Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer 3

רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן הוֹרְקָנוֹס פָּתַח (תהילים קו, ב): ״מִי יְמַלֵּל גְּבוּרוֹת ה' יַשְׁמִיעַ כָּל תְּהִלָּתוֹ״. וְכִי יֵשׁ אָדָם בָּעוֹלָם שֶׁהוּא יָכוֹל לְמַלֵּל גְּבוּרָתוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אוֹ לְהַשְׁמִיעַ כָּל תְּהִלָּתוֹ? אֲפִלּוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת אֵינָן יְכוֹלִים לְסַפֵּר אֶלָּא מִקְצָת גְּבוּרוֹתָיו! וְיֵשׁ לָנוּ לִדְרֹשׁ בְּמַה שֶּׁעָשָׂה וּבְמַה שֶּׁהוּא עָתִיד לַעֲשׂוֹת, לְמַעַן יִתְרוֹמֵם שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, בִּבְרִיּוֹתָיו שֶׁבָּרָא מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהילים קמה, ד): ״דּוֹר לְדוֹר יְשַׁבַּח מַעֲשֶׂיךָ״.

PREMUNDANE CREATION, AND THE WORK OF THE FIRST DAY R. ELIEZER BEN HYRḲANOS opened (his discourse with the text), "Who can utter the mighty acts of the Lord, or shew forth all his praise?" (Ps. 106:2). Is there any man who can utter the mighty acts of the Holy One, blessed be He, or who can shew forth all His praise? Not even the ministering angels are able to narrate (the Divine praise). But to investigate a part of His mighty deeds with reference to what He has done, and what He will do in the future (is permissible), so that His name should be exalted among His creatures, whom He has created, from one end of the world to the other, as it is said, "One generation to another shall laud thy works" (Ps. 145:4).

עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, הָיָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא וּשְׁמוֹ הַגָּדוֹל בִּלְבַד, וְעָלָה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה לִבְרֹא אֶת הָעוֹלָם, וְהָיָה מַחֲרִיט אֶת הָעוֹלָם לְפָנָיו וְלֹא הָיָה עוֹמֵד. מָשְׁלוּ מָשָׁל, לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה? לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לִבְנוֹת פַּלְטֵרִים שֶׁלּוֹ, אִם אֵינוֹ מַחֲרִיט בָּאָרֶץ יְסוֹדוֹתָיו וּמוֹבָאָיו וּמוֹצָאָיו, אֵינוֹ מַתְחִיל לִבְנוֹת, כָּךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הֶחֱרִיט לְפָנָיו אֶת הָעוֹלָם וְלֹא הָיָה עוֹמֵד עַד שֶׁבָּרָא אֶת הַתְּשׁוּבָה.

Before the world was created, the Holy One, blessed be He, with His Name alone existed, and the thought arose in Him to create the world. He began to trace (the foundations of) the world before Himself, but it would not stand. They told a parable, To what is the matter like? To a king who wishes to build a palace for himself. If he had not traced in the earth its foundations, its exits and its entrances, he does not begin to build. Likewise the Holy One, blessed be He, was tracing (the plans of) the world before Himself, but it did not remain standing until He created repentance.

שִׁבְעָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: תּוֹרָה, וְגֵיהִנֹּם, וְגַן עֵדֶן, וְכִסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, וּבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, וּתְשׁוּבָה, וּשְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ.

Seven things were created before the world was created. They are: The Torah, Gehinnom, the Garden of Eden, the Throne of Glory, the Temple, Repentance, and the Name of the Messiah.

תּוֹרָה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח, כב): ״ה' קָנָנִי רֵאשִׁית דַּרְכּוֹ קֶדֶם מִפְעָלָיו מֵאָז״. קֶדֶם, רוֹצֶה לוֹמַר קוֹדֶם שֶׁנִּבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. גֵּיהִנֹּם מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו ל, לג): ״כִּי עָרוּךְ מֵאֶתְמוּל תָּפְתֶּה״. מֵאֶתְמוּל, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. גַּן עֵדֶן מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית ב, ח): ״וַיִּטַּע ה' אֱלֹהִים גַּן בְּעֵדֶן מִקֶּדֶם״. מִקֶּדֶם, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צג, ב): ״נָכוֹן כִּסְאֲךָ מֵאָז״. מֵאָז, עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיהו יז, יב): ״כִּסֵּא כָבוֹד מָרוֹם מֵרִאשׁוֹן״. מֵרִאשׁוֹן עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. תְּשׁוּבָה מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים צ, ב): ״בְּטֶרֶם הָרִים יֻלָּדוּ״ וּכְתִיב (תהלים צ, ג): ״תָּשֵׁב אֱנוֹשׁ עַד דַּכָּא״. טֶרֶם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם. שְׁמוֹ שֶׁל מָשִׁיחַ מִנַּיִן? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים עב, יז): ״לִפְנֵי שֶׁמֶשׁ יִנּוֹן שְׁמוֹ״. וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (מיכה ה, א): ״וְאַתָּה בֵּית לֶחֶם אֶפְרָתָה צָעִיר לִהְיוֹת בְּאַלְפֵי יְהוּדָה... וּמוֹצָאֹתָיו מִקֶּדֶם״. מִקֶּדֶם עַד שֶׁלֹּא נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם.

Whence do we know that this applies to the Torah? Because it is said, "The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old" (Prov. 8:22). "Of old" means before the world was created. Whence do we know this with regard to the Garden of Eden? Because it is said, "And the Lord God planted a garden of old" (Gen. 2:8). "Of old," whilst as yet the world had not been created. Whence do we know this with reference to the Throne of Glory? Because it is said, "Thy throne is established of old" (Ps. 93:2). "Of old," whilst as yet the world had not been created. Whence do we know that Repentance (was premundane)? Because it is said, "Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world" (Ps. 90:2); and then in close proximity (we read), "Thou turnest man to contrition" (Ps. 90:3). "Before," i.e. before the world was created. Whence do we know this with regard to the Temple? Because it is said, "A glorious throne, set on high from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary" (Jer. 17:12). "From the beginning," whilst as yet the world had not been created. Whence we do know that the name of the Messiah (was premundane)? Because it is said, "His name shall endure for ever; before the sun Yinnôn was his name" (Ps. 72:17). "Yinnôn," before the world had been created. Another verse says, "But thou, Bethlehem Ephrathah, which art to be least among the thousands of Judah, from thee shall he come forth unto me who is to be ruler over Israel; whose ancestry belongs to the past, even to the days of old" (Mic. 5:2). "The past," whilst as yet the world had not been created.

מִיָּד נִתְיַעֵץ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בַּתּוֹרָה שֶׁשְּׁמָהּ תּוּשִׁיָּה לִבְרֹא אֶת הָעוֹלָם. הֵשִׁיבָה לוֹ וְאָמְרָה: רִבּוֹן הָעוֹלָמִים, אִם אֵין צָבָא וְאִם אֵין מַחֲנֶה לַמֶּלֶךְ – עַל מָה הוּא מוֹלֵךְ? וְאִם אֵין עַם מְקַלְּסִין לַמֶּלֶךְ אֵי זֶה הוּא כְּבוֹדוֹ שֶׁל מֶלֶךְ? שָׁמַע אֲדוֹן הָעוֹלָם וְעָרַב לוֹ. אָמְרָה תּוֹרָה: בִּי נִתְיַעֵץ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לִבְרֹא אֶת הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ח, יד): ״לִי עֵצָה וְתוּשִׁיָּה״ וְכוּ'. מִכָּאן אָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים: כָּל מַלְכוּת שֶׁאֵין לָהּ יוֹעֲצִים, אֵין מַלְכוּתָהּ מַלְכוּת. וּמִנַּיִן אָנוּ לְמֵדִים? מִמַּלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד שֶׁהָיוּ לָהּ יוֹעֲצִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דה״א כז, לב): ״וִיהוֹנָתָן דּוֹד דָּוִיד יוֹעֵץ אִישׁ מֵבִין וְסוֹפֵר הוּא״. וּלְמַלְכוּת בֵּית דָּוִד הָיוּ לוֹ יוֹעֲצִים, וּשְׁאָר כָּל אָדָם עַל כַּמָּה וְכַמָּה שֶׁהִיא טוֹבָה לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי יב, טו): ״וְשֹׁמֵעַ לְעֵצָה חָכָם״. וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (משלי יא, יד): ״וּתְשׁוּעָה בְּרֹב יוֹעֵץ״.

Forthwith the Holy One, blessed be He, took counsel with the Torah whose name is Tushijah (Stability or Wisdom) with reference to the creation of the world. (The Torah) replied and said to Him: Sovereign of the worlds ! if there be no host for the king and if there be no camp for the king, over whom does he rule? If there be no people to praise the king, where is the honour of the king? The Holy One, blessed be He, heard this and it pleased Him. The Torah spake: The Holy One, blessed be He, took counsel with me concerning the creation of the world, as it is said, "Counsel is mine, and sound knowledge; I am understanding; I have might" (Prov. 8:14). Hence they say, Every government which has no counsellors is not a proper government. Whence do we know this? From the government of the House of David which employed counsellors, as it is said, "And Jonathan David's uncle was a counsellor, a man of understanding, and a scribe" (1 Chron. 27:32). If the government of the House of David had counsellors, how much more so should other people act likewise. This is of benefit to them, as it is said, "But he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise" (Prov. 12:15), and (Scripture) says, "But in the multitude of counsellors there is safety" (Prov. 11:14).

שְׁמוֹנָה דְבָרִים נִבְרְאוּ בַּיּוֹם רִאשׁוֹן, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, וְאוֹר, וְחֹשֶׁךְ, וְתֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, וְרוּחַ וּמַיִם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וְרוּחַ אֱלֹהִים מְרַחֶפֶת עַל פְּנֵי הַמָּיִם״. וְיֵשׁ אוֹמְרִים אַף יוֹם וָלַיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ״וַיְהִי עֶרֶב וַיְהִי בֹקֶר יוֹם אֶחָד״. וּשְׁמוֹנָה בַּיּוֹם הַשֵּׁנִי, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: הַבְּאֵר וְהַמָּן וְהַמַּטֶּה וְהַקֶּשֶׁת וְהַכְּתָב וְהַמִּכְתָּב וְהַכְּתֹנֶת וְהַמַּזִּיקִין. וַעֲשָׂרָה דְבָרִים עָלוּ בַמַּחֲשָׁבָה: יְרוּשָׁלַיִם וְרוּחוֹת אָבוֹת וְאָרְחוֹת הַצַּדִּיקִים וְגֵיהִנֹּם וּמֵי הַמַּבּוּל וְלוּחוֹת הַשְּׁנִיִּים, וְהַשַּׁבָּת וְהַמִּקְדָּשׁ וְהָאָרוֹן וְאוֹר לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

Eight things were created on the first day, namely, Heaven, Earth, Light, Darkness, Tohu (Chaos), Bohu (Void), Wind (or Spirit), and Water, as it is said, "And the wind of God was moving upon the face of the waters" (Gen. 1:2). Some (wise men) say that day and night also, as it is said, And there was evening and morning, one day (Gen. 1:5). Eight things were created on the second day, namely, the Well, the Manna, the Rod, the Rainbow, the art of writing, the written characters, the Garments, and the destroying spirits. Ten things arose in the thought (of the Creator), namely, Jerusalem," the spirits of the patriarchs, the paths of the righteous, Hell (Gehenom), the waters of the flood, the second tables, the shabbat, the temple and the light of the world to come.

שָׁמַיִם מֵאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם נִבְרְאוּ? מֵאוֹר לְבוּשׁוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁהוּא לָבוּשׁ. לָקַח מִמֶּנּוּ וּפָרַשׂ כַּשַּׂלְמָה וְהָיוּ מוֹתְחִין וְהוֹלְכִין עַד שֶׁאָמַר לָהֶם: דַּי, וְעַל כֵּן נִקְרָא שְׁמוֹ שַׁדַּי, שֶׁאָמַר לַשָּׁמַיִם דַּי וְעָמְדוּ. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁמֵּאוֹר לְבוּשׁוֹ נִבְרָא? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קד, ב): ״עֹטֶה אוֹר כַּשַּׂלְמָה נוֹטֶה שָׁמַיִם כַּיְרִיעָה״.

Whence were the heavens created? From the light of the garment with which He was robed. He took (of this light) and stretched it like a garment and (the heavens) began to extend continually until He caused them to hear, "It is sufficient." Therefore is He called God Almighty (El Shaddai), who said to the world: "It is sufficient," and it stood (firm). Whence do we know that the heavens were created from the light of His garment? Because it is said, "Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment; who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain" (Ps. 104:2).

הָאָרֶץ מֵאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם נִבְרֵאת? מִשֶּׁלֶג שֶׁתַּחַת כִּסֵּא הַכָּבוֹד, לָקַח וְזָרַק עַל הַמַּיִם וְנִקְפְּאוּ הַמַּיִם וְנַעֲשָׂה עֲפַר הָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב לז, ו): ״כִּי לַשֶּׁלֶג יֹאמַר הֱוֵא אָרֶץ״.

Whence was the earth created? He took of the snow (or ice) which was beneath His Throne of Glory and threw it upon the waters, and the waters became congealed so that the dust of the earth was formed, as it is said, "He saith to the snow, Be thou earth" (Job 37:6).

קוּרְקִיסֵי הַשָּׁמַיִם בְּמֵימֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס הֵם אֲחוּזִים, שֶׁמֵּימֵי אוֹקְיָאנוֹס עוֹמְדִין בֵּין קְצוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם וּבֵין קְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ, וְקַצְווֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל מֵימֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס הֵם אֲחוּזִים. שֶׁמֵּימֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס בֵּין קְצוֹת אֶרֶץ לְבֵין קְצוֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם, וְקַצְווֹת הַשָּׁמַיִם עַל מֵימֵי אוֹקְיָנוֹס הֵם פְּרוּשִׂים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קד, ג): ״הַמְקָרֶה בַמַּיִם עֲלִיּוֹתָיו״.

The hooks of the heavens are fixed in the waters of the ocean. The waters of the ocean are situated between the ends of the heavens and the ends of the earth. The ends of the heavens are spread out over the waters of the ocean, as it is said, "Who layeth the beams of his chambers in the waters" (Ps. 104:3).

תֹּכֶן שֶׁל שָׁמַיִם עוֹלֶה לְמַעְלָה כְּדוּרָם. הוּא כְּאֹהֶל פְּרוּשָׂה, קְצוֹתֶיהָ לְמַטָּה וְתוֹכָהּ לְמַעְלָה, וְכָל בְּנֵי אָדָם יוֹשְׁבִים תַּחְתֶּיהָ. כָּךְ הֵן הַשָּׁמַיִם – קְצָתָם לְמַטָּה וְתוֹכָן לְמַעְלָה כְּאֹהֶל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו מ, כב): ״וַיִּמְתָּחֵם כָּאֹהֶל לָשָׁבֶת״.

The dome (or inside shape) of the heavens ascends upwards like a tub, (that is to say) like a tent (denda) which is spread out with its extremities (fixed) downwards and its dome stretching upwards so that people can sit beneath it and their feet stand on the earth, whilst all of them are inside the tent; in like wise are the heavens, their extremities are (fixed) downwards and their dome stretches upwards and all creatures dwell beneath them as in a tent, as it is said, "And he spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in" (Isa. 40:22).

אַרְבַּע רוּחוֹת בָּעוֹלָם: רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַמִּזְרָח, רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַמַּעֲרָב, רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַדָּרוֹם, רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַצָּפוֹן. רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַמִּזְרָח – מִשָּׁם הָאוֹר יוֹצֵא לָעוֹלָם. רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַדָּרוֹם – מִשָּׁם טַלְלֵי בְרָכָה וְגִשְׁמֵי בְרָכָה יוֹצְאִין לָעוֹלָם. רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַמַּעֲרָב – מִשָּׁם חֹשֶׁךְ יוֹצֵא לָעוֹלָם. רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַצָּפוֹן – מִשָּׁם אוֹצְרוֹת הַשֶּׁלֶג וְאוֹצְרוֹת הַבָּרָד וְקֹר וָחֹם וּגְשָׁמִים יוֹצְאִים לָעוֹלָם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: רוּחַ פִּנַּת הַצָּפוֹן – בָּרָא וְלֹא גְמָרוֹ. אָמַר שֶׁכָּל מִי שֶׁיֹּאמַר שֶׁהוּא אֱלוֹהַּ יָבוֹא וְיִגְמֹר אֶת הַפִּנָּה הַזֹּאת שֶׁהִנַּחְתִּי וְיֵדְעוּ הַכֹּל שֶׁהוּא אֱלוֹהַּ.

Four quarters have been created in the world; the quarter facing the east, that facing the south, that facing the west and that facing the north. From the quarter facing the east the light goeth forth to the world. From the quarter facing south the dews of blessing and the rains of blessing go forth to the world. From the quarter facing west where are the treasuries of snow and the treasuries of hail, and thence come forth into the world cold and heat and rains. From the quarter facing north darkness goeth forth into the world. The quarter facing north He created, but He did not complete it, for He said, Anyone who says: I am a God, let him come and complete this quarter which I have left (incomplete) and all will know that he is a God.

וְשָׁם הוּא מָדוֹר לַמַּזִּיקִין וְלַזְּוָעוֹת, לָרוּחוֹת וְלַשֵּׁדִים וְלַבְּרָקִים וְלָרְעָמִים. וּמִשָּׁם רָעָה יוֹצֵאת לָעוֹלָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה א, יד): ״מִצָּפוֹן תִּפָּתַח הָרָעָה״. בַּעֲשָׂרָה מַאֲמָרוֹת נִבְרָא הָעוֹלָם (משנה אבות, פרק ה, משנה א), וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: (בראשית א, ג): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי אוֹר״, (בראשית א, ו): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי רָקִיעַ״, (בראשית א, ט): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִקָּווּ הַמַּיִם״, (בראשית א, יא): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים תַּדְשֵׁא הָאָרֶץ״, (בראשית א, יד): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יְהִי מְאֹרֹת״, (בראשית א, כ): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים יִשְׁרְצוּ הַמַּיִם״, (בראשית א, כד): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים תּוֹצֵא הָאָרֶץ״, (בראשית א, כו): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים נַעֲשֶׂה אָדָם״, (בראשית א, כט): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים הִנֵּה נָתַתִּי לָכֶם״, (בראשית ב, יח): ״וַיֹּאמֶר אֱלֹהִים לֹא טוֹב הֱיוֹת הָאָדָם לְבַדּוֹ״. וּבִשְׁלֹשָׁה כּוֹלְלוֹ, וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: בְּחָכְמָה, בִּתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר ה' בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ כּוֹנֵן שָׁמַיִם בִּתְבוּנָה בְּדַעְתּוֹ תְּהוֹמוֹת נִבְקָעוּ. וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן נַעֲשָׂה הַמִּשְׁכָּן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לא, ג): ״וָאֲמַלֵּא אֹתוֹ רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים בְּחָכְמָה וּבִתְבוּנָה וּבְדַעַת״. וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן נַעֲשָׂה בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מ״א ז, יד): ״בֶּן אִשָּׁה אַלְמָנָה הוּא מִמַּטֵּה נַפְתָּלִי וְאָבִיו אִישׁ צֹרִי חֹרֵשׁ נְחֹשֶׁת וַיִּמָּלֵא אֶת הַחָכְמָה וְאֶת הַתְּבוּנָה וְאֶת הַדַּעַת״. וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן עָתִיד לְהִבָּנוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי כד, ג): ״בְּחָכְמָה יִבָּנֶה בָּיִת וּבִתְבוּנָה יִתְכּוֹנָן וּבְדַעַת חֲדָרִים יִמָּלְאוּ״.

There (in the north) is the abode of the destroying spirits, earthquakes, winds, demons, lightnings and thunders; thence evil issues forth into the world, as it is said, "Out of the north evil shall break forth upon all the inhabitants of the earth" (Jer. 1:14). Some say by ten Sayings was the world created and in three (Divine attributes) are these (ten Sayings) comprised, as it is said, "The Lord by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding he established the heavens, by his knowledge the depths were broken up" (Prov. 3:19, 20). By these three (attributes) was the Tabernacle made, as it is said, "And I have filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge" (Ex. 31:3). Likewise with these three (attributes) was the Temple made, as it is said, "He was the son of a widow woman of the tribe of Naphtali, and his father was a man of Tyre, a worker in brass; and he was filled with wisdom and understanding and knowledge" (1 Kings 7:14). By these three attributes it will be rebuilt in the future, as it is said, "Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge are the chambers filled" (Prov. 24:3, 4).

וּבִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן עָתִיד לִיתֵּן שָׁלֹשׁ מַתָּנוֹת טוֹבוֹת לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ב, ו): ״כִּי ה' יִתֵּן חָכְמָה מִפִּיו דַּעַת וּתְבוּנָה״. וּשְׁלָשְׁתָּן כְּפוּלוֹת נִתְּנוּ לְמֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ישעיהו יא, ב): ״וְנָחָה עָלָיו רוּחַ ה' רוּחַ חָכְמָה וּבִינָה״ וְכוּ'.

With these three attributes will the Holy One, blessed be He, give three good gifts to Israel in the future, as it is said, "For the Lord will give wisdom, out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding" (Prov. 2:6). It is not said, "The Lord has given wisdom." These three attributes will be given to King Messiah, as it is said, "And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord" (Isa. 11:2).