Ten Descents and the Lamp Kindled From a Lamp at Sinai

Midrash Aggadah, Numbers 11:25

"And the LORD came down in a cloud" (Numbers 11:25) — this is one of the ten descents that the Holy One, blessed be He, descended. "And He drew off from the spirit" — like one who kindles a lamp from a lamp, and nothing of the light is diminished at all. "and they prophesied, and did not continue [ve-lo yasafu]" — for they did not continue to prophesy except at that hour, like "and he knew her again no more [ve-lo yasaf od]" (Genesis 38:26).

Themes

Biblical References