"Honor pursues him who tries to escape it." Moses in his humility felt
that his mission as leader of the people ended with the erection of the
Tabernacle, as Israel could now satisfy all their spiritual needs
without his aid. But God said: "As truly as thou livest, I have for
thee a far greater task than any thou hast yet accomplished, for thou
shalt instruct My children about 'clean and unclean,' and shalt teach
them how to offer up offerings to Me." God hereupon called Moses to the
Tabernacle, to reveal to him there the laws and teachings. [404] Moses
in his humility did not dare to enter the Tabernacle, so that God had
to summon him to enter. Moses, however, could not enter the sanctuary
while a cloud was upon it, this being a sign "that the demons held
sway," but waited until the cloud had moved on. The voice that called
Moses came from heaven in the form of a tube of fire and rested over
the two Cherubim, whence Moses perceived its sound. This voice was a
powerful as at the revelation at Sinai when the souls of all Israel
escaped in terror, still it was audible to none but Moses. Not even the
angels heard it, for the words of God were destined exclusively for
Moses. Aaron, too, with the exception of three cases in which God
revealed Himself to him, never received His commands except through the
communications of Moses. God would call Moses twice caressingly words
by name, and when he had answered, "Here am I," God's words were
revealed to him, and every commandment as a special revelation. God
always allowed a pause to take place between the different laws to be
imparted, that Moses might have time rightly to grasp what was told
him. [405]
On the first day of the dedication of the Tabernacle, not lest than
eight important sections of laws were communicated to Moses by God.
[406] As a reward for his piety, Aaron and his descendants to all
eternity received the laws of sanctity, which are a special distinction
of the priests, [407] and these laws were revealed on this day. It was
on this day, also, that Aaron and his sons received the gifts of the
priests, for although even at the revelation on Sinai Israel had set
them aside, still they were not given to Aaron and his sons until this
day when the sanctuary was anointed. [408]
The second law revealed on this day was the separation of the Levites
from among the children of Israel, that they might be dedicated to the
sanctuary. "For God elevated no man to an office unless He has tried
him and found him worthy of his calling." He did not say, "and the
Levites shall be Mine," before He had tried this tribe, and found them
worthy. In Egypt none but the tribe of Levi observed the Torah and
clung to the token of the Abrahamic covenant, while the others tribes,
abandoning both Torah and token of covenant, like the Egyptians,
practiced idolatry. In the desert, also, it was this tribe alone that
did not take part in the worship of the Golden Calf. Justly, therefore,
did God's choice fall upon this godly tribe, who on this day were
consecrated as the servants of God and His sanctuary. [409]
The ceremonies connected with the consecration of the Levites had much
in common with the regulations for cleansing of lepers. Originally, the
firstborn had been the servants of the sanctuary, but, owing to the
worship of the Golden Calf, they lost this prerogative, and the Levites
replaced them. It was for this reason that the Levites were obliged to
observe regulations similar to those for the cleansing of lepers,
because they took the place of men who by their sins had defiled
themselves. The offerings that the Levites brought on this occasion
consisted of two bullocks, on for a burnt offering whenever the
congregation, seduced by others, commits idolatry; and Israel would not
have worshipped the Golden Calf had not the mixed multitude misled
them. "But whosoever worships an idol, by this act renounces the whole
Torah," hence did the Levites have to offer up another bullock for a
sin offering, in accordance with the law that "if the whole
congregation of Israel have done somewhat against any of the
commandments of the Lord concerning things which should not be done,
and are guilty, then they shall offer up a young bullock for the sin."
As the Levites had been chosen "to do the service of the children of
Israel in the Tabernacle of the congregation, and to make an atonement
for the children of Israel," God ordered all the congregation of Israel
to be present at the consecration of the Levites, for whosoever had a
sin offering up for himself must in person bring it to the Tabernacle.
Therefore, too, did the elders of Israel have to put their hands upon
the Levites, according to the prescription that the elders must put
their hands upon the sin of the congregation. Aaron, like the elders,
participated in the ceremony of the consecration, lifting up every
single Levite as a token that he was now dedicated to the sanctuary.
[410] Aaron's extraordinary strength is proven by the fact that he was
able to lift up twenty-tow thousand men in one day. [411]