Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
After everything had been provided for the construction of the
Tabernacle, Bezalel set to work with the devotion of his whole soul,
and as a reward for this, the Holy Scriptures speak of him only as the
constructor of the sanctuary, although many others stood by him in this
labor. He began his work by fashioning the boards, then attended to the
overlaying of them, and when he had completed these things, he set to
work to prepare the curtains, then completed the Ark with the
penance-cover belonging to it, and finally the table for the shewbread,
and the candlestick. [366]
THE SETTING UP OF THE TABERNACLE
The work on the Tabernacle progressed rapidly, for everything was ready
in the month of Kislew, but it was not set up until three months later.
The people were indeed eager to set up the sanctuary at once and to
dedicate it, but God bade Moses wait until the first day of the month
of Nisan, because that was Isaac's birthday, and God wished the joy of
dedication to take place on this day of joy. The mockers among Israel,
of course, to whom this was not known, made fun of Moses, saying: "Of
course, is it possible that the Shekinah should rest over the work of
Amram's sons?" [357]
In regard to the Tabernacle, Moses had to suffer much besides from the
fault-finders and wicked tongues. If he showed himself upon the street,
they called out to one another: "See what a well-fed neck, what sturdy
legs the son of Amram has, who eats and drinks from our money!" The
other would answer: "Dost thou believe that one who has construction of
the Tabernacle in his hands will remain a poor man?" Moses said
nothing, but resolved, as soon as the Tabernacle should have been
completed, to lay an exact account before the people, which he did. But
when it came to giving his account, he forgot one item of seven hundred
seventy-five shekels which he had expended for hooks upon which to hang
the curtains of the Tabernacle. Then, as he suddenly raised his eyes,
he saw the Shekinah resting on the hooks and was reminded of his
omission of this expenditure. Thereafter all Israel became convinced
that Moses was a faithful and reliable administrator. [358]
As the people had brought much more material than was necessary for the
Tabernacle, Moses erected a second Tabernacle outside the encampment on
the spot where God had been accustomed to reveal Himself to him, and
this "Tabernacle of revelation" was in all details like the original
sanctuary in the camp. [359]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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