Les Psaumes 119:99 Midrash : Midrash Tehillim

“He shall be like a tree planted [besides streams of water]” (Psalms 1:3). This [relates to] that which scripture said, “She is a tree of life to those who hold onto her” (Proverbs 3:18). Rabbi Yitzchak son of Rabbi Chiyya said, “Why is the Torah called a tree of life? Because she is beloved by all life.” Rabbi Yuden said, “Why is the Torah compared to the tree of life? Just as the tree of life was extended to all inhabitants of the Garden of Eden, so too the Torah is extended to all that live, and it brings them life in the world to come.” We learnt: the tree of life was a five hundred year journey [tall], and all the waters of creation were divided beneath it. Rav Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak would plant [and transplant] himself from study group to study group in order to embody [the verse], “I have gained more insight than all my teachers” (Psalms 119:99) [creatively re-read to be saying, I have gained insight from all of my many teachers]. What [does the verse mean with its reference to] “streams of water” (Psalms 1:3)? Like Tiberias and her study groups, and Tzipori and her study groups; “which yields its fruit in its season [literally, in its time]” (ibid.) — this refers to those students [who are the fruit] of the person that exerts himself in Torah study, and makes his day into [set] times: a time for Torah, a time for Scripture, a time for Mishna, and a time for Talmud; “whose foliage never fades” (ibid.) — since everybody needs its conversation and its teachings; “and all that it produces thrives” (ibid.) — since everybody will require the advice [of a Torah sage], as was the case with Rabbi Elazar ben Arach who provided advice that would hold up and which was successful. They said to him, “You must be a prophet!” He replied, “I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, but this is [the tradition that] I inherited from my teachers: all advice that is [offered] for the sake of heaven is destined to hold up.” Rabbi Menashya said, there is a verse that entirely [substantiates this idea], since it is said, “the advice of God holds up” (Proverbs 19:21); [that is to say] advice that has something of God within it will hold up.