The Creation Of The Temple

Rabbi Natan says: Beloved is the work of the Ark, like the Throne of Glory above, as it is said: "The place for You to dwell in, You have made, O LORD; the Sanctuary," and so forth (Exodus 15:17). For the Sanctuary above is set directly opposite the Temple below, and the Ark is set directly opposite the Throne of Glory above, as it is said: "A throne of glory, exalted from the first" (Jeremiah 17:12). And in what place was the site of our Sanctuary? This is the meaning of "You have made, O LORD; the Sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands have established" (Exodus 15:17). Do not read "the place" [makhon] but rather "set directly opposite" [mekhuvan] the Throne of Glory; it is made above it, for they are atonement. He made above it a cover, for the seraphim stand above it. And he made on it two cherubim, which are beloved to Him, corresponding to heaven and earth, in which was the dwelling of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said: "And I will speak with you there from above the cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the Ark of the Testimony" (Exodus 25:22). See how beloved the Ark is, for the whole Tabernacle was made only for the sake of the Ark, in which the Divine Presence dwelt. And all the miracles that were performed for Israel were performed by the Ark, because the Divine Presence was within it.