How did moses secure funds ?
A Midrash recounted how at first ( after the incident of the Golden Calf ) , God pronounced a decree against Aaron , as says , “ The Lord was very angry with Aaron to have destroyed ( , " le - hashmid " ) him . ” And Rabbi Joshua of Siknin taught in the name of Rabbi Levi that “ destruction ” ( , " hashmadah " ) means extinction of offspring , as in which says , “ And I destroyed ( , " va - ashmid " ) his fruit from above , and his roots from beneath . ” But , as Rabbi Joshua ben Levi taught , prayer effects half atonement .