Tehillim on the Parsha: Pekudei: The Dwelling of Your House

This is the meaning of the verse, “O God, I love the dwelling of Your house (Psalms 26:8).” This refers to the Sanctuary, which is directly opposite the place of the residence of Your glory.

Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: This tells us that the Sanctuary below was directly facing the Sanctuary of the world above, as it is stated, “A residence directly opposite, for Your dwelling place which You, God, made; the Sanctuary, my Master, which Your hands established “(Exodus 15:17).”

Rabbi Jacob the son of Rabbi Asi said: Why does it say, “O God, I love the dwelling of Your House, and the place of the residence of Your glory?” Because it is equal to the creation of the world, in what way?

Regarding the first day of creation it is written, “In the beginning of the Lord’s creating of the heaven and the earth,” and it is written, “He stretches the heavens as a curtain (Psalms 104:2).” And concerning the Mishkan what is written? “You shall make curtains of goats hair.”

Regarding the second day of creation it states, “There shall be a firmament.” And in reference to it, division or separation is mentioned, as it states, “and let it separate between water and water.” And concerning the Mishkan it is written, “The partition shall separate for you.”

Regarding the third day of creation it is written, “water,” for it is stated, “Let the waters be gathered.” And concerning the Mishkan it is written, “You shall make a basin of copper and its base of copper, and put water into it.”

Regarding the fourth day of creation He created the luminaries, as it is written, “Let there be luminaries in the firmament of the heaven.” And concerning the Mishkan it is written, “you shall make a Menorah of gold.”

On the fifth day He created the birds, as it is stated, “Let the waters swarm with swarming living creatures, and birds that fly.” And in the Mishkan, representing them, the offerings of lambs and birds. And concerning the Mishkan it states, “The Cherubim with wings spread about.”

On the sixth day, man was created, as it is stated, “the Lord created man in his image.” In honor of his creator. And in reference to the Mishkan it is written, “man” namely, the Cohen Gadol, who was anointed to serve and minister before God.

Concerning the seventh day it states, “The heavens and earth were completed.” And concerning the Mishkan it is written, “all the work was completed.”

Concerning the creation of the world it is written, “and the Lord blessed,” and concerning the Mishkan it is written, “Moses blessed them.”

Concerning the creation of the world it is written, “The Lord completed,” and concerning the Mishkan it is written, “It came to pass, on the day Moses completed.”

Concerning the creation of the world it is written, “He sanctified,” and concerning the Mishkan it is written, “He anointed and sanctified it.”

Why is the Mishkan equated to the creation of heaven and earth? For just as the heaven and the earth are witnesses dealing with Israel, as it is written, “Today, I call upon the heavens and earth as witnesses against you,” so too is the Mishkan a testimony for Israel, as it is stated, “These are the accounts of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of Testimony.” Hence it is stated, “O God, I love the dwelling of Your House, and the place of the residence of Your glory.”