We find ourselves in Bamidbar Rabbah 12, a section of the Midrash Rabbah, a compilation of rabbinic teachings on the books of the Torah. The text opens with a seemingly simple statement: "It was on the day that Moses concluded erecting the Tabernacle, he anointed it and sanctified it..." (Numbers 7:1). But the rabbis, masters of uncovering hidden depths, saw so much more.
They connect this moment of completion and consecration to (Psalm 85:9): "I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones; let them not return to folly." Why this verse? Because, as the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) points out, the Golden Calf incident had deeply angered God. Remember, it's written, "The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people…" (Exodus 32:9). The very next verse is pretty intense: "Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will destroy them" (Exodus 32:10). Whoa.
Moses, of course, interceded, begging for mercy. And God relented, as it's stated: "The Lord reconsidered the evil…" (Exodus 32:14). But, and here's the rub, the text says that "umbrage remained in His heart." Even after forgiveness, a residue of disappointment and anger lingered. As it says, "On the day of My reckoning, I will reckon their sin upon them" (Exodus 32:34).
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon paints a vivid picture: Moses, after the Tabernacle was built, "went and bent his ear in the Tabernacle," listening intently. He wondered, did this "umbrage" still exist? Was God still holding back, barely tolerating them? He asks, is God acting with the attribute of strength (ha’el), or with the attribute of mercy (Lord)? Because ha’el, as the Midrash notes, is associated with strength, like in (Ezekiel 17:13), "And he took the mighty of [eilei] the land." In contrast, "Lord" is tied to mercy, as in (Exodus 34:6): "Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious."
And then, the answer comes. The Holy One, blessed be He, assures Moses that no, there is no lingering resentment. Rabbi Simon points out the repetition of "Lord, Lord" in (Exodus 34:6). It signifies that God would act with mercy just as He had before the sin.
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon describes Moses hearing a "pleasant voice, an excellent voice." Before, Moses would stand, and the divine speech would enter his ear like a current of water. While no one else could hear it, his reddened face would signal the arrival of divine communication. But now, with the Tabernacle complete, he heard something different: "For He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones" (Psalms 85:9).
Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen (a priest), quoting Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon, drives the point home: God says to Moses, "In the past there was enmity between Me and My children...but now that the Tabernacle was crafted there is love between Me and My children, peace between Me and My children." The Tabernacle, then, becomes a symbol of restored relationship. It's a physical manifestation of God's complete forgiveness and renewed love. The “pious ones” mentioned in (Psalms 85:9), says the Midrash, are the tribe of Levi.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish asks a powerful question: Why are we even using Psalms to understand this? This isn't just poetry; it's Torah! And he points to (Numbers 6:26), "And grant you peace." When does this happen? "On the day that Moses concluded [erecting the Tabernacle]."
So, what does this all mean for us? It suggests that true reconciliation isn't just about words. It's about creating something new, something tangible, that symbolizes the renewed connection. The Tabernacle wasn't just a building; it was a statement. A statement that said, "We are starting over. We are rebuilding trust. We are committed to a future of peace." And maybe, just maybe, that's a lesson we can all take to heart.
“It was on the day that Moses concluded erecting the Tabernacle, he anointed it and sanctified it and all its vessels, and the altar and all its vessels; he anointed them and sanctified them” (Numbers 7:1). “It was on the day that Moses concluded…” – that is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say, for He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones; let them not return to folly” (Psalms 85:9). You find that when Israel performed that act1The Golden Calf., and the Holy One blessed be He grew angry at them, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Moses: I have seen this people…” (Exodus 32:9),2The following verse says: “Now, let Me be, and My wrath will be enflamed against them, and I will destroy them” (Exodus 32:10). "Leave me [and I will destroy them…]" (Deuteronomy 9:14). Immediately, Moses stood and asked for mercy from before Him so that He would reconcile with them, just as it is stated: “Moses implored…” (Exodus 32:11). The Holy One blessed be He reconciled with them, as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered the evil…” (Exodus 32:14). Nevertheless, umbrage remained in His heart in their regard, as it is stated: “On the day of My reckoning, I will reckon their sin upon them” (Exodus 32:34). When the Tabernacle was crafted, Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses went and bent his ear in the Tabernacle. He said: Do you say that umbrage remains in the heart of the Holy One blessed be He in Israel’s regard? That is what is written: “I will hear what the Almighty Lord has to say” (Psalms 85:9). What is “the Almighty [ha’el] Lord? Moses said: Until now has He remained in His anger against them and is He barely with them? Ha’el is nothing other than an expression of strength, just as it says: “And he took the mighty of [eilei] the land” (Ezekiel 17:13). Or is He reconciled with them and He is acting with them with the attribute of mercy; that is what is written: “Lord.” Lord is nothing other than the attribute of mercy, as it is stated: “Lord, Lord, merciful and gracious” (Exodus 34:6). Immediately, the Holy One blessed be He placated him that He has no umbrage in His heart, just as it is written: “The Lord passed [vayaavor] before him” (Exodus 34:6), that He removed [shehe’evir] His fury from them and overlooked [ve’avar] their transgressions. Rabbi Simon said: Why does it say “Lord, Lord” twice? It is, rather, that the Holy One blessed be He placated him and said to Moses: Just as in the past I would act with them with the attribute of mercy before they performed that act, so, too, now, I will act with them with the attribute of mercy. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: At that moment, Moses heard a pleasant voice, an excellent voice. In the past, Moses would stand, and the divine speech would enter his ear like a current of water. No one of Israel could hear it, but when his face would redden they knew that divine speech had come to him. Once the Tabernacle was crafted, he heard a pleasant voice. What did he hear? “For He will speak peace to His people and to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9). Rabbi Berekhya HaKohen said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘In the past there was enmity between Me and My children, hatred between Me and My children, contention between Me and My children, but now that the Tabernacle was crafted there is love between Me and My children, peace between Me and My children.’ That is, “for He will speak peace to His people” (Psalms 85:9) – this is Israel, for crafting the Tabernacle. “And to His pious ones” (Psalms 85:9) – this is the tribe of Levi, in whose regard it is written: “And of Levi he said: Your Tumim and Your Urim for Your pious one” (Deuteronomy 33:8). From where do you know that the verse is speaking regarding the Tabernacle? It is because it is written thereafter: “Indeed, His salvation is near for those who fear Him, so that glory may dwell in our land” (Psalms 85:10). When was there peace for Israel? When the glory of the Holy One blessed be He dwelled in the Tabernacle. It is just as it says: “And the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Why would I teach this matter from the book of Psalms? It is a matter of Torah. Even from its location there is nothing lacking. See what is written: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26). When? It was “on the day that Moses concluded [erecting the Tabernacle].”
