Midrash su Esodo 9:2

(Exod. 30:12:) WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS (rosh) OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL…. This text is related (to Cant. 7:3 [2]): YOUR NAVEL IS A ROUND BOWL. LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. <The verse> is speaking of Israel's Sanhedrin, since it was located in the center of the Temple in the Chamber of Hewn Stones, which resembles a navel.¹Tanh., Exod. 9:2; PR 10:2; Numb. R. 1:4; below, Tanh. (Buber), Numb. 1:4 and Deut. 1:3 with the notes there; Ocf. Sanh. 37a; Exod. R. 39:1; below, Numb. 1:4; also Deut. 1:3. As the navel is located in the middle of the body, so was the Sanhedrin located in the middle of the Temple.