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Ramban on Numbers 7:3/רמב"ן על במדבר ז׳:ג׳

אוַיַּקְרִיבוּ נְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְגוֹ' וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת קָרְבָּנָם לִפְנֵי ה' – בַּעֲבוּר הֱיוֹת הָעֲגָלוֹת לְצֹרֶךְ הַקָּרְבָּנוֹת יִקָּרְאוּ קָרְבָּן, וְכֵן ״וַנַּקְרֵב אֶת קָרְבַּן ה' אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר מָצָא כְלִי זָהָב״ (במדבר ל״א:נ׳) - קָרְבָּן לְבֶדֶק הַבַּיִת. וְהִנֵּה חָשְׁבוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים שֶׁלֹּא יִתָּכֵן שֶׁיִּשְׂאוּ הַלְוִיִּם עַל כָּתֵף קַרְשֵׁי הַמִּשְׁכָּן וְהָאֲדָנִים, שֶׁהֵם כְּבֵדוֹת מְאֹד, וְהֵבִיאוּ מֵעַצְמָן עֲגָלוֹת, שֶׁכֵּן דֶּרֶךְ כָּל נוֹשְׂאֵי בָּתֵּי הַמְּלָכִים וְהֵיכְלֵי אָהֳלֵיהֶם לָשֵׂאת אוֹתָם בַּעֲגָלוֹת. וְיִתָּכֵן שֶׁנְּפָרֵשׁ וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת קָרְבָּנָם לִפְנֵי ה' שֵׁשׁ עֶגְלוֹת צָב – שֵׁשׁ עֲגָלוֹת גְּדוֹלוֹת נוֹשְׂאוֹת קָרְבְּנוֹתֵיהֶם, וּשְׁנֵים עָשָׂר בָּקָר מוֹשְׁכִים הָעֲגָלוֹת. וְהִנֵּה הֵבִיאוּ הָעֲגָלוֹת מְלֵאוֹת וְהַבָּקָר לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְהַשֵּׁם צִוָּה אֶת מֹשֶׁה ״קַח מֵאִתָּם״ הַכֹּל, וְהָיוּ הָעֲגָלוֹת וְהַבָּקָר שֶׁאֵינָם לְקָרְבָּן לַעֲבֹד אֶת עֲבוֹדַת אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. וְאַחַר כָּךְ לָקְחוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים אֶת קָרְבְּנֵיהֶם מֵעַל הָעֲגָלוֹת וַיַּקְרִיבוּ אוֹתָם לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, כִּי הָיוּ חוֹשְׁבִים לְהַקְרִיב הַכֹּל בּוֹ בַיּוֹם אַחַר שֶׁהוּרְשׁוּ לְהַקְרִיבָם לוֹ, וְהַשֵּׁם צִוָּה ״נָשִׂיא אֶחָד לַיּוֹם יַקְרִיבוּ״ (במדבר ז׳:י״א), וּלְכָךְ לֹא הֻצְרַךְ לוֹמַר עַתָּה "קַח מֵאִתָּם". וְדֶרֶךְ הַלָּשׁוֹן לוֹמַר "עֲגָלוֹת" עַל הַמִּלּוּי שֶׁבָּהֶן, כְּמוֹ ״אֹכְלֵי שֻׁלְחַן אִיזָבֶל״ (מלכים א יח יט), וְכֵן ״כִּי יוֹדֵעַ כָּל שַׁעַר עַמִּי״ (רות ג יא), וּלְשׁוֹן חֲכָמִים (ב״ב קמו) מֵאָה קְרוֹנוֹת שֶׁל כַּדֵּי יַיִן וְכַדֵּי שֶׁמֶן וְשֶׁל כְּלֵי כֶסֶף וְזָהָב. וְאֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּהְיֶה "צָב" - מְלֵאוֹת, וְכֵן ״וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים״ (ישעיהו סו כ) בַּעֲגָלוֹת מְלֵאוֹת אָדָם, וְיִהְיֶה שֵׁשׁ עֶגְלוֹת צָב שֵׁשׁ עֲגָלוֹת שֶׁל מִלּוּי, וּמִלּוּאָן הָיָה מִקָּרְבְּנוֹת הַחֲנֻכָּה אֲשֶׁר יְפָרֵשׁ. וְהִזְכִּיר הַכָּתוּב קָרְבְּנוֹת הַנְּשִׂיאִים בִּפְרָטָן, וְאַחַר כָּךְ כָּלַל אוֹתָם: ״זֹאת חֲנֻכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ בְּיוֹם הִמָּשַׁח אֹתוֹ מֵאֵת נְשִׂיאֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, קַעֲרוֹת כֶּסֶף שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה״ (במדבר ז׳:פ״ד). וְכָתַב רַשִׁ״י (רש״י על במדבר ז׳:פ״ה): לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁהָיוּ כְּלֵי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מְכֻוָּנִין בְּמִשְׁקָלָם, שׁוֹקְלָם אֶחָד אֶחָד וְחוֹזֵר וְשׁוֹקְלָם כְּאֶחָד, כֻּלָּם לֹא רִבָּה וְלֹא מִעֵט; מִיסוֹדוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי מֹשֶׁה הַדַּרְשָׁן. וְאֵינִי מֵבִין טַעְמָם בַּדָּבָר הַזֶּה. אִם נַחְשֹׁב שֶׁהוּא נֵס, מַה תּוֹעֶלֶת יֵשׁ בַּדָּבָר שֶׁיֵּעָשֶׂה בּוֹ הַנֵּס הַזֶּה? וְאִם כְּדֶרֶךְ כָּל הָאָרֶץ הוּא כֵּן בְּכָל הַמִּשְׁקָלוֹת, לָמָּה הִזְכִּיר אוֹתוֹ הַכָּתוּב? וּבְסִפְרֵי אָמְרוּ בְּפֵרוּשׁ: לְלַמֶּדְךָ שֶׁלֹּא כִּכְלֵי הֶדְיוֹט כְּלֵי בֵּית עוֹלָמִים. כְּלֵי הֶדְיוֹט שׁוֹקְלָן אֶחָד אֶחָד וְחוֹזֵר וְשׁוֹקְלָן כֻּלָּם כְּאֶחָד, פְּעָמִים מַרְבֶּה פְּעָמִים מְמַעֵט וְכוּ'. וְשָׁם אָמְרוּ: רַבִּי נָתָן אוֹמֵר, כְּלֵי בֵּית עוֹלָמִים שְׁקָלָן כֻּלָּם, חָזַר וְעָשָׂה מֵהֶן אֲסִימוֹן, וְחָזַר וַעֲשָׂאָן כֵּלִים - לֹא רִבָּה וְלֹא מִעֵט. לוֹמַר שֶׁהָיוּ זָהָב מְזֻקָּק מְאֹד, שֶׁאֲפִלּוּ יַתִּיכֵם וְיַעֲשֶׂה מֵהֶם אֲסִימוֹן, יִהְיוּ בְּמִשְׁקָלָם הָרִאשׁוֹן, וְלֹא שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה בָּהֶן נֵס, אֶלָּא שֶׁהָיוּ זָהָב טָהוֹר מְאֹד. וְהַנָּכוֹן בְּטַעַם הַכָּתוּב כִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חוֹלֵק כָּבוֹד לִירֵאָיו, וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר ״כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד״ (שמואל א ב ל). וְהִנֵּה הַנְּשִׂיאִים כֻּלָּם בְּיוֹם אֶחָד הֵבִיאוּ הַקָּרְבָּן הַזֶּה שֶׁהִסְכִּימוּ עָלָיו יַחַד, וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא אֶחָד קוֹדֵם לַחֲבֵרוֹ, וְכִבֵּד אֶת הַנִּקְדָּמִים בַּדְּגָלִים בְּהַקְדָּמַת יָמִים. אֲבָל רָצָה לְהַזְכִּירָם בִּשְׁמָם וּבִפְרַט קָרְבְּנֵיהֶם וּלְהַזְכִּיר יוֹמוֹ שֶׁל כָּל אֶחָד, לֹא שֶׁיַּזְכִּיר וִיכַבֵּד אֶת הָרִאשׁוֹן "זֶה קָרְבַּן נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב" וְיֹאמַר וְכֵן הִקְרִיבוּ הַנְּשִׂיאִים אִישׁ אִישׁ יוֹמוֹ, כִּי יִהְיֶה זֶה קִצּוּר בִּכְבוֹד הָאֲחֵרִים. וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן חָזַר וּכְלָלָם לְהַגִּיד שֶׁהָיוּ שְׁקוּלִים לְפָנָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְכֵן אָמְרוּ שָׁם בַּסִּפְרֵי (נשא קס): ״מַגִּיד הַכָּתוּב שֶׁכְּשֵׁם שֶׁשָּׁווּ כֻלָּם בְּעֵצָה אַחַת כָּךְ שָׁווּ כֻלָּם בִּזְכוּת. קַעֲרוֹת כֶּסֶף שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה - הֵן הֵן שֶׁהִתְנַדְּבוּ וְלֹא אֵרַע בָּהֶן פְּסוּל״. וְעוֹד בָּזֶה טַעַם אַחֵר בְּמִדְרָשָׁם, כִּי לְכָל אֶחָד מֵהַנְּשִׂיאִים עָלָה בְּמַחְשָׁבָה לְהָבִיא חֲנֻכָּה לַמִּזְבֵּחַ וְשֶׁתִּהְיֶה בָּזֶה הַשִּׁעוּר, אֲבָל נַחְשׁוֹן חָשַׁב בַּשִּׁעוּר הַזֶּה טַעַם אֶחָד וְזוּלָתוֹ כָּל אֶחָד מֵהַנְּשִׂיאִים חָשַׁב טַעַם בִּפְנֵי עַצְמוֹ. אָמְרוּ שֶׁחָשַׁב נַחְשׁוֹן שֶׁיָּבִיא קַעֲרַת כֶּסֶף שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מִנְיַן אוֹתִיּוֹתֶיהָ תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת וּשְׁלֹשִׁים כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם, וּמִשְׁקָלָהּ שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמֵאָה כְּנֶגֶד תּוֹלָדוֹת שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד, וְכָל הַמִּדְרָשׁ כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתְבוֹ רַשִׁ״י (רש״י על במדבר ז׳:י״ט). אוֹ כְּפִי הַמִּדְרָשׁ הָאַחֵר (במדב״ר יג יג) שֶׁהָיָה מָסֹרֶת מִיַּעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ בְּיַד כָּל שֵׁבֶט וְשֵׁבֶט כָּל מַה שֶׁיֶּאֱרַע לוֹ עַד יְמוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ. וְהִתְחִיל נַחְשׁוֹן וְהִקְרִיב עַל סֵדֶר הַמַּלְכוּת קְעָרָה וּמִזְרָק כְּנֶגֶד שְׁנֵי מְלָכִים שֶׁעֲתִידִים לָצֵאת מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁמּוֹלְכִים בַּיָּם וּבַיַּבָּשָׁה, וְהֵם שְׁלֹמֹה וּמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ. וּלְכָךְ הִקְרִיב קְעָרָה כְּנֶגֶד הַיָּם שֶׁהוּא מַקִּיף אֶת הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ וְדוֹמֶה לִקְעָרָה. שְׁלֹשִׁים וּמֵאָה - שֶׁבַּיּוֹם הַשְּׁלִישִׁי הִקְוָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כָּל הַיַּמִּים לְמָקוֹם אֶחָד וּקְרָאָם "יַמִּים" בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא מֵאָה, וּשְׁלֹמֹה הוֹסִיף יָם אֶחָד לִמְלֶאכֶת הַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְקַו שְׁלֹשִׁים יָסֹב אוֹתוֹ (מלכים א ז כג), הֲרֵי מֵאָה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים. מִזְרָק אֶחָד כֶּסֶף כְּנֶגֶד הָעוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא עָשׂוּי כְּכַדּוּר, שִׁבְעִים שֶׁקֶל שֶׁהֵם יִמְשְׁלוּ עַל שִׁבְעִים אֻמּוֹת. שְׁנֵיהֶם מְלֵאִים - שֶׁיָּבִיאוּ לָהֶם מְנָחוֹת מִכֻּלָּן. סֹלֶת - "הַמְסֻלָּאִים בַּפָּז" (איכה ד ב). בְּלוּלָה בַשֶּׁמֶן - "טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב" (קהלת ז א). כֶּסֶף - כְּמָה דְתֵימָא ״כֶּסֶף נִבְחָר לְשׁוֹן צַדִּיק״ (משלי י כ). כַּף אַחַת עֲשָׂרָה זָהָב - כְּנֶגֶד עֲשָׂרָה דוֹרוֹת מִן פֶּרֶץ וְעַד דָּוִד, שֶׁהָיוּ כֻּלָּם צַדִּיקִים מְלֵאִים מַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים כְּרֵיחַ הַקְּטֹרֶת. פַּר אֶחָד - כְּנֶגֶד אַבְרָהָם, אַיִל אֶחָד - כְּנֶגֶד יִצְחָק, כֶּבֶשׂ אֶחָד - כְּנֶגֶד יַעֲקֹב. שְׂעִיר עִזִּים אֶחָד - לְכַפֵּר עַל מַעֲשֵׂה יְהוּדָה שֶׁהֵבִיא הַכֻּתֹּנֶת לְאָבִיו. וּלְזֶבַח הַשְּׁלָמִים בָּקָר שְׁנַיִם - כְּנֶגֶד דָּוִד וּשְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁהִתְחִילוּ בַמַּלְכוּת וְהָיוּ צַדִּיקִים וְהָיְתָה הַמַּלְכוּת שְׁלֵמָה. אֵילִים חֲמִשָּׁה, עַתּוּדִים חֲמִשָּׁה, כְּבָשִׂים בְּנֵי שָׁנָה חֲמִשָּׁה - כְּנֶגֶד חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר מְלָכִים שֶׁהָיוּ מִן רְחַבְעָם וְעַד צִדְקִיָּהוּ, מֶלֶךְ בֶּן מֶלֶךְ, מֵהֶם צַדִּיקִים גְּמוּרִים, מֵהֶם בֵּינוֹנִים, מֵהֶם רְשָׁעִים גְּמוּרִים. זוֹ מַחְשַׁבְתּוֹ שֶׁל נַחְשׁוֹן בֶּן עַמִּינָדָב. וּנְתַנְאֵל בֶּן צוּעָר חָשַׁב גַּם כֵּן בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁיָּבִיא חֲנֻכָּה בַּשִּׁעוּר הַזֶּה וְחָשַׁב בּוֹ טַעַם אַחֵר (במדב״ר יג טו), וְהִקְרִיב עַל שֵׁם הַתּוֹרָה, לְפִי שֶׁהָיָה שִׁבְחוֹ שֶׁל שֵׁבֶט יִשָּׂשכָר בְּחָכְמַת הַתּוֹרָה, קַעֲרַת כֶּסֶף - כְּנֶגֶד הַתּוֹרָה שֶׁקְּרוּיָה לֶחֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״לְכוּ לַחֲמוּ בְלַחְמִי״ (משלי ט ה), וְנֶאֱמַר בְּלֶחֶם הַפָּנִים (שמות כה כט) ״וְעָשִׂיתָ קְּעָרֹתָיו״. וּזְבוּלוּן הִקְרִיב שֶׁהָיָה עוֹסֵק בִּפְרַקְמַטְיָא וְטוֹרֵחַ וְנוֹתֵן לְתוֹךְ פִּיו שֶׁל יִשָּׂשכָר וְנוֹטֵל שָׂכָר עִמּוֹ, קְעָרָה - כְּנֶגֶד הַיָּם שֶׁהָיָה לְחוֹף יַמִּים (במדב״ר יג טז). וְכֵן מָצְאוּ שָׁם בַּמִּדְרָשׁ בְּכָל שֵׁבֶט וָשֵׁבֶט טַעַם מְיֻחָד בְּקָרְבָּנוֹ וּבְשִׁעוּרֵי הַקָּרְבָּן. וּלְכָךְ הִשְׁוָה אוֹתָם הַכָּתוּב לְפָרֵט כָּל אֶחָד בְּעַצְמוֹ כְּאִלּוּ לֹא הֻזְכַּר הָאַחֵר, וְאַחֲרֵי כֵן כְּלָלָם כְּאֶחָד לִרְמֹז כִּי בְּעֵת אַחַת עָלָה בְמַחְשַׁבְתָּם לְהַקְרִיב הַחֲנֻכָּה' וְלֹא קָדַם אֶחָד לַחֲבֵרוֹ בַּמַּחְשָׁבָה וְלֹא בַּהֲבָאָה לִפְנֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן, וְעַל זֶה הִזְכִּירָם הַכָּתוּב לְכֻלָּם בְּהַשְׁוָאָה:

1AND THEY BROUGHT THEIR OFFERING BEFORE THE ETERNAL. Since the wagons [which the princes brought] were for the purpose of the offerings [i.e., for transporting the Tabernacle, where offerings are made before G-d] they are also called “offering.” Similarly, And we have brought the Eternal’s offering, what every man hath gotten, of jewels of gold,¹³⁵ meaning “an offering” for the repairs of the Tabernacle. Now the princes thought that it would be impossible for the Levites to carry on their shoulders the boards of the Tabernacle and the sockets, which were very heavy, and therefore they brought the wagons of their own accord, for such is the way that all those who carry houses of kings and their palatial tents adopt, transporting them on wagons.We may also explain that the expression And they brought their offering before the Eternal, six wagons ‘tzov,’ means six large wagons bearing their offerings, and twelve oxen drawing the wagons. Thus they brought the wagons laden [with the offerings], and the oxen [drawing the wagons] before the Tabernacle. And G-d commanded Moses, Take all of it of them, and the wagons and the oxen which were not brought for offerings shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting.¹³⁶ Afterwards the princes took their offerings down from the wagons and brought them before the Tabernacle,¹³⁷ intending to offer them all up on that day since they had been given permission to offer them before Him, but G-d commanded, each prince on his day¹³⁸ shall they bring their offerings. And because of this [i.e., since the wagons that the princes brought contained the animals that they intended to offer up] it was not necessary now that He should say to Moses “take it of them,” [as the original statement¹³⁶ already implies G-d’s consent to the offerings as well].¹³⁹, the question arises: when the princes came back and brought the actual dedication-offerings, why did G-d likewise not tell Moses to take the offerings from them? Hence the second interpretation is to be preferred. And it is a linguistic expression [in the Sacred Language] to say “wagons” when referring to their contents, just like: those who eat ‘shulchan Izebel’¹⁴⁰ [literally: “Jezebel’s table,” which means “the food on Jezebel’s table”]. So also: for all ‘sha’ar ami’ do know¹⁴¹ [literally: for all “the gates of my people” do know, which means: “for all the people in the gates of my people do know”]. And [likewise we find] in the language of the Sages:¹⁴² “a hundred wagons of pitchers of wine and pitchers of oil, and of silver and golden vessels” [the meaning being “the amount of wine and oil and vessels that can be contained in a hundred wagons,” and not just wagons of pitchers of wine and oil]. It is possible that the word tzov [six wagons ‘tzov’] means “full,” and so also: ‘uvatzabim’ and upon mules,¹⁴³ which means “in wagons full of people.” In that case six wagons ‘tzov’ [in the verse before us] means “six wagons laden full,” their load being the dedication-offerings which Scripture specifies further on.Now Scripture mentions the offerings of each of the princes individually and afterwards it includes them all in a general statement, saying, This was the dedication-offering of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, at the hands of the princes of Israel: twelve silver dishes,¹⁴⁴ and Rashi wrote:¹⁴⁵, Verse 85. “This teaches you that the vessels of the Sanctuary were exactly equal in weight [as specified in the verses: one silver dish, the weight whereof was a hundred and thirty shekels etc.]. If one weighed each one separately and then weighed them all together, it was neither more nor less [than the total should have been]. This is based on [the explanations of] Rabbi Moshe the Preacher.”¹⁴⁶ But I cannot understand what they mean in saying this. If we are to consider this a miracle, what benefit is there in the occurrence of this miracle? And if this is the natural result with all weights, why should Scripture specifically mention it? In the Sifre the Rabbis have clearly said:¹⁴⁷ 54. “This is to teach you that the vessels of the Sanctuary¹⁴⁸ refers both to the Tabernacle and to the Sanctuary. were not like ordinary vessels. In the case of ordinary vessels, if one weighs each separately and then weighs them all together, the total is sometimes more or less [than it should have been] etc.”¹⁴⁹ And there [in the Sifre] the Rabbis further said: “Rabbi Nathan says: If one were to weigh all the vessels of the Sanctuary together¹⁴⁸ refers both to the Tabernacle and to the Sanctuary. and then turn them into bullion, and again make vessels of it, they would be neither more nor less [than the original weight].” He means to say by this that [these vessels were made of] a very pure gold [or silver, as the case may be], so that even if one melted them down and turned them into bullion, they still remained at their original weight. This was not because a miracle happened to them, but because they were made of a very pure gold.The correct interpretation of the verse is that the Holy One, blessed be He, bestows honor upon those who fear Him, just as He said, for them that honor Me I will honor.¹⁵⁰ Now all the princes brought this offering on the same day, because they all agreed to it simultaneously. But since it was impossible that one of them should not precede the others, He honored those who came first in [the position of] the standards to bring their offerings on the earlier days. He wanted, however, to mention them all by name and the details of their offerings, and to cite the day of each one, rather than honoring the first one by saying, This was the offering of Nachshon the son of Amminadab¹⁵¹ and then saying “and so did each of the princes offer on his day,” for that would have been a diminution of the honor of the others. Afterwards [i.e., after having listed them all separately] He included them all again in a general verse,¹⁴⁴ in order to tell us that they were all equal before Him, blessed be He. And so did the Rabbis say in the Sifre:¹⁵² 53. “Scripture tells us that just as they were all equal in the thought [of bringing these offerings] so were they all alike in merit. Twelve silver dishes¹⁴⁴ — these were the same ones that they donated, and nothing which would have invalidated them¹⁵³). occurred to them.”There is another explanation of this [chapter] in the interpretations of the Rabbis,¹⁵⁴ namely that each of the princes intended to bring a dedication-offering to the altar which would be of the amount [specified in the verses, each one of them intending to bring the same offerings], but Nachshon [prince of the tribe of Judah] had a particular reason for [bringing] this number [of offerings], and each of the other princes thought of an independent reason. Thus the Rabbis said¹⁵⁵ that Nachshon thought he would bring a ka’arath keseph (a silver dish),¹⁵⁶ since the numerical value of its [Hebrew] letters is nine hundred thirty,¹⁵⁷ is 100; ayin 70; reish, 200; tav 400. Kaph is 20; samech 60; pei 80. The total is 930. corresponding to the years of the first man;¹⁵⁸ and the weight thereof was a hundred and thirty shekels¹⁵⁶ indicating the years when he [Adam] begot children [to maintain the existence of the world, i.e., when he begot Seth,¹⁵⁹, Verse 3. from whom the world was founded] — and likewise the whole Midrash, as Rashi wrote it.¹⁵⁵ Or [the offerings of each prince were,] according to another Midrash,¹⁵⁴ [an allusion to] the tradition each tribe had from our father Jacob about all that would happen to it until the days of the Messiah. And so Nachshon [prince of the tribe of Judah] began by bringing his offerings with reference to royalty. The dish and the basin¹⁵⁶ corresponded to the two kings who would be descended from him, who would rule over the sea and land, these being Solomon and the Messianic King. This was why Nachshon brought a ka’arah (silver round dish), to symbolize the ocean which covers the whole world and is like a [round] dish.¹⁶⁰ [The weight of the dish was] a hundred and thirty shekels,¹⁵⁶ since it was on the third day [of Creation] that the Holy One, blessed be He, gathered all seas together to one place and called them yamim, the numerical value of these letters being one hundred;¹⁶¹ is 10; mem 40; yod 10; mem 40 — totalling 100. and Solomon added one sea to the work of the Sanctuary, and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.¹⁶² Thus you have one hundred and thirty. One silver basin of seventy shekels¹⁵⁶ corresponds to the world which is shaped like a sphere. The seventy shekels symbolize that they [Solomon and the Messiah] will rule over the seventy nations.¹⁶³ Both of them full,¹⁵⁶ for gifts will be brought to them from all peoples.¹⁶⁴ ‘Soleth’ (fine flour)¹⁵⁶ corresponds to these [two kings — as in the expression: the precious sons of Zion] ‘hamesulaim’ (who were comparable to) ‘fine’ gold.¹⁶⁵ Mingled with oil¹⁵⁶ — A good name is better than precious oil.¹⁶⁶ Silver — as it is said, The tongue of the righteous is as choice silver.¹⁶⁷ One golden pan of ten shekels,¹⁶⁸ this corresponds to the ten generations from Peretz to David¹⁶⁹. Ten generations are listed there. who were all righteous men full of good deeds, [as pleasant] as the odor of the incense.¹⁶⁸ One young bullock¹⁷⁰ — in allusion to Abraham;¹⁷¹ (Genesis 18:7). one ram¹⁷⁰ — in allusion to Isaac;¹⁷², 22:13: and he [Abraham] took the ram — as a substitute for Isaac. one he-lamb¹⁷⁰ — in allusion to Jacob.¹⁷³, 30:40: And Jacob separated the lambs. One male of the goats for a sin-offering,¹⁷⁴ to atone for the deed of Judah who brought Joseph’s coat to his father [dipped in the blood of a he-goat].¹⁷⁵ And for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen — alluding to David and Solomon, who began the royal line [of the House of David], and who were righteous men [during whose reigns] the kingdom was whole.¹⁷⁶. These are the two kings — David and Solomon — whose reigns were characterized by shelamim [“peace-offerings,” a term which also suggests “peace” and “completeness”]. Five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs of the first year¹⁵¹ — in allusion to the fifteen monarchs from Rehoboam to Zedekiah,¹⁷⁷ who were kings and sons of kings [and may be classified in three groups, just as the fifteen peace-offerings came in three groups], some completely righteous, some average, and some very wicked. This was what Nachshon thought [in bringing these offerings, which symbolized the history of his tribe].And Nethanel the son of Zuar [prince of the tribe of Issachar] also thought in his heart that he would bring a dedication-offering of this amount, but he had a different reason for it, bringing his offerings in allusion to the Torah, because the special merit of the tribe of Issachar was [in their knowledge] of the wisdom of the Torah.¹⁷⁸, Note 117. A silver dish¹⁷⁹ — referring to the Torah which is called “bread,” as it is said, Come, eat of my bread,¹⁸⁰ and it is said of the showbread, And thou shalt make the dishes thereof.¹⁸¹ And [the prince of the tribe of] Zebulun brought his offerings in relation to commerce, which he engaged in and exerted himself in, and [from the profits of which he maintained [through his generosity the Torah-studying tribe of] Issachar, with whom he [equally] shared the reward [for the studying of the Torah]. The [round] dish¹⁸² was symbolic of the ocean, since he [Zebulun] dwelled at the shores of the sea.¹⁸³ Similarly the Rabbis found in that Midrash¹⁸⁴ a special reason for the offering of each and every tribe and for the amount of the offerings [in accordance with the subsequent history of the tribe]. It is for this reason that Scripture treated them all equally, giving the details of each one separately as if the others had not been mentioned, after which it mentioned them all together, to hint that at the same moment it occurred to each of them to bring the dedication-offering, and none of them preceded the other either in thought or in the actual bringing of the offerings to the Tabernacle. It is because of this Scripture mentioned them all in identical words.