The Scoffers Are Silenced When the Tabernacle Is Raised

"And they brought the Tabernacle to Moses" (Exodus 39:33). This is what Scripture says, "Let the lying lips be silenced, which speak insolently against the righteous" (Psalms 31:19) — it speaks of Moses. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told him to make the Tabernacle, at once he said to them, "Take from among you an offering to the LORD" (Exodus 35:5). Moses was occupied with the Tabernacle; for three months they made it, and they folded it up. And they were mocking him and saying: Behold, the Tabernacle is made; was he not saying that He would cause His Presence to dwell among us? But the Holy One, blessed be He, intended that the Tabernacle be erected in the month in which Abraham our father was given the good tidings of Isaac. When the month arrived, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "On the day of the first month, on the first of the month, you shall set up the Tabernacle" (Exodus 40:2). At that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Let the lying lips be silenced." Those who had been mocking over the Tabernacle began to carry it and to come, each one with his work, as it is said, "And they brought the Tabernacle." This is what is written, "Strength and dignity are her clothing" (Proverbs 31:25) — this is Moses, "and Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone" (Exodus 34:29). "And she laughs" (Proverbs 31:25) — these are the scoffers of the generation, who were mocking Moses, saying: Is it possible that the Presence rests upon the work of Moses's hands? But when the Holy One, blessed be He, told him to erect the Tabernacle, he began to laugh at them, "and she laughs at the time to come" (Proverbs 31:25). He said to them: Bring it, that we may set up the Tabernacle. Each one began carrying and coming to him.