Midras Mazmur 4:8: Midrash Tehillim & Vayikra Rabbah

You have given joy to my heart. The people of Israel say that the nations of the world who have observed the seven Noahide laws receive peace in this world and will be rewarded in the world to come. We, who have been commanded with 613 mitzvot, can only imagine the greater reward that awaits us in the next world. Therefore, when we see the peace of the nations of the world, we rejoice and say, "You have given joy to my heart." Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi gave a parable about a king who hosted a feast and seated his guests at the entrance of a kennel. The guests saw dogs coming out with muzzles, hooves, and the heads of calves. The guests wondered, "What kind of feast do these dogs have that they are treated better than us?" The nations of the world are compared to these dogs, as it says in Isaiah 56:11, "And the dogs are greedy." If the nations of the world are at peace in this world, how much more so will Israel be at peace in the future world. Therefore, we say, "You have given joy to my heart."

"Desires of the humble, You have heard, O Lord." Rabbi Levi said in the name of Rabbi Joshua, "This refers to Moses, who was called humble. When the Lord said to him (Leviticus 16:2), 'Speak to your brother Aaron, that he should not come at all times into the Holy Place,' Moses began to grieve. He said to himself, 'I am like nothing, for my brother is not permitted to enter the Holy Place, and I am even less worthy.' But then he remembered that there is a time for everything: a time for an hour, a time for a day, a time for a year, a time for twelve years, and a time for seventy years. There is a time for an hour, as it says (Leviticus 16:2), 'that he should not come at all times.' There is a time for a day, as it says (Ezekiel 4:11), 'You shall drink water by measure, a sixth of a hin.' There is a time for a year, as it says (1 Chronicles 20:1), 'It happened at the turn of the year.' For twelve years, as it says (Psalms 105:19), 'Until the time that his word came to pass.' For seventy years, as it says (Jeremiah 25:11), 'For Babylon will serve seventy years.' And there is a time for eternity, as it says (Psalms 4:8), 'You have put joy in my heart, more than when their corn and wine increased.' The Lord said to him, 'It is not as you think, that I enter whenever I want, but only at a designated time.' Moses then began to recite (Psalms 10:17), 'Desires of the humble, You have heard, O Lord; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.'"...

What is written before this matter? “The Lord said to Moses: Speak to Aaron your brother” (Leviticus 16:2). Rabbi Avin said: He said to him: ‘Go and console him with words,’ just as it says: “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2). “He shall not come at all times” (Leviticus 16:2), Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Moses had great anguish regarding this matter. He said: ‘Woe is me. Has Aaron my brother been expelled from His proximity?’ “At all times” – “time” can connote one hour; “he shall not come at all times.”¹⁴This verse may be interpreted to mean that if Aaron enters the Holy of Holies and exits, he may not enter again right away (Etz Yosef). “Time” can connote one day; “[Your food that you will eat will be twenty shekels a day by weight; you shall eat it from set time until set time.] You shall drink water by measure, [one-sixth of a hin; you shall drink from time to time]” (Ezekiel 4:10–11). “Time” can connote one year, as it is stated: “It was at the turn of the year, [at the time when kings go out]” (II Samuel 11:1). “Time” can connote twelve years: “Until the time His word came to pass” (Psalms 105:19).¹⁵This is a reference to the liberation of Joseph from the Egyptian prison. He was incarcerated there for twelve years. “Time” can connote seventy years, as it is stated: “To complete the term of the desolations of Jerusalem was seventy years” (Daniel 9:2), and it says: “until the time of his land comes” (Jeremiah 27:7).¹⁶The verse cited from Daniel states that it would be seventy years from the destruction of the first Temple until Jerusalem would be rebuilt. The second verse employs the word time in reference to the fall of Babylon, which coincided with the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Thus, there is a connection between usage of the word time and the passage of seventy years. “Time” can connote eternity: “You placed joy in my heart from the time of their grain” (Psalms 4:8).¹⁷Grain is always produced; consequently, the word time in this verse is not limited to a particular point in time. The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘It is not as you think. It is not the time that connotes an hour, nor the time that connotes a day, nor the time that connotes a year, nor the time that connotes twelve years, nor the time that connotes seventy years, nor the time that connotes eternity. Rather, at any time that he wishes to enter, he may enter, provided that he enters with this protocol.’
Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai said: With thirty-six bells and thirty-six pomegranates. The Rabbis said: With seventy-two bells and seventy-two pomegranates.¹⁸The reference is to decorative components at the bottom of the robe of the High Priest. It should be noted, however, that the High Priest did not wear his usual vestments when entering the Holy of Holies; he instead entered in four white linen garments. Nonetheless this is mentioned here because included in the protocol of the High Priest when he enters the Holy of Holies are certain offerings that are given in the Sanctuary, and the High Priest performs the services of those offerings in his regular vestments (Etz Yosef).