Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 419:1

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 419:1

Rabbi Nehemiah used to say: the tent of meeting that Moses made in the wilderness corresponds to the work of creation. The curtains correspond to the heavens and the earth. The laver and its stand correspond to the six days of creation. The altar of burnt offering corresponds to all the cattle. The altar of incense corresponds to all the spices. The lampstand corresponds to the sun and the moon. Its seven lamps correspond to the seven stars that serve the world, and these are they: Shabbtai, Tzedek, Maadim, Chammah, Nogah, Kochav, Levanah [Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, the Sun, Venus, Mercury, the Moon]. See the miracles that He performed for them. "The length of the courtyard a hundred cubits" (Exodus 27:18) and what does Scripture teach by saying "fifty by fifty"? Rather, there were two squares. The inner square within the Tabernacle, from the entrance of the tent of meeting inward, was thirty cubits long and ten cubits wide, so it amounts to fifty cubits on every side: fifty cubits within, in the east fifty long and fifty wide within the fifty. The altar of burnt offering was five by five, and its ramp lay all along it to the south, extending about thirty cubits, with only a hairsbreadth of space descending between them. And according to those who say its height was three cubits, its ramp was ten cubits. And the laver and its stand were set within the twenty cubits in the east. And the altar and the ramp were prepared, and Aaron and his sons were engaged in the service, and the Holy One, blessed be He, taught them the order of service, as it is said, "And the sons of Aaron brought," and so on.

Themes