Why God Asks Only Israel for the Terumah Offering

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Terumah 3:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

[Another interpretation of (Exodus 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A CONTRIBUTION.] The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: I do not trouble any other nation, only you. What is written (in Habakkuk 2:4)? "BEHOLD, HIS SOUL IS PUFFED UP, IT IS NOT UPRIGHT WITHIN HIM; BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS." "BEHOLD, HIS SOUL IS PUFFED UP" — this is Nebuchadnezzar. How so? The Holy One, blessed be He, made him king over the whole world, yet he was not content with his portion. "IT IS NOT UPRIGHT WITHIN HIM" — for he would look upon himself and be ashamed, and he would say, "I am a king"; and so it says, "IT IS NOT UPRIGHT WITHIN HIM." "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS" — in the world to come the Holy One, blessed be He, judges human beings, each and every one together with the people of his own craft, and the righteous one shall live with the faithful. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Each and every one lives from his craft, and I redeemed you from Egypt, yet you do not set aside for Me a contribution. (Exodus 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A CONTRIBUTION.

Themes

World To ComeHumorWitSacrificeRighteousness

Biblical References

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