Shir HaShirim Rabbah 3.11

צְאֶינָה וּרְאֶינָה בְּנוֹת צִיּוֹן, בָּנִים הַמְצֻיָּנִים לִי בְּתִגְלַחַת, בְּמִילָה וּבְצִיצִית. בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁבָּרָא בְּרִיּוֹתָיו שְׁלֵמוֹת, בָּרָא חַמָּה וּלְבָנָה עַל מִלֵּאתָן, כּוֹכָבִים וּמַזָּלוֹת עַל מִלֵּאתָן. בַּר קַפָּרָא אָמַר אָדָם וְחַוָּה כְּבֶן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנִים נִבְרְאוּ. בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלּוֹ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁהִשְׁלִים מַעֲשָׂיו לִבְרִיּוֹתָיו, כֵּיצַד הִשְׁלִים הָאֵשׁ לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ, הִשְׁלִים הַחֶרֶב לְיִצְחָק, הִשְׁלִים הַמַּלְאָךְ לְיַעֲקֹב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שְׁלֹמֹה, בַּמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה שָׁלוֹם בֵּין בְּרִיּוֹתָיו. תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי הָרָקִיעַ שֶׁל שֶׁלֶג וְהַחַיּוֹת שֶׁל אֵשׁ, הָרָקִיעַ שֶׁל שֶׁלֶג, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל א, כב): וּדְמוּת עַל רָאשֵׁי הַחַיָּה רָקִיעַ כְּעֵין הַקֶּרַח הַנּוֹרָא וגו', וְהַחַיּוֹת שֶׁל אֵשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יחזקאל א, יג): וּדְמוּת הַחַיּוֹת מַרְאֵיהֶם כְּגַחֲלֵי אֵשׁ, וּכְתִיב (יחזקאל א, יד): וְהַחַיּוֹת רָצוֹא וָשׁוֹב כְּמַרְאֵה הַבָּזָק, וְלֹא זֶה מְכַבֶּה זֶה וְלֹא זֶה מְכַבֶּה זֶה. מִיכָאֵל שַׂר שֶׁל שֶׁלֶג, וְגַבְרִיאֵל שֶׁל אֵשׁ, וְלֹא זֶה מְכַבֶּה זֶה וְלֹא זֶה מַזִּיק זֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי אָבִין לֹא סוֹף דָּבָר בֵּין מַלְאָךְ לְמַלְאָךְ, אֶלָּא אֲפִלּוּ בֵּין מַלְאָךְ אֶחָד שֶׁחֶצְיוֹ שֶׁלֶג וְחֶצְיוֹ אֵשׁ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶן, וְאִית לֵיהּ חָמֵשׁ אַפִּין, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן (דניאל י, ו): וּגְוִיָּתוֹ כְתַרְשִׁישׁ וּפָנָיו כְּמַרְאֵה בָרָק, וְלֹא זֶה מַזִּיק זֶה. כָּתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (תהלים קד, ג): הַמְקָרֶה בַמַּיִם עֲלִיּוֹתָיו, וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברים ד, כד): כִּי ה' אֱלֹהֶיךָ אֵשׁ אֹכְלָה הוּא, וּכְתִיב (דניאל ז, ט): כָּרְסְיֵהּ שְׁבִיבִין דִּי נוּר, וְלֹא זֶה מַזִּיק זֶה וְלֹא זֶה מַזִּיק זֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן כְּתִיב (איוב כה, ב): עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו. הָרָקִיעַ שֶׁל מַיִם וְהַכּוֹכָבִים שֶׁל אֵשׁ וְאֵינָן מַזִּיקִין זֶה לָזֶה. מֵעוֹלָם לֹא רָאֲתָה חַמָּה פְּגִימָתָהּ שֶׁל לְבָנָה, אָמַר יַעֲקֹב דִּכְפַר חָנִין, כְּתִיב (איוב כה, ב): הַמְשֵׁל וָפַחַד עִמּוֹ, הַמְשֵׁל זֶה מִיכָאֵל. וָפַחַד זֶה גַּבְרִיאֵל. עִמּוֹ, מַהוּ עִמּוֹ מֻשְׁלָמִין לוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי אֵין לְךָ כָּל מַזָּל וּמַזָּל שֶׁהוּא קוֹדֵם לַחֲבֵרוֹ בַּעֲלִיָּתָן, אֵין לְךָ כָּל כּוֹכָב שֶׁמַּבִּיט מַה לְּמַעְלָה מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלָּא מַה שֶּׁלְּמַטָּה מִמֶּנּוּ, כַּהֲדֵין בַּר נְשָׁא דְּנָחֵית בְּסוּלָמָא וְאֵינוֹ חָמֵי לַאֲחוֹרָיו, אַף בְּמַכּוֹת פַּרְעֹה עָשָׂה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שָׁלוֹם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ט, כד): וַיְהִי בָרָד וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד. רַבִּי יוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יוּדָה אָמַר צְלוֹחִיּוֹת שֶׁל בָּרָד מְלֵאוֹת אֵשׁ, וְלֹא זוֹ מְכַבָּה זוֹ וְלֹא זוֹ מְכַבָּה זוֹ. אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין הֲדָא דְּרַבִּי יוּדָה דַּמְיָה לְהַהִיא פִּיטַרְתָּא דְרִימוֹנָא, דְּכָל הֲדָא פִּיטַרְתָּא מִיתְחַמְיָא מִלְּגַו. וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר אֵשׁ וּבָרָד פְּתוּכִין זֶה בָּזֶה, אָמַר רַבִּי חָנִין הֲדָא דְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה דַּמְיָיא לַהֲדָא עֲשָׁאשִׁיתָא דְּקַנְדִּילָא, מַיָא וּמִשְׁחָא מְעָרָבִין כַּחֲדָא וְהִיא דָלְקָה וְאָזְלָה, וְלֹא זֶה מְכַבֶּה זֶה וְלֹא זֶה מְכַבֶּה זֶה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי מִיתָא וּמִתְקַלְהָא מִיתָא וּמִתְקַלְהָא בִּשְׁבִיל לַעֲשׂוֹת רְצוֹן בּוֹרְאָם. אָמַר רַבִּי אַחָא לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיוּ לוֹ שְׁנֵי לִגְיוֹנוֹת קָשִׁין וְהָיוּ דְּבוּבִין זֶה לָזֶה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ שֶׁהֻקְשָׁה מִלְחַמְתּוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ עָשׂוּ שָׁלוֹם זֶה עִם זֶה כְּדֵי לַעֲשׂוֹת מִלְחַמְתּוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ, כָּךְ אֵשׁ וּבָרָד דְּבוּבִין זֶה עִם זֶה, כֵּיוָן שֶׁרָאוּ מִלְחַמְתּוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּלָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהִיא מִלְחֶמֶת הַמִּצְרִיִּים, עָשׂוּ שָׁלוֹם בֵּינֵיהֶם וְעָשׂוּ מִלְחֶמֶת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּמִצְרַיִם, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיְהִי בָרָד וְאֵשׁ מִתְלַקַּחַת בְּתוֹךְ הַבָּרָד, נֵס בְּתוֹךְ נֵס.

“Emerge, daughters of Zion, and gaze at King Solomon, at the crown with which his mother crowned him on the day of his wedding, and on the day of the rejoicing of his heart” (Song of Songs 3:11). “Emerge, daughters of Zion, and gaze,” sons who are conspicuous [metzuyanim] for me in haircut, in circumcision, in ritual fringes; “at King Solomon [Shlomo],” at the King who created perfect [shelemot] creations. He created the sun and the moon in their completeness, the stars and the constellations in their completeness. Bar Kappara said: Adam and Eve were created as at the age of twenty. “At King Solomon [Shlomo],” at the King [of Whom it may be said] that peace is His. Another matter, “at King Solomon [Shlomo],” the King who made peace between His works and His creatures. How so? He made the fire be at peace with our patriarch Abraham; He made the sword be at peace with Isaac; He made the angel be at peace with Jacob. Another matter, “at King Solomon [Shlomo],” the King who made peace between His creations. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: The firmament is of snow and the [celestial] creatures are of fire. The firmament is of snow, as it is stated: “Over the heads of the creature there was the likeness of a firmament, resembling the awesome ice” (Ezekiel 1:22). The creatures are of fire, as it is stated: “The likeness of the creatures, their appearance was like fiery coals” (Ezekiel 1:13), and it is written: “The creatures were darting to and fro like the appearance of a flash” (Ezekiel 1:14). This one does not extinguish that one, and that one does not extinguish this one. Mikhael is the angel of snow and Gabriel of fire; this one does not extinguish that one, and that one does not harm this one. Rabbi Avin said: This is not merely between angel and angel, but even within one angel that is half snow and half fire, the Holy One blessed be He makes peace between them. It has five descriptions, and they are: “His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning” (Daniel 10:6); and one does not harm the other. One verse says: “He covers His upper chambers with water” (Psalms 104:3), and one verse says: “For the Lord your God is a consuming fire” (Deuteronomy 4:24), and it is written: “His throne was sparks of fire” (Daniel 7:9). This one does not harm that one, and that one does not harm this one. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: It is written: “He makes peace in His high places” (Job 25:2), the firmament is of water and the stars of fire and they do not harm each other. The sun has never seen the defect of the moon. Rabbi Yaakov of the village of Ḥanin said: It is written: “Dominion and fear are with Him” (Job 25:2). “Dominion,” this is Mikhael, “and fear,” this is Gavriel, “with Him,” what is “with Him”? They are at peace for Him. Rabbi Levi said: No constellation ever passed another on their ascent. There is no star that sees what is above it, but rather what is below it, like a person who descends a ladder and does not look behind him. Even regarding the plagues of Pharaoh, the Holy One blessed be He brought about peace, as it is stated: “There was hail, and fire aflame within the hail” (Exodus 9:24). Rabbi Yuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis, Rabbi Yuda said: Bowls of hail filled with fire; this one did not extinguish that one, and that one did not extinguish this one. Rabbi Ḥanin said: That [description] of Rabbi Yuda is similar to a pomegranate aril, as [the seed] inside each aril can be seen. Rabbi Neḥemya said: Fire and hail intermingled with each other. Rabbi Ḥanin said: That [description] of Rabbi Neḥemya is similar to the bowl of an oil lamp, where water and oil are intermingled and it continues to burn. This one does not extinguish that one, and that one does not extinguish this one. The Rabbis say: Death [mita] and reassembly [mitkalha], death and reassembly in order to perform the will of their Creator. Rabbi Aḥa said: [This is analogous] to a king who had two powerful legions and they were enemies with each other. Once they saw that the king’s war was intensifying, they made peace with one another in order to wage the king’s war. So too, fire and hail are enemies with each other. When they saw the war of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, which was the war against the Egyptians, they made peace between them and waged the war of the Holy One blessed be He against Egypt. That is what is written: “There was hail and fire aflame within the hail”—a miracle within a miracle.

בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן, שָׁאַל רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי אֶת רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בְּרַבִּי יוֹסֵי, אָמַר לוֹ אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁשָּׁמַעְתָּ מֵאָבִיךָ מַהוּ בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ הֵן, אָמַר לוֹ הֵיאַךְ, אָמַר לוֹ לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיְתָה לוֹ בַּת יְחִידָה וְהָיָה מְחַבְּבָהּ יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי וְהָיָה קוֹרֵא אוֹתָהּ בִּתִּי, וְלֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקָּרָא אוֹתָהּ אֲחוֹתִי, וְלֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָהּ עַד שֶׁקָּרָא אוֹתָהּ אִמִּי. כָּךְ הָיָה מְחַבֵּב יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּקְרָאָן בִּתִּי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים מה, יא): שִׁמְעִי בַת וּרְאִי, וְלֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָן עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָן אֲחוֹתִי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ה, ב): פִּתְחִי לִי אֲחֹתִי רַעְיָתִי. וְלֹא זָז מֵחַבְּבָן עַד שֶׁקְּרָאָן אִמִּי, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיה נא, ד): הַקְשִׁיבוּ אֵלַי עַמִּי וּלְאוּמִּי אֵלַי הַאֲזִינוּ, וּלְאִמִּי כְּתִיב, עָמַד רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי וּנְשָׁקוֹ עַל רֹאשׁוֹ וְאָמַר אִלּוּ לֹא בָּאתִי אֶלָּא לִשְׁמֹעַ מִפִּיךָ הַטַּעַם הַזֶּה, דַּיִּי. אָמַר רַבִּי חֲנִינָא בַּר יִצְחָק, חִזַּרְנוּ עַל כָּל הַמִּקְרָא כֻּלָּהּ וְלֹא מָצִינוּ שֶׁעָשְׂתָה בַּת שֶׁבַע עֲטָרָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה בְּנָהּ, וְאַתְּ אֲמַרְתְּ: בָּעֲטָרָה שֶׁעִטְּרָה לוֹ אִמּוֹ, אֶלָּא מָה עֲטָרָה הַזּוֹ מְקֻבַּעַת בַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, כָּךְ הָיָה אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד מְצֻיָּן בַּתְּכֵלֶת וְאַרְגָּמָן וּבְתוֹלַעַת הַשָּׁנִי וּבַשֵּׁשׁ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר אַתְּ מוֹצֵא בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁאָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה עֲשֵׂה לִי מִשְׁכָּן הָיָה לוֹ לְהַעֲמִיד אַרְבָּעָה קוּנְדָּסִין וְלִמְתֹּחַ הַמִּשְׁכָּן עֲלֵיהֶם וַהֲרֵי הוּא מִשְׁכָּן, אֲבָל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לֹא עָשָׂה כֵן, אֶלָּא הֶעֱלָה אוֹתוֹ לְמַעְלָה וְהֶרְאָה אֵשׁ אֲדֻמָּה יְרֻקָּה שְׁחוֹרָה לְבָנָה, וְאָמַר לוֹ עֲשֵׂה לִי כָּזֶה, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם וְכִי מִנַיִן יֵשׁ לִי אֵשׁ שְׁחוֹרָה אֲדֻמָּה יְרֻקָּה וּלְבָנָה, אָמַר לוֹ (שמות כה, מ): בְּתַבְנִיתָם אֲשֶׁר אַתָּה מָרְאֶה בָּהָר. אָמַר רַבִּי אָבוּן לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה לוֹ אוֹתוֹנִין נָאֶה, אָמַר לְבֶן בֵּיתוֹ עֲשֵׂה לִי כְּמוֹתָהּ אָמַר אֲדוֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכִי יָכוֹל אֲנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת כְּמוֹתָהּ, אָמַר לוֹ אַתְּ בְּסַמְּמָנֶיךָ וַאֲנִי בִּכְבוֹדִי. כָּךְ אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה (שמות כה, מ): וּרְאֵה וַעֲשֵׂה, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֱלוֹהַּ אֲנִי שֶׁאֶעֱשֶׂה כְּמוֹתוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ: בְּתַבְנִיתָם וגו'. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי בְּצַלְאֵל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁנִּגְלָה לְבֶן בֵּיתוֹ בִּלְבוּשׁ נָאֶה שֶׁל מַרְגָּלִיטוֹן וְאָמַר לוֹ עֲשֵׂה לִי כָּמוֹהוּ, אָמַר לוֹ אֲדֹנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ וְכִי יָכוֹל אֲנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּמוֹהוּ. כָּךְ אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה: עֲשֵׂה לִי מִשְׁכָּן, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם יָכוֹל אֲנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּמוֹהוּ, אָמַר לוֹ: וּרְאֵה וַעֲשֵׂה, אָמַר לוֹ יָכוֹל אֲנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּמוֹהוּ, אָמַר לֵיהּ: בְּתַבְנִיתָם, כְּשֵׁם שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה לְמַעְלָה עֲשֵׂה לְמַטָּה. עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים הַעֲמֵד אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן, אֶלָּא עוֹמְדִים, כִּנְתוּנִים בְּאִיסְטְרַטֵיאָה שֶׁל מַעְלָה, וְאִם אַתְּ עוֹשֶׂה לָזֶה שֶׁל מַעְלָה לְמַטָּה אֲנִי מַנִּיחַ סִנְקְלֵיטוֹן שֶׁלִּי שֶׁל מַעְלָה וְיוֹרֵד וּמְצַמְצֵם שְׁכִינָתִי בֵּינֵיכֶם לְמַטָּה, כֵּיצַד, מַה לְּמַעְלָה שְׂרָפִים עוֹמְדִים, אַף לְמַטָּה עֲצֵי שִׁטִּים עוֹמְדִים. מַה לְּמַעְלָה כּוֹכָבִים, אַף לְמַטָּה כּוֹכָבִים. אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא מְלַמֵּד שֶׁהָיוּ קַרְסֵי זָהָב נִרְאִים בַּמִּשְׁכָּן כַּכּוֹכָבִים הַנִּרְאִים בָּרָקִיעַ. בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָתוֹ, זֶה סִינַי, כַּחֲתָנִים הָיוּ. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, אֵלּוּ דִּבְרֵי תוֹרָה, הֵיאַךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים יט, ט): פִּקּוּדֵי ה' יְשָׁרִים מְשַׂמְחֵי לֵב. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּיוֹם חֲתֻנָתוֹ, זֶה אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד. וּבְיוֹם שִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, זֶה בֵּית הָעוֹלָמִים.

“At the crown with which his mother crowned him,” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai asked Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Yosei, he said to him: ‘Have you possibly heard from your father what is: “At the crown with which his mother crowned him”?’ He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to him: ‘What?’ He said to him: ‘[It is analogous] to a king who had an only daughter and he loved her exceedingly much and would call her: My daughter. He did not stop loving her until he called her: My sister. He did not stop loving her until he called her: My mother. So too, the Holy One blessed be He loved Israel exceedingly much, and called them My daughter; that is what is written: “Hear, My daughter, and see” (Psalms 45:11); He did not stop loving them until He called them My sister, as it is stated: “Open for me, my sister, my lover” (Song of Songs 5:2); He did not stop loving them until he called them My mother, as it is stated: “Heed Me My people, listen to Me My nation [uleumi]” (Isaiah 51:4), My mother [ule’imi] is written.’ Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai stood, kissed him on his head, and said: ‘Had I come only to hear from you this explanation, it would have sufficed for me.’ Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: We have reviewed the whole Bible in its entirety and we have not found that Batsheva crafted a crown for Solomon her son, and you say: “At the crown with which his mother crowned him”? Rather, just as a crown is set with jewels and pearls, so the Tent of Meeting was conspicuous with sky-blue, purple, and scarlet wool, and linen. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: You find that when that the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Craft for Me a Tabernacle,’ he could have positioned four poles and stretched a curtain over them, and it would have been a Tabernacle. However, the Holy One blessed be He did not do so, but rather, He took him up On High and He showed him red, green, black, and white fire, and said to him: ‘Craft like this for Me.’ [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, from where do I have black, red, green, and white fire?’ He said to [Moses]: “In their configuration, that you are being shown on the mountain” (Exodus 25:40). Rabbi Avun said: [This is analogous] to a king who had a fine image. He said to a member of his household: ‘Craft me one like it.’ He said: ‘My lord the king, am I able to craft one like it?’ He said to him: ‘You, with your materials, and I with my glory.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “See and craft” (Exodus 25:40). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, am I a god that I can craft something like that?’ He said to him: “In their configuration...” Rabbi Berekhya [said] in the name of Rabbi Betzalel: [This is analogous] to a king who appeared to a member of his household in a fine bejeweled garment. He said to him: ‘Craft me one like this.’ He said: ‘My lord the king, am I able to craft one like this?’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Craft for Me a Tabernacle.’ He said to him: ‘Master of the universe, am I able to craft one like this?’ He said to him: “In their configuration.” Just as you see On High, craft below. It does not say here: “Stand up acacia wood,” but rather, “[acacia wood], standing” (Exodus 26:15), as though they are placed among the hosts On High. If you craft [something] below that is like that which is On High, I will abandon My heavenly council and descend and restrict My Divine Presence in your midst below. How so? Just as above Seraphim are standing, so too, below, acacia wood is standing. Just as above there are stars, so too, below there are stars. Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba said: This teaches that there were gold hooks in the Tabernacle that look like stars in the sky. “On the day of his wedding,” this is Sinai; they were like bridegrooms. “And on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” these are words of Torah, just as it says: “The precepts of the Lord are upright, bringing joy to the heart” (Psalms 19:9). Alternatively, “on the day of his wedding,” this is the Tent of Meeting. “And on the day of the rejoicing of his heart,” this is the Temple.