Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
always allowed a pause to take place between the different laws to be
imparted, that Moses might have time rightly to grasp what was told
him. [405]
On the first day of the dedication of the Tabernacle, not lest than
eight important sections of laws were communicated to Moses by God.
[406] As a reward for his piety, Aaron and his descendants to all
eternity received the laws of sanctity, which are a special distinction
of the priests, [407] and these laws were revealed on this day. It was
on this day, also, that Aaron and his sons received the gifts of the
priests, for although even at the revelation on Sinai Israel had set
them aside, still they were not given to Aaron and his sons until this
day when the sanctuary was anointed. [408]
The second law revealed on this day was the separation of the Levites
from among the children of Israel, that they might be dedicated to the
sanctuary. "For God elevated no man to an office unless He has tried
him and found him worthy of his calling." He did not say, "and the
Levites shall be Mine," before He had tried this tribe, and found them
worthy. In Egypt none but the tribe of Levi observed the Torah and
clung to the token of the Abrahamic covenant, while the others tribes,
abandoning both Torah and token of covenant, like the Egyptians,
practiced idolatry. In the desert, also, it was this tribe alone that
did not take part in the worship of the Golden Calf. Justly, therefore,
did God's choice fall upon this godly tribe, who on this day were
consecrated as the servants of God and His sanctuary. [409]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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