Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
While the number of Cherubim was the same in the Temple as in the
Tabernacle, Solomon had, on the other hand, ten tables set up in the
Temple in place of the one fashioned by Moses. This was because the one
table sufficed to bring sustenance to Israel so long as they were
maintained by manna in the desert; but as the demand for food was
greater after they settled in the promised land, Solomon had ten tables
set up. But in the Temple also did the table of Moses retain its
ancient significance, for only upon it was the shewbread placed, and it
stood in the center, whereas the tables fashioned by Solomon stood five
to the south and five to the north. For from the south come "the dews
of blessing and the rains of plenty," while all evil comes from the
north; hence Solomon said: "The tables on the south side shall cause
the rains of plenty and the dews of blessing to come upon the earth,
while the tables on the north side shall keep off all evil from
Israel." [337]
Moses had great difficulty with the construction of the candlestick,
for although God had given him instructions about it, he completely
forgot these when he descended from heaven. He hereupon betook himself
to God once more to be shown, but in vain, for hardly had he reached
earth, when he again forgot. When he betook himself to God the third
time, God took a candlestick of fire and plainly showed him every
single detail of it, that he might now be able to reconstruct the
candlestick for the Tabernacle. When he found it still hard to form a
clear conception of the nature of the candlestick, God quieted him with
these words" "Go to Bezalel, he will do it aright." And indeed, Bezalel
had no difficulty in doing so, and instantly executed Moses'
commission. Moses cried in amazement: "God showed me repeatedly how to
make the candlestick, yet I could not properly seize the idea; but
thou, without having had it shown thee by God, couldst fashion it out
of thy own fund of knowledge. Truly dost thou deserve thy name Bezalel,
'in the shadow of God,' for thou dost act as if thou hadst been 'in the
shadow of God' while He was showing me the candlestick." [338]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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