“It was [vayhi] on the day that [Moses concluded…]” – what is vayhi?28It indicates that it is as though they had discussed this matter previously. Rabbi Yehoshua said: The Holy One blessed be He stipulated conditions with Israel while they were still in Egypt that he would take them out of Egypt only in order that they will craft a Tabernacle for Him and cause His Divine Presence to rest in their midst, just as it is stated: “They will know that I am the Lord their God who took them out of the land of Egypt to cause Me to rest in their midst” (Exodus 29:46) – in order that I “rest in their midst.”
When the Tabernacle was erected, the Divine Presence descended and rested in their midst. “Vayhi” – Rav said: A matter that had not occurred from when the world was created until now took place on that day, as from when the world was created until that moment, the Divine Presence had not rested in the world below. It was only from when the Tabernacle was erected and onward; that is why “vayhi” is stated.29Vayhi is stated repeatedly in the Creation account, e.g., “it was [vayhi] evening, it was [vayhi] morning.”
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: It is a matter that was, and stopped, and then it was restored to the way it had been, as you find that from the beginning of the creation of the world that the Divine Presence rested in the world below, just as it is written: “They heard the sound of the Lord God proceeding in the garden…” (Genesis 3:8). When the Divine Presence departed at the time that Adam sinned, it did not descend again until the Tabernacle was erected. That is why “vayhi” is written; a matter that was, and stopped, and was restored to the way it had been.