“They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts and twelve bulls, a cart for every two princes and an ox for each one, and they brought them before the Tabernacle” (Numbers 7:3). “They brought their offering before the Lord, six covered carts…” – “six” corresponding to the six days of Creation, “six” corresponding to the six orders of Mishna; “six” corresponding to the matriarchs. They were Sarah and Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, Bilha and Zilpa.
“Six” corresponding to the six commandments in whose regard the king is commanded every day. They are: “He shall not amass wives” (Deuteronomy 17:17); "only he shall not amass horses” (Deuteronomy 17:16); “and silver and gold he shall not amass greatly” (Deuteronomy 17:17); “You shall not distort judgment, you shall not give preference, and you shall not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19). “Six” corresponding to the six stairs to the throne: “There were six stairs to the throne” (II Chronicles 9:18).
On which side? It was on the side that he would ascend and sit.58Namely, the steps were not from the side, but directly facing the chair. When he ascended to sit, on the first stair the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass wives.” When he ascended to sit, on the second stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “He shall not amass horses.”
When he ascended to sit, on the third stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “And silver and gold he shall not amass greatly.” When he ascended to sit, on the fourth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not distort judgment.” When he ascended to sit, on the fifth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not give preference.” When he ascended to sit, on the sixth stair, the herald would emerge and say to him: “You shall not take a bribe.”
He came to sit on his throne, “armrests on this side and on that side on the place of the seat” (II Chronicles 9:18). How was it? There was a golden scepter hanging behind him with a dove at its head, and a golden crown in the dove’s mouth. He would sit beneath it on the seat.
It would touch but not touch.59The crown would just barely touch his head. “Six carts” corresponding to the six firmaments; but are they not seven? Where the King is, is more significant.60The six firmaments correspond to the stairs and the seventh, to the throne. “Six tzav carts” – what is “tzav”?
They resemble palanquins.61They are called tzav, which means turtle, because like the turtle, they were covered. Rabbi Yishmael says: Tzav is nothing other than colored.62Expounded based on the word tzeva, which means color. Tzav is nothing other than well-designed,63Expounded based on the word tzava, which is organized in formation. that they lacked nothing. “Tzav” – Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi]says: Tzav is nothing other than curved; they were covered with coverings like curved roofs.
Even though there is no proof of the matter, there is an allusion to the matter: “They will bring all your brethren from all the nations as a gift to the Lord, [on horses and in chariots and in covered carts [uvatzabim] and on mules and on camels]” (Isaiah 66:20). “Tzav” – Rabbi Shimon says: Tzav is nothing other than attached, as it is stated: “They will bring your sons beḥotzen…” (Isaiah 49:22).64Beḥotzen is translated into Aramaic as betzivin, in wagons with the covering attached to them.
It is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: They were made like a type of curved tent, like a dome. Rabbi Neḥemya said: They were like the color [ketzivo] of the firmament. “Twelve bulls” – corresponding to twelve tribes and corresponding to twelve constellations. I hear65Meaning, I understand from here. a cart for each and every one.
The verse states: “A cart for every two princes.” I hear two oxen for each prince. The verse states: “And an ox for each one.” Why did they not have half of them bring carts and half of them oxen?
It is because they were afraid that perhaps one of their oxen would die or one of their carts would break, the result being that this tribe would have no portion in the Tabernacle.