Why the Princes Gave Only a Trifle in the Desert

Another interpretation of (Numbers 7:1): "And it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished setting up the Tabernacle." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 51:20–21): "Do good in Your favor unto Zion; [build the walls of Jerusalem. Then You shall delight in sacrifices of righteousness, in burnt offering and whole offering...]" Because in this world they offered but little, as it is said (Numbers 7:12): "And the one who offered his offering on the first day [was Nahshon son of Amminadab]." What did he offer as his offering? One silver dish, one ladle, one bull, one ram, one lamb, one he-goat, and for the peace offering two oxen — this was the whole of the offering. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who set out on the road, and they would bring a meal before him according to the road and according to the inn. The king said to them: "Is this how you honor me? Is this how you treat me? Am I not a king, and do I not rule over the world?" They said to him: "Our lord the king, on the road we give according to the road, and according to the inn we have brought to you. But enter the city, and when you enter your palace, you will see with what we honor you." So too, when the Tabernacle was set up, the princes offered Him a gift: one ladle, one bull, one ram, one lamb, one he-goat. The Holy One said to them: "Is this My honor?" They said to Him: "Master of the worlds, we are set down in the wilderness, and the offerings before You are according to the wilderness. But when You enter Your palace, You will see how many bulls we will offer before You," as it is said (Psalms 51:20–21): "Do good in Your favor [unto Zion]... Then shall they offer up bulls upon Your altar" — and not one bull. And so you find with Solomon when he built the Temple: he sought to offer for the dedication of the Temple. See what is written there (1 Kings 8:63): "And Solomon offered the sacrifice of peace offerings, which he offered unto the LORD, twenty-two thousand oxen and a hundred and twenty thousand sheep." And so too in the days of Ezra, what is written there (Ezra 6:17): "And they offered at the dedication of this house of God one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs..." This is the meaning of (Psalms 51:20): "Do good in Your favor unto Zion..."