Тегилим 96:13 Мидраш: Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Vayikra Rabbah

[Another interpretation (of Lev. 23:40): AND YOU SHALL TAKE FOR YOURSELVES ON THE FIRST DAY….] This text is related (to Ps. 96:12–13 // I Chron. 16:33): THEN SHALL {THE TREES OF THE FOREST} [ALL FOREST TREES] SHOUT FOR JOY < BEFORE THE LORD, WHEN HE COMES, WHEN HE COMES TO JUDGE THE EARTH. > About whom does the scripture speak? About Israel and about the peoples of the world, when the Holy One judges them on the Day of Atonement. The former and the latter come [for a verdict], but we do not know who will prevail. To what is the matter [comparable]?¹⁰²Tanh., Lev. 18; Lev. R. 30:2; PRK 27:2. To two humans who came before the King for a verdict. Now no one except the king himself knew what the issue was between them. [The king] judged them, but the people did not know who had prevailed against his companion. However, they all know that the one who prevails is the one who leaves with a nut¹⁰³Agoz. Buber, p. 99, n. 190, points out the variant readings for this word in various mss. and parallel texts. He suggests that the reading may be, bayyon, which comes from the Greek baion, and means “palm branch.” Certainly this reading makes more sense in the context here. in his hand. So Israel and the peoples of the world come for a verdict on the Day of Atonement, and the people do not know who is victorious. The Holy One said: Take your lulavim in your hand, so that everyone may know that you have been acquitted in the judgment. Therefore David said (in Ps. 96:12–13; // I Chron. 16:33): THEN SHALL < ALL FOREST TREES > SHOUT FOR JOY < BEFORE THE LORD >…. {When?} (Ibid., cont.:) WHEN HE COMES TO JUDGE THE EARTH. > [When?] On the day of Atonement. What does Israel do? They wait for him four days more in order that everyone may hear that Israel has been acquitted. It is therefore stated (in Lev. 23:40:) AND YOU SHALL TAKE FOR YOURSELVES ON THE FIRST DAY < BEAUTIFUL TREE FRUIT, BRANCHES OF PALM TREES, BOUGHS OF DENSE TREES, AND WILLOWS OF THE BROOK; AND YOU SHALL REJOICE BEFORE THE LORD YOUR GOD FOR SEVEN DAYS. >

All the sevens are forever beloved. Above, the seventh is beloved: Shamayim, shemei shamayim, rakia, sheḥakim, zevul, maon, and aravot,¹⁹These are the seven levels of heaven. and it is written: Praise Him Who rides in the aravot, with His name, the Lord” (Psalms 68:5). Regarding lands, the seventh is beloved: Eretz, adama, arka, gai, tziya, neshiya, tevel,²⁰These are seven types of land. and it is written: “He will judge the universe [tevel] in righteousness, the nations with uprightness” (Psalms 9:9). Regarding generations, the seventh is beloved: Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Yered, Ḥanokh, and it is written: “Hanokh walked with God” (Genesis 5:24). Regarding our ancestors, the seventh is beloved: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moses, and it is written: “Moses ascended to God” (Exodus 19:3). Regarding sons, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “David was the seventh” (I Chronicles 2:15). Regarding kings, the seventh is beloved: Saul, Ish Boshet, David, Solomon, Reḥavam, Aviya, Asa, and it is written: “Asa cried out to the Lord” (II Chronicles 14:10).²¹In response, God provided him with a miraculous military victory and tremendous wealth in spoils of war. Regarding years, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “But in the seventh, you shall let it rest and leave it fallow” (Exodus 23:11). Regarding Sabbatical years, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “You shall sanctify the fiftieth year” (Leviticus 25:10). Regarding days, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “God blessed the seventh day” (Genesis 2:3). Regarding months, the seventh is beloved, as it is stated: “In the seventh month, on the first of the month.”