Bamidbar Rabbah turns to Shelumiel's Transgression.
The verse But why the fifth day? Why Simeon? The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) asks, what made Shelumiel's offering so special that it warranted this particular place in the sequence?
The passage points to the actions of Reuben and Simeon. Reuben was recognized for his vigilance in saving his brother Joseph from death. And Simeon? He was zealous in avenging his sister Dina's dishonor in Shekhem. According to this midrash, this act of zealotry earned him the privilege of presenting his offering after Reuben. As we read in (Genesis 34:25-26), Simeon and Levi took matters into their own hands, slaying the men of Shekhem after Dina was violated.
(Numbers 7:37) then details Shelumiel's offering: "His offering was one silver dish, its weight one hundred and thirty; one silver basin of seventy shekels, in the sacred shekel; both of them full of high quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering." But the real question is, why this offering?
The Bamidbar Rabbah explains that Shelumiel presented his offering in accordance with the order of the crafting of the Tabernacle itself. But why? They drew a parallel to Simeon’s actions in Shekhem. Just as Simeon acted decisively against impurity, so too would the Tabernacle serve as a place of judgment against transgressions like adultery. The text references (Numbers 5:17) and 5:27, describing the ritual of the sotah, the woman suspected of adultery, where the Tabernacle's water would reveal her guilt or innocence. This is a fascinating connection, isn't it?
So, Shelumiel’s offering, in a way, commemorates Simeon’s zeal. The "silver dish," the midrash continues, corresponds to the Tabernacle courtyard, which surrounded the Tabernacle like the sea surrounds the world. Its weight, "one hundred and thirty," mirrors the dimensions of the courtyard: one hundred cubits in length and thirty cubits for the interior of the Tabernacle (Exodus 27:18). The "silver basin of seventy shekels" represents the courtyard without the Tabernacle, totaling seventy cubits.
The midrash offers alternative interpretations too, diving into the specifics of the courtyard's dimensions and the arrangement of pillars, meticulously connecting the physical structure of the Tabernacle to the offering itself. It even draws parallels between the "high quality flour mixed with oil" to the meal offerings in the courtyard and the showbread and candelabrum within the Tabernacle.
But it doesn't stop there. (Numbers 7:38) states, "One gold ladle, ten shekels, full of incense." The "ladle," or kaf in Hebrew, is linked to the Torah scroll placed next to the Ark. Just as a hand (kaf) has five fingers, the Torah has five books. And the "gold…ten shekels"? Those represent the tablets containing the Ten Commandments. Or, alternatively, they correspond to the ten portions in which the crafting of the Tabernacle is written, citing various verses from Exodus (25-27) that detail the construction of the Ark, the Tabernacle, and its components.
The text continues, interpreting the offerings of "one young bull, one ram, one lamb" (Numbers 7:39) and "one goat as a sin offering" (Numbers 7:40) as representations of the Tabernacle's various coverings and materials. The "young bull" corresponds to the colorful Tabernacle sheets (Exodus 26:1), the "ram" to the rams' hides, and the "sheep" to the tachash hides. The goat relates to the tent of goat hair.
Finally, "two cattle" from the peace offering (Numbers 7:41) are connected to Betzalel and Oholiav, the artisans who completed the construction of the Tabernacle. Alternatively, they symbolize the screens at the entrances of the Tabernacle and the courtyard, which enclosed the sacred space. The "five rams, five goats, five sheep" represent the hangings on the three sides of the courtyard, with their height of five cubits (Exodus 38:18, 27:18).
The midrash concludes that God lauded Shelumiel's offering precisely because it corresponded so perfectly to the crafting of the Tabernacle. "This was the offering of Shelumiel…" (Numbers 7:41). It wasn't just about bringing a gift; it was about understanding the deeper meaning and aligning oneself with the divine plan.
So, what does this all mean for us today? It reminds us that even seemingly small acts can carry profound significance when done with intention and understanding. Shelumiel's offering wasn't just a donation; it was a reflection of his tribe's values, their history, and their connection to the divine. It’s a powerful reminder to consider the meaning behind our actions and to strive for a deeper connection to our own traditions and values. What "offering" can we bring, aligned with our values and history, to create something meaningful in our own lives and communities?
“On the fifth day, prince of the children of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Tzurishadai” (Numbers 7:36). “On the fifth day, prince of the children of Simeon, Shelumiel son of Tzurishadai…” –because Reuben was vigilant in rescuing his brother from death and Simeon was zealous regarding the harlotry of his sister in Shekhem, to rescue his sister from the hand of the impure; that is why he was privileged to present his offering after him. “His offering was one silver dish, its weight one hundred and thirty; one silver basin of seventy shekels, in the sacred shekel; both of them full of high quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering” (Numbers 7:37). “His offering was one silver dish…” – the prince of Simeon came and presented his offering corresponding to the order of the crafting of the Tabernacle. Why did he present his offering corresponding to the crafting of the Tabernacle? They took an example from the act of Simeon, the forebear of the tribe. Just as Simeon was zealous regarding the harlotry, and killed all the residents of Shekhem because they tormented his sister Dina, just as it says: “…the two sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dina's brothers, each took his sword, and came upon the city confidently, and killed all the males. And Ḥamor, and Shekhem his son, they killed by sword, and they took Dina from the house of Shekhem, and departed” (Genesis 34:25–26), likewise, the Tabernacle would kill the adulterers and the sotot, just as it says: “The priest shall take sacred water in an earthenware vessel, and from the dirt that is on the floor of the Tabernacle, [the priest shall take and he shall place it into the water]” (Numbers 5:17), and it says: “He shall give her to drink the water, and it will be, if she was defiled, and committed a trespass [against her husband…her belly will distend, and her thigh will fall]” (Numbers 5:27). That is why Shelumiel presented his offering according to the order of the crafting of the Tabernacle, as a commemoration of Simeon’s action. “His offering was one silver dish…” – “Dish,” corresponding to the Tabernacle courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle like the sea surrounds the world. ”Its weight one hundred and thirty,” just as it says: “The length of the courtyard, one hundred cubits” (Exodus 27:18), and the length of the interior of the Tabernacle was thirty cubits; that is one hundred and thirty, “One silver basin [of seventy shekels] (Numbers 7:37), it corresponded to the courtyard without the Tabernacle, that was seventy cubits. Fifty cubits before the Tabernacle and twenty cubits behind the Tabernacle, that is seventy cubits. Alternatively, the courtyard, its length was one hundred cubits and its width was fifty cubits, just as it says: “The length of the courtyard, one hundred cubits, and its width fifty by fifty…” (Exodus 27:18). Take the fifty that the length is greater than the width, and render them into strips and surround the fifty of the width in a square. Its width equals its length, seventy cubits and a remainder by seventy cubits and a remainder. That is why it said: “Seventy shekels” – because the remainder was less than a cubit, it was not taken into consideration. Another matter, why seventy? It is corresponding to seventy pillars that were in the Tabernacle courtyard; twenty pillars on the south side, twenty pillars on the north side, ten on the west side, six pillars on the east side, and four pillars for the screen on the courtyard gate. That is sixty for the courtyard, [plus] four for the curtain, five for the screen of the Tabernacle entrance, and the pillar of the cloud; that is seventy. “Both of them full of high quality flour mixed with oil as a meal offering” (Numbers 7:37), corresponding to the courtyard and the Tabernacle, as in the courtyard they would sacrifice a meal offering mixed with oil, and in the Tabernacle there was the showbread, which was of fine flour, and the candelabrum, that one kindles it with oil. There was frankincense on the table that would ascend for a pleasant aroma. “One gold ladle, ten shekels, full of incense” (Numbers 7:38). “One…ladle [kaf],” this is the Torah scroll that was placed next to the Ark. Just as this hand [kaf] has five fingers, so, too, it contains five books. “Gold…ten shekels,” these are the tablets that were in the Ark that contained the Ten Commandments. Another matter, “gold…ten shekels,” corresponding to the ten portions in which the crafting of the Tabernacle is written. These are they: “They shall craft an Ark…” (Exodus 25:10); “you shall craft an Ark cover…” (Exodus 25:17); “you shall craft a table…” (Exodus 25:23); “you shall craft a candelabrum…” (Exodus 25:31); “the Tabernacle you shall craft…” (Exodus 26:1); “you shall craft sheets…” (Exodus 26:7); “you shall craft the boards…” (Exodus 26:15); “you shall craft a curtain…” (Exodus 26:31); “you shall craft an altar…” (Exodus 27:1); “you shall craft the Tabernacle courtyard…” (Exodus 27:9). “One young bull, one ram, one lamb in its first year, as a burnt offering” (Numbers 7:39). “One goat as a sin offering” (Numbers 7:40). “And for the peace offering, two cattle, five rams, five goats, five sheep in their first year. This was the offering of Shelumiel son of Tzurishadai” (Numbers 7:41). “One young bull [par]” (Numbers 7:39), corresponding to the Tabernacle sheets that were crafted of all types of colors,80The midrash expounds par similar to apiryon, palanquin, which was colorful. just as it says: “You shall craft the Tabernacle of ten sheets [of spun linen and sky blue, purple and scarlet wool]” (Exodus 26:1). “One ram” (Numbers 7:39), corresponding to the covering of rams’ hides, dyed red. “One sheep” (Numbers 7:39), corresponding to the taḥash hides. “[One] goat” (Numbers 7:40), corresponding to the tent that consisted of sheets of goat hair. “And for the peace [hashelamim] offering, two cattle” (Numbers 7:41), this is corresponding to Betzalel and Oholiav, who completed [hishlimu] the labor of the Tabernacle. Alternatively, this is corresponding to the screen of the entrance of the Tabernacle and the screen of the entrance of the courtyard, which completed [mashlimim] the closure of the Tent on all its sides, and the closure of the courtyard on all its sides. “Five rams, [five goats, five sheep]” (Numbers 7:41), these three species correspond to the hangings of the courtyard on its three sides, southern, northern, and western, as the length of the southern and the northern hangings was one hundred cubits, corresponding to the length of the courtyard, and the length of the western corresponded to its width of fifty cubits. Why were there five of each? It is corresponding to the courtyard hangings that were five cubits high, as it is stated: “And the height in the width, five cubits, corresponding to the hangings of the courtyard” (Exodus 38:18). And it says: “And the height, five cubits of fine twisted linen” (Exodus 27:18). Three times, that is fifteen, corresponding to the hangings of the fourth direction, as their length was only fifteen and fifteen cubits, as it is stated: “On the east side, they were fifty cubits. Hangings were fifteen cubits on the side…. On the second side: from this side and from that side of the gate of the courtyard, hangings were fifteen cubits” (Exodus 38:13–15).81On the eastern side, the fifty cubits of width of the courtyard consisted of fifteen cubits on each side of the screen at the entrance, which was twenty cubits. “This was the offering of Shelumiel…” (Numbers 7:41), when the Holy One blessed be He saw that he presented his offering corresponding to the order of the crafting of the Tabernacle, He began lauding his offering: “This was the offering of Shelumiel…”
