The Heavenly Menorah and Bezalel in the Shadow of God

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotcha 11:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of "Toward the face of the menorah shall the seven lamps give light" (Numbers 8:2). {David} [Solomon] said, "In the light of the king's face is life" (Proverbs 16:15). Rabbi Jacob bar Yose said: Joy was withheld from the wicked and given to Israel, for the Holy One, blessed be He, had to dwell with flesh and blood by lamplight, as He said to them, "Toward the face of the menorah." Rabbi Levi said: A pure menorah descended from heaven. Why? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "And you shall make a menorah of pure gold" (Exodus 25:31). Moses said to Him: How shall it be made? He said to him, "The menorah shall be made of hammered work" (ibid.). Even so, Moses found it difficult; he went down and forgot how it was made. He went up and said: Master of the Universe, I have forgotten. He said to him: "See and make" (Exodus 25:40), for He took a coin of fire and showed him how it was made. And still it was difficult for Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Go to Bezalel and he will make it. Moses went down and told Bezalel, and immediately he made it. Moses began to wonder, and said: I, how many times did the Holy One, blessed be He, show it to me, and I found it difficult to make it; yet you, who did not see it, made it from your own understanding. Bezalel (Betzalel) — perhaps you were standing in the shadow of God (be-tzel El) when the Holy One, blessed be He, showed it to me? Therefore, when the Temple was destroyed, the menorah was hidden away. And this is one of five things that were hidden away: the ark, the menorah, the fire, the Holy Spirit, and the cherubim. And when the Holy One, blessed be He, returns in His mercy and builds His house and His sanctuary, He will restore them to their place, and will gladden Jerusalem, as it is said, "The wilderness and the parched land shall be glad" (Isaiah 35:1); and it says, "It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing; the glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God" (Isaiah 35:2).

Themes

TempleChanukahTemple VesselsHeavenMoses

Biblical References

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