The princes of the tribes in the story of building the Mishkan (Tabernacle) knew that feeling all too well.
According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, when Moses called for donations to erect the sanctuary, these princes held back. You see, they were a bit miffed that Moses hadn't specifically asked them for help. Their plan? To wait and see what the people gave, then swoop in and make up any shortfall, ensuring everyone knew that the Tabernacle couldn’t have been completed without them. A little prideful, perhaps?
But the people, in their eagerness and devotion, provided everything that was needed! Imagine the princes’ surprise. When they finally brought their contributions, it was… too late. All they could do was provide the jewels for the high priest’s robes. They missed the main event.
On the day of the dedication, they tried to make amends. They consulted the tribe of Issachar, known for their wisdom and erudition, and decided to bring wagons for transporting the Tabernacle. These weren't just any guys off the street, mind you. These princes were respected leaders. They'd held positions of authority even back in Egypt, facing the wrath of the Egyptians themselves! They stood by Moses during the census. They were invested. They now offered six covered wagons, fully equipped and painted blue – the color of the sky – along with twelve oxen to pull them.
Now, these numbers weren't arbitrary. According to the text, the six wagons corresponded to all sorts of important things: the six days of creation, the six matriarchs (Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Leah, Bilhah, and Zilpah), the six laws specifically for the king, the six orders of the Mishnah (the first major written collection of Jewish oral traditions), and even the six heavens! The twelve oxen, likewise, represented the twelve constellations and the twelve tribes of Israel. Symbolic, right?
Moses, initially, wasn’t sure about accepting the gift. But God not only told him to accept it but also to address the princes kindly and thank them for their generosity. Moses, ever the humble leader, even worried that the Shekhinah (divine presence) had left him and would now rest upon the princes, assuming they must have received a direct divine communication.
But God reassured Moses, "If it had been a direct command from Me, then I should have ordered thee to tell them, but they did this on their own initiative, which indeed meets with My wish."
Moses accepted the gifts, though still with some trepidation. What if a wagon broke down? What if an ox died? Would that tribe then be seen as somehow… deficient? But God promised that no such accident would occur. In fact, a great miracle happened! The animals lived forever, never aging or getting sick, and the wagons endured for all eternity. Talk about a divine seal of approval!
What can we take away from this story? Maybe it's about the importance of seizing opportunities when they arise. Or perhaps it's a reminder that even when we miss the boat, so to speak, there's always a chance to contribute in other meaningful ways. Or maybe it's just a beautiful tale of divine grace, showing that even actions motivated by a little bit of pride can still be redeemed and used for good. The story reminds us that intention matters, but so does action, even if it's a little late.