usable for no work," and thus surely it is logical to argue, "How much less, when the fire has devoured it, and it is singed?" The Mishnah cited for the proposition that Providence treats a person measure for measure as that person treats others. And so because, as relates, Miriam waited for the baby Moses in the Nile, so the Israelites waited seven days for Miriam in the wilderness in . In medieval Jewish interpretation The parashah is discussed in these medieval Jewish sources: Numbers chapter 8 Reading , "the seven lamps shall give light in front of the Menorah," Rashbam differed with the Midrash (see "In classical rabbinic interpretation" above) and taught that Aaron would tilt the seven lamps so as to cast light upon the table. Reading the report of , "according to the pattern that the Lord had shown Moses, so He made the Menorah," Naḥmanides reported a Midrash interpreting the word "He" to refer to God, indicating that God made the Menorah without human intervention. Rashi read the instruction of , "sprinkle the water of purification upon them," to refer to the water mixture made with the ashes of the red cow described in . Rashi taught that they had to undergo this sprinkling to purify those of them who had become ritually impure because of contact with the dead. And Rashi reported an interpretation by Rabbi Moses HaDarshan (the preacher) that since the Levites were submitted in atonement for the firstborn who had practiced idolatry when they worshipped the Golden Calf (in ), and calls idol worship "sacrifices to the dead," and in Moses called one afflicted with skin disease (, tzara'at) "as one dead," and required those afflicted with skin disease to shave, therefore God required the Levites too to shave. Reading the instruction of with regard to the Levites, "and let them cause a razor to pass over all their flesh," Ibn Ezra taught that they did not shave the corners of their beards (so as not to violate ). Rashi explained that in , God required the people to bring a young bull as an offering, because required such an offering to make atonement when the community had committed idolatry (and they were atoning for the sin of the Golden Calf). And Rashi explained that in , God instructed the Israelites to stand and rest their hands on the Levites because the