The ark which Moses made in the desert was in length two cubits and a half, and in breadth one cubit and a half, and in height one cubit and a half, as is said, “And they shall make an ark of shittim-wood, two cubits and a half shall be [pg 252] the length thereof, and a cubit and a half the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.”[635] R. Meier said, “with a cubit containing six hand-breadths—thus they make fifteen hand-breadths. Take from them twelve hand-breadths for the breadth of the tables, and two hand-breadths for the place where the roll of the Law lay, and half a hand-breadth from either side for the thickness of the ark. And the breadth of the ark was nine hand-breadths. Take from them six hand-breadths for the length of the tables, and for the place where the roll of the Law lay, two hand-breadths, that it should not be pressed going in and out, and half a hand-breadth on either side for the thickness of the ark.” R. Judah said, “with a cubit containing five hand-breadths, thus there were twelve hand-breadths and a half, and four tables lay in it—two perfect, and two broken. And the length of each table was six hand-breadths, and their breadth six, and their thickness three. Take from them twelve hand-breadths for the breadth of the tables, and a finger-breadth on either side for the thickness of the ark.” And the breadth of the ark was seven hand-breadths and a half. Take from them six hand-breadths for the length of the tables, and one hand-breadth for the place where the handles (pillars) lay; and on it the explanation of the prophets is, “King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver.”[636] And (there was) a finger-breadth on either side for the thickness of the ark, but the roll of the Law was put on the side, as is said, “And put it in the side of the ark of the covenant of the LORD.”[637] And so with the Philistines, he said, “And put the jewels of gold, which ye return for a trespass-offering, in a coffer by the side thereof.”[638] R. Judah, the son of Lachish, said, “there were two arks, one which abode in the encampment, and one which went forth with them to war, and in it were the broken tables,” as is said, “And the ark of the covenant of the Lord went.”[639] But the one with them in the encampment contained the roll of the Law. That is what is written, “Nevertheless the ark of the covenant of the Lord; and Moses departed not out of the camp.”[640] And so he said with regard to Saul, “And Saul said unto Ahiah, bring hither [pg 253] the ark of God.”[641] And so of Uriah it is said, “The ark, and Israel, and Judah abide in tents.”[642] But the ark of the covenant went not forth to war, save once only, as is said, “So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts.”[643] R. Judah said, “there was nothing in the ark save the tables of the covenant only,” as is said, “There was nothing in the ark save the two tables of stone.”[644]
Chapter VII
“How did Bezaleel make the ark?” “He made three boxes, two of gold and one of wood. He put the wooden one inside the golden one, and the golden one inside the wooden one, and covered the upper edge with gold; as is said, ‘And thou shalt overlay it with pure gold: within and without shalt thou overlay it.’ ”[645] “And what is the meaning of saying, ‘thou shalt overlay it’?” “It means that he covered the upper edges (with) gold.” The golden mercy-seat was placed above upon it; as is said, “And thou shalt put the mercy-seat above upon the ark.”[646] And four rings of gold were fastened in it, two on the north and two on the south, and in them the staves were put, and they were never moved from thence; as is said, “The staves shall be in the rings of the ark; they shall not be taken from it.”[647] Even though Solomon made the pattern of all the vessels, the pattern of the ark he did not make; as is said, “And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.”[648] The ark was placed in the midst of the House, and divided the House ten cubits by ten cubits. And two cherubs of gold stood on their feet on the ground. From the wall to the cherub there were five cubits, and from the cherub to the wall five cubits. “Where is it mentioned, that as soon as the priests brought in the ark the staves were drawn out, and they reached to the vail, and they touched the entrance?” As is said, “And they drew out the staves, that the ends of the staves were seen out in the holy place before the oracle.”[649] For that reason the doors of the Holy of Holies were never closed. “And they were [pg 254] not seen without.”[650] It is not possible to say that they were not seen, since it was already said “they were seen.” Neither is it possible to say that they were seen, since it is already said “they were not seen.” “How is it?” “They were pushing out in the vail, and were seen in the sanctuary like the two paps of a woman.” “And from whence (do we know) that they were drawn out from the inside?” As is said, “And they were not seen without.” There we learned that they were drawn out from the inside. And from thence (we learned) that they were drawn out to the outside, as is said, “And the ends of the staves were seen.” And where thou sayest that as the staves were drawn out, so were drawn out the wings of the cherubim, and they covered the ark, and overshadowed the house from above, as is said, “And the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof, above.”[651] “And where was the ark concealed?” Rabbi Judah, the son of Lachish, said, “in its place in the house of the Holy of Holies, as is said, ‘And there they are unto this day.’ ”[652] But the Sages say, “in the chamber of the wood.” “And who concealed it?” Rabbi Judah the Holy said, Josiah concealed it, as it is said, “And said unto the Levites that taught all Israel, which were holy unto the Lord, Put the holy ark in the house which Solomon, the son of David, King of Israel, did build; it shall not be a burden upon your shoulders.”[653] He said to them, “it shall not be carried captive with you to Babylon, that you should bear it upon your shoulders.” Rabbi Eleazar said, “it went to Babylon, as is said, ‘Nothing shall be left saith the Lord,’[654] nothing, not even the words in it.” The house of the Holy of Holies, which Solomon made for it, had a wall, entrance, and doors, as is said, “And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.”[655] But in the latter house there was no wall, only two boards were there, and the length of each one was a cubit and a half. And two vails of gold were there, spread over them from above, and it was called the place of Partition.[656]
Chapter VIII
The table which Moses made in the wilderness was in length two cubits, and its breadth one cubit, and its height was one cubit and a half, as is said, “Thou shalt also make a table of shittim-wood, two cubits shall be the length thereof, and a cubit the breadth thereof, and a cubit and a half the height thereof.”[657] Rabbi Judah said, “the cubit (contained) five hand-breadths, thus there are ten hand-breadths.” From thence the Sages said, “the table was in length ten hand-breadths, and in breadth five hand-breadths. And the showbread was in length ten hand-breadths, and in breadth five. The length of the showbread was placed against the breadth of the table. It extended over two hand-breadths and a half on either side. It follows that its length quite filled the breadth of the table.” Rabbi Meier said, “the table was in length twelve hand-breadths, and in breadth six hand-breadths. And the showbread was in length ten (hand-breadths), and in breadth five. And its length was placed against the breadth of the table. It extended over two hand-breadths on either side; and there was an opening of two hand-breadths in the middle, that the air might blow through them (the loaves).” Aba Shaul said, “they put there two cups of incense of the showbread.” The Sages said to him, “and is it not already said, ‘And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row’?”[658] He replied to them, “and is it not already said, ‘And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh’?”[659] Although Solomon made ten tables, and all of them were lawful for service, as is said, “He made also ten tables, and placed them in the temple, five on the right side, and five on the left.”[660] “If thou sayest five on the south, and five on the north, is not a table on the south worthless?” But what is the meaning of saying, “five on the right and five on the left”? “Five to the right of the table of Moses, and five to the left of the table of Moses, even though he did not arrange the showbread, save for the table of Moses only, as is said, ‘And the table whereupon the showbread was.’ ”[661] Rabbi José, the son of Rabbi Judah, said, [pg 256] “all the tables were arranged for showbread as is said, ‘And the tables whereon the showbread was set.’ ”[662]
Chapter IX
The candlestick which Moses made in the wilderness was wrought from gold, and required hammering, and required knops and flowers, as is said, “And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold; of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same.”[663] “Do I hear that he shall make separate members and join them to it?” “The teaching says, that ‘they shall be of the same.’ ” “Whence know we that it extends to the light?” “The teaching says, ‘Thou shalt make.’ ” “I am of opinion that it should be extended to the bowls, knops, and flowers. The teaching says ‘it,’ and what dost thou see to extend it to the light, and withhold it from the bowls, the knops, and the flowers?” “Because the verse extends and withholds, (therefore) I extend (it to) the lights that they should be made with it, and I withhold the bowls, the knops, and the flowers, that they should not be made with it.” “Whence know we to extend (it to) the tongs and snuff-dishes?” “The teaching says, ‘thou shalt make.’ ” “I am of opinion to extend (it to) the snuffers, and the tweezers.” “The teaching says, ‘it,’ and what dost thou see to extend (it to) the tongs and snuff-dishes, and to withhold (it from) the snuffers?” “Because the verse extends and withholds. I extend (it to) the tongs and snuff-dishes, since they are used with it. And I withhold (it from) the snuffers and tweezers, since they are not used with it.” As it was made of gold, it required hammering; when it was not of gold it did not require hammering. When it was made of gold it required bowls, knops, and flowers; when it was not of gold it did not require bowls, knops, and flowers. When it was made of gold it required a talent; when it was not of gold it did not require a talent. Rabbi Joshua, the son of Korcha, said, “it (the candlestick) was made of a talent, but the lights, and the tongs, and the snuff-dishes, were not from the talent,” as is said, “Of a talent of pure gold shall he make [pg 257] it.”[664] “And what do I establish?” “That all these vessels were vessels of pure gold. But the trumpets which Moses made in the wilderness were made of silver only, as is said, ‘Make thee two trumpets of silver.’ ”[665]