Jeremías 13:11 Midrash: Midrash Tanchuma & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.” Why? Because I have made you cling to My loins, as stated (in Jer. 13:11), “For as the girdle clings unto one's loins, [so I have made all the House of Israel and all the House of Judah cling to Me, says the Lord].” Therefore, “You shall be holy, because I, the Lord am holy.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, [i.e.,] to Israel, “I am not like flesh and blood. With a king of flesh and blood, mortals have no right to be called by his name. You yourself know that, when someone wants to accuse¹²Gk.: kategorein. his fellow, he calls him Augustus¹³Lat.: Augusta. The text should read Augustus. See Jastrow, s.v., Agusta (‘GWST’). so-and-so; and there is no life for him. But Israel is called by the name of the Holy One, blessed be He.” He is called God (Powers); and He has called Israel powers, as stated (in Ps. 82:6), “I said, ‘You are powers.’” He is called wise, as stated (in Job 9:4), “One wise of heart and mighty in strength”; and He has called Israel wise, as stated (in Deut. 4:6), “surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” God is called beloved, as stated (in Cant. 5:10), “My beloved is bright and ruddy”; and He has called them beloved, as stated (Cant. 5:1), “eat, friends, [and drink to excess, beloved ones].” He is called chosen, as stated (in Cant. 5:15), “stately (literally: chosen) as the cedars”; and He has called them chosen, as stated (in Deut. 7:6), “the Lord your God has chosen you.” He is called pious, as stated (in Jer. 3:12), “’For I am pious,’ says the Lord”; and He has called them pious, as stated (in Ps. 50:5), “Gather to me, my pious ones.” He is called holy, as stated (in Is. 6:3), “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts,” and also (Ps. 99:9), “for the Lord our God is holy”; and He has called Israel holy, as stated (in Lev. 19:2), “You shall be holy.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “In this world you have been called holy. In the world to come (according to Is. 4:3), “And it shall come to pass that the one who is left in Zion and who remains in Jerusalem shall be called holy.”

(Lev. 19:2:) YOU SHALL BE HOLY. Why? (Ibid., cont.:) BECAUSE I< , THE LORD YOUR GOD, > AM HOLY; for I have made you cling to my loins, as stated (in Jer. 13:11): FOR, AS THE GIRDLE CLINGS UNTO ONE'S LOINS, < SO I HAVE MADE ALL THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL AND ALL THE HOUSE OF JUDAH CLING TO ME, SAYS THE LORD >.¹⁶Tanh., Lev. 7:5. The Holy One said to them, < i.e., > to Israel, I am not like flesh and blood. With a king of flesh and blood, mortals have no right to be called by his name. You yourself know that, when someone wants to accuse¹⁷Gk.: kategorein. his fellow, he calls him Augustus¹⁸Lat.: Augusta. The text should read Augustus. See Jastrow, s.v., Agusta (‘GWST’). so-and-so; and there is no life for him. But Israel is called by the name of the Holy One. He is called God; and he has called Israel gods, as stated (in Ps. 82:6): I SAID: YOU ARE GODS. He is called wise, as stated (in Job 9:4): ONE WISE OF HEART AND MIGHTY IN STRENGTH; and he has called Israel wise, as stated (in Deut. 4:6): SURELY THIS GREAT NATION IS A WISE AND UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE. God is called beloved, as stated (in Cant. 5:10): MY BELOVED IS BRIGHT AND RUDDY; and he has called them beloved, as stated (Cant. 5:1): EAT, FRIENDS, AND DRINK TO EXCESS, BELOVED ONES. He is called chosen, as stated (in Cant. 5:15): STATELY (literally: CHOSEN) AS THE CEDARS; and he has called them chosen, as stated (in Deut. 7:6): [THE LORD YOUR GOD] HAS CHOSEN YOU. He is called pious, as stated (in Jer. 3:12): FOR [I] AM PIOUS, SAYS THE LORD; and he has called them pious, as stated (in Ps. 50:5): GATHER TO ME, MY PIOUS ONES. He is called holy, as stated (in Is. 6:3): HOLY, HOLY, HOLY IS THE LORD OF HOSTS; and he has called Israel holy, [as stated (in Lev. 19:2): YOU SHALL BE HOLY.] The Holy One said: In this world you have been called holy, but in the world to come (according to Is. 4:3): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT THE ONE WHO IS LEFT IN ZION AND WHO REMAINS IN JERUSALEM SHALL BE CALLED HOLY.

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel (Exod. 30:12). R. Judah said in the name of R. Samuel the son of Nahman: This may be compared to a king who has many silk garments. He tells one of his stewards: “This robe looks better on me than any of the others. Remember that when I wore it for the coronation ceremonies, it clung firmly to my body and gave me a distinguished appearance.” In the same way, the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses: Bear in mind that Israel cleaves to my loins, as it is said: For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of man, so have I caused to cleave to Me the whole house of Israel (Jer. 13:11). They acknowledged My authority and said: The Lord shall reign forever and ever (Exod. 15:18). Because of their great love for Me, I have descended from the heavenly sphere to the earthly sphere and shall dwell behind the curtain of goats’ hair.