Midrash
Midrash Tanchuma (Buber), Beha'alotcha 8 מדרש תנחומא (בובר), בהעלותך ח׳
Part of: Siman 8
Reading: Hebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlyHebrew · Simple EnglishHebrew · Faithful translationHebrew onlySimple English onlyFaithful translation onlySide by side
ד"א אל מול פני המנורה. בשר ודם מדליק נר מנר דולק, שמא יכול להדליק נר מתוך החשך, והקב"ה האיר נר מתוך החשך, שנאמר וחשך על פני תהום (בראשית א ב), מה כתיב אחריו, ויאמר אלהים יהי אור (שם שם ג), ומתוך החשך הוצאתי אורה, ואני צריך לאור שלכם, ולמה אמר, אלא בשביל לעלותכם להעלות נר תמיד.
Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2 cont.): IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH. Flesh and blood lights a lamp from a burning lamp. Could one <ever> light a lamp from the darkness? The Holy One, however, did make a lamp give light from the darkness, as stated (in Gen. 1:2): WITH DARKNESS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. What is written after that (in vs. 3)? THEN GOD SAID: LET THERE BE LIGHT. Since I have brought light out of the darkness, do I have need for your light? So why did he say <to light lamps>? Simply for the sake of your exaltation (rt.: 'LH), (in the words of Exod. 27:20) TO SET UP (rt.: 'LH) AN EVERBURNING LAMP.
Another interpretation (of Numb. 8:2 cont.): IN FRONT OF THE MENORAH. Flesh and blood lights a lamp from a burning lamp. Could one <ever> light a lamp from the darkness? The Holy One, however, did make a lamp give light from the darkness, as stated (in Gen. 1:2): WITH DARKNESS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP. What is written after that (in vs. 3)? THEN GOD SAID: LET THERE BE LIGHT. Since I have brought light out of the darkness, do I have need for your light? So why did he say <to light lamps>? Simply for the sake of your exaltation (rt.: 'LH), (in the words of Exod. 27:20) TO SET UP (rt.: 'LH) AN EVERBURNING LAMP.