Why Bezalel Began With the Ark and the Open Crown of Torah

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 414:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

(Exodus 37:1) "And Bezalel made the Ark." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 119:130) "The opening of Your words gives light." When the Holy One, blessed be He, sought to build the world, He wrapped Himself in light and created His world, as it is said "wrapped in light like a garment," and afterward "stretching out the heavens like a curtain." From the Holy One, blessed be He, the righteous learned to begin with light. When the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses "And they shall make Me a sanctuary," Moses said to Bezalel: Begin first with the work of the Ark. "And Bezalel made the Ark." (Proverbs 9:9) "Give to a wise man and he will grow wiser" - this is Bezalel. When Moses said to Bezalel, Make a Tabernacle, Bezalel said: Why is the Tabernacle for? He said to him: To cause the Divine Presence to dwell within it and to teach Israel Torah. Bezalel said: And where is the Torah to be placed? He said to him: Once we make the Tabernacle we will make an Ark. But Bezalel began with the Ark, as it is said "And Bezalel made the Ark." Rav Judah said: Bezalel made three arks - the middle one of wood, nine handbreadths; the inner one of gold, eight; the outer one of gold, ten and a fraction. But was it not taught eleven and a fraction? This according to the one who says its thickness was a handbreadth; that according to the one who says its thickness was not a handbreadth. What is "a fraction"? The crown (rim). Rabbi Yochanan said: There are three crowns - of the altar, of the Ark, and of the table. The crown of the table - David merited it and took it. The crown of the altar - Aaron merited it and took it. The crown of the Ark - it lies waiting; whoever wishes to take it, let him come and take it. Lest you say it was the least of them, Scripture teaches (Proverbs 8:15) "By me kings reign." Rabbi Yochanan expounded a discrepancy: it is written "zar" (stranger) and we read "zeir" (crown) - if one merits, it becomes a crown for him; if he does not merit, it becomes a stranger to him. "From within and without you shall overlay it." Rava said: Any Torah scholar whose inside is not like his outside is no Torah scholar.

Themes

TabernacleTorahTemple Vessels

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