Why God Spoke to Moses from Within the Tent of Meeting

"And the LORD spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, in the Tent of Meeting" (Numbers 1:1). Before the Tent of Meeting was set up, He spoke with him in the bush, as it is said, "And [the angel of the LORD] appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of the bush" (Exodus 3:2). [Afterward He spoke with him in Midian, as it is said, "And the LORD said to Moses in Midian" (Exodus 4:19).] Afterward He spoke with him in Egypt, as it is said, "And the LORD said to Moses and to Aaron in the land of Egypt" (Exodus 12:1). And afterward He spoke with him in Sinai, as it is said, "And the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai" (Leviticus 25:1). Once the Tent of Meeting was set up, He said: Modesty is fitting, as it is said, "And to walk humbly with the LORD your God" (Micah 6:8). He began to speak with him in the Tent of Meeting. And likewise David says, "All glorious is the king's daughter within; [her clothing is of gold brocade]" (Psalms 45:14). "The king's daughter" — this is Moses, as it is said, "And I will hand over Egypt into the hand of a harsh lord" (Isaiah 19:4) — these are the plagues that came upon the Egyptians; "and a strong king shall rule over them" (ibid.) — this is Moses, who is the king of Torah, which is called "strength," as it is said, "The LORD will give strength to His people" (Psalms 29:11). Therefore, "all glorious is the king's daughter within." "Her clothing is of gold brocade" — this is Aaron, as it is said, "And you shall make settings of gold" (Exodus 28:13). From here our Rabbis said: Every bride who conceals herself, even an Israelite woman, is worthy to be married to a priest and to raise up high priests, as it is said, "Her clothing is of gold brocade" (Psalms 45:14). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Thus it is fitting that He speak from within, as it is said, "[And when Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with Him, he heard the voice speaking to him" (Numbers 7:89). Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said: Had the nations of the world known how beneficial the Temple was for them, they would have surrounded it with camps in order to guard it, for it was more beneficial for them than for Israel. For thus Solomon arranged in his prayer, "And also concerning the foreigner who is not of Your people Israel, but comes from a distant land for the sake of Your great name and Your mighty hand and Your outstretched arm — and they come and pray toward this house — then hear from heaven, from the place of Your dwelling, and do according to all that the foreigner calls to You, so that all the peoples of the earth may know Your name and fear You as does Your people Israel, and that they may know that Your name is called upon this house that I have built" (II Chronicles 6:32-33). But when he comes concerning Israel, what is written? "And give to each man according to all his ways, whose heart You know" (ibid. 6:30). Solomon said: Master of the worlds, if he is worthy, give to him; if he is not worthy, do not give to him. And do not say only of the Temple — rather, were it not for Israel, no rain would come down upon the world, nor would the sun shine; for by their merit the Holy One, blessed be He, brings benefit to the world. And in the world to come the nations of the world will see how the Holy One, blessed be He, is with Israel, and they will come to cleave to them, as it is said, "In those days, when ten men from all the languages of the nations shall take hold of the corner of the garment of a Jewish man, saying, 'Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you'" (Zechariah 8:23).]