וְהֶחֱזִיר. רַבּוֹתֵינוּ אָמְרוּ הַנֵּס הָאַחֲרוֹן הָיָה קָשֶׁה מֵהָרִאשׁוֹן, כֵּיוָן שֶׁפָּשַׁט יָדוֹ לְהַחֲזִירוֹ מִיָּד יָרַד הַמַּלְאָךְ וּנְטָלָהּ הֵימֶנּוּ, לָמָּה שֶׁאֵין מַתַּן שְׂכָרָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, הֱוֵי: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עוֹז וְהָדָר לְבוּשָׁה, זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לד, כט): וּמשֶׁה לֹא יָדַע כִּי קָרַן עוֹר פָּנָיו. וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, אֵלּוּ לֵיצָנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁמְּלִיצִין אַחֲרָיו וְאוֹמְרִים אֵלּוּ לְאֵלּוּ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁהַשְּׁכִינָה שׁוֹרָה עַל יָדָיו שֶׁל בֶּן עַמְרָם, לֹא עָשָׂה אֶלָּא כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הָאֱלֹהִים לְהָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הִתְחִיל שׂוֹחֵק עֲלֵיהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַתִּשְׂחַק לְיוֹם אַחֲרוֹן, אָמַר לָהֶם בּוֹאוּ שֶׁנָּקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, הִתְחִילוּ טוֹעֲנִין וּבָאִין אֶצְלוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן.
“They brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Might and grandeur are her garment, and she laughs at the final day” (Proverbs 31:25). What is “at the final day”? It is that all the reward of the righteous is prepared for them in the World to Come. That is, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving Rabbi Abahu who was departing from the world and saw all the good that was prepared for him in the World to Come. He began rejoicing and said: ‘All this is for Abahu? “But I said: For nothing I labored, I expended my strength for emptiness and futility; indeed, my portion is from the Lord and my accomplishment is from my God”’ (Isaiah 49:4).6He had thought that he was undeserving. That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
Another matter, when is the Torah favorable [mesaḥeket] for one who toils in it? On the final day, as it is stated: “She laughs [vatisḥak] at the final day.” Zavdi ben Levi, Rabbi Yosei ben Patros, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, each and every one of them recited a verse at the moment of their departure from the world. One of them recited: “Therefore, everyone who is pious to You should pray at the time of searching, so the torrent of mighty waters does not reach him” (Psalms 32:6). One recited: “How great is Your goodness that You have in store for those who fear You, which You have created for those taking refuge in You, to be bestowed before the people” (Psalms 31:20). And one recited: “For our heart rejoices in Him” (Psalms 33:21). That is [proof] that at the time of departure of the righteous, the Holy One blessed be He shows them the reward that they are given and causes them to rejoice.
Ben Azai said: “Weighty [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). When does the Holy One blessed be He inform the righteous of the honor [yekar] that is prepared for them? It is adjacent to their death, as it is stated: “The death of His pious ones.” At that moment they see and laugh. That is why, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving a certain disciple of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai who went out of the Land of Israel and returned wealthy. The disciples would see him and envy him, and they, too, sought, to go out of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Shimon knew and he took them to a certain valley near Meron. He prayed, saying: ‘Valley, valley, fill with gold dinars!’ It began flowing with gold dinars before them. He said to them: ‘If it is gold you seek, here is gold, take it for yourselves; however, know that anyone who takes now, it is his portion of the World to Come that he is taking, as the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come.’ That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
There was an incident involving Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta who arrived [home] on the day before Shabbat and he did not have a source of sustenance.7He did not have enough money to buy food for Shabbat. He exited the city and prayed before God and he was given a gem from the heavens. He gave it to a money changer and bought provisions for that Shabbat. His wife said: ‘From where are these [provisions]?’ He said: ‘From the sustenance provided by the Holy One blessed be He.’ She said to him: ‘If you do not tell me where they are from, I will not taste anything.’ He began relating to her, he said to her: ‘This is how I prayed before God, and it was given me from the heavens.’ She said to him: ‘I will not taste anything until you say to me that you will return it at the conclusion of Shabbat.’ He said to her: ‘Why?’ She said to him: ‘Would you like your table to be lacking and the table of your colleagues intact?’8Do you want to be lacking in the World to Come? Rabbi Shimon went and informed Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] of the incident. He said to him: ‘Tell her that if your table is lacking, I will complete it from my portion.’ He went and told it to her. She said to him: ‘Go with me to the one who taught you Torah.’ She said to him: ‘Rabbi, does a person see his counterpart in the World to Come? Does each and every righteous one not have a world to himself, as it is stated: “For the man goes to his eternal [olamo] home, and the mourners will circle in the streets” (Ecclesiastes 12:5)? Olamim is not written, but rather, olamo.’9The singular term is used rather than the plural, indicating that each righteous individual sees only his own eternal home and not multiple eternal homes. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could not refute the argument of Rabbi Shimon’s wife. When [Rabbi Shimon] heard that, he went to return it. Our Rabbis say, the latter miracle was greater than the former. When he extended his hand to return it, immediately, an angel descended and took it from him. Why? Because the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come, for the final day. That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
Another matter, “might and grandeur are her garment” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). “She laughs at the final day,” these are the cynics of Israel, who mocked him and said to one another: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ He did not act,10Moses did not respond to their mocking (Etz Yosef). but when God said to him to erect the Tabernacle, he began laughing at them, as it is stated: “She laughs at the final day.” He said to them: ‘Come, let us erect the Tabernacle.’ They began to carry it and come to him, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle.”
כַּמָּה חֲכָמִים הָיוּ שָׁם וּבָאוּ לָהֶם אֵצֶל משֶׁה וְלֹא הָיוּ יְכוֹלִין לַהֲקִימוֹ, אֶלָּא אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה (משלי לא, כט): רַבּוֹת בָּנוֹת עָשׂוּ חָיִל וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה, שֶׁמּשֶׁה הָיָה מְעֻלֶּה מִכֻּלָּם. וְאַתְּ עָלִית עַל כֻּלָּנָה, לָמָּה שֶׁעָשׂוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְלֹא הָיוּ יוֹדְעִין לְיַשְּׁבוֹ, מֶה עָשָׂה נָטְלוּ כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מְלַאכְתּוֹ וּבָאוּ לָהֶם אֵצֶל משֶׁה וְאוֹמְרִים הֲרֵי קְרָשִׁים, הֲרֵי בְּרִיחִין, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאָה משֶׁה אוֹתָם מִיָּד שָׁרְתָה עָלָיו רוּחַ הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֵקִימוֹ. וְלֹא תֹאמַר משֶׁה הֶעֱמִידוֹ, אֶלָּא הַמִּשְׁכָּן נַעֲשׂוּ בוֹ נִסִּים וְעָמַד מֵעַצְמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות מ, יז): הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן. וְאִם תָּמֵהַּ אַתָּה עַל זֶה, הֲרֵי שְׁלֹמֹה כְּשֶׁבָּנָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ הוּא נִבְנָה מֵעַצְמוֹ. אָמַר רַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹסֵי, הַכֹּל מְסַיְּעִין אוֹתוֹ כְּשֶׁבָּנָה אֶת בֵּית הָאֱלֹהִים, הַבְּרִיּוֹת וְהָרוּחוֹת, מִנַּיִן, שֶׁכָּתוּב (מלכים א ו, ז): וְהַבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנֹתוֹ אֶבֶן שְׁלֵמָה מַסָּע נִבְנָה וּמַקָּבוֹת וְהַגַּרְזֶן כָּל כְּלִי בַרְזֶל לֹא נִשְׁמַע בַּבַּיִת בְּהִבָּנֹתוֹ, מֵעַצְמוֹ הָיָה נִבְנֶה, לְפִיכָךְ בְּמַעֲשֵׂה נִסִּים נִבְנָה. וְכֵן כְּשֶׁהוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן בְּמַעֲשֵׂה נִסִּים עָמַד, הֱוֵי: וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן.
There were numerous wise men there, and they came to Moses, but they were unable to erect it. As Solomon said: “Many daughters have performed valiantly, but you have surpassed [alit] them all” (Proverbs 31:29); as Moses was the most excellent [meuleh] of them all. “But you have surpassed them all.” Why? Because they crafted the Tabernacle but were unable to put it together. What did they do? Each and every one took [the product of] his labor and they came to Moses. They said: ‘Here are the boards, here are the bars.’ When Moses saw them, the Divine Presence immediately rested upon him and he erected it. Do not say that Moses set it up; rather, miracles were performed regarding the Tabernacle and it stood on its own, as it is stated: “The Tabernacle was erected” (Exodus 40:17).11The verse states that the Tabernacle was erected rather than stating that people erected it, implying that it stood on its own. If you are astonished about this, note that when Solomon built the Temple, it was built on its own. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Everything assisted him when he built the House of God, [including] the angels12Translation based on Matnot Kehuna. and the spirits. From where is it derived? As it is written: “The House, in its construction, was built of whole stones that were transported; hammers, the axe, or any iron tools were not heard in the House in its construction” (I Kings 6:7). It was built on its own. Therefore, it was built with miraculous acts.13The reflexive Hebrew term behibanoto, translated as “in its construction,” can also be translated “as it built itself.” Likewise, when the Tabernacle was erected, it was established with miraculous acts. That is, “they brought the Tabernacle.”
דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ג, יא): צְאֶינָה וּרְאֶינָה בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ. אֵימָתַי נֶאֱמַר הַפָּסוּק הַזֶּה, בַּיּוֹם שֶׁעָמַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שֶׁהָיְתָה שִׂמְחָה גְדוֹלָה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שׁוֹרֶה אֶצְלָם. בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, בָּנִים הַמְצֻיָּנִים לִי, עַל יְדֵי עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, מַה צִּיּוּן הַזֶּה נִרְאָה בְּאֶצְבַּע, כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל נִרְאִין בְּאֶצְבַּע, הֱוֵי: בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, הַמְצֻיָּנִין לִי. בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלוֹ, זֶה מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ, זֶה הַמִּשְׁכָּן, לָמָּה קְרָאוֹ עֲטָרָה, אֶלָּא מָה הָעֲטָרָה מְצֻיֶּרֶת כָּךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיָה מְצֻיָּר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לה, לה): וְרוֹקֵם בַּתְּכֵלֶת וּבָאַרְגָּמָן בְּתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וּבַשֵּׁשׁ וְאֹרֵג עֹשֵׂי כָּל מְלָאכָה וְחשְׁבֵי מַחֲשָׁבֹת, הֱוֵי: בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק חִזַרְתִּי בְּכָל הַמִּקְרָא וְלֹא מָצָאתִי שֶׁעָשְׂתָה בַּת שֶׁבַע עֲטָרָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה, רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי שָׁאַל אֶת רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ מֵאָבִיךָ מַהוּ בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ הֵן, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת יְחִידָה וְהָיָה מְחַבְּבָהּ בְּיוֹתֵר מִדַּאי וְהָיָה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ בִּתִּי, לֹא זָז מְחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָהּ אֲחוֹתִי וְעַד שֶׁקְּרָאָהּ אִמִּי, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתְּחִלָּה קָרָא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל בַּת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים מה, יא): שִׁמְעִי בַת וּרְאִי וְהַטִּי אָזְנֵךְ וְשִׁכְחִי עַמֵּךְ וּבֵית אָבִיךְ, לֹא זָז מְחַבְּבָן עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָן אֲחוֹתִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ה, ב): פִּתְחִי לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי יוֹנָתִי תַמָּתִי שֶׁרֹאשִׁי נִמְלָא טָל קְוֻצּוֹתַי רְסִיסֵי לָיְלָה. לֹא זָז מְחַבְּבָן עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָן אִמִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נא, ד): הַקְשִׁיבוּ אֵלַי עַמִּי וּלְאוּמִּי אֵלַי הַאֲזִינוּ כִּי תוֹרָה מֵאִתִּי תֵצֵא וּמִשְׁפָּטִי לְאוֹר עַמִּים אַרְגִּיעַ. עָמַד רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וּנְשָׁקוֹ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ. בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ, בְּסִינַי. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ, עַל הַיָּם. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָּתוֹ, בַּמִּשְׁכָּן. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, בְּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ. וְכֵן דָּוִד אָמַר (תהלים מח, ג): יְפֵה נוֹף מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ הַר צִיּוֹן יַרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן קִרְיַת מֶלֶךְ רָב, יְפֵה נוֹף מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בֶּן אֶלְעָזָר מַעֲשֶׂה הָיָה בִּפְרַקְמַטְיוּס אֶחָד שֶׁהָלַךְ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם לִמְכֹּר אֶת שֶׁלוֹ, הָלַךְ וְיָשַׁב שָׁם וְלֹא מָכַר, אָמַר זוֹ הִיא שֶׁאוֹמְרִים עָלֶיהָ: מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ, לְאַחַר שָׁעָה מָכַר כָּל פְּרַקְמַטְיָא שֶׁלּוֹ, אָמַר: יְפֵה נוֹף מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כִּפָּה שֶׁל חִשְּׁבוֹנוֹת הָיְתָה חוּץ לִירוּשָׁלַיִם וְכָל מִי שֶׁמְבַקֵּשׁ לְחַשֵּׁב הוֹלֵךְ לְשָׁם, לָמָּה, שֶׁלֹא יְחַשֵּׁב בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם וְיֵצַר, לְפִי שֶׁנִּקְרֵאת מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ. וְכָל הַשֶּׁבַח הַזֶּה לָמָּה, שֶׁהִיא קִרְיַת מֶלֶךְ רָב, וּמִשֶּׁחָרְבָה (ישעיה כד, יא): עָרְבָה הַשִֹּׂמְחָה וְגָלָה מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ. מַהוּ עָרְבָה, חָשְׁכָה, קְבַלָה, כְּמָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (בראשית א, ה): וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה שָׁבַת מְשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הָאָרֶץ, וּכְשֶׁיִּבְנֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֶת יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, הוּא מַחֲזִיר לְתוֹכָהּ אֶת כָּל הַשִֹּׂמְחָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נא, ג): כִּי נִחַם ה' צִיּוֹן נִחַם כָּל חָרְבֹתֶיהָ וַיָּשֶׂם מִדְבָּרָהּ כְּעֵדֶן וְעַרְבָתָהּ כְּגַן ה', שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יִמָּצֵא בָהּ תּוֹדָה וְקוֹל זִמְרָה.
Another matter, “they brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Emerge, daughters of Zion, and look at King Solomon, with the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart” (Song of Songs 3:11). When was this verse stated? On the day that the Tabernacle was set up, when there was great celebration in Israel because the Holy One blessed be He rested amongst them. “Daughters of Zion [tziyon]” – the children who are conspicuously [hametzuyanim] Mine, as acknowledged by the idolaters.14Jewish children, who are conspicuous in their manner of dress, including ritual fringes, in their hairstyle, and in their manner of behavior (Matnot Kehuna; Etz Yosef). Just as a signpost is pointed at with a finger, so, too, Israel is pointed at with a finger.15Just as a signpost is conspicuous and easily identified, so are Jews. That is, “the daughters of Zion.” “[Look] at King Solomon [Shlomo],” at the King of Whom [it may be said] that peace [hashalom] is His; that is the King of kings the Holy One blessed be He. “With the crown with which his mother crowned him,” this is the Tabernacle. Why did he call it a crown? Because just as a crown is beautifully designed, so, too, the Tabernacle was beautifully designed, as it is stated: “And the embroiderer in sky blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and in linen, and of the weaver, performers of all craftsmanship and devisers of designs” (Exodus 35:35). That is, “with the crown with which his mother crowned him.” Rabbi Yitzḥak said: I reviewed the entire Bible and I did not find that Batsheva crafted a crown for Solomon.16Therefore, the verse is not to be taken literally but rather as an allusion to the Tabernacle.
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai asked Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei: ‘Did you, perhaps, hear from your father what is meant by [the phrase]: “With the crown with which his mother crowned him”?’ He said to him: ‘Yes; it is analogous to a king who had an only daughter and he loved her exceedingly. He called her: My daughter. He did not cease increasing his love for her until he called her: My sister, and until he called her: My mother.17A daughter is subservient to her father; a sister is equal to her brother, whereas a mother is owed honor and respect from her child as a matter of course and of law. Thus, each title reflects ever greater levels of love and dedication (Etz Yosef). So, initially, the Holy One blessed be He called Israel a daughter, as it is stated: “Listen, daughter, and take note; incline your ear. Forget your people and your father’s house” (Psalms 45:11). He did not cease increasing His love for them until he called them: My sister, as it is stated: “Open for me, my sister, my love, my faultless dove, for my head is filled with dew, my locks, with drops of night” (Song of Songs 5:2). He did not cease increasing His love for them until he called them: My mother, as it is stated: “Pay attention to Me, My people, and listen to Me, My nation [uleumi]; for Torah will emerge from Me and My judgment I will lay down as a light for peoples”’ (Isaiah 51:4).18Uleumi is expounded as though it were written ule’imi, to My mother. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai stood and kissed him on the head.
“On the day of his wedding,” at Sinai; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in Jerusalem. Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” at the sea; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in the Tent of Meeting. Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” in the Tabernacle; “and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” in the Temple. Likewise, David said: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world, is Mount Zion, the northern summit, the city of the great King.” (Psalms 48:3).
“Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world.” Rabbi Yonatan ben Elazar said: There was an incident involving a certain merchant who went to Jerusalem to sell his merchandise. He went and sat there but did not sell [anything]. He said: ‘Is this [the city] of which they say it is the “joy of the entire world”?’ A short time later he sold all his merchandise. He said: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world.”
Rabbi Yoḥanan said: There was a dome of accounting outside of Jerusalem, and anyone who sought to take an accounting would go and take an accounting there,19Anyone who wanted to take an accounting of his expenditures or business activity could stop under this dome and make his calculations. so that he would not take an accounting in Jerusalem and be distressed,20He might be upset if his business activity was not as successful as he had hoped. for it is called “joy of the entire world.” Why is it the object of all this praise? Because it is “the city of the great King.” But when it was destroyed: “All joy is negated [arva], gladness of the land is exiled” (Isaiah 24:11). What is arva? It grew dark, just as it says: “It was evening [erev] and it was morning, one day” (Genesis 1:5). In this world, “the joy of the entire world” is suspended. But when the Holy One blessed be He will rebuild Jerusalem, He will restore all the joy to its midst, as it is stated: “For the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all its ruins; He will render its wilderness like Eden and its desert like a garden of the Lord. Gladness and joy will be found in it, thanksgiving and the sound of music” (Isaiah 51:3).