במדבר רבה י״גBamidbar Rabbah 13

Section 1א׳

וַיְהִי הַמַּקְרִיב בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֶת קָרְבָּנוֹ נַחְשׁוֹן וגו' (במדבר ז, יב), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים נא, כ כא): הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת צִיּוֹן וגו' אָז תַּחְפֹּץ זִבְחֵי צֶדֶק וגו'. לְפִי שֶׁבַּמִּדְבָּר בַּהֲקָמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הִקְרִיבוּ לַחֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ קִמְעָה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (במדבר ז, יג יז): קָרְבָּנוֹ קַעֲרַת כֶּסֶף וגו' כַּף אַחַת וגו' פַּר אֶחָד וגו' שְׂעִיר עִזִּים וגו' וּלְזֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים וגו', הֲרֵי כָּל הַקָּרְבָּן, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁיָּצָא לַדֶּרֶךְ וְהָיוּ מְבִיאִים לְפָנָיו סְעוּדָה לְפִי הַדֶּרֶךְ וּלְפִי הַפּוּנְדָק, אָמַר לָהֶם הַמֶּלֶךְ כָּךְ אַתֶּם מְכַבְּדִים לִי וְכָךְ אַתֶּם נוֹתְנִים לִי, אֵינִי מֶלֶךְ וְאֵינִי שׁוֹלֵט בַּמַּלְכוּת. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: אֲדוֹנֵינוּ, בַּדֶּרֶךְ אֲנַחְנוּ וּלְפִי הַדֶּרֶךְ וּלְפִי הַפּוּנְדָק הִכְנַסְנוּ לְךָ, כְּשֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לַמְּדִינָה וְתִכָּנֵס לַפַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁלְךָ תִּרְאֶה כַּמָּה אָנוּ מְכַבְּדִין אוֹתְךָ. כָּךְ כְּשֶׁהוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן הִקְרִיבוּ לוֹ הַנְּשִׂיאִים דּוֹרוֹן וְקָרְבָּן, קְעָרָה וּמִזְרָק וְכַף, פַּר אֶחָד וגו' וּשְׂעִיר עִזִּים וגו' וּלְזֶבַח וגו', אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּךְ הוּא כְּבוֹדִי. אָמְרוּ לוֹ: רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר אָנוּ נְתוּנִים וּלְפִי הַמִּדְבָּר הִקְרַבְנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, כְּשֶׁתִּכָּנֵס לַפַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁלְךָ אַתָּה רוֹאֶה כַּמָּה קָרְבָּנוֹת וְכַמָּה פָּרִים נַקְרִיב לְפָנֶיךָ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת צִיּוֹן תִּבְנֶה חוֹמוֹת יְרוּשָׁלָיִם, אָז תַּחְפֹּץ זִבְחֵי צֶדֶק אָז יַעֲלוּ עַל מִזְבַּחֲךָ פָרִים, וְלֹא פַּר אֶחָד. וְכֵן אַתְּ מוֹצֵא בִּשְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁבָּנָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וּבִקֵּשׁ לְהַקְרִיב לַחֲנֻכַּת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, רְאֵה מַה כְּתִיב שָׁם (מלכים א ח, סג): וַיִּזְבַּח שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים וגו'. וְכֵן בִּימֵי עֶזְרָא (עזרא ו, יז): וְהַקְרִבוּ לַחֲנֻכַּת בֵּית אֱלָהָא דְנָה תּוֹרִין מְאָה דִּכְרִין וגו', הֱוֵי: הֵיטִיבָה בִרְצוֹנְךָ אֶת צִיּוֹן וגו' אָז תַּחְפֹּץ וגו'.

“The one who presented his offering on the first day was Naḥshon, son of Aminadav, of the tribe of Judah” (Numbers 7:12). “The one who presented his offering on the first day was Naḥshon…” That is what is written: “Show Your favor to Zion…. Then You will delight in righteous offerings…” (Psalms 51:20–21). Because in the wilderness, with the establishment of the Tabernacle, they presented only a bit for the dedication of the altar, just as it says: “His offering: One silver dish…one ladle…one bull…one goat…and for the peace offering…” (Numbers 7:13–17). That was the entire offering. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who set out on the way and they would bring before him a meal suitable for the way and suitable for the inn. The king said to them: ‘Am I not the king? Do I not rule the kingdom?’ They said to him: ‘Our lord, we are on the way, and what we brought before you is suitable for the way and the inn. When you enter the province and enter your palace, you will see the extent to which we will honor you.’ So, when the Tabernacle was established, the princes presented to Him a gift and an offering: A dish, a basin, and a ladle; “one bull…, a goat…, and for the peace offering….” The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Is this in keeping with My honor?’ They said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, we are located in the wilderness, and in accordance with the conditions in the wilderness, we have presented before You. When You enter Your palace, you will see how many offerings and how many bulls we will sacrifice before you.’ That is what is written: “Show Your favor to Zion; build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You will delight in righteous offerings…then will be offered on Your altar young bulls” (Psalms 51:20–21) – and not [only] one bull. Likewise, you find regarding Solomon, who built the Temple and sought to sacrifice for the dedication of the Temple. See what is written there: “Solomon slaughtered the peace offering [that he slaughtered to the Lord, twenty-two thousand oxen and one hundred and twenty thousand sheep. The king and all the children of Israel dedicated the House of the Lord]” (I Kings 8:63). Likewise, in the days of Ezra: “They presented for the dedication of this House of God one hundred bulls, [two hundred rams, four hundred lambs, and twelve goats as a sin offering for all Israel…]” (Ezra 6:17). That is “Show Your favor to Zion…. Then You will delight….” (Psalms 51:20–21).

Section 2ב׳

וַיְהִי הַמַּקְרִיב וגו', הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ד, טז): עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן וגו', הָיָה רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר אֵימָתַי הִתְחִילוּ מִלּוּאִים, בְּעֶשְׂרִים וּשְׁלשָׁה בַּאֲדָר, וּבְאֶחָד בְּנִיסָן שָׁלְמוּ יְמֵי הַמִּלּוּאִים, וְכָל שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי הַמִּלּוּאִים הָיָה משֶׁה מַעֲמִיד אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְכָל בֹּקֶר וָבֹקֶר מַקְרִיב קָרְבְּנוֹתָיו עָלָיו וּפֵרְקוֹ, בַּשְּׁמִינִי הֶעֱמִידוֹ וְלֹא פֵּרְקוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות מ, יז): וַיְהִי בַּחֹדֶשׁ הָרִאשׁוֹן בַּשָּׁנָה הַשֵּׁנִית בְּאֶחָד לַחֹדֶשׁ הוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְאוֹתוֹ יוֹם שְׁמִינִי אֶחָד בְּשַׁבָּת הָיָה וְרֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ שֶׁל נִיסָן הָיָה, בּוֹ בַיּוֹם עָמַד אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו וְרָחֲצוּ יְדֵיהֶם וְרַגְלֵיהֶם מִן הַכִּיּוֹר, עָבְדוּ אֶת עֲבוֹדָתָם וּסְדָרוּם עַל הַסֵּדֶר, בּוֹ בַיּוֹם הִקְרִיבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל תְּמִידִים, נְדָרִים וּנְדָבוֹת, חַטָּאוֹת וַאֲשָׁמוֹת, בְּכוֹרוֹת וּמַעְשְׂרוֹת, עַל אוֹתוֹ הַיּוֹם הוּא אוֹמֵר: עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן וגו'. עוּרִי צָפוֹן, זוֹ עוֹלָה שֶׁנִּשְׁחֶטֶת בַּצָּפוֹן. וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, אֵלּוּ שְׁלָמִים שֶׁנִּשְׁחָטִים בַּדָּרוֹם. (שיר השירים ד, טז): הָפִיחִי גַנִי, זֶה אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. יִזְלוּ בְשָׂמָיו, זֶה קְטֹרֶת הַסַּמִּים. (שיר השירים ד, טז): יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, זֶה הַשְּׁכִינָה. וְיֹאכַל פְּרִי מְגָדָיו, אֵלּוּ הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. (שיר השירים ה, א): בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, זֶה יוֹם שְׁמִינִי. אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, זֶה לְבוֹנַת הַקְּטֹרֶת וּלְבוֹנַת הַמִּנְחָה. אָכַלְתִּי יַעֲרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, זֶה אֵבְרֵי הָעוֹלָה וְאֵמוּרֵי קָדְשֵׁי קֳדָשִׁים. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, אֵלּוּ הַנְּסָּכִים וְאֵמוּרֵי קָדָשִׁים קַלִּים. אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, זֶה משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן. שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דוֹדִים, זֶה כְּנֶסֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר אָמַר שְׁלָמִים הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא אָמַר עוֹלוֹת הִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ. מְתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא וְהָא כְתִיב (בראשית ד, ד): וְהֶבֶל הֵבִיא גַּם הוּא מִבְּכֹרוֹת צֹאנוֹ וּמֵחֶלְבֵהֶן, דָּבָר שֶׁחֶלְבּוֹ קָרֵב, מָה עָבֵד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, מִן שַׁמְנֵיהוֹן. מְתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא (שמות כד, ה): וַיִּשְׁלַח אֶת נַעֲרֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיַּעֲלוּ עֹלֹת וַיִּזְבְּחוּ זְבָחִים שְׁלָמִים לַה' פָּרִים, מָה עָבֵד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, שְׁלֵמִים בְּעוֹרָן בְּלֹא הֶפְשֵׁט וּבְלֹא נִתּוּחַ. מְתִיב רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא הָא כְתִיב (שמות יח, יב): וַיִּקַּח יִתְרוֹ חֹתֵן משֶׁה עֹלָה וּזְבָחִים, עוֹלָה, זוֹ עוֹלָה, זְבָחִים, אֵלּוּ זִבְחֵי שְׁלָמִים, מָה עָבֵד לָהּ רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר לְאַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ. רַב אָמַר אִתְפַּלְגוּן רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חֲנִינָא, חַד אָמַר קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ, וְאַחֲרִינָא אָמַר לְאַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא מַאן דְּאָמַר קֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ, כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר שְׁלָמִים הִקְרִיבוּ, וּמַאן דְּאָמַר לְאַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה בָּא יִתְרוֹ כְּמַאן דְּאָמַר עוֹלוֹת הִקְרִיבוּ. הָדָא מְסַיְּעָא לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא, עוּרִי צָפוֹן, זוֹ עוֹלָה שֶׁנִּשְׁחֲטָה בַּצָּפוֹן, מַהוּ עוּרִי, דָּבָר שֶׁהָיָה יָשֵׁן וְנִתְעוֹרֵר. וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, אֵלּוּ שְׁלָמִים שֶׁהֵם נִשְׁחָטִים בַּדָּרוֹם. מַהוּ וּבוֹאִי, דָּבָר שֶׁהוּא בָּא לְחַדֵּשׁ. רַבִּי אַבָּא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרַבִּי פַּפֵּי וְרַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר, אַף הָדֵין קְרָיָה מְסַיַּע לֵיהּ לְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא (ויקרא ו, ב): זֹאת תּוֹרַת הָעֹלָה הִוא הָעֹלָה, שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ בְּנֵי נֹחַ כִּדְאָתֵי לַשְּׁלָמִים. (ויקרא ז, יא): זֹאת תּוֹרַת זֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים, אֲשֶׁר הִקְרִיבוּ, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא אֲשֶׁר יַקְרִיבוּ, מִכָּאן וּלְהַבָּא. בַּמֶּה מְקַיֵּם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר קְרָיָה דְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, פָּתַר לֵיהּ בַּגָּלֻיּוֹת, עוּרִי צָפוֹן, לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרְרוּ הַגָּלֻיּוֹת שֶׁהֵן נְתוּנוֹת בַּצָּפוֹן, יָבֹאוּ וְיַחֲנוּ בַּדָּרוֹם. לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר גּוֹג שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן בַּצָּפוֹן יָבוֹא וְיִפֹּל בַּדָּרוֹם, (יחזקאל לט, ב): וְשֹׁבַבְתִּיךָ וְשִׁשֵּׁאתִיךָ וְהַעֲלִיתִיךָ מִיַּרְכְּתֵי צָפוֹן, לִכְשֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן בַּצָּפוֹן, יָבוֹא וְיִבְנֶה אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ שֶׁהוּא נָתוּן בַּדָּרוֹם, כְּמָא דְאַתְּ אָמַר (ישעיה מא, כה): הַעִירוֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן וַיַּאת וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עוּרִי צָפוֹן, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָרוּחוֹת עֲתִידוֹת לְהַכְנִיס קִנְאָה זוֹ עִם זוֹ, רוּחַ הַדָּרוֹם אוֹמֶרֶת אֲנִי מְבִיאָה גָּלוּת תֵּימָן וְגָלוּת הַגְרָה וְכָל הַדָּרוֹם, וְרוּחַ צָפוֹן אוֹמֶרֶת אֲנִי מְבִיאָה גָּלוּת צָפוֹן, וְהַמָּקוֹם נוֹתֵן שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם וְהֵם נִכְנָסוֹת בְּפֶתַח אֶחָד, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה מג, ו): אֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי וּלְתֵימָן אַל תִּכְלָאִי הָבִיאִי בָנַי מֵרָחוֹק וגו'. רַבִּי חוֹנְיָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין בַּר לֵוִי אָמַר, לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה כְּשֶׁרוּחַ צְפוֹנִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת אֵין רוּחַ דְּרוֹמִית מְנַשֶּׁבֶת, אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲנִי מֵבִיא רוּחַ אָגְרֶסְטֵים לָעוֹלָם וּשְׁתֵּי הָרוּחוֹת מְשַׁמְשׁוֹת בּוֹ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: אֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עוּרִי צָפוֹן וגו', לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת סְעוּדָה לַצַּדִּיקִים בַּגַּן עֵדֶן וְאֵין צְרִיכִין לֹא בְּפַלְסָמוֹן וְלֹא רָאשֵׁי בְּשָׂמִים אֶלָּא רוּחַ צָפוֹן וְרוּחַ דָּרוֹם מְכַבְּדוֹת וְזוֹחֲלוֹת כָּל בֻּסְמָנֵי גַּן עֵדֶן וְנוֹתְנִים רֵיחָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ד, טז): הָפִיחִי גַנִי, זֶה כִּבּוּד הַגַּן, יִזְלוּ בְשָׂמָיו, זֶה זִלּוּף. יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, אוֹמְרִים יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְכִי יֵשׁ בַּעַל הַבַּיִת שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה סְעוּדָה לָאוֹרְחִים וְלֹא יִהְיֶה מֵיסֵב עִמָּהֶם, יֵשׁ חָתָן עוֹשֶׂה סְעוּדָה לַמְּקֹרָאִים וְלֹא יֵשֵׁב עִמָּהֶם, אִם רְצוֹנְךָ יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ וְיֹאכַל פְּרִי מְגָדָיו. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֲרֵינִי עוֹשֶׂה כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאַתֶּם מְבַקְּשִׁים, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּא לְגַן עֵדֶן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שיר השירים ה, א): בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה וגו', אֲחֹתִי שֶׁנִּתְאֲחוּ לִי בַּגָּלוּת, כַּלָּה שֶׁנִּתְכַּלּוּ בַּגָּלוּת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (תהלים מד, כג): כִּי עָלֶיךָ הֹרַגְנוּ כָל הַיּוֹם וגו', לְפִיכָךְ עָתִיד לִקְרוֹתָם אֲחֹתִי, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אֲחוּיִים אֶצְלוֹ, כַּלָּה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (איכה ב, טו): כְּלִילַת יֹפִי, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה סא, טו): וְכַכַּלָּה תַּעְדֶּה כֵלֶיהָ, וְאוֹמֵר (ישעיה מט, יח): וּתְקַשְׁרִים כַּכַּלָּה. (שיר השירים ה, א): אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, שֶׁנִּתְמָרְרוּ בַּגָּלוּת וְהָיוּ מְבַשְֹּׂמִים עַצְמָם בְּקִדּוּשׁ שֵׁם שָׁמַיִם, לְכָךְ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְעַנְגָם בְּגַן עֵדֶן וּלְקַטֵּר לִפְנֵיהֶם מִכָּל הַבְּשָׂמִים. (שיר השירים ה, א): אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, לְפִי שֶׁהֶעֱרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל נַפְשָׁם לְמִיתָה בַּגָּלוּת, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (ישעיה נג, יב): תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר הֶעֱרָה לַמָּוֶת נַפְשׁוֹ, וְהָיוּ עוֹסְקִים בַּתּוֹרָה הַמְתוּקָה מִדְּבָשׁ, לְפִיכָךְ עָתִיד הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַשְׁקוֹתָם יַיִן הַמְשֻׁמָּר בַּעֲנָבָיו מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית, וּלְהַרְחִיצָם בְּנַחֲלֵי חָלָב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, עַל שֵׁם (יואל ד, יח): וְהָיָה בַיּוֹם הַהוּא יִטְּפוּ הֶהָרִים עָסִיס וְהַגְּבָעוֹת תֵּלַכְנָה חָלָב וגו'. (שיר השירים ה, א): אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁעָשׂוּ רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּגָּלוּת וְלֹא רָצוּ לְהִתְעָרֵב בָּאֻמּוֹת, אֶלָּא שָׁמְרוּ בְּרִיתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, אֵלּוּ בַּעֲלֵי מִצְווֹת. שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דוֹדִים, אֵלוּ חַכְמֵי תוֹרָה. וְרַבִּי יוֹסֵי בַּר חָמָא דָּרִישׁ לֵיהּ לְהַאי קְרָיָה כֻּלּוֹ עוּרִי צָפוֹן, בַּמִּשְׁכָּן. עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן, אֵלּוּ עוֹלוֹת וּשְׁלָמִים, שֶׁהָעוֹלוֹת נִשְׁחָטוֹת בַּצָּפוֹן, וְהַשְּׁלָמִים בַּדָּרוֹם. הָפִיחִי גַנִּי, זֶה הַמִּשְׁכָּן, מַהוּ גַנִּי, גְּנוּנִי. מָה הַכִּילָה הַזֹּאת מְצֻיֶּרֶת בְּמִינֵי צִבְעוֹנִים, כָּךְ הָיָה הַמִּשְׁכָּן מְצֻיָּר בְּמִינֵי צִבְעוֹנִין, (שמות כו, לא לו): תְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וְתוֹלַעַת שָׁנִי וְשֵׁשׁ מָשְׁזָר. יִזְלוּ בְשָׂמָיו, זֶה הַקְּטֹרֶת. יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי חוֹנְיָא לִמְדָתְךָ הַתּוֹרָה דֶּרֶךְ אֶרֶץ, שֶׁלֹא יְהֵא הֶחָתָן נִכְנַס לַחֻפָּה עַד שֶׁהַכַּלָּה נוֹתֶנֶת לוֹ רְשׁוּת, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי. רַבִּי עֲזַרְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן רַבִּי סִימוֹן מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁכָּעַס עַל מַטְרוֹנָה וּטְרָדָהּ וְהוֹצִיאָהּ מִתּוֹךְ פַּלְטֵרִין שֶׁלּוֹ, לְאַחַר זְמָן בִּקֵּשׁ לְהַחֲזִירָהּ, אָמְרָה יְחַדֵּשׁ לִי דָבָר וְאַחַר כָּךְ הוּא מַחֲזִירֵנִי. כָּךְ לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיָה אָדָם שָׁרוּי בְּגַן עֵדֶן בְּמַחֲנֵה הַשְּׁכִינָה, כָּעַס עָלָיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְגֵרְשׁוֹ מִמְּחִצָּתוֹ, כְּשֶׁיָּצְאוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל מִמִּצְרַיִם בִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהַחֲזִיר יִשְׂרָאֵל לִמְחִצָּתוֹ, וְאָמַר לָהֶם שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ לוֹ מִשְׁכָּן וְיִשְׁכֹּן בְּתוֹכָם, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמות כה, ח): וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וגו', אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל יְחַדֵּשׁ לָנוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא דָּבָר אֶחָד שֶׁהוּא חָפֵץ לְהַחֲזִירֵנוּ אֶצְלוֹ, מַה הוּא הַחִדּוּשׁ, לְשֶׁעָבַר הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְקַבֵּל קָרְבָּנוֹת מִלְּמַעְלָן (בראשית ח, כא): וַיָּרַח ה' אֶת רֵיחַ הַנִּיחֹחַ, וְעַכְשָׁו יִהְיֶה מְקַבֵּל קָרְבָּנוֹת מִלְּמַטָּן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, זוֹ הַשְּׁכִינָה. וְיֹאכַל פְּרִי מְגָדָיו, אֵלּוּ הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת. בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁאָמַר לִבְנֵי הַמְדִינָה שֶׁיִּבְנוּ פַּלְטָר, וּבָנוּ אוֹתוֹ, וְהָיוּ בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה עוֹמְדִים עַל פֶּתַח פַּלְטָר וּמְצַעֲקִים וְאוֹמְרִים, יִכָּנֵס הַמֶּלֶךְ לַפַּלְטָר, מֶה עָשָׂה נִכְנַס בַּפִּשְׁפֵּשׁ וְשָׁלַח לָהֶם הַכָּרוֹז אַל תִּצְעֲקוּ שֶׁכְּבָר בָּאתִי לַפַּלְטָר. כָּךְ כְּשֶׁעָמַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים, יָבֹא דוֹדִי לְגַנּוֹ, לְפִי שֶׁמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן נִגְמְרָה בְּעֶשְׂרִים וַחֲמִשָּׁה בְּכִסְלֵו, וְעָמַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן מְקֻפָּל עַד רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן, וְהָיוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים הֲרֵי עָשִׂינוּ הַמִּשְׁכָּן מָתַי תָּבוֹא הַשְּׁכִינָה וְתִשְׁרֶה בְּתוֹךְ מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ. כְּשֶׁהִגִּיעַ רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ נִיסָן וְצִוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְהָקִים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שָׁלַח לָהֶם עַל יְדֵי משֶׁה מָה אַתֶּם יְרֵאִים, כְּבָר בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחוֹתִי כַלָּה. אָמַר רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, בָּאתִי לַגַּן, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי, לִגְנוּנִי, לַמָּקוֹם שֶׁהוּא עִקָּרִי מִתְּחִלָּה, וְכִי עִקַּר שְׁכִינָה אֵינָהּ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים הָיְתָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ג, ח): וַיִּשְׁמְעוּ אֶת קוֹל ה' אֱלֹהִים מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן לְרוּחַ הַיּוֹם, אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר כַּהֲנָא, מְהַלֵּךְ, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא מִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּגָּן, מְקַפֵּץ וְעוֹלֶה. מַהוּ (בראשית ג, ח): וַיִּתְחַבֵּא הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי אַיְּבוּ בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה גָּרְעָה קוֹמָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן וְנַעֲשֵׂית שֶׁל מֵאָה אַמָּה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁחָטָא אָדָם נִסְתַּלְּקָה הַשְּׁכִינָה לָרָקִיעַ הָרִאשׁוֹן, חָטָא קַיִן נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשֵּׁנִי, חָטְאוּ דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשְּׁלִישִׁי, חָטְאוּ דּוֹר הַמַּבּוּל נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הָרְבִיעִי, חָטְאוּ דּוֹר הַפְלָגָה נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַחֲמִישִׁי, חָטְאוּ הַסְּדוֹמִיִּים נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשִּׁשִּׁי, חָטְאוּ הַמִּצְרִיִּים נִסְתַּלְּקָה לָרָקִיעַ הַשְּׁבִיעִי. וּכְנֶגְדָן עָמְדוּ שִׁבְעָה צַדִּיקִים וְהוֹרִידוּ אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה מִן הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לַתַּחְתּוֹנִים, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: אַבְרָהָם הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשְּׁבִיעִי לַשִּׁשִּׁי, יִצְחָק הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשִּׁשִּׁי לַחֲמִישִׁי, יַעֲקֹב הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַחֲמִישִׁי לָרְבִיעִי, לֵוִי הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הָרְבִיעִי לַשְּׁלִישִׁי, קְהָת הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשְּׁלִישִׁי לַשֵּׁנִי, עַמְרָם הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הַשֵּׁנִי לָרִאשׁוֹן, משֶׁה הוֹרִידָהּ מִן הָעֶלְיוֹנִים לַתַּחְתּוֹנִים. אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק כְּתִיב (תהלים לז, כט): צַדִּיקִים יִרְשׁוּ אָרֶץ וְיִשְׁכְּנוּ לָעַד עָלֶיהָ, הָרְשָׁעִים בַּמֶּה יִשְׁכְּנוּ, בָּאֲוִיר אֶלָּא, הָרְשָׁעִים סִלְּקוּ הַשְּׁכִינָה מִן הָאָרֶץ, אֲבָל הַצַּדִּיקִים הִשְׁכִּינוּ הַשְּׁכִינָה בָּאָרֶץ, אֵימָתַי שָׁרְתָה הַשְּׁכִינָה בָּאָרֶץ, בַּיּוֹם שֶׁהוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות מ, לד): וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד ה' מָלֵא אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן. (שיר השירים ה, א): אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, זוֹ הַלְּבוֹנָה וְהַקְּטֹרֶת. אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, אֵלּוּ אֵבְרֵי עוֹלָה וְאֵמוּרֵי קָדְשֵׁי הַקֳּדָשִׁים. שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, אֵלּוּ הַמְנָחוֹת וְהַנְּסָכִים. אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, זֶה משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן. שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דוֹדִים, זֶה נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּכְּרוּ בְּצָרָתָן. דָּבָר אַחֵר, אִכְלוּ רֵעִים, אֵלּוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים, אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹסָנְיָה לָמָּה קָרָא לַנְּשִׂיאִים רֵעִים, שֶׁמִּכֵּיוָן שֶׁהָיָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם מַקְרִיב קָרְבָּן וְקָרְבָּנוֹ מִתְקַבֵּל, הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה יוֹם טוֹב לְאוֹהֲבָיו לְרֵעָיו וְלִקְרוֹבָיו. שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים, אֵלּוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים. לָמָּה קָרֵי לְהוּ דּוֹדִים, שֶׁהָיוּ דּוֹדִים אֵלּוּ לָאֵלּוּ. לָמָּה אָמַר לָהֶם אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְהִזְמִין אוֹרְחִים כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ אָמַר לָהֶם תְּנוּ אֶת הַמָּנָה הַזֹּאת לְבַעַל הַבַּיִת, אַף הָכָא בָּאתִי לְגַנִּי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה, וְאַף אַתֶּם אִכְלוּ רֵעִים שְׁתוּ וְשִׁכְרוּ דּוֹדִים. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְהִזְמִין אוֹרְחִים וְנָח הַשֶּׁרֶץ לְתוֹךְ הַתַּמְחוּי וּפָשַׁט הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת יָדוֹ וּפָשְׁטוּ הַכֹּל אֶת יְדֵיהֶם, שֶׁאִלּוּ מָשַׁךְ הַמֶּלֶךְ אֶת יָדוֹ מָשְׁכוּ הַכֹּל אֶת יְדֵיהֶם. אָמַר רַבִּי יַנַּאי מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְהִזְמִין אוֹרְחִים וְהָיְתָה עֵינוֹ יָפָה בָּאוֹרְחִים וְהָיָה מְחַזֵּר עֲלֵיהֶם וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם יֶעֱרַב לָכֶם יִבְסַם לָכֶם. דָּבָר אַחֵר אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי וגו', אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹסָנְיָה שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים כָּתוּב כָּאן: אָרִיתִי מוֹרִי עִם בְּשָׂמִי, אָכַלְתִּי יַעְרִי עִם דִּבְשִׁי, שָׁתִיתִי יֵינִי עִם חֲלָבִי, כְּנֶגֶד שְׁלשָׁה דְבָרִים שֶׁעָשׂוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים שֶׁלֹא כְּהֹגֶן וְקִבְּלָם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין הַיָּחִיד מִתְנַדֵּב בַּקְּטֹרֶת, וְהַנְּשִׂיאִים הֵבִיאוּ, (במדבר ז, יד): כַּף אַחַת עֲשָׂרָה זָהָב מְלֵאָה קְטֹרֶת. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין הַיָּחִיד מֵבִיא חַטָּאת אֶלָּא אַחַר יְדִיעַת חֶטְאוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵבִיאוּ שָׂעִיר שֶׁלֹא בְּחֵטְא. בְּכָל מָקוֹם אֵין קָרְבַּן יָחִיד דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת, וְכָאן קָרְבַּן יָחִיד דּוֹחֶה אֶת הַשַּׁבָּת. הָא לָמַדְנוּ כַּמָּה קָרְבַּן נְשִׂיאִים חָבִיב לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא.

“The one who presented” – that is what is written: “Arise, north, and come, south…” (Song of Songs 4:16). Rabbi Yosei said: When did the inauguration begin? It was on the twenty-third of Adar. On the first of Nisan, the days of inauguration concluded. All seven days of inauguration, Moses would erect the Tabernacle, and each and every morning he would sacrifice his offerings in it, and dismantle it. On the eighth, he erected it and did not dismantle it, as it is stated: “It was in the first month during the second year, on the first of the month, the Tabernacle was erected” (Exodus 40:17). That eighth day was Sunday, and it was the first of Nisan. On that day, Aaron and his sons stood and washed their hands and their feet from the basin, performed their service in the prescribed order. On that day, Israel sacrificed the daily offerings, vow offerings and gift offerings, sin offerings and guilt offerings, first born and tithes. Regarding that day it says: “Arise, north, and come, south …” – “Arise, north,” this is the burnt offering that is slaughtered in the north. “And come, south,” this is the peace offering that is slaughtered in the south. “Blow upon my garden” (Song of Songs 4:16), this is the Tent of Meeting. “Its perfume will spread” (Song of Songs 4:16), this is the incense of the spices. “Let my beloved come to his garden” (Song of Songs 4:16), this is the Divine Presence. “And eat his delicious fruits,” these are the offerings. “I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride” (Song of Songs 5:1), this is the eighth day. “I gathered my myrrh with my perfume” (Song of Songs 5:1), this is the frankincense of the incense and the frankincense of the meal offering. “I ate my honeycomb with my honey” (Song of Songs 5:1), these are the limbs of the burnt offering and the parts of the offerings of the most sacred order that are burned on the altar. “I drank my wine with my milk” (Song of Songs 5:1), these are the libations and the parts of the offerings of lesser sanctity that are burned on the altar. “Eat, friends” (Song of Songs 5:1), this is Moses and Aaron. “Drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones” (Song of Songs 5:1), this is the congregation of Israel. Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina, Rabbi Elazar said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed peace offerings. Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina said: The descendants of Noah sacrificed [only] burnt offerings. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: But is it not written: “Abel, he too brought from the firstborn of his flock and the choicest of them [meḥelvehen]” (Genesis 4:4), an item whose fat [ḥelev] is offered [on the altar]. What does Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina do with this? He will interpret it as the choicest of them. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “He sent the young men of the children of Israel and they offered up burnt offerings and they slaughtered peace offerings, [shelamim] of bulls to the Lord” (Exodus 24:5). What does Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina do with this? They were complete [shelemim] with their hides, without flaying and quartering. Rabbi Elazar raised an objection to Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “Yitro, father-in-law of Moses, took a burnt offering and feast offerings to God” (Exodus 18:12). What does Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina do with this? He interprets it in accordance with the opinion of the one who said: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah. Rav said: Rabbi Elazar and Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina disagree; one said: Yitro came before the giving of the Torah, and the other said: Yitro came after the giving of the Torah. Rabbi Ḥama said that Rabbi Ḥanina said: The one who said that Yitro came before the giving of the Torah is in accordance with the one who said that they sacrificed peace offerings. The one who said that Yitro came after the giving of the Torah is in accordance with the one who said that they sacrificed burnt offerings. This supports Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “Arise, north,” this is the burnt offering that is slaughtered in the north. What is “arise”? It is an item that was dormant and awakened. “And come, south,” this is the peace offering that is slaughtered in the south. What is “and come”? It is something [a type of sacrifice] that was initiated. Rabbi Abba son of Rav Papi and Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: This verse, too, supports Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “This is the law of the burnt offering, it is the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:2), that the descendants of Noah sacrificed. When it comes to the peace offering: “This is the law of the peace offering [that one will offer to the Lord]” (Leviticus 7:11). “That they sacrificed” is not written here, but rather “that they will sacrifice” – from now and in the future. How does Rabbi Elazar establish the verse of Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: “Arise, north, and come, south”? He interpreted it regarding the exiles. “Arise, north” – when the exiles that are located in the north arise, they will come and encamp in the south. When Gog, who is located in the north, will arise, he will come and fall in the south; “I will lead you astray and I will entice you, and I will take you up from the ends of the north” (Ezekiel 39:2). When the messianic king, who is located in the north, will arise, he will come and build the Temple that is located in the south, just as it says: “I roused one from the north, and he came” (Isaiah 41:25). Another matter, “Arise, north…” – it teaches that the winds are destined to introduce jealousy among themselves. The south wind says: ‘I will bring the exile of Teman, the exile of Hajar, and the entire south.’ The north wind says: ‘I am bringing the exile of the north.’ The Holy One blessed be He institutes peace between them and they enter the same entrance, to realize what is stated: “I will say to the north: Give, and to the south: Do not withhold; bring My sons from afar [and My daughters from the ends of the earth]” (Isaiah 43:6). Rabbi Ḥoneya said in the name of Rabbi Binyamin ben Levi: Because, in this world, when the north wind blows the south wind does not blow, but in the future, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘I will bring a hybrid wind to the world, and it will be comprised of the two winds.’ That is what is written: “I will say to the north: Give…” Another matter, “Arise, north…” – in the future, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to prepare a feast for the righteous in the Garden of Eden, and they will need neither balsam nor choice spices, but rather the north wind and the south wind will sweep through and sprinkle all the spices of the Garden of Eden and spread their fragrance. That is what is written: “Blow upon my garden” (Song of Songs 4:16); this is the sweeping through the garden.. “Its perfume will spread” (Song of Songs 4:16); this is the sprinkling. “Let my beloved come to his garden” (Song of Songs 4:16); Israel says before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Is there a host that prepares a feast for the guests and does not recline with them? Is there a bridegroom who prepares a feast for the invitees and does not sit with them? If it is Your will: “Let my beloved come to his garden and eat his delicious fruits”’ (Song of Songs 4:16). The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘I will do as you request.’ At that moment, the Holy One blessed be He came to the Garden of Eden. That is what is written: “I have come to my garden, my sister [aḥoti], my bride [kala]…” (Song of Songs 5:1); Aḥoti, because they were burned [shenitaḥu] on My behalf in exile; kala, because they were consumed [shenitkalu] in exile, just as it says: “For we were killed all day on Your behalf…” (Psalms 44:23); therefore, He is destined to call them aḥoti, so they will be joined [aḥuyim] with Him; kala, just as it says: “The perfect [kelilat] beauty” (Lamentations 2:15), and it says: “Like a bride [vekhakala] bedecks herself with her ornaments” (Isaiah 61:10), and it says: “You will tie them like a bride [kakala]” (Isaiah 49:18). “I gathered my myrrh [mori] with my perfume [besami]” (Song of Songs 5:1), as they were embittered [shenitmareru] in exile, but they would freshen [mevasmim] themselves with sanctification of the name of Heaven. That is why the Holy One blessed be He is destined to delight them in the Garden of Eden and burn all the spices before them. “I ate my honeycomb [yari] with my honey” (Song of Songs 5:1); because they poured out [he’eru] their souls to death in exile, just as it says: “Because he poured out his soul to death” (Isaiah 53:12), and they engaged in the study of Torah that is sweeter than honey. That is why the Holy One blessed be He is destined to give them wine that has been preserved in its grapes since the six days of Creation, and to bathe them in streams of milk. Alternatively, it is based on: “It will be on that day, that the mountains will drip nectar [asis] and the hills will flow with milk” (Joel 4:18). “Eat, friends” (Song of Songs 5:1), these are Israel, who performed the will of the Holy One blessed be He in exile and did not wish to assimilate into the nations, but rather they observed the covenant of the Holy One blessed be He. Alternatively, “eat, friends,” these are the performers of mitzvot; “drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones” (Song of Songs 5:1), these are the Torah Sages. Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥama expounds this entire verse, “arise, north,” regarding the Tabernacle. “Arise, north, and come, south,” these are burnt offerings and peace offerings, as the burnt offerings are slaughtered in the north and the peace offerings in the south. “Blow upon my garden [gani].” What is gani? It is my canopy [genuni]. Just like this canopy is adorned with assorted colors, so the Tabernacle was adorned with assorted colors: “Sky blue, purple and scarlet wool and linen, spun together” (Exodus 26:31, 36). “Its perfume will spread,” this is the incense. “Let my beloved come to his garden,” Rabbi Honeya said the Torah taught you proper conduct. The bridegroom shall not enter the wedding canopy until the bride gives him permission. That is, “let my beloved come to his garden,” and only then: “I have come to my garden.” Rabbi Azarya in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: This is analogous to a king who grew angry at his queen and expelled her and removed her from his palace. Sometime later, he sought to have her return. She said: ‘Let him provide me with a novel item, and then he can have me return.’ So, in the past, man was in the Garden of Eden in the camp of the Divine Presence. The Holy One blessed be He grew angry at him and expelled him from his domain. When Israel departed from Egypt, the Holy One blessed be He sought to restore Israel to his domain, and said to them that they should build a Tabernacle for Him and He would dwell in their midst, just as it says: “They shall craft a sanctuary for Me, [and I will dwell in their midst]” (Exodus 25:8). Israel said: ‘Let the Holy One blessed be He provide us with one novel item in order to have us return to Him.’ What is the novel element? In the past, the Holy One blessed be He would accept offerings from on High: “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma” (Genesis 8:21), but now He will be accepting them from below. That is what is written: “Let my beloved come to his garden,” this is the Divine Presence. “And eat his delicious fruits,” these are the offerings. “I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride.” To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who said to the residents of the province that they should build a palace, and they built it. The residents of the province were standing at the entrance to the palace, and shouting and saying: ‘Let the king enter the palace.’ What did he do? He entered through a wicket and sent the herald to them: ‘Do not shout, as I have already entered the palace.’ So, when the Tabernacle was erected, Israel would say: “Let my beloved come to his garden,” as the labor of the Tabernacle was completed on the twenty-fifth of Kislev, and the Tabernacle stood dismantled until the New Moon of Nisan. Israel were saying: ‘We crafted the Tabernacle. When will the Divine Presence come and rest in our handiwork?’ When the New Moon of Nisan arrived, and the Holy One blessed be He commanded to erect the Tabernacle, He sent to them by means of Moses: ‘What do you fear? Already “I have come to my garden, my sister, my bride.”’ Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei said: “I have come to the garden” is not written here, but rather, “I have come to my garden [legani]” – to my canopy [lignuni], to the place that was primary from the outset. Was not the primary locale for the Divine Presence in the lower worlds? That is what is written: “They heard the voice of the Lord God walking about in the garden with the day breeze” (Genesis 3:8). Rabbi Ḥama bar Kahana said: “Walking [mehalekh],” is not written here, but rather, “mithalekh in the garden” – hopping and ascending. What is, “The man and his wife hid”? (Genesis 3:8). Rabbi Aivu said: At that moment, the stature of Adam the first man diminished and stood at one hundred cubits. When Adam sinned, the Divine Presence ascended to the first firmament. Cain sinned, It ascended to the second firmament. The generation of Enosh sinned, It ascended to the third firmament. The generation of the Flood sinned, It ascended to the fourth firmament. The generation of the Dispersion sinned, It ascended to the fifth firmament. The Sodomites sinned, It ascended to the sixth firmament. The Egyptians sinned, It ascended to the seventh firmament. Corresponding to them, seven righteous men stood and caused the Divine Presence to descend from the upper worlds to the lower worlds; these are they: Abraham caused It to descend from the seventh to the sixth; Isaac caused It to descend from the sixth to the fifth; Jacob caused It to descend from the fifth to the fourth; Levi caused It to descend from the fourth to the third; Kehat caused It to descend from the third to the second; Amram caused It to descend from the second to the first; Moses caused It to descend from the upper worlds to the lower worlds. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: It is written: “The righteous will inherit the earth and dwell on it forever” (Psalms 37:29). On what will the wicked dwell, the air? Rather, the wicked expelled the Divine Presence from the earth, but the righteous caused the Divine Presence to dwell on earth. When did the Divine Presence rest on the earth? It was on the day that the Tabernacle was erected, as it is stated: “The cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). “I gathered my myrrh with my perfume,” this is the frankincense and the incense. “I ate my honeycomb with my honey,” these are the limbs of the burnt offering and the parts of the offerings of the most sacred order that are burned on the altar. “I drank my wine with my milk,” these are the meal offerings and the libations. “Eat, friends,” this is Moses and Aaron. “Drink and become intoxicated [veshikhru], beloved ones,” this is Nadav and Avihu, who were overcome [shenishtakeru] by their trouble. Another matter, “eat, friends,” these are the princes. Rabbi Shimon ben Yosanya said: Why does it call the princes “friends”? It is because when one of them would present his offering and the offering was accepted, he would make a feast for his loved ones, his friends, and his relatives. “Drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones,” these are the princes. Why does it call them beloved ones? It is because they were beloved to one another. Why does it say to them: “Eat, friends, drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones”? This is analogous to a king who made a feast and invited guests. After they ate and drank, he said to them: ‘Give this portion to the host.’ Here, too, “I have come to my garden,” and you, too, “eat, friends, drink and become intoxicated, beloved ones.” Rabbi Berekhya said: This is analogous to a king who made a feast and invited guests, and a creeping animal landed in the serving dish. The king extended his hand and all of them extended their hands. Had the king withdrawn his hand, all of them would have withdrawn their hands. Rabbi Yanai said: This is analogous to a king who made a feast and invited guests, and he wanted his guests to enjoy themselves. He would circulate among them and say: ‘May it be pleasant for you, may it be sweet for you.’ Another matter, “I gathered my myrrh…” Rabbi Shimon ben Yosanya said: Three matters are written here: “I gathered my myrrh with my perfume,” “I ate my honeycomb with my honey,” “I drank my wine with my milk,” corresponding to three matters that the princes performed inappropriately, but the Holy One blessed be He accepted them. These are: Everywhere, an individual does not donate the incense, but the princes brought it, “one ladle of ten gold shekels, full of incense” (Numbers 7:14). Everywhere, the individual brings a sin offering only after he becomes aware of his sin, but here they brought a goat unrelated to a sin. Everywhere, an individual’s offering does not override Shabbat, but here the individual’s offering overrode Shabbat. We learned from this how beloved the offering of the princes was before the Holy One blessed be He.

Section 3ג׳

וַיְהִי הַמַּקְרִיב וגו', הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי כט, כג): גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, אָמַר רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בַר אַבָּא גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ, זֶה אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, כֵּיצַד בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָבַר אָדָם עַל צִוּוּיוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וְאָכַל מִן הָאִילָן, בִּקֵּשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה תְּשׁוּבָה וּפָתַח לוֹ פֶּתַח, וְלֹא בִּקֵּשׁ אָדָם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית ג, כב): וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים הֵן הָאָדָם וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר כַּהֲנָא מַהוּ וְעַתָּה, אֶלָּא שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אֲפִלּוּ עַכְשָׁו עֲשֵׂה תְּשׁוּבָה וַאֲנִי מְקַבְּלָךְ, וְאָמַר אָדָם אִי אֶפְשִׁי. הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא אָמַר וְעַתָּה, וְאָמַר אָדָם פֶּן, אִי אֶפְשִׁי. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּצָא אָדָם מִן הַדִּין הִתְחִיל מְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף, נֶאֱמַר כָּאן כְּרֻבִים, (בראשית ג, כד): וַיַּשְׁכֵּן מִקֶּדֶם לְגַן עֵדֶן אֶת הַכְּרֻבִים, וְנֶאֱמַר בְּסַנְחֵרִיב כְּרֻבִים, (ישעיה לז, טז): ה' צְבָאוֹת יוֹשֵׁב הַכְּרֻבִים, מַה לְּהַלָּן חֵרוּפִים וְגִדוּפִים, אַף כְּרֻבִים שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר כָּאן חֵרוּפִים וְגִדוּפִים, הֱוֵי גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ, לְפִי שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מֵעֲשׂוֹת תְּשׁוּבָה הִשְׁפִּיל אוֹתוֹ וְגֵרְשׁוֹ מִגַּן עֵדֶן. וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, זֶה אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל רוּחוֹ וְאָמַר (בראשית יח, כז): וְאָנֹכִי עָפָר וָאֵפֶר, לְכָךְ קָרָא אוֹתוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (יהושע יד, טו): הָאָדָם הַגָּדוֹל בַּעֲנָקִים, שֵׁם זֶה גָּדוֹל מִן אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. דָּבָר אַחֵר גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ, זֶה פַּרְעֹה שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה עַל משֶׁה וְאָמַר (שמות ה, ב): מִי ה' אֲשֶׁר אֶשְׁמַע בְּקֹלוֹ וגו', וְהִשְׁפִּילוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (תהלים קלו, טו): וְנִעֵר פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ, וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, זֶה משֶׁה (שמות ח, ה): לְמָתַי אַעְתִּיר לְךָ וגו', וְאוֹמֵר (שמות ט, כט): כְּצֵאתִי אֶת הָעִיר אֶפְרֹשׂ אֶת כַּפַּי וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר גַּאֲוַת אָדָם, זֶה עֲמָלֵק, שֶׁנִּתְגָּאָה עַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּחֵרוּפָיו וְגִדוּפָיו, שֶׁהָיָה מַשְׁלִיחַ זְמוֹרָה אֶל אַפּוֹ וְהָיָה נוֹטֵל זַכְרוּתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְזוֹרֵק כְּלַפֵּי מַעְלָה וּמְחָרֵף וּמְגַדֵּף וְאוֹמֵר בְּזוֹ חָפַצְתָּ, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דברים כה, יח): וַיְזַנֵּב בְּךָ, שֶׁהִכָּם מַכַּת זָנָב. וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, זֶה יְהוֹשֻׁעַ, שֶׁהֲרָגוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יז, יג): וַיַּחֲלשׁ יְהוֹשֻׁעַ אֶת עֲמָלֵק וְאֶת עַמּוֹ וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ, זֶה תָּבוֹר וְכַרְמֶל שֶׁבָּאוּ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם, מִתְגָּאִים לוֹמַר שֶׁאָנוּ גְּבוֹהִים וְעָלֵינוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא נוֹתֵן אֶת הַתּוֹרָה. וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, זֶה סִינַי שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל אֶת עַצְמוֹ לוֹמַר שֶׁאֲנִי נָמוּךְ, וְעַל יְדֵי כָךְ תָּמַךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּבוֹדוֹ עָלָיו וְנִתְּנָה עָלָיו הַתּוֹרָה וְזָכָה לְכָל הַכָּבוֹד הַזֶּה, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמות יט, כ): וַיֵּרֶד ה' עַל הַר סִינַי. דָּבָר אַחֵר גַּאֲוַת אָדָם תַּשְׁפִּילֶנּוּ, זֶה יוֹסֵף שֶׁהִנְהִיג שְׂרָרָה, שֶׁהָיוּ אוֹמְרִים לוֹ אֶחָיו לְפָנָיו עַבְדְּךָ אָבִינוּ, וְהָיָה שׁוֹתֵק, לְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָא עֲצָמוֹת בְּחַיָּיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית נ, כה): וְהַעֲלִתֶם אֶת עַצְמֹתַי מִזֶּה. וּשְׁפַל רוּחַ יִתְמֹךְ כָּבוֹד, זֶה יְהוּדָה שֶׁהִשְׁפִּיל עַצְמוֹ לִפְנֵי יוֹסֵף בִּשְׁבִיל בִּנְיָמִין (בראשית מד, יח) (בראשית מד, לב) (בראשית מד, לג): יְדַבֶּר נָא עַבְדְּךָ דָּבָר, כִּי עַבְדְּךָ עָרַב אֶת הַנַּעַר, וְעַתָּה יֵשֶׁב נָא עַבְדְּךָ וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה הַכֹּהֵן בַּר רַבִּי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא יְהוּדָה אַתָּה הִשְׁפַּלְתָּ עַצְמְךָ מִפְּנֵי אָחִיךָ הַקָּטָן הֵימֶךָ, חַיֶּיךָ כְּשֶׁיּוּקַם הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְיָבוֹאוּ הַשְּׁבָטִים לְהַקְרִיב, אֵין אֶחָד מֵהֶם מַקְרִיב רִאשׁוֹן לְפָנֶיךָ, אֶלָּא חוֹלְקִים לְךָ כָּבוֹד וְאַתָּה הוּא שֶׁתַּקְרִיב רִאשׁוֹן, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (במדבר ז, יב): וַיְהִי הַמַּקְרִיב בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן וגו' לְמַטֵּה יְהוּדָה וגו'.

“The one who presented…” (Numbers 7:12), that is what is written: “A man’s pride will humble him, and the lowly spirit will attain honor” (Proverbs 29:23). Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba said: “A man's pride will humble him,” this is Adam the first man. How so? When he violated the command of the Holy One blessed be He and ate from the tree, the Holy One blessed be He sought to have him repent, and He provided him with an opening. Adam did not seek to do so. That is what is written: “The Lord God said: Behold, the man [has become as one of us, to know good and evil, and now, lest] [pen]…” (Genesis 3:22). Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: What is “and now”? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Even now, repent and I will accept you.’ Adam said: ‘I do not wish to do so.’ The Holy One blessed be He said: “And now,” and Adam said: ‘pen, I do not wish to do so.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When Adam emerged from judgment, he began cursing and blaspheming. “Cherubs” is stated here: “He stationed the cherubs east of the Garden of Eden” (Genesis 3:24), and “cherubs” is stated by Sennacherib: “Lord of hosts, God of Israel, who abides over the cherubs” (Isaiah 37:16). Just as there, cursing and blaspheming, so, too, here, cursing and blaspheming. That is, “a man’s pride will humble him.” Because he was too haughty vis-à-vis the Holy One blessed be He to repent, He humbled him and banished him from the Garden of Eden. “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Abraham, who lowered his spirit and said: “I am dust and ashes” (Genesis 18:27). That is why the Holy One blessed be He called him: “The man greatest among the giants” (Joshua 14:15) ; this characterization means greater than Adam the first man. Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Pharaoh, who was haughty vis-à-vis Moses and said: “Who is the Lord that I will heed His voice…?” (Exodus 5:2). The Holy One blessed be He humbled him: “He hurled Pharaoh and his army [into the Red Sea]” (Psalms 136:15). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Moses; “For when shall I entreat on your behalf…?” (Exodus 8:5), and it says: “Upon my leaving the city, I will spread my hands [to the Lord]” (Exodus 9:29). Another matter, “a man’s pride,” this is Amalek, who was haughty vis-à-vis the Holy One blessed be He, with his curses and blasphemies, as he would send the foul smell to His nose, and he would take the male organ of Israel and cast it upward, cursing and blaspheming, saying: ‘Is this what You wanted?’ That is what is written: “And attacked you from behind [vayzanev]” (Deuteronomy 25:18); they struck them a strike on the tail [zanav]. “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Joshua, who killed him, as it is stated: “Joshua weakened Amalek and his people…” (Exodus 17:13). Another matter, “a man’s pride will humble him,” this is Tavor and Carmel, that came from the ends of the earth, haughtily saying: ‘We are high, and upon us, the Holy One blessed be He is giving the Torah.’ “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Sinai, that humbled itself, saying: ‘I am low.’ As a result, the Holy One blessed be He rested His glory upon it. The Torah was given upon it, and it merited all this honor, just as it says: “The Lord descended upon Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20). Another matter, “a man's pride will humble him,” this is Joseph, who conducted himself with superiority, as his brothers would say before him: “Your servant, our father” (Genesis 43:28), and he would keep silent. That is why he is called “bones” during his lifetime, as it is stated: “And you shall carry up my bones from here” (Genesis 50:25). “And the lowly spirit will attain honor,” this is Judah, who humbled himself before Joseph on behalf of Benjamin: “May your servant speak a matter?” (Genesis 44:18); “for your servant took responsibility for the lad” (Genesis 44:32); “now, please, your servant will remain…” (Genesis 44:33). Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen bar Rabbi said in the name of Rabbi Levi: The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Judah, you humbled yourself before your brother who is younger than you; as you live, when the Tabernacle will be erected and the tribes will come to present an offering, not one of them will present an offering before you, but rather they will accord you deference, and it is you who will present an offering first.’ That is what is written: “The one who presented his offering on the first day…of the tribe of Judah…”