Parashat Pekudei - The Finishing Touch

ויביאו את המשכן וגו׳ AND THEY BROUGHT THE TABERNACLE [UNTO MOSES etc.], for they themselves were unable to erect it. Since Moses had done no work in the Mishkan, the Holy Blessed One left for him the task of erecting it, for nobody was able to set it up because of the weight of the boards which no human strength was capable of setting up. Moses, however, succeeded in placing it in position. Moses said to the Holy Blessed One “How is its erection possible by human beings?” God answered him: “You be busy with your hand!” He appeared to be erecting it, but in fact it set itself up and rose of its own accord. That is why Scripture says, (Exodus 40:17) “The Tabernacle was erected (הוקם)” — was erected by itself. This is a Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma 2:11:11.

(5) When at last they completed the work of the Tabernacle, they sat waiting for the Shekhinah to descend and hover over it. However, they were distressed because the Shekhinah failed to hover over it. What did they do then? They went to the wise-hearted men and said to them: “Why do you sit by idly? Erect the Tabernacle and the Shekhinah will come to rest among us.” They tried to erect the Tabernacle, but did not know how. They were unable to make it stand. Whenever they thought they had assembled it, it would fall apart. They went to Bezalel and Oholiav and said: “Come, erect the Tabernacle that you have constructed, perhaps you will be worthy to erect it.” They too tried to assemble it but were unable to do so. They began muttering and complaining, saying: “See what the Son of Amram did to us when he took our possessions for this Tabernacle, and made us assume this burden while promising us that the Holy Blessed One would descend from the heavenly sphere and would dwell within the curtain of goats’ hair, as is said: That I may dwell among them (Exod. 25:8).”

(6) Why were they unable to erect it? Because of the fact that Moses was distressed at not having participated in the construction of the Tabernacle. Why did that happen? The offerings were given by the Israelites, and the work was performed by Bezalel, Oholiav, and the wise-hearted. Because Moses was distressed, the Holy Blessed One concealed the way to erect it from them, and that is why they were unable to do so. After they had tried in every way to do so and still were unable to set it up, all the Israelites approached Moses saying: “Moses, our master, everything you told us we have done, and everything you asked us to bring and to give, we have given: Behold, all the work of the Tabernacle (Exod. 39:32). Perhaps we have overlooked something, or perhaps something else should be added to what you told us. See, everything is here,” and they showed it all to him, as it is said: And they brought the Tabernacle unto Moses (ibid., v. 33) and Moses saw all the work (ibid., v. 43).

(7) They said to him: “Did you not tell us to do such-and-such?” He replied: “Yes, indeed.” And so they pointed to everything that had been done. They said: “If that is so, why does it not stand? We tried to have Bezalel, Oholiav, and the wise-hearted erect it, but they were unable to do so.” Moses was troubled by all this until the Holy Blessed One told him: Moses, because you were unhappy over the fact that you did not share in the work of the building of the Tabernacle, these wise men are not able to erect it. Now Israel will know that if you do not erect it, it will never be set up. Have I not written previously that it would be done by you, as it is said: And Moses reared up the Tabernacle (Exod. 40:18)? And it says also: And the Lord spoke unto Moses, saying: And the first day of the first month (Nisan) shalt thou rear up the Tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting (ibid., v. 2). Moses replied: Master of the Universe, I do not know how to erect it either. He said to him: Apply yourself to it and it will stand up of itself, for I have written concerning you that you will raise it, as is said: And it came to pass in the first month in the second year on the first day of the month, that the Tabernacle was reared up (ibid., v. 17). Who finally set it up? Moses, as it is said: And Moses reared up the Tabernacle.

(2) These are the accounts of the Tabernacle. It is written elsewhere: Now these are the names of the sons of Israel (Gen. 46:8). Observe how very precious the Tabernacle was to the Holy Blessed One that God left the upper realms to dwell in the Tabernacle. Rabbi Simeon said that God dwelt in the lower realms (at first), as is said: And they heard the voice of the Eternal God walking in the garden (ibid. 3:8), but that after Adam sinned God ascended from earth to heaven. When Cain arose and killed his brother, God ascended from the first firmament to the second; when the generation of Enoch angered God, God ascended from the second to the third; when the generation of the flood perverted God's teaching, God ascended from the third to the fourth; when the generation of the separation (i.e., the Tower of Babel) became arrogant, God went from the fourth to the fifth sphere; when the Sodomites behaved immorally, God went from the fifth to the sixth; and when Amraphel and his companions appeared, God ascended from the sixth to the seventh. However, after Abraham came and performed good deeds, the Shekhinah descended from the seventh to the sixth firmament; after Isaac God went from the sixth to the fifth; after Jacob from the fifth to the fourth; after Levi, his son, from the fourth to the third; after Kohath the son of Levi, from the third to the second; after Amram from the second to the first; and on the day that Moses erected the Tabernacle: The glory of the Eternal filled the Tabernacle (Exod. 40:34). Scripture states: For the upright shall dwell in the land (Prov. 2:21). This should be read: “They caused the Shekhinah to dwell in the land.”