גָּד֣וֹל כְּ֭בוֹדוֹ בִּישׁוּעָתֶ֑ךָ ה֥וֹד וְ֝הָדָר תְּשַׁוֶּ֥ה עָלָֽיו׃
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Midrash Tanchuma
(Numb. 10:1–2:) “Then the Lord spoke [unto Moses saying], ‘Make two silver trumpets (hatsotserot).’” This text is related (to Ps. 24:7), “O gates, lift up your heads, be lifted up, you everlasting doors, [that the King of glory may come in].” When Solomon was bringing the ark into the Temple,17Numb. R. 15:13; above Exod. 2:6 and the note there. he began to say, “O gates, lift up your heads...,” because the openings were [too] low. [Then] he said, “Be lifted up you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in.” The gates said to him (in vss. 8 and 10), “Who is this king of glory? The gates immediately wanted to break his head [and would have done so,] if he had not said (in vs. 10), “The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Again he said (in vs. 8), “The Lord strong and mighty [...].” He said to them, “Expand yourselves, for the King of glory is coming upon you. They immediately showed Him honor (kavod), and raised themselves up.18Lam. R. 2:9 (13). So the ark entered. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “You have shown Me honor. Upon your lives, when I destroy My house, no one will prevail against you.” You know that all the implements of the Temple went into exile in Babylon as stated (in Dan. 1:2), “Then the Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his hand, with some of the implements from the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar.” But the Temple gates were hidden in their place, as stated (in Lam. 2:9), “Her gates have sunk into the ground.” [Another interpretation:] What is the meaning (of Ps. 24:10), “the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah?” That He imparts some of His glory to those who fear Him.19Numb. R.15:13; see PRK 32:9 (= Suppl. 1:9); M. Pss. 90:1. How? He is called "God" (elohim, a term denoting a power), and he called Moses "elohim," as stated (in Exod. 7:1), “See I have set you as elohim to Pharaoh.” He (the Holy One, blessed be He,) causes the dead to live, and he imparted some of His glory to Elijah. Thus he (i.e., Elijah) caused the dead to live, as stated (in I Kings 17:23), “and Elijah said, ‘See your son is alive.’” Because the Holy One, blessed be He, imparts some of his glory to those who fear Him, He put His own clothing on the messianic king, as stated (in Ps. 21:6), “honor and majesty You shall lay upon him.” What is written about the Holy One, blessed be He, (in Ps. 47:6)? “God has ascended amid acclamation; the Lord with the sound of a horn (shofar).” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I have made you a king. It is so stated (in Deut. 33:5), ‘Then he became king in Jeshurun.’ Just as when the king goes forth, they sound trumpets before him, so also for you, (in Numb. 10:2:), ‘Make for yourself two silver trumpets.’ [This is] so that will they sound the trumpets before you when you take out and bring in Israel, as stated (Numb.10:3), ‘And they shall blow them and the whole community shall assemble before you.’” Hence (Numb. 10:2:), “Make for yourself two silver trumpets.” This text is related (to Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king, and do not associate with those who would differ.” But what is the meaning of “and the king?” Simply [this, to] make Him (i.e., the Holy One, blessed be He,) king over you.20Numb. R. 15:14 cont. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21), “and the king”: Be king over the evil drive, which is called a king, where it is stated (in Eccl. 9:14), “[There was a little city with few people in it,] and a great king came against it […].”21Cf. see above Gen. R. 11:1; 23:2; also Eccl. R. 4:13:1; 9:14:6, 9. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21), “and the king.” [More] than the king: Lest it be supposed that if the king says to you, “Worship an idol,” you should heed him;22See above Gen. 2:15. the text reads (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king.” Thus [when] Nebuchadnezzar told Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to worship an idol, they did not heed him. Instead they said to him (in Dan. 3:18), “We will not serve your gods, nor will we pay homage to the image of gold which you have set up.” Nebuchadnezzar said to them (in Dan. 3:14), “’Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?’ Did not the Holy One, blessed be He, say this to you that you should obey royalty in whatever it tells you, where it is stated (in Eccl. 8:2), ‘I [say], “Keep the king's command?”’” They said to him, “You are king over us for taxes and crop levies;23Lat.: annona. but in regard to the service of idols, Nebuchadnezzar and a dog [have] equal [authority].” (Dan. 3:16-17:) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you in this [matter]. If our God [whom we serve is able to save us, He shall save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your hand O king].’” They said to him, “Whether He delivers us or whether He does not deliver us (in vs. 18), ‘be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor pay homage to the image of gold which you have set up.’” Ergo (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king; and do not associate with those who would differ”; [i.e.,] in that Israel is called a third to all those that fear Him, but do not associate with those who say that there are two gods in the world, for the end of [such people] is to perish from the world. It is so stated (in Zech. 13:8), “And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the Lord, that two-thirds [in it] shall be cut off [and die], but one-third shall remain in it.” And who is the one-third? This is Israel as stated (in Is. 19:24), “And on that day Israel shall be a third [partner with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth].” Ergo (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king.” Whoever is in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, becomes a king. From whom did you learn [that]? From Abraham because he was in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, and became a king. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 22:12), “for now I know that you fear God.” But where is it shown that he became a king? It is written (in Gen. 14:17), “[And the king of Sodom came out to meet him …] at the Valley of Shaveh, i.e., the valley of the king.” What is the meaning of the Valley of Shaveh (rt.: shwh?] That they all became equal (rt.: shwh). So taking counsel (or taking wood),24‘Etsah. The word can mean either “counsel” or “wood.” they cut cedars, made a throne, and set him over them as king. And you should not say [this] only [in the case of] Abraham alone. In the case of Moses [as well did this happen], because he was in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Exod. 3:6), “then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” And where is it shown that he became a king?] Where it is stated (in Deut. 33:5), “Then he became king in Jeshurun.”25Thus the king of whom Prov. 24:21 demands obedience, is a king who fears the Holy One like Abraham or Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I have made you a king. As they blow trumpets before a king when he goes forth to war, so shall they blow trumpets before you when you go forth to war.” How is it shown? From that which they read about the matter (in Numb. 10:2), “Make two silver trumpets.”26The context of the passage concerns the sounding of an alarm in time of war.
Bamidbar Rabbah
“On the seventh day…” – that is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates…” (Psalms 24:7). You find that when Solomon built the Temple, he sought to bring the Ark into the chamber of the Holy of Holies. At that moment, the gates clung together. Solomon uttered twenty-four supplications, from the verse “For will God indeed dwell…” (II Chronicles 6:18) until “Now, rise, Lord God, to Your resting place, You, and the ark of Your might…” (II Chronicles 6:41), twenty-four verses, but he was not answered. He then said: “Lift your heads, gates; be raised, [everlasting portals, so the King of glory may enter]” (Psalms 24:7), but was not answered. He then said: “Lift your heads, gates; raise yourselves, [everlasting portals, so the King of glory may enter]” (Psalms 24:9), but he was not answered. When he said: “Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed; remember the acts of kindness of David Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42), he was immediately answered, and the gates lifted their heads, the Ark entered, the Divine Presence rested in the Temple, and fire descended from heaven, as it is written thereafter: “When Solomon had concluded praying, the fire descended from heaven, and it consumed the burnt offering and the peace offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the Temple” (II Chronicles 7:1).
Why was Solomon tormented? It is because he had been arrogant and said: “I have built [ You an abode…” (I Kings 8:13). What is “I have built”? Rabbi Yaakov son of Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: I built a built building.17Solomon took credit for building a building in which his role was very limited. Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Yosef: Everyone assists the king, all the more so that everyone assists the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, even spirits, even demons, and even angels. Rabbi Berekhya said: “The Temple in its construction…” (I Kings 6:7) – it is not written, “that they were building,” but rather, “in its construction” – it was constructed on its own. “Was built of whole stones that were transported” (I Kings 6:7) – it teaches that the stone would transport itself, ascend, and be placed atop the course of stones. Rabbi Abbahu said: Do not wonder; is it not written: “One stone was brought and was placed over the mouth of the den” (Daniel 6:18). Are there stones in Babylon?18There are no mountains there from which to hew stones. Rather, it teaches that it stood from the Land of Israel and came and settled over the mouth of the den. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Yosef: An angel descended at that moment and appeared in the image of a stone lion and settled on the mouth of the pit. That is what is written: “My God sent His angel, and he shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). If for the glory of flesh and blood one stone was brought, for the glory of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He all the more so. That is why it is stated: “Lift your heads, gates” (Psalms 24:7).
What is, “so the King of glory [hakavod] may enter” (Psalms 24:9)? Rabbi Simon said: Why is the Holy One blessed be He called the King of glory? He is the King who accords honor [kavod] to those who fear Him. Rabbi Simon said: It is written: “The people did not travel until Miriam’s readmission” (Numbers 12:15) – it teaches that the cloud lingered on her account. Rabbi Luleyani in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: It is written: “Moses would speak, and God would respond to him with a voice” (Exodus 19:19). It is not written here, “God would speak, and Moses would respond to him with a voice,” but rather, “Moses would speak, and God would respond to him with a voice.” It teaches that He would speak with him in Moses’ voice. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Simon: “Joseph was taken down to Egypt” (Genesis 39:1). What is written? “God was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Aivu: I have derived only in good times, in times of trouble from where is it derived? “The warden of the prison did not oversee anything that was in his19Joseph’s charge, for the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:23).
Another matter: “King of glory” (Psalms 24:9) – all the Tabernacle vessels were covered with taḥash hides on top of them. Regarding the Ark, it is written: “They shall spread an entirely sky-blue woolen cloth over it” (Numbers 4:6). Why to that extent? It is so the Ark would be distinctive. That is, “so the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9).
Another matter: “King of glory” (Psalms 24:9) – Ḥizkiya said: In what way is the sky-blue dye different from all other dyes, that the Holy One blessed be He commanded that it should be in ritual fringes? It is because the sky-blue dye [tekhelet] is like grass,20While tekhelet is usually translated as “sky-blue,” tekhelet can also encompass the color green. grass is like the sea, the sea is like the firmament, the firmament is like the rainbow, the rainbow is like the cloud, the cloud is like the Throne, and the Throne is like the Glory, as it is stated: “Like the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud…[thus…the likeness of the appearance of the Glory of God]” (Ezekiel 1:28). He allotted to those who fear Him sky-blue dye, which is a microcosm of His glory, as it is stated: “They shall place on the fringe of the corner a sky-blue thread” (Numbers 15:38). That is, “so the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9), as He accords glory to those who fear Him.
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – Rabbi Avin said: He allots of His glory to those who fear Him. A king of flesh and blood, one may not ride his horse, one may not sit on his throne, one may not use his scepter, one does not wear his garment. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so. Regarding the Holy One blessed be He it is written: “He soared on wings of wind” (Psalms 18:11), and it says: “In a storm and in a tempest is His way” (Nahum 1:3), and he gave it to Elijah, as it is stated: “Elijah went up in a tempest to the heavens” (II Kings 2:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one may not sit on his throne, but regarding Solomon it is written: “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord” (I Chronicles 29:23). He gave His scepter to Moses, as it is stated: “Moses took the staff from before the Lord” (Numbers 20:9). The garment of the Holy One blessed be He is glory and grandeur, as it is stated: “You donned glory and grandeur” (Psalms 104:1), and he gave it to the messianic king, as it is stated: “You bestow glory and grandeur upon him” (Psalms 21:6).
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – as He accorded honor to Joseph the righteous because he feared God, as it is stated: “God I fear” (Genesis 42:18), as it was on his behalf that the Lord rested [His Divine Presence] upon his master, as it is stated: “His master saw that the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:3). Rabbi Avin HaLevi ben Rabbi said: Joseph would bless the Holy One blessed be He for each and every act that he would perform. His master would see him whispering with his mouth and would say to him: What are you saying? He would respond to him and say: I am blessing the Holy One blessed be He. He said to him: I wish to see Him. Joseph said to him: The sun is one of several of His attendants, and you are unable to look at it; how will you be able to look at His glory? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: As you live, in your honor, I will reveal Myself to him, as it is stated: “His master saw that the Lord was with him.”
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – as He accorded honor to those who fear Him. Joseph the righteous feared the Holy One blessed be He, just as it says: “How could I perform this great evil, and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9)? He accorded honor to the Holy One blessed be He in that he did not touch her, because of his fear of Him. He said to him: As you live, I will repay your descendant, as I will grant him permission to present his offering on My holy day, and he will not be harmed. That is what is written: “On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”
Why was Solomon tormented? It is because he had been arrogant and said: “I have built [ You an abode…” (I Kings 8:13). What is “I have built”? Rabbi Yaakov son of Rabbi Yehuda bar Yeḥezkel said: I built a built building.17Solomon took credit for building a building in which his role was very limited. Rabbi Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Yosef: Everyone assists the king, all the more so that everyone assists the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, even spirits, even demons, and even angels. Rabbi Berekhya said: “The Temple in its construction…” (I Kings 6:7) – it is not written, “that they were building,” but rather, “in its construction” – it was constructed on its own. “Was built of whole stones that were transported” (I Kings 6:7) – it teaches that the stone would transport itself, ascend, and be placed atop the course of stones. Rabbi Abbahu said: Do not wonder; is it not written: “One stone was brought and was placed over the mouth of the den” (Daniel 6:18). Are there stones in Babylon?18There are no mountains there from which to hew stones. Rather, it teaches that it stood from the Land of Israel and came and settled over the mouth of the den. Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Yosef: An angel descended at that moment and appeared in the image of a stone lion and settled on the mouth of the pit. That is what is written: “My God sent His angel, and he shut the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). If for the glory of flesh and blood one stone was brought, for the glory of the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He all the more so. That is why it is stated: “Lift your heads, gates” (Psalms 24:7).
What is, “so the King of glory [hakavod] may enter” (Psalms 24:9)? Rabbi Simon said: Why is the Holy One blessed be He called the King of glory? He is the King who accords honor [kavod] to those who fear Him. Rabbi Simon said: It is written: “The people did not travel until Miriam’s readmission” (Numbers 12:15) – it teaches that the cloud lingered on her account. Rabbi Luleyani in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: It is written: “Moses would speak, and God would respond to him with a voice” (Exodus 19:19). It is not written here, “God would speak, and Moses would respond to him with a voice,” but rather, “Moses would speak, and God would respond to him with a voice.” It teaches that He would speak with him in Moses’ voice. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Simon: “Joseph was taken down to Egypt” (Genesis 39:1). What is written? “God was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Aivu: I have derived only in good times, in times of trouble from where is it derived? “The warden of the prison did not oversee anything that was in his19Joseph’s charge, for the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:23).
Another matter: “King of glory” (Psalms 24:9) – all the Tabernacle vessels were covered with taḥash hides on top of them. Regarding the Ark, it is written: “They shall spread an entirely sky-blue woolen cloth over it” (Numbers 4:6). Why to that extent? It is so the Ark would be distinctive. That is, “so the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9).
Another matter: “King of glory” (Psalms 24:9) – Ḥizkiya said: In what way is the sky-blue dye different from all other dyes, that the Holy One blessed be He commanded that it should be in ritual fringes? It is because the sky-blue dye [tekhelet] is like grass,20While tekhelet is usually translated as “sky-blue,” tekhelet can also encompass the color green. grass is like the sea, the sea is like the firmament, the firmament is like the rainbow, the rainbow is like the cloud, the cloud is like the Throne, and the Throne is like the Glory, as it is stated: “Like the appearance of the rainbow that is in the cloud…[thus…the likeness of the appearance of the Glory of God]” (Ezekiel 1:28). He allotted to those who fear Him sky-blue dye, which is a microcosm of His glory, as it is stated: “They shall place on the fringe of the corner a sky-blue thread” (Numbers 15:38). That is, “so the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9), as He accords glory to those who fear Him.
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – Rabbi Avin said: He allots of His glory to those who fear Him. A king of flesh and blood, one may not ride his horse, one may not sit on his throne, one may not use his scepter, one does not wear his garment. But the Holy One blessed be He is not so. Regarding the Holy One blessed be He it is written: “He soared on wings of wind” (Psalms 18:11), and it says: “In a storm and in a tempest is His way” (Nahum 1:3), and he gave it to Elijah, as it is stated: “Elijah went up in a tempest to the heavens” (II Kings 2:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one may not sit on his throne, but regarding Solomon it is written: “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord” (I Chronicles 29:23). He gave His scepter to Moses, as it is stated: “Moses took the staff from before the Lord” (Numbers 20:9). The garment of the Holy One blessed be He is glory and grandeur, as it is stated: “You donned glory and grandeur” (Psalms 104:1), and he gave it to the messianic king, as it is stated: “You bestow glory and grandeur upon him” (Psalms 21:6).
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – as He accorded honor to Joseph the righteous because he feared God, as it is stated: “God I fear” (Genesis 42:18), as it was on his behalf that the Lord rested [His Divine Presence] upon his master, as it is stated: “His master saw that the Lord was with him” (Genesis 39:3). Rabbi Avin HaLevi ben Rabbi said: Joseph would bless the Holy One blessed be He for each and every act that he would perform. His master would see him whispering with his mouth and would say to him: What are you saying? He would respond to him and say: I am blessing the Holy One blessed be He. He said to him: I wish to see Him. Joseph said to him: The sun is one of several of His attendants, and you are unable to look at it; how will you be able to look at His glory? The Holy One blessed be He said to him: As you live, in your honor, I will reveal Myself to him, as it is stated: “His master saw that the Lord was with him.”
Another matter: “So the King of glory may enter” (Psalms 24:9) – as He accorded honor to those who fear Him. Joseph the righteous feared the Holy One blessed be He, just as it says: “How could I perform this great evil, and sin against God” (Genesis 39:9)? He accorded honor to the Holy One blessed be He in that he did not touch her, because of his fear of Him. He said to him: As you live, I will repay your descendant, as I will grant him permission to present his offering on My holy day, and he will not be harmed. That is what is written: “On the seventh day, prince of the children of Ephraim…”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
[Another interpretation:] What is the meaning (of Ps. 24:10): THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY? That he imparts some of his glory to those who fear him as befits his glory.41Tanhuma Numb. 3:9 cont.; Numb. R.15:13; see PRK 32:9 (= Suppl. 1:9); M. Pss. 90:1. How? He is called "god" (elohim), and he called Moses "god," as stated (in Exod. 7:1): SEE I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. He (the Holy One) causes the dead to live, and he imparted some of his glory to Elijah. Thus he (i.e., Elijah) caused the dead to live, as stated (in I Kings 17:23): AND ELIJAH SAID: SEE YOUR SON IS ALIVE. Because the Holy One imparts some of his glory to those who fear him, he put his own clothing on the Messianic King, as stated (in Ps. 21:6 [5]): HONOR AND MAJESTY YOU SHALL LAY UPON HIM. Our masters have taught:42Cf. Sanh. 2:5; see also TSanh. 4:2. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one rides upon his horse, no one puts on his clothes, no one uses his crown, and no one sits upon his throne; but in all these <instances> the Holy One shared <his glory> with those who feared him and gave to them.43Above Exod. 2:7; Numb. 2:34. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Nahum 1:3): THE LORD IS IN THE WHIRLWIND, AND THE STORM IS HIS ROAD. But he gave it (i.e., the divine whirlwind horse) to Elijah, as stated (in II Kings. 2:11): AND [ELIJAH] WENT UP IN A WHIRLWIND INTO THE HEAVENS. No one puts on his clothes. What is written (in Ps. 104:1)? {AND} YOU HAVE PUT ON HONOR AND MAJESTY. Also with reference to the Messianic King, it is written (in Ps. 21:6 [5]): HONOR AND MAJESTY YOU BESTOWED UPON HIM. No one uses his crown. What is written concerning Moses (in Exod. 34:29)? AND MOSES DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SKIN OF HIS FACE WAS SHINING. And no one sits upon his throne. Now it is written (in I Chron. 29:23): THEN SOLOMON SAT UPON THE THRONE OF THE LORD AS KING. (Sanh. 2:5:) AND NO ONE USES HIS SCEPTER. But he gave it to Moses as stated (in Exod. 4:17): YOU SHALL TAKE IN YOUR HAND THIS ROD <WITH WHICH YOU SHALL PERFORM THE SIGNS>. What is written about the Holy One (in Ps. 47:6 [5])? GOD HAS ASCENDED AMID ACCLAMATION; THE LORD WITH THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET (shofar). The Holy One said to Moses: I have made you a king. It is so stated (in Deut. 33:5): THEN HE BECAME KING IN JESHURUN. Just as when the king goes forth, they sound trumpets before him, so also will they sound trumpets before you when you go forth. (Numb. 10:2:) MAKE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS (hatsotserot).