The Clouds of Glory: Living in God’s Shelter

וַיְכַס הֶעָנָן אֶת־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וּכְבוֹד יְהֹוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַמִּשְׁכָּן׃

vai-KHAS he-a-NAN et-O-hel mo-ED u-KHO-vod a-do-NAI ma-LE et ha-mish-KAN

the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of Hashem filled the Mishkan.

וַיִּשְׁמַע אֶת־דִּבְרֵי בְנֵי־לָבָן לֵאמֹר לָקַח יַעֲקֹב אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ וּמֵאֲשֶׁר לְאָבִינוּ עָשָׂה אֵת כָּל־הַכָּבֹד הַזֶּה׃

vai-YISH-ma et di-VREI v’-NAY la-VAN lay-MOR: la-KAKH ya-a-KOV et kol a-SHER l’-a-VEE-nu, u-m’-a-SHER l’-a-VEE-nu a-SA et kol ha-ka-VOD ha-ZEH

Now he heard the things that Laban’s sons were saying: “Yaakov has taken all that was our father’s, and from that which was our father’s he has built up all this wealth.”

וְהִגַּדְתֶּם לְאָבִי אֶת־כָּל־כְּבוֹדִי בְּמִצְרַיִם וְאֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר רְאִיתֶם וּמִהַרְתֶּם וְהוֹרַדְתֶּם אֶת־אָבִי הֵנָּה׃

v’-hi-GAD-tem l’-a-VEE et-KOL-k’-vo-DEE b’-mitz-RA-yim v’-ET kol-a-SHER r’-ee-TEM u-mi-HAR-tem v’-ho-ra-D’-tem et-a-VEE he-Na

And you must tell my father everything about my high station in Egypt and all that you have seen; and bring my father here with all speed.”

וְעָשִׂיתָ בִגְדֵי־קֹדֶשׁ לְאַהֲרֹן אָחִיךָ לְכָבוֹד וּלְתִפְאָרֶת׃

v’-a-SEE-ta vig-day KO-desh l’-a-ha-RON a-KHEE-kha l’-kha-VOD ul-tif-A-ret

Make sacral vestments for your brother Aharon, for dignity and adornment.

וְעַתָּה בְּרַח־לְךָ אֶל־מְקוֹמֶךָ אָמַרְתִּי כַּבֵּד אֲכַבֶּדְךָ וְהִנֵּה מְנָעֲךָ יְהֹוָה מִכָּבוֹד׃

v’-a-TAH b’-RACH l’-KHA el m’-ko-ME-kha, a-MAR-tee ka-BAYD a-ka-BED-kha, v’-hi-NEH m’-na-A-kha a-do-NAI mi-ka-VO-d.

Back with you at once to your own place! I was going to reward you richly, but Hashem has denied you the reward.”

בְּסֹדָם אַל־תָּבֹא נַפְשִׁי בִּקְהָלָם אַל־תֵּחַד כְּבֹדִי כִּי בְאַפָּם הָרְגוּ אִישׁ וּבִרְצֹנָם עִקְּרוּ־שׁוֹר׃

b’-so-DAM al-ta-VO naf-SHEE, bik-ha-LAM al-t’-KHAD k’-vo-DEE, kee b’-a-PAHM ha-r’-GU EESH u-vir-TZO-nam ik-KE-ru-SHOR

Let not my person be included in their council, Let not my being be counted in their assembly. For when angry they slay men, And when pleased they maim oxen.

וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם מַסָּה וּמְרִיבָה עַל־רִיב בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל נַסֹּתָם אֶת־יְהֹוָה לֵאמֹר הֲיֵשׁ יְהֹוָה בְּקִרְבֵּנוּ אִם־אָיִן׃

va-yik-RA SHAYM ha-ma-KOM ma-SAH um-ree-VAH al REEV b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL v’-AL na-so-TAM et a-do-NAI lay-MOR ha-YAYSH a-do-NAI b’-kir-BAY-nu im A-yin

The place was named Massah and Meribah, because the Israelites quarreled and because they tried Hashem, saying, “Is Hashem present among us or not?”

וְאֶל־אֲצִילֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא שָׁלַח יָדוֹ וַיֶּחֱזוּ אֶת־הָאֱלֹהִים וַיֹּאכְלוּ וַיִּשְׁתּוּ׃

v’-el a-tzi-LEI b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL lo sha-LAKH ya-DO va-ye-KHE-zu et ha-e-lo-HEEM va-yo-KH’-lu va-yish-TOO. {s}

Yet He did not raise His hand against the leaders of the Israelites; they beheld Hashem, and they ate and drank.

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהֹוָה תַּעֲשׂוּ וְיֵרָא אֲלֵיכֶם כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה׃

vai-YO-mer mo-SHEH, ZEH ha-DA-var a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI ta-a-SU, v’-ye-RA a-LE-khem k’-VOD a-do-NAI.

Moshe said: “This is what Hashem has commanded that you do, that the Presence of Hashem may appear to you.”

וַיֹּאמְרוּ כָּל־הָעֵדָה לִרְגּוֹם אֹתָם בָּאֲבָנִים וּכְבוֹד יְהֹוָה נִרְאָה בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל׃

va-YO-meru kol-ha-E-da li-r’-GOM o-TAM ba-a-va-NEEM u-ko-VOD a-do-NAI nir-AH b’-o-HEL mo-ED el kol b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL. {P}

As the whole community threatened to pelt them with stones, the Presence of Hashem appeared in the Tent of Meeting to all the Israelites.

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן מִפְּנֵי הַקָּהָל אֶל־פֶּתַח אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַיִּפְּלוּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶם וַיֵּרָא כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָה אֲלֵיהֶם׃

vai-YA-vo MO-sheh v’-a-ha-RON mi-p’-NAY ha-ka-HAL el pe-TAKH o-HEL mo-ED va-yi-p’-LU al p’-NE-hem va-YAY-ra k’-vod a-do-NAI a-lay-HEM

Moshe and Aharon came away from the congregation to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces. The Presence of Hashem appeared to them,

וַתֹּאמְרוּ הֵן הֶרְאָנוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת־כְּבֹדוֹ וְאֶת־גָּדְלוֹ וְאֶת־קֹלוֹ שָׁמַעְנוּ מִתּוֹךְ הָאֵשׁ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה רָאִינוּ כִּי־יְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת־הָאָדָם וָחָי׃

va-to-M’-RU, HAYN her-a-NU a-do-NAI e-lo-HAY-nu et k’-vo-DO v’-et g’-DO-lo v’-et KO-lo sha-MA-nu mi-TOCH ha-AYSH, ha-YOM ha-ZEH ra-EE-nu, kee y’-da-BAYR e-lo-HEEM et ha-a-DAM va-KHAI

and said, “Hashem our God has just shown us His majestic Presence, and we have heard His voice out of the fire; we have seen this day that man may live though Hashem has spoken to him.

וַיְהִי כְּדַבֵּר אַהֲרֹן אֶל־כָּל־עֲדַת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵל וַיִּפְנוּ אֶל־הַמִּדְבָּר וְהִנֵּה כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה נִרְאָה בֶּעָנָן׃

vai-YA-hee k’-da-BAYR a-ha-RON el kol a-dat b’-NAY yis-ra-AYL va-yif-NU el ha-mid-BAR v’-hi-NEH k’-VOD a-do-NAI nir-AH b’-a-NAHN. {P}

And as Aharon spoke to the whole Israelite community, they turned toward the wilderness, and there, in a cloud, appeared the Presence of Hashem.

וַיְהִי בְּהִקָּהֵל הָעֵדָה עַל־מֹשֶׁה וְעַל־אַהֲרֹן וַיִּפְנוּ אֶל־אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וְהִנֵּה כִסָּהוּ הֶעָנָן וַיֵּרָא כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה׃

vai-HI b’-hi-ka-HAYL ha-E-da al mo-SHE v’-al a-ha-RON, va-yif-NU el o-HAYL mo-ED, v’-hi-NEH ki-SA-hu he-a-NAHN, va-YAY-ra k’-VOD a-do-NAI.

But as the community gathered against them, Moshe and Aharon turned toward the Tent of Meeting; the cloud had covered it and the Presence of Hashem appeared.

וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּה יְהֹוָה תַּעֲשׂוּ וְיֵרָא אֲלֵיכֶם כְּבוֹד יְהֹוָה׃

vai-YO-mer mo-SHEH, ZEH ha-DA-var a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI ta-a-SU, v’-ye-RA a-LE-khem k’-VOD a-do-NAI.

Moshe said: “This is what Hashem has commanded that you do, that the Presence of Hashem may appear to you.”

וּבְהֵעָלוֹת הֶעָנָן מֵעַל הַמִּשְׁכָּן יִסְעוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכֹל מַסְעֵיהֶם׃

u-v’-he-a-LOT he-a-NAN may-AL ha-mish-KAN yis-U v’-nay yis-ra-AYL b’-KOL mas-EY-hem

When the cloud lifted from the Mishkan, the Israelites would set out, on their various journeys;

וְאִם־לֹא יֵעָלֶה הֶעָנָן וְלֹא יִסְעוּ עַד־יוֹם הֵעָלֹתוֹ׃

v’-im-LO ye-A-leh he-a-NAN, v’-LO yis-U ad-YOM he-a-LO-to

but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such time as it did lift.

כִּי עֲנַן יְהֹוָה עַל־הַמִּשְׁכָּן יוֹמָם וְאֵשׁ תִּהְיֶה לַיְלָה בּוֹ לְעֵינֵי כָל־בֵּית־יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל־מַסְעֵיהֶם׃

KEE a-NAN a-do-NAI al ha-mish-KAN yo-MAM v’-AYSH tih-YEH LAI-lah bo l’-ay-NAY khol bayt yis-ra-AYL b’-KHOL mas-ay-HEM

For over the Mishkan a cloud of Hashem rested by day, and fire would appear in it by night, in the view of all the house of Yisrael throughout their journeys.

וַיְהִי בְּצֵאת הַכֹּהֲנִים מִן־הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֶעָנָן מָלֵא אֶת־בֵּית יְהֹוָה׃

vai-HI b’-tze-AT ha-ko-ha-NEEM min ha-ko-DESH v’-he-a-NAHN ma-LE et bAYT a-do-NAI

When the Kohanim came out of the sanctuary—for the cloud had filled the House of Hashem

וְלֹא־יָכְלוּ הַכֹּהֲנִים לַעֲמֹד לְשָׁרֵת מִפְּנֵי הֶעָנָן כִּי־מָלֵא כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָה אֶת־בֵּית יְהֹוָה׃

v’-LO ya-KH’-lu ha-ko-HA-neem la-a-MOD le-sha-RET mi-p’-NAY he-a-NAN, KEE-ma-LAY k’-vod a-do-NAI et-BAYT a-do-NAI. {P}

and the Kohanim were not able to remain and perform the service because of the cloud, for the Presence of Hashem filled the House of Hashem

וּכְכַלּוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְהָאֵשׁ יָרְדָה מֵהַשָּׁמַיִם וַתֹּאכַל הָעֹלָה וְהַזְּבָחִים וּכְבוֹד יְהֹוָה מָלֵא אֶת־הַבָּיִת׃

u-k’-kha-LOT sh’-lo-MO l’-hit-pa-LAYL, va-ha-AYSH ya-RE-da me-ha-sha-MA-yim, va-TOKH-al ha-o-LAH v’-ha-z’-va-KHEEM, u-k’-VOD a-do-NAI ma-LAY et ha-ba-YIT

When Shlomo finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of Hashem filled the House.

וַיֹּאמֶר יְהֹוָה אֶל־מֹשֶׁה הֵן קָרְבוּ יָמֶיךָ לָמוּת קְרָא אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ וְהִתְיַצְּבוּ בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד וַאֲצַוֶּנּוּ וַיֵּלֶךְ מֹשֶׁה וִיהוֹשֻׁעַ וַיִּתְיַצְּבוּ בְּאֹהֶל מוֹעֵד׃

vai-YO-mer a-do-NAI el mo-SHE: HAYN ko-RE-vu ya-ME-kha la-MUT, k’-RA et y’-ho-SHU-a v’-hi-t’-yat-Z’-VU b’-o-HEL mo-ED, va-a-tza-VE-nu, vai-YE-lekh mo-SHE v’-yo-SHU-a, vai-yi-t’-yat-Z’-VU b’-o-HEL mo-ED

Hashem said to Moshe: The time is drawing near for you to die. Call Yehoshua and present yourselves in the Tent of Meeting, that I may instruct him. Moshe and Yehoshua went and presented themselves in the Tent of Meeting.

וַיֵּרָא יְהֹוָה בָּאֹהֶל בְּעַמּוּד עָנָן וַיַּעֲמֹד עַמּוּד הֶעָנָן עַל־פֶּתַח הָאֹהֶל׃

vai-YAY-ra a-do-NAI ba-O-HEL b’-a-MUD a-NAHN, va-YA-a-MOD a-MUD he-a-NAHN al pe-TAKH ha-O-HEL.

Hashem appeared in the Tent, in a pillar of cloud, the pillar of cloud having come to rest at the entrance of the tent.

וּבָרָא יְהֹוָה עַל כָּל־מְכוֹן הַר־צִיּוֹן וְעַל־מִקְרָאֶהָ עָנָן יוֹמָם וְעָשָׁן וְנֹגַהּ אֵשׁ לֶהָבָה לָיְלָה כִּי עַל־כָּל־כָּבוֹד חֻפָּה׃

u-va-RA a-do-NAI al kol m’-KHON ha-RETZ v’-al mik-ra-E-ha a-NA-n YO-mam v’-a-SHAN v’-NO-gah AYSH le-ha-VAH la-y’-LAH, kee al kol ka-VOD khu-PAH.

Hashem will create over the whole shrine and meeting place of Mount Tzion cloud by day and smoke with a glow of flaming fire by night. Indeed, over all the glory shall hang a canopy,

וְסֻכָּה תִּהְיֶה לְצֵל־יוֹמָם מֵחֹרֶב וּלְמַחְסֶה וּלְמִסְתּוֹר מִזֶּרֶם וּמִמָּטָר׃

v’-su-KAH ti-HE-yeh l’-tzel yo-MAM me-KHO-rev u-l’-makh-SEH u-l’-mis-TOHR mi-ZE-rem u-mi-MA-tar. {P}

which shall serve as a pavilion for shade from heat by day and as a shelter for protection against drenching rain.