במדבר רבה ט״וBamidbar Rabbah 15

Parashah 15 of 23 in Bamidbar Rabbah — 25 sections

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Section 1א׳

בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, אָנוּ מוֹצְאִין בְּהַרְבֵּה מְקוֹמוֹת צִוָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עַל הַנֵּרוֹת וְעַל הַדְּלָקָתָן בְּשֶׁמֶן זַיִת (שמות כז, ב): וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (ויקרא כד, ד): עַל הַמְנֹרָה הַטְּהֹרָה יַעֲרֹךְ אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת, אַף כָּאן: בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת.

“Speak to Aaron, and say to him: When you kindle the lamps, toward the front of the candelabrum, the seven lamps shall illuminate” (Numbers 8:2). “When you kindle” – we find in many places that the Holy One blessed be He commanded regarding the lamps and their kindling with olive oil: “You shall command the children of Israel, and they shall take for you pure virgin olive oil ]for the light, to kindle a lamp continually[” (Exodus 27:20). Likewise it says: “On the pure candelabrum, he shall arrange the lamps” (Leviticus 24:4). Here, too, “when you kindle the lamps.”

Section 2ב׳

זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (ישעיה מב, כא): ה' חָפֵץ לְמַעַן צִדְקוֹ יַגְדִּיל תּוֹרָה וְיַאְדִּיר, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, לֹא בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לְנֵרוֹת הִזְהַרְתִּיךָ עַל הַנֵּרוֹת, אֶלָּא לְזַכּוֹתָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דניאל ב, כב): וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא, וּכְתִיב (תהלים קלט, יב): גַּם חשֶׁךְ לֹא יַחְשִׁיךְ מִמֶּךָּ וְלַיְלָה כַּיּוֹם יָאִיר כַּחֲשֵׁיכָה כָּאוֹרָה, בָּא לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁאֵינוֹ צָרִיךְ לְנֵרוֹת שֶׁל בָּשָׂר וָדָם. תֵּדַע כְּשֶׁאָדָם בּוֹנֶה בַּיִת עוֹשֶׂה לוֹ חַלּוֹנוֹת צָרוֹת מִבַּחוּץ וּרְחָבוֹת מִבִּפְנִים, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהֵא הָאוֹר נִכְנַס מִבַּחוּץ וּמֵאִיר מִבִּפְנִים, וּשְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁבָּנָה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ לֹא עָשָׂה כָּךְ אֶלָּא עָשָׂה חַלּוֹנוֹת צָרוֹת מִבִּפְנִים וּרְחָבוֹת מִבַּחוּץ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיְהֵא הָאוֹר יוֹצֵא מִבֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וּמֵאִיר לַחוּץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים א ו, ד): וַיַּעַשׂ לַבָּיִת חַלּוֹנֵי שְׁקֻפִים אֲטוּמִים, לְהוֹדִיעֲךָ שֶׁכֻּלּוֹ אוֹר וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לְאוֹרָם, וְלָמָּה צִוָּה אֶתְכֶם, לְזַכּוֹתְכֶם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת, הֱוֵי ה' חָפֵץ לְמַעַן צִדְקוֹ. וְלֹא עוֹד אֶלָּא אִם אַתֶּם זְהִירִים לְהַדְלִיק אֶת הַנֵּרוֹת לְפָנַי, אֲנִי מֵאִיר לָכֶם אוֹרָה גְדוֹלָה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר (ישעיה ס, א ג): קוּמִי אוֹרִי כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ וְהָלְכוּ גּוֹיִם לְאוֹרֵךְ וּמְלָכִים לְנֹגַהּ זַרְחֵךְ.

That which the verse states: “The Lord is desirous of him because of his righteousness; he will render the Torah great and glorious” (Isaiah 42:21). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘It is not because I need the lamps that I cautioned you regarding the lamps, but rather to accord them merit,’ as it is stated: “And the light rests with Him” (Daniel 2:22), and it is written: “Even darkness does not darken for You, and night, like day, illuminates. Darkness and light are the same” (Psalms 139:12). It comes to teach you that He does not need the lamps of flesh and blood. Know that when a person builds a house, he crafts windows that are narrow from without and wide from within. Solomon, who built the Temple, did not do so, but rather, he crafted windows that are narrow from within and wide from without, so that the light would emerge from the Temple and illuminate outside, as it is stated: “He made for the House recessed narrowing windows” (I Kings 6:4). This is to inform you that He is all light and does not need their light. Why, then, did He command you? It is to accord you merit. That is why it is stated: “When you kindle the lamps.” That is, “The Lord is desirous of him because of his righteousness.” Moreover, [God said:] ‘If you are vigilant in kindling the lamps before Me, I will illuminate for you with a great light in the future.’ That is why it is stated: “Arise, shine, for your light has come…. Nations will walk by your light and kings by the radiance of your shining” (Isaiah 60:1, 3).

Section 3ג׳

בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת. אַתְּ מוֹצֵא שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים שֶׁהִקְרִיבוּ קָרְבָּנוֹת לַחֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, שֵׁבֶט לֵוִי לֹא הִקְרִיב כְּלוּם, וְהָיוּ מְצֵרִין וְאוֹמְרִים, לָמָּה רֻחַקְנוּ מֵהַקְרִיב לַחֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ. מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה סְעוּדָה וְהָיָה קוֹרֵא אֻמָּנִיּוֹת, הָיָה אוֹהֵב אֶחָד שֶׁאוֹהֲבוֹ יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי, לֹא קָרָא אוֹתוֹ עִמָּהֶן, הָיָה מֵצֵר לוֹמַר שֶׁמָּא יֵשׁ בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ עָלַי כְּלוּם, שֶׁלֹא זִמְּנַנִי בְּכָל סְעוּדוֹת הָאֵלּוּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָבְרוּ אוֹתָן יְמֵי סְעוּדָה קָרָא אוֹתוֹ אוֹהֵב, אָמַר לוֹ, לְכָל בְּנֵי הַמְדִינָה עָשִׂיתִי סְעוּדָה וּלְךָ לְעַצְמְךָ אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה סְעוּדָה, לָמָּה, שֶׁאַתְּ אוֹהֲבִי. כָּךְ מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר שְׁבָטִים הִקְרִיבוּ לַחֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְקִבְּלָן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר ז, ה): קַח מֵאִתָּם, וְשִׁבְטוֹ שֶׁל לֵוִי לֹא הִקְרִיבוּ, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָבַר חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְאַהֲרֹן וּלְבָנָיו כָּל הַשְּׁבָטִים עָשׂוּ חֲנֻכָּה וְשִׁבְטְךָ לֹא עָשָׂה, לְכָךְ: דַּבֵּר אֶל אַהֲרֹן וְאָמַרְתָּ אֵלָיו בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, וְאַחַר כָּךְ (במדבר ח, ו): קַח אֶת הַלְוִיִם.

“When you kindle the lamps” – you find twelve tribes that presented offerings for the dedication of the altar. The tribe of Levi did not present anything, and they were troubled, and were saying: ‘Why were we distanced from presenting an offering for the dedication of the altar?’ This is analogous to a king who made a feast and he invited artisans. There was one who was beloved to him, whom he loved excessively, whom he did not invite with them. He was troubled and was saying: ‘Does the king, perhaps have something in his heart against me, that he failed to invite me to any of these feasts?’ When those days of feast ended, he summoned that beloved one. He said to him: ‘I made a feast for all the residents of the province, but for you, alone I will make a feast. Why? It is because you are my beloved.’ So, [with respect to] the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He. You find that twelve tribes presented offerings for the dedication of the altar and the Holy One blessed be He accepted them, as it is stated: “Take from them” (Numbers 7:5). But the tribe of Levi did not present an offering. When the dedication of the altar was completed, the Holy One blessed be He said to Aaron and his sons: ‘All the tribes performed the dedication, but your tribe did not perform.’ Therefore, “Speak to Aaron, and say to him: When you kindle,” and then: “Take the Levites” (Numbers 8:6).

Section 4ד׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ, אַתְּ מוֹצֵא שֶׁנִּתְקַשָּׁה משֶׁה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנוֹרָה יוֹתֵר מִכָּל כְּלֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, עַד שֶׁהֶרְאָהוּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בָּאֶצְבַּע. וְכֵן בְּפַרְסוֹת בְּהֵמָה טְמֵאָה וּטְהוֹרָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ויקרא יא, ב): זֹאת הַחַיָה אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכְלוּ (ויקרא יא, ד): אֶת זֶה לֹא תֹאכְלוּ, וְהֶרְאָהוּ בָּאֶצְבַּע. וְכֵן בַּיָּרֵחַ (שמות יב, ב): הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם. וְכֵן בַּמְּנוֹרָה (במדבר ח, ד): וְזֶה מַעֲשֵׂה הַמְּנֹרָה מִקְשָׁה זָהָב, כְּלוֹמַר מַה קָּשָׁה הִיא לַעֲשׂוֹת, שֶׁהַרְבֵּה יָגַע בָּהּ משֶׁה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁנִּתְקַשָּׁה אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, טֹל כִּכַּר זָהָב וְהַשְּׁלִיכוֹ לָאוּר וְהוֹצִיאֵהוּ וְהִיא מֵעַצְמָהּ נַעֲשֵׂית, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לז, יז): וְכַפְתֹּרֶיהָ וּפְרָחֶיהָ גְּבִיעֶיהָ וְקָנֶיהָ מִמֶּנָּה הָיוּ, מַכֶּה בַּפַּטִישׁ וּמֵעַצְמָהּ נַעֲשֵׂית, לְכָךְ הוּא אוֹמֵר (שמות כה, לא): מִקְשָׁה תֵּיעָשֶׂה, מָלֵא יו"ד כְּתִיב וְלֹא כְּתִיב תֵּעָשֶׂה, כְּלוֹמַר מֵעַצְמָהּ תֵּיעָשֶׂה. נָטַל משֶׁה אֶת הַכִּכָּר וְהִשְׁלִיכוֹ לָאוּר, אָמַר משֶׁה רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם הֲרֵי כִּכָּר בְּתוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹצֶה כֵּן תֵּעָשֶׂה, מִיָּד יָצְתָה הַמְּנוֹרָה עֲשׂוּיָה כְּתִקּוּנָהּ, לְפִיכָךְ כְּתִיב (במדבר ח, ד): כַּמַּרְאֶה אֲשֶׁר הֶרְאָה ה' אֶת משֶׁה, כֵּן עָשָׂה משֶׁה אֶת הַמְּנוֹרָה, אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא כֵּן עָשָׂה סְתָם, וּמִי עָשָׂה, הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, לְפִיכָךְ אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה, אִם הִזְהַרְתֶּם לִהְיוֹת מַדְלִיקִין לְפָנַי אֲנִי מְשַׁמֵּר אֶת נַפְשׁוֹתֵיכֶם מִכָּל דָּבָר רָע, שֶׁנִּמְשְׁלוּ נְפָשׁוֹת כְּנֵר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כ, כז): נֵר ה' נִשְׁמַת אָדָם, וְנֶאֱמַר: בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת.

Another matter, “when you kindle” – you find that Moses encountered difficulty in the crafting of the candelabrum more than he did with all the [other] Tabernacle vessels, until the Holy One blessed be He showed him with His finger. Likewise, regarding the hoofs of a kosher and non-kosher animal, as it is stated: “This is the beast that you shall eat” (Leviticus 11:2); “this you shall not eat” (Leviticus 11:4), and He showed him with His finger. Likewise, regarding the [new] moon: “This month is for you” (Exodus 12:2). Likewise regarding the candelabrum: “This is the crafting of the candelabrum, hammered [miksha] gold” (Numbers 8:4). In other words, how difficult [kasha] it is to craft, as Moses toiled greatly in its regard. Since he encountered difficulty, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Take a gold talent, cast it into the fire, remove it, and it will be crafted on its own,’ as it is stated: Its knobs and its flowers, its cups, and its shaft “were from it” (Exodus 37:17). He would strike with the hammer and it would be crafted on its own. That is why it says: “Hammered it shall be crafted [tei’aseh]” (Exodus 25:31); it is written with a yod and it is not written te’aseh, In other words, it shall be crafted on its own. Moses took the talent and cast it into the fire. Moses said: ‘Master of the universe, the talent is in the fire. Just as You will it, so it will be crafted.’ Immediately, the candelabrum emerged, crafted in accordance with its specifications. That is why it is written: “Like the vision that the Lord showed Moses” (Numbers 8:4); “so Moses crafted the candelabrum” is not written here, but rather, “so was it made” without elaboration. Who crafted it? It was the Holy One blessed be He. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘If you cautioned them to kindle it before Me, I will protect your souls from all evil matters,’ as souls were likened to lamps, as it is stated: “The spirit of man is the lamp of the Lord” (Proverbs 20:27). And it is stated: “When you kindle the lamps.”

Section 5ה׳

זֶה שֶׁאָמַר הַכָּתוּב (תהלים יח, כט): כִּי אַתָּה תָּאִיר נֵרִי. אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם לָנוּ אַתָּה אוֹמֵר שֶׁנָּאִיר לְפָנֶיךָ, אַתָּה הוּא אוֹרוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם וְהָאוֹרָה דָּרָה אֶצְלְךָ, דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ב, כב): וּנְהוֹרָא עִמֵּהּ שְׁרֵא. וְאַתָּה אוֹמֵר (במדבר ח, ב): אֶל מוּל פְּנֵי הַמְּנוֹרָה, הֱוֵי: כִּי אַתָּה תָּאִיר נֵרִי. אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא שֶׁאֲנִי צָרִיךְ לָכֶם, אֶלָּא שֶׁתָּאִירוּ לִי כְּדֶרֶךְ שֶׁהֵאַרְתִּי לָכֶם, לָמָּה, לְעַלּוֹת אֶתְכֶם בִּפְנֵי הָאֻמּוֹת, שֶׁיִּהְיוּ אוֹמְרִים רְאוּ הֵיאַךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאִירִין לְמִי שֶׁהוּא מֵאִיר לְכָל הָעוֹלָם. מָשָׁל לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה לְפִקֵּחַ וְסוּמָא שֶׁהָיוּ מְהַלְּכִין בַּדֶּרֶךְ, אָמַר לוֹ פִּקֵּחַ לַסּוּמָא כְּשֶׁנִּכָּנֵס לְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת צֵא וְהַדְלֵק לִי אֶת הַנֵּר הַזֶּה וְהָאֵר לִי, אָמַר לוֹ הַסּוּמָא בְּטוֹבָתְךָ כְּשֶׁהָיִיתִי בַּדֶּרֶךְ אַתָּה הָיִיתָ מְסַמְכֵנִי עַד שֶׁנִּכְנַסְנוּ לְתוֹךְ הַבַּיִת אַתָּה הָיִיתָ מְלַוֶּה אוֹתִי, וְעַכְשָׁו אַתָּה אוֹמֵר הַדְלֵק לִי אֶת הַנֵּר הַזֶּה וְהָאֵר לִי. אָמַר לוֹ הַפִּקֵּחַ שֶׁלֹא תְהֵא מַחְזִיק לִי טוֹבָה שֶׁהָיִיתִי מְלַוְּךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ, לְכָךְ אָמַרְתִּי לְךָ הָאֵר לִי. כָּךְ הַפִּקֵּחַ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ד, י): עֵינֵי ה' הֵמָּה מְשׁוֹטְטִים בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ. וְהַסּוּמָא אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נט, י): נְגַשְׁשָׁה כַעִוְרִים קִיר. הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַנְהִיגָן וּמֵאִיר לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות יג, כא): וַה' הֹלֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם יוֹמָם, כֵּיוָן שֶׁעָמַד הַמִּשְׁכָּן קָרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה וְאָמַר לוֹ תָּאִירוּ לִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ אֶת הַנֵּרֹת, בִּשְׁבִיל לְעַלּוֹת לָכֶם.

That which the verse said: “For You light my lamp” (Psalms 18:29) – Israel said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, You say that we should illuminate before You, but You are the light of the world, and light resides with You, as it is written: “And the light rests with Him” (Daniel 2:22). But you say: “Toward the front of the candelabrum the seven lamps shall illuminate”’ (Numbers 8:2). That is: “For You light my lamp.” The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘It is not that I need you, but rather that you shall illuminate for Me the way that I illuminated for you. Why? It is to elevate you before the nations, so they will say: See how Israel illuminates for the One who illuminates for the entire world.’ To what is this matter comparable? It is to a sighted man and a blind man who were walking along the way. The sighted man said to the blind man: ‘When we enter the house, kindle this lamp, and illuminate for me.’ The blind man said to him: ‘If I may; when we were on the way, you supported me. Until we entered the house, you were accompanying me. Now you say: Kindle this lamp and illuminate for me?’ The sighted man said to him: ‘It is so you will not be beholden to me for having accompanied you along the way; that is why I said to you: Illuminate for me.’ So, the sighted man, this is the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “They are the eyes of the Lord that rove over the entire earth” (Zechariah 4:10). The blind man, this is Israel, as it is stated: “We grope a wall like the blind” (Isaiah 59:10). The Holy One blessed be He would lead them and illuminate for them, as it is stated: “The Lord was going before them by day [in a pillar of cloud…and by night in a pillar of fire, to illuminate for them]” (Exodus 13:21). When the Tabernacle stood, the Holy One blessed be He called Moses and said to him: ‘Illuminate for Me,’ as it is stated: “Kindle [behaalotekha] the lamps” – in order to elevate [le’alot] you.

…and 20 more sections in this chapter.

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Bamidbar Rabbah — Midrash Rabbah, TE edition, via Sefaria

English: The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022 — CC BY