Oséias 14:8 Midrash: Vayikra Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma, Bamidbar Rabbah & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

Rabbi Abbahu began: “Those who dwell in His shade will return” (Hosea 14:8) – these are the proselytes who come and take shelter in the shade of the Holy One blessed be He. “They will give life to grain” (Hosea 14:8) – they will become primary like Israel, just as it says: “There will be grain for the young men, and new wine will make the young women sing” (Zechariah 9:17).¹The Hebrew phrase degan baḥurim, translated here as, “there will be grain for the young men,” can also be understood to mean “the young men are grain.” Thus, the young men of Israel are compared to grain, which are the primary form of nourishment, and the proselytes are also compared to grain. “They will blossom like the vine” (Hosea 14:8) – just as it says: “You transported a vine from Egypt, drove out the nations and planted it” (Psalms 80:9).
Another matter: “They will give life to grain” (Hosea 14:8) – in the Talmud.²The midrash interprets the verse to mean “they will be given life through grain,” and understands “grain” as an allusion to the Talmud (Etz Yosef). Just as grain nourishes the body, the Talmud nourishes the soul (Maharzu). “They will blossom like the vine” (Hosea 14:8) – in aggada. “Its repute will be like the wine of Lebanon” (Hosea 14:8) – the Holy One blessed be He said: The names of proselytes are dear to me like wine libations that are offered before Me on the altar.
Why is [the Temple] called Lebanon? It is in accordance with: “That good mountain and the Lebanon” (Deuteronomy 3:25).³Lebanon in this verse is understood to refer to the Temple; see Sifri, Va’etḥanan 28; Rashi on Deuteronomy 3:25). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: Why is it called Lebanon? Because it whitens [malbin] the iniquities of Israel like snow. That is what is written: “If your sins will be like scarlet, they will be whitened as snow; if they will be reddened like crimson, they will be like wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Rabbi Tavyomei said: It is because all the hearts [levavot] rejoice in it. That is what is written: “Beautiful in its view, joy of the entire world…” (Psalms 48:3). The Rabbis say: It is in accordance with: “My eyes and My heart [velibi] will be there always” (I Kings 9:3).

What is the meaning of the phrase new fruit every month? It means that new fruits will ripen each month. However, they will not be the same fruit each month but an entirely different species of fruit. Whence do we know that man will return to the Garden of Eden? It is said: They that dwell under his shadow shall again make corn to grow, and they shall blossom as the vine (Hos. 14:8). Whence do we know about the sun and the moon? it is written: Moreover, the light of the moon shall be as the light of the sun, and the light of the sun shall be seven times the light of the seven days (Isa. 30:26). And Scripture states elsewhere: But they that love Him shall be as the sun that goeth forth in its might (Judg. 5:31). The Targum (Aramaic translation) for the latter verse reads: “The radiance of the righteous in the future will be three hundred and forty-three times more luminous than the radiance of the sun when it goes forth in its light.” When will this come to pass? In the day that the Lord bindeth up the bruises of His people, and healeth the stroke of their wound (Isa. 30:26). This refers to the time wherein He will heal the ills of the world (i.e., after the Messiah comes).

“Speak to the children of Israel: A man or woman, when they will perform any sin of a person, to commit a trespass against the Lord, and that individual shall be guilty” (Numbers 5:6).
“A man or woman, when they will perform any sin…” – Rabbi Abbahu says: “Those who dwell in His shadow will return” (Hosea 14:8) – these are the proselytes, who come and take refuge in the shadow of the Holy One blessed be He. “They will give life to grain” (Hosea 14:8) – in the Talmud;¹The midrash interprets the verse to mean, “they will be given life through grain,” and understands “grain” as an allusion to the Talmud (Etz Yosef). Just as grain nourishes the body, the Talmud nourishes the soul (Maharzu). “and will blossom like the vine” (Hosea 14:8) – in aggada.²Aggada is considered sweet like wine. “Their repute is like the wine of Lebanon” (Hosea 14:8) – the Holy One blessed be He said: The names of the proselytes are dear to me like the wine that is poured as a libation upon the altar. Why does He call it³The Temple. Lebanon? It is because it whitens [malbin] the sins of Israel like snow, as it is stated: “[Let us go now and reason together, says the Lord;] if your sins will be like scarlet, [they will be whitened as snow]” (Isaiah 1:18).
Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai says: It is because all the hearts [halevavot] are joyous in it. That is what is written: “Beautiful in its view, joy of all the world” (Psalms 48:3). The Rabbis say: It is after: “My eyes and My heart [velibi] will be there always.” (I Kings 9:3).
Another matter: “[Those who dwell in His shadow⁴This is interpreted as referring to proselytes. See Vayikra Rabba 1:2. will return] They will give life to grain” (Hosea 14:8) – they [the proselytes] will become of primary importance like Israel, just as it says: “The grain of the young men” (Zechariah 9:17).⁵Just as Israel are called grain in Zechariah, similarly the proselytes are called grain in the verse in Hosea. “And will blossom like the vine” (Hosea 14:8) – like Israel, just as it says: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9).
Likewise, you find that just as a portion is written in the Torah regarding an Israelite and his counterpart, if he commits a trespass against him, he incurs liability to bring an offering, as it is stated: “A person who shall sin, and commit a trespass [against the Lord, and lies to his counterpart]” (Leviticus 5:21); so, the Holy One blessed be He wrote a portion in the Torah regarding an Israelite and the proselytes, that if a person of Israel robs a proselyte, his legal status is like one who robs an Israelite. You find that sin is written regarding this one: “a person who shall sin,” and sin is written regarding one who robs a proselyte: “Any sin of a person.” Regarding this one, it is written: “And commit a trespass against the Lord,” and regarding that one, it is written: “To commit a trespass against the Lord.” Regarding this one, it is written: "It shall be when he will sin and is guilty” (Leviticus 5:23), and regarding the proselyte, it is written: “And that individual shall be guilty.” Regarding this one, it is written: “He shall repay its principal” (Leviticus 5:24), and regarding the proselyte, it is written: “He shall make restitution for his guilt in its principal” (Numbers 5:7). Regarding this one, it is written: “He shall add its one-fifth to it” (Leviticus 5:24), and regarding the proselyte, it is written: “He shall add its one-fifth to it” (Numbers 5:7). Regarding this one, it is written: “He shall bring his guilt offering to the Lord” (Leviticus 5:25), and regarding robbery from a proselyte, it is written: “Besides the ram of atonement” (Numbers 5:8). We have learned that the proselytes are of primary importance like Israel. That is, “they will give life to grain and will blossom [like the vine]” (Hosea 14:8).