Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
Through the various objects God bade them dedicate to the sanctuary,
the course of their history was indicated. The gold signified their
yoke under Babylon, "the head of golds;" the silver pointed toward the
sovereignty of Persia and Media, who through silver tried to bring
about the destruction of Israel; brass stood for the Greek Empire, that
like this metal is of inferior quality, its rule also was less
significant than that of its predecessors in the sovereignty over the
world; the ram's skins dyed red indicate the sovereignty of "red Rome."
God now said to Israel: "Although you now behold the four nations that
will hold sway over you, still shall I send you help out of your
bondage, 'oil for the light,' the Messiah, who will enlighten the eyes
of Israel, and who will make use of 'spices for anointing-oil,' for he
will anoint the high priest, that once again 'I may accept you with
your sweet savour.'" [323]
When Moses was in heaven, God showed him the Tabernacle, as well as
models for all the holy vessels therein, hence Moses naturally supposed
that he was destined to be the builder of the Tabernacle. But he was
mistaken, for when he was about to leave heaven, God said to Moses:
"Thee have I appointed king, and it does not behoove a king to execute
works in person, but to give people directions. Therefore thou are not
to execute the building of the Tabernacle in person, but thou art to
give them thy directions to be executed." Moses now asked God whom he
should select as the man to carry out his orders, whereupon God fetched
out the book of Adam and laid it before Moses. In this book he found
recorded all the generations, from the creation of the world to the
resurrection of the dead, and the kings, leaders, and prophets set down
beside every generation. Then God said to Moses: "In that hour did I
decree every man's calling, and Bezalel was then appointed to his
task." [324]
BEZALEL
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