The covenant ceremony at Sinai in (Exodus 24) is solemn in the Hebrew Bible. The Targum Jonathan turns it into a visionary experience with one of the most haunting images in all of ancient Jewish literature: an angel carrying a brick of slavery and placing it beneath God's throne.
The Targum identifies the voice that summoned Moses up the mountain as "Michael, the Prince of Wisdom." The Hebrew says simply "He said to Moses." The Targum names the speaker and gives him a title—Michael is not just an angel but the angelic patron of wisdom itself.
Before the tabernacle existed, the Targum explains, the firstborn served as priests. Moses "sent the firstborn of the sons of Israel" to offer sacrifices, "for until that hour had the firstborn had the office of performing worship, the tabernacle of ordinance not as yet being made, nor the priesthood given unto Aaron." This addition explains a puzzling detail: who performed the sacrificial service before the Levitical priesthood was established?
The most remarkable passage comes when Nadab and Abihu and the seventy elders ascended and "saw the glory of the God of Israel." The Hebrew says they saw something like a sapphire pavement under God's feet. The Targum transforms this into a memorial of slavery: under God's footstool was "a memorial of the servitude with which the Mizraee had made the children of Israel to serve in clay and bricks," including pregnant women who were "made abortive by being beaten down with the clay." The angel Gabriel descended, made a brick from that very clay, ascended to heaven, and "set it, a footstool under the throne of the Lord of the world."
God keeps a brick of Egyptian slavery beneath His throne. The suffering of Israel is permanently displayed in heaven itself. This is the Targum's theology of divine memory—God does not forget what His people endured, and the evidence sits at His feet forever.
The Targum also notes that Nadab and Abihu deserved punishment for gazing too boldly at the divine glory, but "the stroke was not sent in that hour." It awaited them until the eighth day—the dedication of the Tabernacle described in (Leviticus 10), when they would die offering unauthorized fire. The Targum connects two stories separated by an entire book of the Torah.
And Michael, the Prince of Wisdom, said to Mosheh on the seventh day of the month, Come up before the Lord, thou and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and worship at a distance.
And Mosheh alone shall approach before the Lord; but they shall not draw nigh, nor may the people come up with him.
And Mosheh came and set before the people all the words of the Lord, and all the judgments. And all the people answered with one voice, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do.
And Mosheh wrote the words of the Lord, and arose in the morning and builded an altar at the lower part of the mountain; and twelve pillars for the twelve tribes of Israel.
And he sent the firstborn of the sons of Israel,-for until that hour had the firstborn had the (office of performing) worship, the tabernacle of ordinance not (as yet) being made, nor the priesthood given unto Aharon; and they offered burnt offerings and consecrated oblations of oxen before the Lord.
And Mosheh took half of the blood of the offering, and put it in basins, and half of the blood of the offering he sprinkled upon the altar.
And he took the Book of the Covenant of the Law and read before the people; and they said, All the words which the Lord hath spoken we will perform and obey.
And Mosheh took half of the blood which was in the basins, and sprinkled upon the altar, to expiate the people, and said, Behold, this is the blood of the Covenant which the Lord hath made with you upon all these words.
And Mosheh and Aharon, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, went up.
And Nadab and Abihu lifted up their eyes, and saw the glory of the God of Israel; and under the footstool of His feet which was placed beneath His throne, was like the work of sapphire stone a memorial of the servitude with which the Mizraee had made the children of Israel to serve in clay and bricks, (what time) there were women treading clay with their husbands; the delicate young woman with child was also there, and made abortive by being beaten down with the clay. And thereof did Gabriel, descending, make brick, and, going up to the heavens on high, set it, a footstool under the cathedra of the Lord of the world whose splendour was as the work of a precious stone, and as the power of the beauty of the heavens when they are clear from clouds.
But upon Nadab and Abihu, the comely young men, was the stroke not sent in that hour, but it awaited them on the eighth day for a retribution to destroy them; but they saw the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord, and rejoiced that their oblations were received with favour, [as if they] did eat and drink.
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Ascend before Me at the mount, and I will there give thee the tables of stone on which I have set forth the rest of the words of the Law, and the six hundred and thirteen precepts which I have written for their instruction.
And Mosheh arose and Jehoshua his minister; and Mosheh went up to the mountain on which was revealed the glory of the Shekinah of the Lord.
And to the sages he had said, Expect us here, at the time of our return to you; and, behold, Aharon and Hur are with you; if there be any matter of judgment, bring it to them.
And Mosheh went up into the mount, and the Cloud of Glory covered the mount.
And the glory of the Lord's Shekinah abode upon the mountain of Sinai, and the Cloud of Glory covered it six days. And on the seventh day He called to Mosheh from the midst of the Cloud.
And the appearance of the splendour of the glory of the Lord was as burning fire with flashes of devouring fire; and the sons of Israel beheld and were awe-struck.
And Mosheh entered into the midst of the Cloud, and ascended the mountain; and Mosheh was upon the mountain forty days and forty nights, learning the words of the Law from the mouth of the Holy One, whose Name be praised.
