Aleph Dalet Nun

 אַדְנֵי

As I was reading today's aliyah, I found this word in Verse 19 of Sh'mot Chapter 26 - and in following verses - referring to the silver sockets that the boards of the Mishqan rested in. 

    I was immediately struck by the fact that these are the very letters we use in one of God's Names. Adonai.

    I could not find any commentary on this, but the dictionary says the following:

אֶדֶן - base, pedestal, socket (strong, firm).

           pedestals of gold on which marble pillars were set.

           pedestals of the earth, foundation of the earth.

           pedestals, bases, or sockets on which tabernacle stood.

Pedestals of the earth on which its pillars were placed Jb 38:6 (corner-stone).

    So when we call God, Lord of the whole earth - אֲדוֹן כָּל־הָאָרֶץ - what are we really saying? What are we really calling Him?

    The One Who holds everything up, Who supports everything that is built. Like the humble silver sockets on the ground and in the dirt that held up the entire Mishqan!

    He IS the foundation of the Earth. He IS the strong base of the pillars of the Earth. He IS the cornerstone of the Earth.

    Colossians 1:17 echoes the Spirit of the Messiah hovering over the waters at Creation:

"And He Himself existed and is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. [He is the controlling, cohesive force of the universe.]"

    "LORD" then, is a much more meaningful and descriptive word than I ever imagined. It conveys such solid strength, dependability and durability. The Rock upon which we stand and live.

Amein v'Amein!