שמות רבה נ׳Shemot Rabbah 50

Section 1א׳

וַיַּעַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵל אֶת הָאָרֹן (שמות לז, א), הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים קיט, קל): פֵּתַח דְּבָרֶיךָ יָאִיר מֵבִין פְּתָיִים, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּרָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹלָמוֹ הָיָה כֻּלּוֹ מַיִם בְּמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית א, ב): וְחשֶׁךְ עַל פְּנֵי תְהוֹם, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אָמַר הָאוֹר בָּרָא תְּחִלָּה וְאַחַר כָּךְ הָעוֹלָם, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ לִבְנוֹת פָּלָטִין וְהָיָה הַמָּקוֹם אָפֵל מֶה עָשָׂה הִדְלִיק נֵרוֹת וּפַנָּסִין לֵידַע הֵיאַךְ הוּא קוֹבֵעַ דִּימוּסִים, כָּךְ הָאוֹר נִבְרֵאת תְּחִלָּה. וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר הָעוֹלָם נִבְרָא תְּחִלָּה, מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁבָּנָה פַּלְטֵרִין וְעִטְּרוֹ בְּנֵרוֹת. שָׁאַל רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יְהוֹצָדָק אֶת רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן, אָמַר לוֹ בִּשְׁבִיל שֶׁשָּׁמַעְתִּי עָלֶיךָ שֶׁאַתָּה בַּעַל הַגָּדָה מֵהֵיכָן נִבְרֵאת הָאוֹרָה, אָמַר נִתְעַטֵּף הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּשַׂלְמָה וְהִבְהִיק הָעוֹלָם מִזִּיווֹ מֵרֹאשׁוֹ וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב (תהלים קד, ב): עֹטֶה אוֹר כַּשַֹּׂלְמָה, וְאַחַר כָּךְ: נוֹטֶה שָׁמַיִם כַּיְרִיעָה, לְפִיכָךְ פֵּתַח דְּבָרֶיךָ יָאִיר, מִמֶּנּוּ לָמְדוּ הַצַּדִּיקִים כְּשֶׁהָיוּ מַתְחִילִין בְּדָבָר הָיוּ פּוֹתְחִין בְּאוֹרָה, אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה שֶׁיַּעֲשֶׂה אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אָמַר בְּצַלְאֵל וּבַמֶּה אֶפְתַּח תְּחִלָּה, פָּתַח בָּאָרוֹן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כה, י): וְעָשׂוּ אֲרוֹן.

“Betzalel crafted the Ark of acacia wood: its length was two and a half cubits, its width a cubit and a half, and its height a cubit and a half” (Exodus 37:1). “Betzalel crafted the Ark.” That is what is written: “Your opening words enlighten; they bring understanding to the simple” (Psalms 119:130). When the Holy One blessed be He created His world it was entirely water, as it is stated: “And darkness on the surface of the deep…[and God said: Let there be light]” (Genesis 1:2). Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda said: Light was created first and then the world. This is analogous to a king who sought to build a palace, but the site was dark. What did he do? He kindled lamps and torches to determine where to position the rows of building stones. So too, the light was created first. Rabbi Neḥemya said: The world was created first. This is analogous to a king who built a palace and adorned it with lamps. Rabbi Shimon ben Yehotzadak asked Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, he said to him: ‘Because I have heard about you, that you are an aggadic master, from where was the light created?’ He said: ‘The Holy One blessed be He wrapped Himself in a garment and illuminated the entire world from His aura from its beginning to its end, as it is written: “Covers Himself with light like a garment” (Psalms 104:2), and then “spread the heavens like a tapestry” (Psalms 104:2). Therefore, “Your opening words enlighten.”’ From Him the righteous learned that when they would begin a matter, they would begin with light. You find that when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses that he should craft the Tabernacle, Betzalel said: ‘With what shall I begin?’ He began with the Ark, as it is stated: “They shall craft an Ark” (Exodus 25:10).

Section 2ב׳

הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (משלי ט, ט): תֵּן לְחָכָם וְיֶחְכַּם עוֹד, זֶה נֹחַ, שֶׁאָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא (בראשית ז, ב): מִכֹּל הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהוֹרָה תִּקַּח לְךָ שִׁבְעָה שִׁבְעָה וגו', וּכְשֶׁיָּצָא מַה כְּתִיב (בראשית ח, כ): וַיִּבֶן נֹחַ מִזְבֵּחַ לַה', מַאי וַיִּבֶן, נִתְבּוֹנֵן וְאָמַר, מַה טַּעַם רִבָּה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּטְּהוֹרִים יוֹתֵר מִן הַטְּמֵאִים לֹא שֶׁהָיָה רוֹצֶה לְהַקְרִיב לוֹ מֵהֶן, מִיָּד, וַיִּקַּח מִכֹּל הַבְּהֵמָה הַטְּהֹרָה, הֱוֵי: תֵּן לְחָכָם וְיֶחְכַּם עוֹד, לְפִי שֶׁהֶחָכָם שׁוֹמֵעַ דָּבָר וּמְקַיְּמוֹ וּמוֹסִיף עָלָיו. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תֵּן לְחָכָם וְיֶחְכַּם עוֹד, זֶה משֶׁה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כא, כב): עִיר גִּבֹּרִים עָלָה חָכָם, שֶׁהָיָה לָמֵד תּוֹרָה מִפִּי הַגְּבוּרָה וּבָא וְאָמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּמֵטִיבָן, וְהוּא מוֹסִיף לָהֶם חַיִים, הֱוֵי: תֵּן לְחָכָם וְיֶחְכַּם עוֹד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, תֵּן לְחָכָם, זֶה בְּצַלְאֵל, אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה עֲשֵׂה הַמִּשְׁכָּן, בָּא וְאָמַר לִבְצַלְאֵל, אָמַר לוֹ מַהוּ הַמִּשְׁכָּן הַזֶּה, אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁיַּשְׁרֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שְׁכִינָתוֹ בְּתוֹכוֹ וּמְלַמֵּד לְיִשְׂרָאֵל תּוֹרָה. אָמַר לוֹ בְּצַלְאֵל וְהֵיכָן הַתּוֹרָה נְתוּנָה, אָמַר לוֹ מִשֶּׁאָנוּ עוֹשִׂים אֶת הַמִּשְׁכָּן אָנוּ עוֹשִׂין הָאָרוֹן. אָמַר לוֹ רַבֵּינוּ משֶׁה אֵין כְּבוֹדָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה בְּכָךְ, אֶלָּא אָנוּ עוֹשִׂין הָאָרוֹן וְאַחַר כָּךְ הַמִּשְׁכָּן, לְפִיכָךְ זָכָה שֶׁיִּקָּרֵא עַל שְׁמוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיַּעַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵל אֶת הָאָרֹן.

That is what is written: “Give to the wise person, and he will grow wiser” (Proverbs 9:9), this is Noah, as the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “From every pure animal, take for yourself seven of each, [a male and his mate; and of the animals that are not pure, two, a male and his mate]” (Genesis 7:2). When he emerged, what is written? “He built an altar to the Lord” (Genesis 8:20). What is “he built [vayiven]”? He scrutinized [hitbonen] and said: ‘For what reason did the Holy One blessed be He increase the number of the pure relative to the impure? Is it not that He wished that I sacrifice to Him from them?’ Immediately, “he took from each species of pure animal [and offered burnt-offerings on the altar]” (Genesis 8:20). That is, “give to the wise person, and he will grow wiser,” because the wise man hears something, fulfills it, and adds to it. Another matter, “give to the wise person, and he will grow wiser,” this is Moses, as it is stated: “The wise goes up to the city of the mighty” (Proverbs 21:22), as he would study Torah from the mouth of the Almighty, and he would come and tell it to Israel and benefit them, and he would give them more life. That is, “give to the wise person, and he will grow wiser.” Another matter, “give to the wise person,” this is Betzalel. You find that when the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Craft the Tabernacle,’ he came and related it to Betzalel. [Betzalel] said to him: ‘What is [the purpose of] this Tabernacle?’ He said to him: ‘It is so the Holy One blessed be He will rest His Divine Presence in it and will teach Israel Torah.’ Betzalel said to him: ‘Where will the Torah be placed?’ He said to him: ‘After we craft the Tabernacle, we will craft the Ark.’ He said to him: ‘Our master, Moses. It is not in keeping with the honor due the Torah to do so; rather, we will craft the Ark and the Tabernacle thereafter.’ That is why it was called by his name: “Betzalel crafted the Ark.”

Section 3ג׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיַּעַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה ל, יז): כִּי אַעֲלֶה אֲרֻכָה לָךְ, אֵין מִדּוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּמִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם, מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם שֶׁהוּא מַכֶּה בְּאִזְמֵל וּמְרַפֵּא בִּרְטִיָּה, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּמֶּה שֶׁהוּא מַכֶּה הוּא מְרַפֵּא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות טו, כג): וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מַיִם מִמָּרָה, לָמָּה, כִּי מָרִים הֵם, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי הַדּוֹר הָיָה מַר בְּמַעֲשָׂיו, (שמות טו, כה): וַיִּצְעַק אֶל ה' וַיּוֹרֵהוּ ה' עֵץ, וּמָה הָיָה, יֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים זַיִת, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים עֲרָבָה, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים הַרְדּוּפְנִי הָיָה, וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים עִקְּרֵי תְאֵנִים וְעִקְּרֵי רִמּוֹנִים הָיָה, וּנְטָלוֹ וְהִשְׁלִיכוֹ לַמַּיִם, מִיָּד, וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם, הֱוֵי (ירמיה ל, יז): וּמִמַּכּוֹתַיִךְ אֶרְפָּאֵךְ. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּמֵימֵי אֱלִישָׁע, מַה כְּתִיב (מלכים ב ב, יט): וְהַמַּיִם רָעִים וְהָאָרֶץ מְשַׁכָּלֶת, אָמַר לָהֶם (מלכים ב ב, כ): קְחוּ לִי צְלֹחִית חֲדָשָׁה וְשִׂימוּ שָׁם מֶלַח וַיִּקְחוּ אֵלָיו, וּמַה כְּתִיב (מלכים ב ב, כב): וַיֵּרָפוּ הַמַּיִם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה כִּדְבַר אֱלִישָׁע אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר. וְכֵן אַתָּה מוֹצֵא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּלָכֵן הוֹכִיחָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל טז, לה): לָכֵן זוֹנָה שִׁמְעִי דְּבַר ה'. וּבְלָכֵן עָתִיד לְהַחֲזִירָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (הושע ב, טז): לָכֵן הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מְפַתֶּיהָ, וְאֵין מְפַתִּין אֶלָּא לִבְתוּלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כב, טו): כִּי יְפַתֶּה אִישׁ בְּתוּלָה. אַף כָּךְ יִשְׂרָאֵל חָטְאוּ בַּשִּׁטִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר כה, א): וַיֵּשֶׁב יִשְׂרָאֵל בַּשִּׁטִּים, וְנִרְפְּאוּ בַּשִּׁטִּים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיַּעַשׂ בְּצַלְאֵל אֶת הָאָרֹן עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים.

Another matter, “Betzalel crafted” – that is what is written: “I will bring a remedy for you” (Jeremiah 30:17). The attributes of the Holy One blessed be He are not like the attributes of flesh and blood. The attribute of flesh and blood is to wound with a chisel and heal with a bandage. But the Holy One blessed be He heals with that with which He wounds, as it is stated: “They arrived in Mara and were unable to drink water from Mara” (Exodus 15:23). Why? “Because it was bitter [marim]” (Exodus 15:23). Rabbi Levi said: That generation was bitter in its actions. “He cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him a tree” (Exodus 15:25). What was it? Some say it was an olive tree, some say it was a willow, some say it was oleander, and some say it was the roots of fig trees and the roots of pomegranate trees. He took it and cast it into the water. Immediately, the water sweetened. That is, “and from your wounds I will heal you” (Jeremiah 30:17). Likewise you find with the water of Elisha, what is written? “The water is bad and the land causes bereavement” (II Kings 2:19). He said to them: “Bring me a new flask and place salt in it, and they brought it to him” (II Kings 2:20). What is written? “The water was cured to this day, in accordance with the word of Elisha that he spoke” (II Kings 2:22). Likewise you find regarding Israel; he rebuked them with [the word] ‘therefore,’ as it is stated: “Therefore, prostitute, hear the word of the Lord” (Ezekiel 16:35), and with [the word] ‘therefore’ He is destined to restore them. as it is stated: “Therefore, behold, I will seduce her” (Hosea 2:16), and one seduces only a virgin. As it is stated: “If a man seduces a virgin” (Exodus 22:15). So, too, Israel sinned in Shittim. As it is stated: “Israel were residing in Shittim [and the people began to engage in licentiousness]” (Numbers 25:1), and they were healed with shittim, as it is stated: “Betzalel crafted the Ark of acacia wood [atzei shittim].”