"This can be illustrated by a parable. It can be compared to a king who had an only daughter. One of the other kings came and took her as a wife. Subsequently, he sought to return to his land and to take his wife with him. The father-in-law king said to him, 'My daughter whom I have given you is an only daughter, thus I am unable to part from her. But I am equally unable to tell you, Do not take her to your land. Rather, do this favor for me: Any place that you go, prepare a room for me so that I may dwell near you. For I am unable to leave my daughter.
"So too, did
the Holy One, blessed is He, say to Israel, 'I have given you the Torah.
I am unable to part from it, but I am also unable to tell you, Do not
take it. Rather, do this favor for Me: Any place that you go, prepare a
house for Me that I may dwell therein.' As it is stated, 'They shall
make for me a Sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them' (Exodus 25:8)."
-- Midrash Rabbah Shemot, 33.1
-- Midrash Rabbah Shemot, 33.1
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