Midrasch zu Nachum 1:4

(Ib. b) R. Oshia said: "At the time when Solomon built the Temple, he planted there all kinds of golden fruit trees, and they bore fruit at proper times; and whenever the wind blew on them, they fell down ripe, as it is said (Ps. 72, 16) Its fruits shall shake like the trees of Lebanon. And when the heathens had entered the Temple, the fruit-trees became withered, as it is said (Nahum 1, 4) The flowers of Lebanon wither. In the future the Holy One, praised be He! will restore them, as it is said (Is. 35, 2) It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice; yea, with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it.

R. Zutra b. Tubia in the name of Rab said: "With ten things the world was created: Wisdom and understanding; knowledge and strength; rebuke and might; righteousness and justice; mercy and compassion." That it was created with wisdom and understanding we infer from the following passage (Ib. 3, 19) The Lord hath through wisdom founded the earth; He hath established the heavens through understanding. But how will the two passages [of width and height] he explained? The height and the width hold the same measure. By knowledge, as it is written (Ib. 13, 20) By his knowledge were the depths split; by power and strength, as it is written (Ps. 65, 7) Who setteth firmly the mountains with His power, who is girded with might; by rebuke, as it is written (Job 26, 11) The pillars of heaven tremble, and are astounded at His rebuke; by righteousness and Justice, as it is written (Ps. 89, 15) Righteousness and Justice are the prop of Thy throne; by mercy and compassion, as it is written (Ib. 25, 6) Remember Thy mercies, O Lord, and Thy kindness; for they are from everlasting. R Juda in the name of Rab said: "When the Holy One, praised be He! created the world, it went spreading on like two clews of shoot and warp, until the Holy One, praised be He! rebuked it and brought it to a standstill, as it is said (Job 26, 11) The pillars of heaven tremble and are astounded at His rebuke." And this is also the interpretation of Resh Lakish: "What is the meaning of the passage (Gen. 17, 1) I am the Almighty God (Shadye). This means: "I, who said to My world, Dye (enough)." Resh Lakish said again: "When the Holy One, praised be He! created the sea, it went spreading on, until the Holy One, praised be He! rebuked it and made it dry, as it is said (Nah. 1, 4) He rebuketh the sea and maketh it dry; and all the rivers He dried up."

R. Isaac b. Tubia said in the name of Rab: "Why is the Temple called Lebanon? Because it cleanses the sin of Israel." R. Zutra said: "Why is the Temple called Ya'ar (forest), as it is written (I Kings 10, 17) … and the King put the in the house of the forest of Lebanon? Just as the forest produces sprouts, so does the Temple produce sprouts; for R. Oshiya said (Ib. b.): 'At the time when Solomon built the Temple, he planted there all kinds of golden fruit-trees, and they bore fruit at proper times; and whenever the wind blew on them, they fell down ripe, as it is said (Ps. 72, 16) Its fruits shall shake like the trees of Lebanon. And this served as a support for the priests, but when the heathens had entered the Temple, the fruit-trees became withered, as it is said (Nahum 1, 4) The flowers of Lebanon wither. In the future the Holy One, praised be He! will restore them, as it is said (Is. 35, 2) It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice; yea, with joy and singing, the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it.' "