Midrash sa Mga Awit 68:25: Midrash Tehillim, Midrash Tanchuma & Midrash Tanchuma Buber

“The One who sits in heaven laughs” (Psalms 2:4). Rabbi Yitzhak [rejected a straightforward reading of this verse, with its picture of God engaging in levity, and] said, “All of God’s activities are conducted in [a spirit of] holiness. His speech is [conducted] in holiness, as it is said, “God has spoken in His holiness” (Psalms 60:8). He is praised in [terms of] holiness, as it is said, “holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6:3). His [heavenly] procession [moves] in holiness, as it is said, “the processions of my God, my king, [move] in holiness” (Psalms 68:25). His majesty is [saturated] in holiness, as it said, “Who is like unto You, majestic in holiness” (Exodus 15:11).” Alternatively: “The One who sits in heaven laughs” (Psalms 2:4) [shouldn’t be taken to mean that God actually laughs. Rather] the Holy One, blessed be He, [sits up in the heavens, observes, and] says, “these ones [i.e., the enemies of Israel] laugh at those ones [i.e., at Israel]” [This causes Him, in the next verse of Psalms to speak to the nations in anger]. Rabbi Acha said, in the name of Rabbi Shmuel, [that God does indeed laugh. In fact, he notes that] there are four [occasions for heavenly] laughter. (1) “The One who sits in heaven laughs” (Psalms 2:4); (2) “But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them” (Psalms 59:9); (3) “the Lord laughs at him” (Psalms 37:13); (4) “I will also laugh at your calamity” (Proverbs 1:26).

(Lev. 19:2:) “You shall be holy.”⁷Tanh., Gen. 1:7. See what is written (in Josh. 24:19), “for He is a holy God (in the plural).”⁸The words, HOLY and GOD, are both plural in the Hebrew. What is the meaning of this verse? It provides an opening for the heretics (minim), in that it seems to them like two powers.⁹See Alan F. Segal, Two Powers in Heaven: Early Rabbinic Reports about Christianity and Gnosticism (“Studies in Judaism in Late Antiquity,” 25; Leiden: Brill, 1977), p. 121. The heretics asked R. Simlay, “What is the meaning of ‘for He is a holy God?’¹⁰See Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 1:7; and the parallels listed there. Do you not say that He is one power? See from this verse, that there are [at least] two powers.” He said to them, “You idiots! Had it said, ‘[for] they are holy,’ you would have spoken [well. But] it is written, ‘[for] He (in the singular).’” And [regarding] that which it says, “holy God (in the plural),” R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba, “What is the meaning of ‘He is a holy [God] (with holy in the plural)?’ That He is holy in all categories of holiness.” How? R. Aha bar Hanina said, “His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8), ‘God spoke in His holiness (i.e., in the holy place, the Temple).’ His way is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 77:14), ‘Your way, O God, is in holiness (i.e., in the holy place).’ He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3), ‘So I have beheld You in holiness, (i.e., in the holy place).’ His praise¹¹Gk.: kalos (“beautifully”). is in holiness, as stated (in Exod. 15:11), ‘Who is like You, glorious in holiness?’ The uncovering of His arm is in holiness, as stated (in Is. 52:10), ‘The Lord has uncovered His arm of holiness.’” Ergo (in Josh. 24:19) “He is a holy God (with holy in the plural),” because He is holy in all categories of holiness.

The minim questioned {R. Ishmael} [R. Simlay].¹⁸yBer. 9:1 (12d); Gen. R. 8:9; Deut. R. 2:13; Tanh., Lev. 7:4. They said to him: How many deities created the world? He said to them: Let us, me and you, inquire of the Torah. They said to him: See, it written (in Josh. 24:19): FOR … HOLY GODS.¹⁹While “God” in the Bible is commonly plural, here the adjective “holy” is plural as well. He said to them: Read the rest of the verse, < where > "they" is not used but HE.²⁰Thus the text reads literally: FOR HE IS HOLY GODS. R. Berekhyah said in the name of R. Abba the Edomite: Why is HOLY plural (in Josh. 24:19)? Because he is holy in all categories of holiness. R. Aha bar Hanina said: In regard to the Holy One, his way is in holiness; he processes in holiness; he is seen in holiness; his speech is in holiness; the uncovering of his arm is in holiness; [he is beautiful and glorious in holiness]. His way is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 77:14): YOUR WAY, O GOD, IS IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place, the Temple). He processes is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 68:25): THE PROCESSIONS OF MY GOD, MY KING, ARE IN HOLINESS. He is seen in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 63:3): SO I HAVE BEHELD YOU IN HOLINESS (i.e., in the Holy Place). His speech is in holiness, as stated (in Ps. 60:8): GOD SPOKE IN HIS HOLINESS (Holy Place). The uncovering of his arm is in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Is. 52:10: THE LORD HAS UNCOVERED HIS ARM OF HOLINESS. He is beautiful and glorious in holiness. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Exod. 15:11): WHO IS LIKE YOU AMONG THE GODS, O LORD, < GLORIOUS IN HOLINESS >? Hence < the plurals > (in Josh. 24:19): FOR HE IS HOLY GODS, in < the sense > that he is holy in all types of holinesses. < The minim > said to him: But he caused to be written (in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING GOD (in the plural) CREATED. He said to them: < The plural form of > "created" is not written here, but CREATED < in the singular to agree with the singular subject >.