[(Exod. 29:1): AND THIS IS THE THING….] This text is related (to Ps. 119:89): FOREVER, O LORD, DOES YOUR WORD STAND FIRM IN THE HEAVENS.³⁵., Exod. 8:12; Exod. R. 38:6. R. Berekhyah the Priest said: From time immemorial you have treated us with the measure of mercy.³⁶ 40:2. When? When our father Abraham was cast into the fiery furnace, the angels quarreled with each other.³⁷ Michael said: I am going down to rescue him,³⁸ but Gabriel said: I am going down and rescue him.³⁹. 118a. The Holy One said: I am going down in my glory to rescue him, as stated (in Gen. 15:7): I AM THE LORD WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT FROM UR OF THE CHALDEES…. He said to them (the angels): You shall rescue his children's children. When Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah descended into the fiery furnace, the angel went down to rescue them.⁴⁰. 118ab; PR 35:2; M. Pss. 117:3, according to which the angel was Gabriel. Then the angels said (in Ps. 119:89–90): FOREVER, O LORD, DOES YOUR WORD STAND FIRM IN THE HEAVENS…. YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THE EARTH AND IT STANDS FIRM. You are the foundation of the world.

footnotes: ³⁵ Tanh ³⁶ Cf. PR ³⁷ Exod. R. 18:5. ³⁸ Cf. Gen. R. 44:13. ³⁹ Pes ⁴⁰ See Deut. R. 1:12; cf. Pes

Another interpretation (of Ps. 119:90): AND YOU STAND FIRM.⁴¹ You stand firm by your word. By which word? By the word which you spoke to Aaron, that you would establish⁴². On this reading, see above, note 32. the priesthood by his hand.

footnotes: ⁴¹ Here the midrash assumes this alternate translation of the verse. ⁴² NTBSSH