שְׂאוּ־מָר֨וֹם עֵינֵיכֶ֤ם וּרְאוּ֙ מִי־בָרָ֣א אֵ֔לֶּה הַמּוֹצִ֥יא בְמִסְפָּ֖ר צְבָאָ֑ם לְכֻלָּם֙ בְּשֵׁ֣ם יִקְרָ֔א מֵרֹ֤ב אוֹנִים֙ וְאַמִּ֣יץ כֹּ֔חַ אִ֖ישׁ לֹ֥א נֶעְדָּֽר׃ (ס)
Angkatlah matamu ke tempat yang tinggi dan lihatlah: siapakah yang menciptakan semuanya itu? Dialah yang mengeluarkan bala tentara mereka menurut jumlahnya, dan memanggil mereka semua dengan namanya masing-masing. Karena besarnya kuasa-Nya dan kuatnya kekuatan-Nya, tidak ada satu pun yang hilang.
Otzar Midrashim
The celestial sphere is likened to a dome, expansive like a tent and measured in length akin to the Mishkan (Tabernacle), as it is written, "He stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in" (Yeshayahu 40:22). The northern expanse remains uncovered, fashioned in the shape of an open colonnade, as it says, "He stretches out the north over the void" (Iyov 26:7). The southern end is sealed like a chamber, round like a furnace, as it states, "He makes the Bear, Orion, Pleiades, and the chambers of the south" (Iyov 9:9).
The east and west are fixed upon the earth like foundations of a building, as it says, "He builds His upper chambers in the heavens and has founded His vault upon the earth" (Amos 9:6). The sphere spans eighteen measures in circumference, six in width, with the distance from east to west matching the height from earth to the heavens. From north to south, constellations such as Ash (Orion) and Kesil (Pleiades) traverse the heavens, and the heavenly bodies orbit from east to west, as it is written, "Can you bind the chains of Pleiades or loosen the cords of Orion?" (Iyov 38:31).
Pleiades has seven stars, and Orion, five. Together they form twelve. The heavenly sphere contains seven stars aligned inwardly and five outwardly. Seven rise from the north on the right, and five from the left. Correspondingly, six gather by day and six by night. The constellation Te’omim (Gemini) marks the end of the seven, and Akrav (Scorpio) concludes the five. From Te’omim to Keshet (Sagittarius) is the same distance as from Akrav to Sartan (Cancer). Between Akrav and Sartan lies the Agala (Wagon/Ursa Major) in the north, while Akrav is situated in the south.
The celestial sphere rises in a circular motion to the south and sets in a circular motion to the north. In the north, the Agala revolves, serving the Te’li (Celestial Pole). The Te’li influences the constellations, the constellations influence the heavenly sphere, and the sphere revolves around the Te’li. All are moved by the divine wind, as it says, "By His wind the heavens are adorned; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent" (Iyov 26:13). The fleeing serpent refers to the Te’li, stretching across the expanse like a coiled serpent, with its head and tail marked, as it is written, "The Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail" (Yeshayahu 9:13).
The head of the Te’li aligns with the solar circuit, and its tail aligns with the lunar circuit. The sun and moon move in opposite arcs, as it says, "Together they shall form a single ring" (Shemot 26:24). Above these circuits are the windows of heaven, as it states, "Peering through the windows, peeking through the lattices" (Shir HaShirim 2:9). These higher levels guide the heavenly spheres, while the lower spheres operate like waterwheels, drawing sustenance from below, as it states, "He draws water with His feet" (Devarim 11:10).
The sun shines like a blazing torch in its orbit, while the moon glows like a lamp atop a menorah. Other celestial bodies—Mercury and Mars—mirror the sun’s brilliance, while Venus and Jupiter resemble the moon’s light, akin to lamps upon candelabra. Saturn, however, partakes of both luminaries, appearing like a lantern suspended by chains.
The head of the Te’li directs one side of the sphere, while its tail steers the opposite. When the celestial lights align with the Te’li, they move together as if in perfect harmony, as it is written, "One comes near to the other, and no breath passes between them" (Iyov 41:8), and, "Can two walk together unless they have agreed?" (Amos 3:3). (Yet this encounter is fraught, like meeting a bereaved bear rather than a fool in his folly, as it states,) "Better to meet a bereaved bear than a fool in his folly" (Mishlei 17:12).
Whether one is at its head and the other at its tail, or both are at its head or its tail—whether they confront one another directly, stand behind one another, or approach from either side—the result is the same. The sun and moon darken, as it says, "The sun and the moon grow dark" (Yoel 4:15). One of the luminaries and one of the stars withdraw their radiance, leaving their brilliance diminished.
The east and west are fixed upon the earth like foundations of a building, as it says, "He builds His upper chambers in the heavens and has founded His vault upon the earth" (Amos 9:6). The sphere spans eighteen measures in circumference, six in width, with the distance from east to west matching the height from earth to the heavens. From north to south, constellations such as Ash (Orion) and Kesil (Pleiades) traverse the heavens, and the heavenly bodies orbit from east to west, as it is written, "Can you bind the chains of Pleiades or loosen the cords of Orion?" (Iyov 38:31).
Pleiades has seven stars, and Orion, five. Together they form twelve. The heavenly sphere contains seven stars aligned inwardly and five outwardly. Seven rise from the north on the right, and five from the left. Correspondingly, six gather by day and six by night. The constellation Te’omim (Gemini) marks the end of the seven, and Akrav (Scorpio) concludes the five. From Te’omim to Keshet (Sagittarius) is the same distance as from Akrav to Sartan (Cancer). Between Akrav and Sartan lies the Agala (Wagon/Ursa Major) in the north, while Akrav is situated in the south.
The celestial sphere rises in a circular motion to the south and sets in a circular motion to the north. In the north, the Agala revolves, serving the Te’li (Celestial Pole). The Te’li influences the constellations, the constellations influence the heavenly sphere, and the sphere revolves around the Te’li. All are moved by the divine wind, as it says, "By His wind the heavens are adorned; His hand pierced the fleeing serpent" (Iyov 26:13). The fleeing serpent refers to the Te’li, stretching across the expanse like a coiled serpent, with its head and tail marked, as it is written, "The Lord will cut off from Israel head and tail" (Yeshayahu 9:13).
The head of the Te’li aligns with the solar circuit, and its tail aligns with the lunar circuit. The sun and moon move in opposite arcs, as it says, "Together they shall form a single ring" (Shemot 26:24). Above these circuits are the windows of heaven, as it states, "Peering through the windows, peeking through the lattices" (Shir HaShirim 2:9). These higher levels guide the heavenly spheres, while the lower spheres operate like waterwheels, drawing sustenance from below, as it states, "He draws water with His feet" (Devarim 11:10).
The sun shines like a blazing torch in its orbit, while the moon glows like a lamp atop a menorah. Other celestial bodies—Mercury and Mars—mirror the sun’s brilliance, while Venus and Jupiter resemble the moon’s light, akin to lamps upon candelabra. Saturn, however, partakes of both luminaries, appearing like a lantern suspended by chains.
The head of the Te’li directs one side of the sphere, while its tail steers the opposite. When the celestial lights align with the Te’li, they move together as if in perfect harmony, as it is written, "One comes near to the other, and no breath passes between them" (Iyov 41:8), and, "Can two walk together unless they have agreed?" (Amos 3:3). (Yet this encounter is fraught, like meeting a bereaved bear rather than a fool in his folly, as it states,) "Better to meet a bereaved bear than a fool in his folly" (Mishlei 17:12).
Whether one is at its head and the other at its tail, or both are at its head or its tail—whether they confront one another directly, stand behind one another, or approach from either side—the result is the same. The sun and moon darken, as it says, "The sun and the moon grow dark" (Yoel 4:15). One of the luminaries and one of the stars withdraw their radiance, leaving their brilliance diminished.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
[(Exod. 35:30:) SEE, THE LORD HAS CALLED BEZALEL <…> BY NAME.] This text is related (to Is. 40:25–26): THEN UNTO WHOM WILL YOU LIKEN ME THAT I SHOULD BE EQUAL? SAYS THE HOLY ONE. LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH <AND SEE: WHO CREATED THESE? >…. The Holy One said: THEN UNTO WHOM WILL YOU LIKEN ME? If <a person of> flesh and blood is walking in the darkness, when someone comes and gives him light, should he not be grateful to him?8Tanh., Exod. 10:4; Exod. R. 48:2. Now you are asleep at night when I cause the light to rise for you. Should you not be grateful to me? (Is. 40:26:) LIFT UP YOUR EYES ON HIGH <AND SEE; WHO CREATED THESE?>…. By virtue of what do they stand? THESE (in Gen. 2:4:): THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH?9These words would be more commonly rendered: THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. By virtue of THESE (in Exod. 1:1): THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL.10These words would be more commonly rendered: NOW THESE ARE THE NAMES OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. And these are by virtue of whom? By virtue of THESE (in Deut. 4:45): THE TESTIMONIES, THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS.11The words would be more commonly rendered: THESE ARE THE TESTIMONIES, THE STATUTES, AND THE JUDGMENTS.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Is. 40:26:) WHO CREATED THESE? [THE ONE WHO SENDS FORTH THEIR HOST BY NUMBER. HE CALLS THEM ALL BY <A SINGLE> NAME.] It is written (ibid.): HE CALLS THEM ALL BY <A SINGLE > NAME. But one scriptural verse says, NAMES (i.e., Ps. 147:4): [HE GIVES NAMES TO THEM ALL]. If <Ps. 147:4 says> NAMES, why <does Is. 40:26 say> BY <A SINGLE> NAME? If <Is. 40:26 says> BY <A SINGLE> NAME, why <does Ps. 147:4 say> NAMES? It is simply that, when the Holy One wishes, he calls them all as a single <unit>; but when he wishes <otherwise>, he calls each and every one by his own name, <e.g.> Michael and Gabriel. Ergo (in Is. 40:26): HE CALLS THEM ALL BY <A SINGLE> NAME.