Midras Kejadian 17:10: Vayikra Rabbah, Shemot Rabbah & Aggadat Bereshit

Rabbi Yudan interpreted the verse regarding the High Priest upon his entrance into the Holy of Holies.¹²He interpreted the verse “for with stratagems you shall wage war for yourself” as alluding to the bundles [ḥavilot] of mitzvot that the High Priest would have when he entered the Holy of Holies. He has bundles upon bundles of mitzvot accompanying him. With the merit of the Torah, “this is [vezot] the Torah” (Deuteronomy 4:44); with the merit of circumcision, “this is [zot] My covenant” (Genesis 17:10); with the merit of Shabbat, “happy is the person who performs this…[who keeps the sabbath from its desecration]” (Isaiah 56:2); with the merit of Jerusalem, “this is [zot] Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 5:5); with the merit of the tribes, “this is [vezot] what their father spoke to them” (Genesis 49:28); with the merit of Judah, “this is [vezot] for Judah” (Deuteronomy 33:7); with the merit of Israel, “this [zot], your stature” (Song of Songs 7:8);¹³Song of Songs depicts the relationship of a woman and her lover, a metaphor for the relationship between Israel and God. This verse refers to the woman, to Israel. with the merit of contributions, “this is [vezot] the contribution” (Exodus 25:3); with the merit of the tithes, “[bring all the tithes to the storehouses…] test me now with this [bazot]” (Malachi 3:10); with the merit of the offerings, “with this [bezot] Aaron shall come, […with a young bull as a sin offering, and a ram as a burnt offering].”

Another matter, “then Moses…sang [this song]” – that is what is written: “He raised me from the tumultuous pit,” (Psalms 40:3) – from Egypt. “From the miry mortar” (Psalms 40:3) – from mortar and bricks. “He set my feet upon a rock” (Psalms 40:3) – this is the sea. “He steadies my footsteps” (Psalms 40:3) – as they crossed on dry land. Immediately, “he placed a new song in my mouth” (Psalms 40:4). This is analogous to a woman who was a menstruant. She completed her days of menstruation and became pure. She came to her husband, and he said to her: ‘Who attests that you are ritually pure?’ She said to him: ‘My maidservant will attest that I purified in her presence and I immersed.’ That is why it is stated: “This song,” – we are fit to recite song before you, as there is no impurity among us. The circumcision attests that we are pure; that is why it is stated: “This [hazot] song.” “This” means nothing other than circumcision, as it is stated: “This is my covenant that you shall observe…[circumcise every male]” (Genesis 17:10).
“And spoke, saying” (Exodus 15:1) – we will say to our children, and our children to their children, so they will recite a song like this before You when You perform miracles on their behalf.

Another matter: “This is the matter” – on the basis of what merit would Aaron enter the Holy of Holies? Rabbi Ḥanina son of Rabbi Yishmael said: The merit of circumcision would enter with him, as it is stated: “With this [bezot] shall Aaron come [into the Sanctuary]” (Leviticus 16:3) – this is circumcision, just as it says: “This is [zot] My covenant that you shall observe” (Genesis 17:10). Likewise it says: “My covenant was with him, life and peace” (Malachi 2:5).
Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The merit of the tribes would enter with him, as it is stated: “This is [vezeh] the matter that you shall do to them.” The numerical value of zeh is twelve;²⁴Zayin – 7; heh – 5. Together they sum to twelve. these are the twelve stones that were placed on Aaron’s heart, upon which were the names of the tribes. They were placed in this order: Reuben, ruby; Simeon, topaz; Levi, emerald; Judah, carbuncle; Issachar, sapphire; Zebulun, clear quartz; Dan, jacinth; Naphtali, agate: Gad, amethyst; Asher, beryl; Joseph, onyx; Benjamin, chalcedony. What is the reason? So the Holy One blessed be He would look at them and at the priestly vestments upon [the High Priest’s] entry on Yom Kippur and be reminded of the merit of the tribes.²⁵The High Priest would wear four garments of white linen when he entered the Holy of Holies on Yom Kippur. He would not be wearing the breastplate with the stones representing the tribes. Nonetheless, when the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies in accordance with the Torah’s requirements, the merit of that observance and the merit of the priestly garments he would wear most of the time would arouse Divine mercy.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: This is analogous to the son of kings whose tutor would enter before [the king] to speak in favor of his son,²⁶The son had sinned against the king and the tutor sought to assuage the king’s anger. but he feared that perhaps [the king’s] attendants would harm him. What did the king do? He clothed him in his royal purple garment so they would see him and fear him. So too, Aaron would regularly enter the Holy of Holies. Were it not for the many merits that would enter with him and assist him, he would not have been able to enter. Why? It is because the ministering angels were there. What did the Holy One blessed be He do for him? He gave him the [garments] like the holy garments, as it is stated: “You shall make tunics for the sons of Aaron” (Exodus 28:40) just as it is written: “And He donned righteousness like a coat of armor and a helmet of salvation on His head; He donned garments of vengeance [for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak]” (Isaiah 59:17).²⁷The four references to God’s clothing, as it were, parallel the four garments with which the High Priest enters the Holy of Holies.