(א) וַיַּ֣רְא הָעָ֔ם כִּֽי־בֹשֵׁ֥שׁ מֹשֶׁ֖ה לָרֶ֣דֶת מִן־הָהָ֑ר וַיִּקָּהֵ֨ל הָעָ֜ם עַֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ אֵלָיו֙ ק֣וּם ׀ עֲשֵׂה־לָ֣נוּ אֱלֹהִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר יֵֽלְכוּ֙ לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְנוּ מֶה־הָ֥יָה לֽוֹ׃ (ב) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר אֲלֵהֶם֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן פָּֽרְקוּ֙ נִזְמֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁר֙ בְּאָזְנֵ֣י נְשֵׁיכֶ֔ם בְּנֵיכֶ֖ם וּבְנֹתֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָבִ֖יאוּ אֵלָֽי׃ (ג) וַיִּתְפָּֽרְקוּ֙ כָּל־הָעָ֔ם אֶת־נִזְמֵ֥י הַזָּהָ֖ב אֲשֶׁ֣ר בְּאָזְנֵיהֶ֑ם וַיָּבִ֖יאוּ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹֽן׃ (ד) וַיִּקַּ֣ח מִיָּדָ֗ם וַיָּ֤צַר אֹתוֹ֙ בַּחֶ֔רֶט וַֽיַּעֲשֵׂ֖הוּ עֵ֣גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֤לֶּה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (ה) וַיַּ֣רְא אַהֲרֹ֔ן וַיִּ֥בֶן מִזְבֵּ֖חַ לְפָנָ֑יו וַיִּקְרָ֤א אַֽהֲרֹן֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר חַ֥ג לַיהוָ֖ה מָחָֽר׃ (ו) וַיַּשְׁכִּ֙ימוּ֙ מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת וַיַּעֲל֣וּ עֹלֹ֔ת וַיַּגִּ֖שׁוּ שְׁלָמִ֑ים וַיֵּ֤שֶׁב הָעָם֙ לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל וְשָׁת֔וֹ וַיָּקֻ֖מוּ לְצַחֵֽק׃ (פ) (ז) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה לֶךְ־רֵ֕ד כִּ֚י שִׁחֵ֣ת עַמְּךָ֔ אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶעֱלֵ֖יתָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (ח) סָ֣רוּ מַהֵ֗ר מִן־הַדֶּ֙רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֔ם עָשׂ֣וּ לָהֶ֔ם עֵ֖גֶל מַסֵּכָ֑ה וַיִּשְׁתַּֽחֲווּ־לוֹ֙ וַיִּזְבְּחוּ־ל֔וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ אֵ֤לֶּה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר הֶֽעֱל֖וּךָ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ (ט) וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֑ה רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֥ה עַם־קְשֵׁה־עֹ֖רֶף הֽוּא׃ (י) וְעַתָּה֙ הַנִּ֣יחָה לִּ֔י וְיִֽחַר־אַפִּ֥י בָהֶ֖ם וַאֲכַלֵּ֑ם וְאֶֽעֱשֶׂ֥ה אוֹתְךָ֖ לְג֥וֹי גָּדֽוֹל׃ (יא) וַיְחַ֣ל מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֶת־פְּנֵ֖י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר לָמָ֤ה יְהוָה֙ יֶחֱרֶ֤ה אַפְּךָ֙ בְּעַמֶּ֔ךָ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הוֹצֵ֙אתָ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם בְּכֹ֥חַ גָּד֖וֹל וּבְיָ֥ד חֲזָקָֽה׃ (יב) לָמָּה֩ יֹאמְר֨וּ מִצְרַ֜יִם לֵאמֹ֗ר בְּרָעָ֤ה הֽוֹצִיאָם֙ לַהֲרֹ֤ג אֹתָם֙ בֶּֽהָרִ֔ים וּ֨לְכַלֹּתָ֔ם מֵעַ֖ל פְּנֵ֣י הָֽאֲדָמָ֑ה שׁ֚וּב מֵחֲר֣וֹן אַפֶּ֔ךָ וְהִנָּחֵ֥ם עַל־הָרָעָ֖ה לְעַמֶּֽךָ׃ (יג) זְכֹ֡ר לְאַבְרָהָם֩ לְיִצְחָ֨ק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל עֲבָדֶ֗יךָ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נִשְׁבַּ֣עְתָּ לָהֶם֮ בָּךְ֒ וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֲלֵהֶ֔ם אַרְבֶּה֙ אֶֽת־זַרְעֲכֶ֔ם כְּכוֹכְבֵ֖י הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְכָל־הָאָ֨רֶץ הַזֹּ֜את אֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמַ֗רְתִּי אֶתֵּן֙ לְזַרְעֲכֶ֔ם וְנָחֲל֖וּ לְעֹלָֽם׃ (יד) וַיִּנָּ֖חֶם יְהוָ֑ה עַל־הָ֣רָעָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבֶּ֖ר לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת לְעַמּֽוֹ׃ (פ) (טו) וַיִּ֜פֶן וַיֵּ֤רֶד מֹשֶׁה֙ מִן־הָהָ֔ר וּשְׁנֵ֛י לֻחֹ֥ת הָעֵדֻ֖ת בְּיָד֑וֹ לֻחֹ֗ת כְּתֻבִים֙ מִשְּׁנֵ֣י עֶבְרֵיהֶ֔ם מִזֶּ֥ה וּמִזֶּ֖ה הֵ֥ם כְּתֻבִֽים׃ (טז) וְהַ֨לֻּחֹ֔ת מַעֲשֵׂ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים הֵ֑מָּה וְהַמִּכְתָּ֗ב מִכְתַּ֤ב אֱלֹהִים֙ ה֔וּא חָר֖וּת עַל־הַלֻּחֹֽת׃ (יז) וַיִּשְׁמַ֧ע יְהוֹשֻׁ֛עַ אֶת־ק֥וֹל הָעָ֖ם בְּרֵעֹ֑ה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה ק֥וֹל מִלְחָמָ֖ה בַּֽמַּחֲנֶה׃ (יח) וַיֹּ֗אמֶר אֵ֥ין קוֹל֙ עֲנ֣וֹת גְּבוּרָ֔ה וְאֵ֥ין ק֖וֹל עֲנ֣וֹת חֲלוּשָׁ֑ה ק֣וֹל עַנּ֔וֹת אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁמֵֽעַ׃ (יט) וַֽיְהִ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֤ר קָרַב֙ אֶל־הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֔ה וַיַּ֥רְא אֶת־הָעֵ֖גֶל וּמְחֹלֹ֑ת וַיִּֽחַר־אַ֣ף מֹשֶׁ֗ה וַיַּשְׁלֵ֤ךְ מידו [מִיָּדָיו֙] אֶת־הַלֻּחֹ֔ת וַיְשַׁבֵּ֥ר אֹתָ֖ם תַּ֥חַת הָהָֽר׃ (כ) וַיִּקַּ֞ח אֶת־הָעֵ֨גֶל אֲשֶׁ֤ר עָשׂוּ֙ וַיִּשְׂרֹ֣ף בָּאֵ֔שׁ וַיִּטְחַ֖ן עַ֣ד אֲשֶׁר־דָּ֑ק וַיִּ֙זֶר֙ עַל־פְּנֵ֣י הַמַּ֔יִם וַיַּ֖שְׁקְ אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (כא) וַיֹּ֤אמֶר מֹשֶׁה֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן מֶֽה־עָשָׂ֥ה לְךָ֖ הָעָ֣ם הַזֶּ֑ה כִּֽי־הֵבֵ֥אתָ עָלָ֖יו חֲטָאָ֥ה גְדֹלָֽה׃ (כב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַהֲרֹ֔ן אַל־יִ֥חַר אַ֖ף אֲדֹנִ֑י אַתָּה֙ יָדַ֣עְתָּ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם כִּ֥י בְרָ֖ע הֽוּא׃ (כג) וַיֹּ֣אמְרוּ לִ֔י עֲשֵׂה־לָ֣נוּ אֱלֹהִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר יֵלְכ֖וּ לְפָנֵ֑ינוּ כִּי־זֶ֣ה ׀ מֹשֶׁ֣ה הָאִ֗ישׁ אֲשֶׁ֤ר הֶֽעֱלָ֙נוּ֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לֹ֥א יָדַ֖עְנוּ מֶה־הָ֥יָה לֽוֹ׃ (כד) וָאֹמַ֤ר לָהֶם֙ לְמִ֣י זָהָ֔ב הִתְפָּרָ֖קוּ וַיִּתְּנוּ־לִ֑י וָאַשְׁלִכֵ֣הוּ בָאֵ֔שׁ וַיֵּצֵ֖א הָעֵ֥גֶל הַזֶּֽה׃
(1) And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him: ‘Up, make us a god who shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him.’ (2) And Aaron said unto them: ‘Break off the golden rings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me.’ (3) And all the people broke off the golden rings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. (4) And he received it at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, and made it a molten calf; and they said: ‘This is thy god, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’ (5) And when Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said: ‘To-morrow shall be a feast to the LORD.’ (6) And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt-offerings, and brought peace-offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to make merry. (7) And the LORD spoke unto Moses: ‘Go, get thee down; for thy people, that thou broughtest up out of the land of Egypt, have dealt corruptly; (8) they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed unto it, and said: This is thy god, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.’ (9) And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people. (10) Now therefore let Me alone, that My wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them; and I will make of thee a great nation.’ (11) And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said: ‘LORD, why doth Thy wrath wax hot against Thy people, that Thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? (12) Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, saying: For evil did He bring them forth, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from Thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against Thy people. (13) Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Thy servants, to whom Thou didst swear by Thine own self, and saidst unto them: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.’ (14) And the LORD repented of the evil which He said He would do unto His people. (15) And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. (16) And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables. (17) And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses: ‘There is a noise of war in the camp.’ (18) And he said: ‘It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome, but the noise of them that sing do I hear.’ (19) And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf and the dancing; and Moses’anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and broke them beneath the mount. (20) And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and strewed it upon the water, and made the children of Israel drink of it. (21) And Moses said unto Aaron: ‘What did this people unto thee, that thou hast brought a great sin upon them?’ (22) And Aaron said: ‘Let not the anger of my lord wax hot; thou knowest the people, that they are set on evil. (23) So they said unto me: Make us a god, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we know not what is become of him. (24) And I said unto them: Whosoever hath any gold, let them break it off; so they gave it me; and I cast it into the fire, and there came out this calf.’
(א) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (ב) דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תְּרוּמָ֑ה מֵאֵ֤ת כָּל־אִישׁ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יִדְּבֶ֣נּוּ לִבּ֔וֹ תִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־תְּרוּמָתִֽי׃ (ג) וְזֹאת֙ הַתְּרוּמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר תִּקְח֖וּ מֵאִתָּ֑ם זָהָ֥ב וָכֶ֖סֶף וּנְחֹֽשֶׁת׃ (ד) וּתְכֵ֧לֶת וְאַרְגָּמָ֛ן וְתוֹלַ֥עַת שָׁנִ֖י וְשֵׁ֥שׁ וְעִזִּֽים׃ (ה) וְעֹרֹ֨ת אֵילִ֧ם מְאָדָּמִ֛ים וְעֹרֹ֥ת תְּחָשִׁ֖ים וַעֲצֵ֥י שִׁטִּֽים׃ (ו) שֶׁ֖מֶן לַמָּאֹ֑ר בְּשָׂמִים֙ לְשֶׁ֣מֶן הַמִּשְׁחָ֔ה וְלִקְטֹ֖רֶת הַסַּמִּֽים׃ (ז) אַבְנֵי־שֹׁ֕הַם וְאַבְנֵ֖י מִלֻּאִ֑ים לָאֵפֹ֖ד וְלַחֹֽשֶׁן׃ (ח) וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ (ט) כְּכֹ֗ל אֲשֶׁ֤ר אֲנִי֙ מַרְאֶ֣ה אוֹתְךָ֔ אֵ֚ת תַּבְנִ֣ית הַמִּשְׁכָּ֔ן וְאֵ֖ת תַּבְנִ֣ית כָּל־כֵּלָ֑יו וְכֵ֖ן תַּעֲשֽׂוּ׃ (ס)
(כ) וְהָי֣וּ הַכְּרֻבִים֩ פֹּרְשֵׂ֨י כְנָפַ֜יִם לְמַ֗עְלָה סֹכְכִ֤ים בְּכַנְפֵיהֶם֙ עַל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת וּפְנֵיהֶ֖ם אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו אֶל־הַכַּפֹּ֔רֶת יִהְי֖וּ פְּנֵ֥י הַכְּרֻבִֽים׃ (כא) וְנָתַתָּ֧ אֶת־הַכַּפֹּ֛רֶת
עַל־הָאָרֹ֖ן מִלְמָ֑עְלָה וְאֶל־הָ֣אָרֹ֔ן תִּתֵּן֙ אֶת־הָ֣עֵדֻ֔ת אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֶתֵּ֖ן אֵלֶֽיךָ׃ (כב) וְנוֹעַדְתִּ֣י לְךָ֮ שָׁם֒ וְדִבַּרְתִּ֨י אִתְּךָ֜ מֵעַ֣ל הַכַּפֹּ֗רֶת מִבֵּין֙ שְׁנֵ֣י הַכְּרֻבִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֖ר עַל־אֲרֹ֣ן הָעֵדֻ֑ת אֵ֣ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֧ר אֲצַוֶּ֛ה אוֹתְךָ֖ אֶל־בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (פ)
(20) And the cherubim shall spread out their wings on high, screening the ark-cover with their wings, with their faces one to another; toward the ark-cover shall the faces of the cherubim be. (21) And thou shalt put the ark-cover
above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the testimony that I shall give thee. (22) And there I will meet with thee, and I will speak with thee from above the ark-cover, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.
אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה מעשה העגל קודם לציווי מלאכת המשכן ימים רבים היה שהרי בי"ז בתמוז נשתברו הלוחות וביום הכפורים נתרצה הקב"ה לישראל ולמחרת התחילו בנדבת המשכן והוקם באחד בניסן
There is no chronological order in the Torah. The episode of the Golden Calf preceded the command to build the Mishkan by many days. On the 17th of Tammuz the first tablets were broken. On Yom Kippur the Holy One and Israel were reconciled. the next day they began to receive voluntary offerings for the Tabernacle, which was established on the 1st day of Nissan.
ויקחו לי תרומה, הה"ד (שיר ה): אני ישנה ולבי ער. אמרה כנסת ישראל: אני ישנתי לי מן הקץ, אלא הקב"ה ער ... אני ישנה ממעשה העגל, ולבי ער והקב"ה מרתיק עלי. פתחי לי אחותי רעיתי עד מתי אהיה מתהלך בלא בית...? אלא, עשו לי מקדש, שלא אהיה בחוץ:
"Take for me an offering" (Ex 25, 2). To this applies the verse (Song of Songs 5, 2): "I sleep but my heart wakes". Said the congregation of Israel, I despaired (slept) Of the End but the Holy One Blessed be He wakes, as it is stated: "But God is the rock of my heart and my portion forever (Psalms 73, 26) … I sleep (i.e. am lost in despair) on account of the deed of the Golden Calf, but my heart wakes; the Holy One Blessed be He knocks — "Take for Me an offering". As it is stated (Song of Songs 5, 2): "The voice of my beloved knocks, open up for Me my
sister". How long shall I wander abroad homeless, but "make Me a sanctuary" that I should not remain outside.
"What do the terms 'sleep' and 'wake' connote? In their shame at the deed of the Golden Calf, Israel felt estranged from God and given up to despair. The Midrash uses the terms 'sleep' to express metaphorically this state of spiritual divorcement and lethargy. But the Holy One who is the heart of Israel summons the people once more to draw near unto Him, knocking at the door, as it were, and expressing a wish to dwell amidst them. This is the message of the verse "and let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them".
Zedah La-derekh notes that what God is seeking here is not entering into the sanctuary but into their hearts. The use of the plural pronoun "among them" instead of the singular "in it" (referring to the sanctuary) is meant to teach us that: 'The Divine presence does not rest in the sanctuary on account of the sanctuary, but on account of Israel, for they constitute the Temple of God.' In other words, the commandment to build the Tabernacle marked their reconciliation with God after the estrangement. (Nehama Leibowitz, New Studies in Shemot II, p. 459-463)
Why does the Mishkan come before the Golden Calf
Bahya Ibn Paquda: The Torah whose ways are pleasant deliberately proposed the making of the Tabernacle representing atonement, to the narration of the iniquity itself. For such is the way of the Holy One Blessed be He to have the antidote ready before the disease. Our Sages referred to this when they expounded: The Holy One Blessed be He first creates for Israel the antidote and only then delivers the blow as it is stated (Hosea 7, I): "When I have healing for Israel, then is the iniquity of Ephraim revealed".
Does God Need a Home?
R. Isaac Abravanel (15th cent. Spain)- Commentary on Exodus 25:8
Why did [God] command the erection of the tabernacle, when [God] said "that I may dwell among them," as if God were an object demarcated and limited in space — which is the opposite of the truth!... After all, God himself spoke these words through the prophet Isaiah (66:1): "The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what kind of house can you build for me?"
The Mishkan as a Portable Sinai
R. Umberto Cassuto (20th cent.)
In order to understand the significance and purpose of the Tabernacle, we must realize that the children of Israel, after they had been privileged to witness the Revelation of God on Mount Sinai, were about to journey from there and thus draw away from the site of the theophany. So long as they were encamped in the place, they were conscious of God's nearness; but once they set out on their journey, it seemed to them as though the link had been broken, unless there were in their midst a tangible symbol of God's presence among them. It was the function of the Tabernacle (literally, 'Dwelling') to serve as such a symbol. Not without reason, therefore, does this section come immediately after the section that describes the making of the Covenant at Mount Sinai. The nexus between Israel and the Tabernacle is a perpetual extension of the bond that was forged at Sinai between the people and their God. The children of Israel, dwelling in tribal order at every encampment, are able to see, from every side, the Tabernacle standing in the midst of the camp, and the visible presence of the Sanctuary proves to them that just as the glory of God dwelt on Mount Sinai, so too God dwells in their midst wherever they wander in the wilderness. This is the purpose of Scripture (25:8), when it states: 'And let them make Me a Sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst.'
B'tocham - Inside Them
God literally said that if the Israelites make the Tabernacle, "l will dwell inside them." Since He was speaking of the Tabernacle, He should have said, "I will dwell inside it.' But this teaches that the main element Of the Tabernacle was not the boards and other materials out of which it was built. The main element was the purity ff heart on the part of the Israelites who built the Tabernacle. They had to be good, God-fearing Jews, and spiritual people. Then they would be able to cause the Divine Presence to dwell inside them—literally—since they would be closely attached to God. Therefore, the main place where the Divine Presence would rest would be inside the Israelites, and not in the wood and metal of the Tabernacle, which were secondary to the heart.
(ב) מלת ויקחו לי. כגזרת סור' אלי. שיסור הנקרא ממקומו ויקרב אליו. וככה שיקח מאתו ויתן לי. וככ' קחי נא לי מעט מים
Exodus 25:2 To bring Me gifts. Saadia's comment to this verse mentions all the contributions to the Tabernacle and their amounts. But this is not necessary. The contribution men- tioned here was a voluntary gift. Since there were some contributions that were obliga- tory, this section begins by saying (as it liter- ally does) "Take for Me an offering" (OTS), and then goes on, beginning in v. 3, to enu- merate the 10 kinds Of gifts that were needed. It is true that the contribution of silver was obligatory, not voluntary, but the text does not always bother to be precise about such matters. For example, Gen. 35:26 includes Benjamin among "the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram," though Benjamin was born in Canaan.
Abundance: From the Midrash
When Moses heard that a Mishkan was to be built in the midst of the desert, he wondered whether the community possessed sufficient materials for such a project. Even before he could articulate the question, God answered it. "Not only do the Bnai Yisrael collectivly posses the necessary materials to build a Mishan," God informed Moses, "but, in fact, every Jew could do so singlehandedly." Each of the Bnai Yisrael possessed tremendous weath from the booty of the sea. In addition, for the tzaddikim amon them, perls and precious stones rained down every morning with the manna
(ג) רבי ברכיה בשם רבי אבא בר כהנא פתר קריא באהרן בשעה שעשו ישראל אותו מעשה, בתחלה הלכו אצל חור אמרו לו:(שמות לב): קום עשה לנו אלהים כיון שלא שמע להן עמדו עליו והרגוהו, הדא הוא דכתיב (ירמיה ב): גם בכנפיך נמצאו דם וגו' וזהו דמו של חור. (שם): לא במחתרת מצאתים כי על כל אלה על אשר עשו אלה אלהיך ישראל. ואח"כ הלכו אצל אהרן אמרו לו: קום עשה לנו אלהים כיון ששמע אהרן כן מיד נתיירא, הדא הוא דכתיב (שמות לב): וירא אהרן ויבן מזבח לפניו נתיירא מהזבוח לפניו. אמר אהרן: מה אעשה? הרי הרגו את חור שהיה נביא, עכשיו אם הורגים אותו שאני כהן מתקיים עליהם המקרא, שכתוב (איכה ב): אם יהרג במקדש ה' כהן ונביא ומיד הם גולין. דבר אחר: וירא אהרן מה ראה? אם בונין הם אותו זה מביא צרור וזה אבן ונמצאת מלאכתם כלה בבת אחת, מתוך שאני בונה אותו אני מתעצל במלאכתי ורבינו משה יורד ומעבירה לע"ז. ומתוך שאני בונה אותו אני בונה אותו בשמו של הקב"ה, הדא הוא דכתיב (שמות לב): ויקרא אהרן ויאמר חג לה' מחר חג לעגל מחר אין כתיב כאן, אלא חג לה' מחר. דבר אחר: וירא אהרן מה ראה? אמר אהרן: אם בונין הן אותו הסרחון נתלה בהן, מוטב שיתלה הסרחון בי ולא בישראל. רבי אבא בר יודן בשם ר' אבא: משל לבן מלכים שנתגאה לבו עליו ולקח את הסייף לחתך את אביו. א"ל פדגוגו: אל תייגע את עצמך תן לי ואני חותך. הציץ המלך עליו א"ל: יודע אני להיכן היתה כוונתך, מוטב שיתלה הסרחון בך ולא בבני. חייך, מן פלטין דידי לית את זייע, ומותר פתורי את אכיל, עשרים וארבע אנונס את נסיב. כך מן פלטין דילי לית את זייע, ומן המקדש לא יצא. ומותר פתורי את אכיל, והנותר מן המנחה. עשרים וארבעה אנונס את נסיב אלו כ"ד מתנות כהונה שניתנו לאהרן ולבניו. אמר לו הקדוש ברוך הוא לאהרן: אהבת צדק אהבת לְצַדֵּק את בני ושנאת מלחייבן, על כן משחך אלהים אלהיך. אמר לו: חייך, שמכל שבטו של לוי לא נבחר לכהונה גדולה, אלא אתה (ויקרא ח): קח את אהרן ואת בניו אתו:
3, R. Berekiah, in the name of R. Abba b. Kahana, expounded the verse as referring to Aaron. When the Israelites were about to commit that act, they went first to Hur, and said to him: ' Arise, make us a god.' As he did not hearken to them, they rose against him and slew him. This is [indicated by] what is written, Also in thy assemblies is found the blood Of the souls Of the innocent poor (Jerimiah 2:34), which refers to the blood Of Hur…
Afterwards they went to Aaron, and said to him: Up, make us a god (Exodus 32:1). As soon as Aaron heard of it [i.e. Hur's death] he became frightened, as it is said, And Aaron was affrighted when he considered the slaughtering (Exodus 32:5), [meaning], 'he was frightened when he saw the slaughtered man before him.' Aaron said [to himself]; What shall I do? They have already killed Hur who was a prophet;
if they kill also m3 whom am a priest, there will instantly be fulfilled against them the verse saying, Should priest and prophet be Slain in the sanctuary of the Lord (Lammentations 2:20), Israel will immediately be liable to exile.
Another interpretation: And Aaron saw this, and built an attar before it (Exodus 32:5). What did he see? [He saw the situation thus] : If they build it, one will bring a pebble, another a stone, and as a result their work will be completed at once; but if I build it myself, I shall dally over the work, and our master Moses will [in the meantime] come down and destroy the objects of idol-worship; moreover, as I am building it, I shall build it to the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He. This is indicated by what is written, And Aaron made proclamation, and said: To-morrow shall be a feast to the Lord (Exodus 32:5). It is written, not feast 'Athe Golden Calf' but 'A feast to the Lord' .
Another interpretation: 'And Aaron saw this,' etc. What did he see? He saw [the situation thus]; If they build it the sin will attach to them; better that the sin should attach to me and not to Israel.
R. Abba b. Judan said in the name of Rabba: This may be compared to the case of a king's son who became very overbearing and took a sword to cut his father. Said the son's tutor to him: 'Do not trouble yourself, leave it to me and I shall cut him.' The king glanced at the tutor, and said to him: 'I know what your intention was, namely [that you thought it] better that the sin should attach to you rather than to my son. As you live, you shall not leave my palace, and that which remains over from my table you shall eat, twenty-four perquisites will you receive.' So [too with Aaron], 'You shall not leave my palace' [is paralleled by], He shall not go out of the sanctuary (Leviticus 21:12); ' And that which remains over from my table you shall eat' [is paralleled by], That which is left of the meal-offering shall be Aaron's and his sons' (Leviticus 11:3); 'Twenty-four perquisites you will receive' [is represented by] the twenty-four gifts of the priesthood assigned Aaron and his sons. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Aaron : '"Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated wickedness," Thou hast loved to keep My children guiltless, and hast hated letting them be condemned as guilty, "Therefore God, thy God, halh anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." ' He said to him: 'As thou livest, out of the whole of the tribe of Levi, none is chosen for the High Priesthood but thee.' [Thus Scripture says], TAKE AARON AND HIS SONS WITH HIM.