“It was on the day that Moses concluded erecting the Tabernacle, he anointed it and sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels; he anointed them and sanctified them” (Numbers 7:1). “It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones; let them not return to folly” (Psalms 85:9).
You find that when Israel performed that act1The Golden Calf., and the Holy One blessed be He grew angry at them, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people…” (Exodus 32:9),2The following verse says: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will destroy them” (Exodus 32:10). "Leave me [and I will destroy them…]" (Deuteronomy 9:14). Immediately, Moses stood and asked for mercy from before Him so that He would reconcile with them, just as it is stated: “Moses implored…” (Exodus 32:11).
The Holy One blessed be He reconciled with them, as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil…” (Exodus 32:14). Nevertheless, umbrage remained in His heart in their regard, as it is stated: “On the day of My reckoning, I will reckon their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). When the Tabernacle was crafted, Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses went and bent his ear in the Tabernacle. He said: Do you say that umbrage remains in the heart of the Holy One blessed be He in Israel’s regard?
That is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say” (Psalms 85:9). What is “the Almighty [ha’el] Lord? Moses said: Until now has He remained in His anger against them and is He barely with them? Ha’el is nothing other than an expression of strength, just as it says: “And he took the mighty of [eilei] the land” (Ezekiel 17:13).
Or is He reconciled with them and He is acting with them with the attribute of mercy; that is what is written: “Lord.” Lord is nothing other than the attribute of mercy, as it is stated: “Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He placated him that He has no umbrage in His heart, just as it is written: “The Lord passed [vayaavor] before him” (Exodus 34:6), that He removed [shehe’evir] His fury from them and overlooked [ve’avar] their transgressions.
Rabbi Simon said: Why does it say “Lord, Lord” twice? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He placated him and said to Moses: Just as in the past I would act with them with the attribute of mercy before they performed that act, so, too, now, I will act with them with the attribute of mercy. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: At that moment, Moses heard a pleasant voice, an excellent voice. In the past, Moses would stand, and the divine speech would enter his ear like a current of water.
No one of Israel could hear it, but when his face would redden they knew that divine speech had come to him. Once the Tabernacle was crafted, he heard a pleasant voice. What did he hear? “For He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘In the past there was enmity between Me and My children, hatred between Me and My children, contention between Me and My children, but now that the Tabernacle was crafted there is love between Me and My children, peace between Me and My children.’ That is, “for He will speak peace to His people” (Psalms 85:9) – this is Israel, for crafting the Tabernacle.
“And to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9) – this is the tribe of Levi, in whose regard it is written: “And of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim for Your pious one” (Deuteronomy 33:8). From where do you know that the verse is speaking regarding the Tabernacle? It is because it is written thereafter: “Indeed, His salvation is near for those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalms 85:10).
When was there peace for Israel? When the glory of the Holy One blessed be He dwelled in the Tabernacle. It is just as it says: “And the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why would I teach this matter from the book of Psalms?
It is a matter of Torah. Even from its location there is nothing lacking. See what is written: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26). When? It was “on the day that Moses concluded [erecting the Tabernacle].”