Talmud zu Tehillim 18:12
יָ֤שֶׁת חֹ֨שֶׁךְ ׀ סִתְר֗וֹ סְבִֽיבוֹתָ֥יו סֻכָּת֑וֹ חֶשְׁכַת־מַ֝֗יִם עָבֵ֥י שְׁחָקִֽים׃
Er machte Finsternis rings um sich zur Umhüllung, Wasserflut aus dichtem Gewölk.
Tractate Derekh Eretz Rabbah
The same was said by David, king of Israel; for it is stated, He made darkness His hiding-place.61Ps. 18, 12. With reference to whom did David say this verse? He only said it by way of praising the Holy One, blessed be He, Who is Yah ruling in the heights of the universe; He is One and His name is One, and He dwells in three hundred and ninety firmaments.62The Heb. for ‘heaven’, שמים, has the numerical value 390. Upon each firmament His Name and attributes are inscribed; in each are Ministering Angels, Seraphim, Ophannim,63lit. ‘wheels’, cf. Ezek. 1, 15ff. Cherubim, celestial spheres64The spheres of the zodiac. and the throne of glory. Do not wonder too much at this statement; because a king of flesh and blood has a number of residences, some for warm weather and some for cold weather; how much more so [can this be said] of the King, the Life of the universe, since everything belongs to Him!
When Israel perform the will of the All-present, [56b] He dwells in Araboth the seventh [heaven]65The seventh heaven is the abode of righteousness, justice and peace; cf. Ḥag. 12a (Sonc. ed., pp. 71f.). and He does not disinterest Himself in anything [in the world]; as it is stated, From between the two cherubim; and He spoke unto him.66Num. 7, 89. But when He is wroth, He ascends and dwells in the upper heavens, and though people cry aloud and weep, their voices are not heard, even though they decree a fast, wallow in ashes, clothe themselves in sackcloth and shed tears.
When Israel perform the will of the All-present, [56b] He dwells in Araboth the seventh [heaven]65The seventh heaven is the abode of righteousness, justice and peace; cf. Ḥag. 12a (Sonc. ed., pp. 71f.). and He does not disinterest Himself in anything [in the world]; as it is stated, From between the two cherubim; and He spoke unto him.66Num. 7, 89. But when He is wroth, He ascends and dwells in the upper heavens, and though people cry aloud and weep, their voices are not heard, even though they decree a fast, wallow in ashes, clothe themselves in sackcloth and shed tears.
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