Midrasch zu Tehillim 89:8

The Holy One of Blessing is High and Exalted, His throne is [also] High and Exalted. And from where do we know that the Holy One of Blessing is called "High and Exalted"? From (Isa. 57:15) "This is what [Ad-nai] High and exalted said". And from whre do we know that even His throne is High and Exalted? From (Isa. 6:1) "And I saw my Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne" etc. The Holy One of Blessing is called Justice as it says "I, Ad-nai, am the Speaker of Justice" (Isa. 45:19) - and from where do we know that even His throne is called Justice? From "Justice and Judgment are the foundation of Your throne" (Ps. 89:15)The Holy One of Blessing is called Judgment as it says "because a God of Judgment is Ad-nai" (Isa. 30:18) and even His throne is called Judgment, as it says "from there were sat thrones of Judgement (Ps. 122:5).The Holy One of Blessing is called Truth as it says "Ad-nai is a God of Truth" (Jer. 10:10) and even His throne is called Truth, as it says "And he readied in Lovingkindness a throne, and sits there in Truth (Isa. 16:5). The Holy One of Blessing is called Glory as it says "May the King of Glory enter" (Ps. 24:7) and even His throne is called Glory, as it says "A throne of Glory, high from the beginning" (Jer. 17:12). May the King of Glory come and sit on the Throne of Glory, in the Temple of Glory as it is said "and in His Temple everything says 'Glory!'" (Ps.29:9) The Holy One of Blessing is called Holy as it says "Holy, holy Holy is Ad-nai Tzevaot, the whole earth is filled with His Glory" (Isa. 6:3) and even His throne is called Holy, as it says "God sat on His throne of Holiness (Ps. 47:9). May the King of Holiness come and sit on the Throne of Holiness, in the great secret of holy ones, as it is said: “A God dreaded in the great secret of the holy ones” (Ps. 89:8). - How many thrones the Holy One of Blessing has!He has an Established throne, as it says "Your throne has been established ever since time" (Ps. 93:2). He has a throne of Justice and Judgment, as it says "Justice and Judgement are the foundation of Your throne" (Ps. 89:15). He has a throne of Lovingkindness, as it says "He readied in Lovingkindness a throne" (Isa. 16:5). He has a Throne of Yah, as it says "because there is a hand against the throne of Yah" (Ex. 17:16). He has a throne of Glory, as it says "a throne of Glory high from the beginning " (Jer. 17:12). He has a throne of Truth, as it says "He readied in Lovingkindness a throne and sits there in Truth" (Isa. 16:5). He has a Holy throne, as it says "God sat on his throne of Holiness"(Ps. 47:9). He has an eternal throne, as it says "Your throne, oh God is forever and ever"(Ps. 45:7). He has a throne of Mercy, as it says "To our Lord belongs Mercy and Forgivenesses" (Daniel 9:9). He has a throne of Sovereignty, as it says "and Sovereignty shall be Ad-nai's"(Obadiah 1:21). He has a High and Exalted throne, as it says "And I saw my Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne" (Isa. 6:1). May the High and Exalted King sit on the High and Exalted throne, blessed, and exalted, and higher than any blessing and praise.

That is what is written: “Say to God: How awesome are Your works” (Psalms 66:3). How terrifying are Your wonders. [Those slated to be] killed, kill those who would be their killers, and [those slated to be] hanged, hang those who would hang them. [Those who would be] drowned in the sea, drown those who would have drowned them. So it is, “In the greatness of Your power Your enemies cringe before You” (Psalms 66:3).
You find the benevolent qualities of the Holy One blessed be He are abundant, lasting, and of superior quality.¹⁵The translation of these terms is in accordance with the interpretation of the Etz Yosef. The term abundance in the continuation of the midrash refers to all of the characteristics mentioned here. Benevolence in abundance, kindness in abundance, mercy in abundance, righteousness in abundance, faithfulness in abundance, redemption in abundance, blessing in abundance, praise in abundance, peace in abundance. Benevolence in abundance, as it says: “How abundant is Your benevolence that You have set aside for those who revere You” (Psalms 31:20). Kindness in abundance, as it says: “And abundant in kindness and truth” (Exodus 34:6). Mercy in abundance, as it says: “Your mercy is abundant, O Lord” (Psalms 119:156). Righteousness in abundance, as it says: “And justice and abundant righteousness” (Job 37:23). Faithfulness in abundance, as it says: “New every morning, Your faithfulness is abundant” (Lamentations 3:23). Your redemption is abundant, as it says: “Israel will implore the Lord, for kindness is with the Lord and His redemption is abundant” (Psalms 130:7). Blessing in abundance, as it says: “I will pour out upon you blessing without limit [beli dai]” (Malachi 3:10). What is “without limit” [beli dai]? Until your lips will wear out [yivlu] from saying enough [dai]. Praise in abundance [raba] as it says: “A God dreaded in the great [raba] council of the holy, awesome to all around Him” (Psalms 89:8). And it is written: “How abundant are your works O Lord, You perform them all with wisdom, the earth is full of Your creations” (Psalms 104:24). Peace in abundance, as it says: “All your children will be disciples of the Lord and abundant will be your children’s peace” (Isaiah 54:13). Do not read “your children” [banayikh] but rather “your builders” [bonayikh].¹⁶ “Builders” is understood to refer Torah scholars who build up the world through their teachings. “May there be peace within your walls and tranquility in your palaces. For the sake of my brothers and companions I will say: Peace be with you. For the sake of the house of Lord our God, I will seek your good” (Psalms 122:7–9). “May you see children of your children, peace upon Israel” (Psalms 129:6). “Abundant peace to those who love Your Torah and may they not falter” (Psalms 119:165). May the Lord give might to His people; May the Lord bless his people with peace” (Psalms 29:11).
Midrash Esther is complete.
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(Exodus 15:11) "Who is like You among the mighty": Once Israel saw that Pharaoh and his hosts were lost in the Red Sea, and the rule of Egypt had been abolished and idolatry had been castigated, they all opened their mouths and said "Who is like You among the mighty." And not only did Israel alone break out in song. But all the peoples — When they heard that Pharaoh and his hosts had been lost in the sea and their rule had been abolished, and their idolatry had been castigated — all of them rejected their idolatry and opened their mouths and said "Who is like you among the mighty, etc." And thus do you find to be the lot of idolatry — that the peoples of the world are destined to reject it, viz. (Jeremiah 16:19) "The L rd is my strength and my stronghold and my refuge on the day of affliction … (20) Can a man make gods for himself, etc.", (Isaiah 2:20) "On that day a man will throw away his false gods … (21) to enter the clefts of rocks (in fear of retribution), etc.", (Ibid. 18) "and the false gods will perish completely." Variantly: "Who is like You among the mighty, O L rd": Who is like You in the miracles and wonders that You wrought for us upon the sea, viz. (Psalms 106:22) "… awesome deeds upon the Red Sea" — (Ibid. 9) "He roared at the Red Sea and it dried up." Variantly: "Who is like You bailmim" ("among the mute"). You hear the defamation of Your children and You remain silent, viz. (Isaiah 42:14) "I have ever been silent; I have been still; I have restrained Myself. (But now) I will scream as a woman giving birth. I will throb and lust (to destroy all My foes) together." In the past I was silent and restrained. From now on I will scream. (Ibid. 15-16) "I will lay waste the mountains and the hills, and I will dry up all their grass, and I will render the rivers islands, and I will dry up the pools. And I shall lead the blind in a way they did not know. In roads they did not know shall I lead them. I shall make the darkness into light before them, and the crooked paths into straight paths." Variantly: "Who is like You among the mighty": Who is like You among those who minister before You on high, viz. (Psalms 89:7) "Who in the heavens can be likened to the L rd?" (Ibid. 8) "a G d who is dreaded in the great council of the holy ones (the angels) … (9) O L rd, G d of hosts, who is like You? Mighty is the L rd." Variantly: Who is like You ("ba'eilim") among those who call themselves gods? Pharaoh called himself a god, viz. (Ezekiel 29:3) "Mine is my river (the Nile), and I have made it." And thus, Sancherev, viz. (II Kings 18:35) "Who among all the gods of the lands (saved their land from my hand, etc.")? And thus Nevuchadnezzar, viz. (Isaiah 14:14) "I shall mount the heights of a cloud; I shall liken myself to the Most High!" And thus, Negid Tzor, viz. (Ezekiel 28:2-3) "Say to Negid Tzor: Because your heart has grown proud and you have said: I am a god, etc." Variantly: Who is like You among those whom others call "gods" and who are without substance, those of whom it is written (Psalms 115:5) "hey have a mouth but cannot speak, etc." But the Holy One Blessed be He says two things in one pronouncement, something that a man cannot do, viz. (Ibid. 62:12) "One (pronouncement) has G d spoken; these two (things) have I heard." (Jeremiah 23:29) "Is My word not like fire, says the L rd, and like a hammer shattering rock?" And it is written (Iyyov 37:2) "And a word shall come forth from His mouth, etc."

(Exodus, Ibid.) ("too) awesome to praise": Not (only) in the present, but (also) of yore. Variantly: "awesome in praise": The measure of flesh and blood — A man's awe is more upon those who are distant from him than upon those who are near him. Not so, the Holy One Blessed be He. His awe is more upon those near to Him than upon those distant from Him, viz. (Leviticus 10:3) "Among those near to Me will I be sanctified", and (Psalms 50:3) "and those around Him were greatly shaken", and (Ibid. 89:8) "He is awesome upon all around Him", and (Ibid. 9) "O L rd, G d of hosts, who, like You, is mighty, O L rd? Your faith is (upon all) who surround You." The measure of flesh and blood — When one man works for another — plowing with him, sowing with him, weeding with him, hoeing with him — the other gives him a single coin and he goes on his way. Not so, the Holy One Blessed be He. If a man desires children, He gives him children, viz. (Psalms 127:3) "The inheritance of the L rd is children." If he desires wisdom, He gives it to him, viz. (Mishlei 2:6) "for the L rd gives wisdom." If he desires attainments, He gives them to him, viz. (I Chronicles 29:12) "Wealth and honor (come) from before You." The measure of flesh and blood — First he builds the lower; then the higher. But the Holy One Blessed be He — First He builds the higher; then the lower, viz. (Genesis 1:1) "In the beginning G d created the heavens, (and then) the earth." The measure of flesh and blood — he roofs (his chambers) with wood, earth, and stones. But the Holy One Blessed be He roofs His world with water, viz. (Psalms 104:3) "He roofs His upper (chambers) with water, etc." The measure of flesh and blood — he cannot make a form from water. But the Holy One Blessed be He does make a form from water, viz. (Genesis 1:20) "Let the waters bring forth swarms of living creatures, etc." The measure of flesh and blood — he cannot make a form from earth. But the Holy One Blessed be He does make a form from earth, viz. (Psalms 139:15) "I was wrought in secrecy, knit together in the recesses of the earth, etc." The measure of flesh and blood — When he comes to make a figure, he begins from the head or from one of the limbs, and then completes it. But the Holy One Blessed be He forms all as one, viz. (Jeremiah 10:16) "For He is the former of all." And it is written (I Samuel 2:2) "There is no rock ("tzur") like our G d" — There is no artist ("tzayar") like our G d. The measure of flesh and blood — he goes to an artisan and tells him: Make me a figure of my father, and he says: Let your father come and pose for me or bring me a likeness of him and I will do so. Not so, the Holy One Blessed be He. He gives a man a son from a drop of water — and it is like the likeness of his father!

4 Rabbi Yoshayah opened [his discourse]: "Happy is the people who know the joyful blow; O Lord, they walk in the light of Your presence" (Psalms 89:16). Rabbi Abahu explained the Scripture [here] to be about the five elders that convene to make the year a leap year. What does the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He leaves His court above and descends and contracts His Divine Presence among them below. The ministering angels [then] say, "Where is the mighty One, where is the mighty One? Where is God, where is God - the One about whom it is written (Psalms 89:8), 'God who is lauded in the council of great holy ones,' leaves His court and contracts His Divine Presence among them below?" Why so much? So that if they err in a matter of law, the Holy One, blessed be He, enlightens their faces [to correct it]. This is [the understanding] of "they walk in the light of Your presence." Rabbi Yoshayah said, "It is written, 'Happy is the people who know the joyful blow.' And do the nations of the world not know how to blow? How many horns, and bugles and trumpets do they have? And you said, 'Happy is the people who know the joyful blow?' Rather it is that they know how to sway their Creator with the blow; and He stands up from His Throne of judgement and [moves] to the Throne of mercy and is filled up with mercy upon them. Then He reverses His attribute of judgement to the attribute of mercy. When? In the seventh month.

Rabbi Jehudah said: On Sabbath and New Moons Israel stood there, (and they perceived) that the Sabbath day had come, and they sanctified the Sabbath day; and so also on the New Moons the Israelites were standing there and saw the doors opening by themselves, and they knew that in that hour it was New Moon, and they sanctified the New Moon, and afterwards (this was done) among the heavenly ones. Therefore Israel sanctifies the New Moons first in the lower regions (on earth) and afterwards (it is sanctified) in the heavenly regions, because they have defined the beginning of the Molad of the Moon in the presence of Israel, who saw the doors open by themselves, and they knew that the Shekhinah of the Holy One, blessed be He (was therein), as it is said, "For the Lord, the God of Israel, hath entered in by it" (Ezek. 44:2). Forthwith they fall down and prostrate themselves before their God. So it was in the past and so will it be in the future that is to come, as it is said, "And the people of the || land shall worship at the door of that gate before the Lord in the Sabbaths and in the New Moons" (Ezek. 46:3).