כִּֽי־תְ֭קַדְּמֶנּוּ בִּרְכ֣וֹת ט֑וֹב תָּשִׁ֥ית לְ֝רֹאשׁ֗וֹ עֲטֶ֣רֶת פָּֽז׃
װאָרום דו טראָגסט אים אַנטקעגן ברכות פֿון גוטס, טוסט אָן אױף זײַן קאָפּ פֿון גינגאָלד אַ קרױן.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Ps. 24:8 & 10): WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY? Who is he? This is the king who distributes glory to those who fear him (according to vs. 10, cont.): THE LORD OF HOSTS, <HE IS THE KING OF GLORY>.45Tanh., Exod. 2:8; M. Pss. 21:2; below, Numb. 2:24; 3:15; and the other parallels listed there. In what way? In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one sits on his throne;46See Sanh. 2:5, which affirms this royal prerogative along with the two which follow. yet the Holy One had Solomon sit on his throne. It is so stated (in I Chron. 29:23): THEN SOLOMON SAT UPON THE THRONE OF THE LORD. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one rides upon his horse; yet the Holy One had Elijah ride on his horse. Now what is the horse of the Holy One? Whirlwind and storm, as stated (in Nahum 1:3): THE LORD IS IN THE WHIRLWIND, AND THE STORM IS HIS ROAD.47Tanh., Exod. 2:8; Exod. R. 8:1; M. Pss. 21:2; and below, Numb. 2:34, all cite II Kings 2:11 here to show when Elijah rode the whirlwind of the Holy One. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one uses his scepter; yet Moses used the scepter of the Holy One. It is so stated (in Exod. 4:20): AND MOSES TOOK THE ROD OF GOD IN HIS HAND. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one puts on his crown; yet the Holy One has given crowns to the Messianic King. It is so stated (in Ps. 21:4): YOU HAVE SET ON HIS HEAD A CROWN OF FINE GOLD. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one puts on his robes; yet Israel has put on the Holy One's robes, <i.e.,> strength. It is so stated (in Is. 51:9): AWAKE, AWAKE, PUT ON STRENGTH, O ARM OF THE LORD; and he has given it to Israel, as stated (in Ps. 29:11): THE LORD WILL GRANT STRENGTH TO HIS PEOPLE. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one calls <anyone else> by his title, as <for example> Caesar, Augustus, <or> King;48Gk.: Basileus. and, if a certain person calls anyone by one of them, he will not live. Do you yourself know a person who calls his friend Augusta so-and-so? But the Holy One said to Moses: See, I have made you like me to Pharaoh. I am called God; and in that name I created the world, as stated (in Gen. 1:1): IN THE BEGINNING GOD CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH. And here I have made you like me, a god to Pharaoh. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 7:1) SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. Ergo (in Ps. 24:8 & 10): WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY? The one who distributes glory to those who fear him.
Shemot Rabbah
“It was on the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 6:28).
“The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1).
“It was on the day when the Lord.… The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh” – that is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates” (Psalms 24:7). Solomon recited this verse when he was taking the Ark into the Holy of Holies. He crafted an Ark that was ten cubits [wide]. When he arrived at the entrance of the Temple, the entrance was ten cubits and the Ark was ten cubits, and ten cubits are unable to enter into ten cubits. Moreover, they were carrying it [and there was certainly not enough space for those bearing the Ark to enter]. When he came to take it in, he was unable to do so. Solomon stood and was embarrassed and did not know what to do. He began praying before the Holy One blessed be He.
What did Solomon do? Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, say: He went and brought David’s coffin, and said: “Lord, God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed” (II Chronicles 6:42). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: At that moment, David came alive, as you may expound [from the verse]: “Lord, You took up my soul from the grave, you kept me alive so I would not descent into the pit” (Psalms 30:4). Solomon was saying: ‘Master of the universe, do so due to the merit of this one,’ as it is stated: “Remember the kindnesses of David Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42). Immediately, [his prayer] was answered. What is written thereafter? “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and the offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the house” (II Chronicles 7:1). The Divine Spirit was shouting and saying: “I praise the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive” (Ecclesiastes 4:2).
Solomon began saying: “Lift your heads, gates, and be uplifted, everlasting doors; and the King of glory will come” (Psalms 24:7). The gates said to him: “Who then is the King of glory?” (Psalms 24:10). He said to them: “The Lord of Hosts; He is the king of glory. Selah” (Psalms 24:10). When he said this to them, they were immediately calmed. Had it not been so, they would have attempted to crush his skull to kill him.
Another interpretation: “Who then is the King of glory?” – why did he call the Holy One blessed be He the King of glory? It is because He allots glory to those who fear Him. How so? A king of flesh and blood, one does not ride his horse and one does not sit on his throne. But the Holy One blessed be He seated Solomon on His throne, as it is stated: “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king” (I Chronicles 29:23), and He had Elijah ride on His horse. What is the horse of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the whirlwind and the storm, as it is stated: “The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). And it is written: “Elijah went up by the whirlwind to the heavens” (II Kings 2:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one does not use his scepter; but the Holy One blessed be He passed His scepter to Moses, as it is stated: “Moses took the staff of God in his hand” (Exodus 4:20). A king of flesh and blood, one does not wear his crown; but the Holy One blessed be He is destined to place His crown on the messianic king. What is the crown of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the finest gold, as it is stated: “His head is the finest gold; his locks are curled, black as a raven” (Song of Songs 5:11), and it is written: “You set a crown of fine gold on his head” (Psalms 21:4).1This verse refers to the messianic king. A king of flesh and blood, one does not don his garments; but Israel dons the garments of the Holy One blessed be He. What are the garments of the Holy One blessed be He? Strength, as it is stated: “The Lord is clothed, He had girded Himself with strength” (Psalms 93:1). He gave it to Israel, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalms 29:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one is not called by his name, [such as] Caesar Augustus, and one who is called by his name, they would execute him; but the Holy One blessed be He called Moses by His name, as it is stated: “See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh.” The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The wicked Pharaoh made himself a god, as it is stated: “My river is mine, and I have made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3); therefore, he will see you and say: This is a god.’
“The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1).
“It was on the day when the Lord.… The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh” – that is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates” (Psalms 24:7). Solomon recited this verse when he was taking the Ark into the Holy of Holies. He crafted an Ark that was ten cubits [wide]. When he arrived at the entrance of the Temple, the entrance was ten cubits and the Ark was ten cubits, and ten cubits are unable to enter into ten cubits. Moreover, they were carrying it [and there was certainly not enough space for those bearing the Ark to enter]. When he came to take it in, he was unable to do so. Solomon stood and was embarrassed and did not know what to do. He began praying before the Holy One blessed be He.
What did Solomon do? Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, say: He went and brought David’s coffin, and said: “Lord, God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed” (II Chronicles 6:42). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: At that moment, David came alive, as you may expound [from the verse]: “Lord, You took up my soul from the grave, you kept me alive so I would not descent into the pit” (Psalms 30:4). Solomon was saying: ‘Master of the universe, do so due to the merit of this one,’ as it is stated: “Remember the kindnesses of David Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42). Immediately, [his prayer] was answered. What is written thereafter? “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and the offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the house” (II Chronicles 7:1). The Divine Spirit was shouting and saying: “I praise the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive” (Ecclesiastes 4:2).
Solomon began saying: “Lift your heads, gates, and be uplifted, everlasting doors; and the King of glory will come” (Psalms 24:7). The gates said to him: “Who then is the King of glory?” (Psalms 24:10). He said to them: “The Lord of Hosts; He is the king of glory. Selah” (Psalms 24:10). When he said this to them, they were immediately calmed. Had it not been so, they would have attempted to crush his skull to kill him.
Another interpretation: “Who then is the King of glory?” – why did he call the Holy One blessed be He the King of glory? It is because He allots glory to those who fear Him. How so? A king of flesh and blood, one does not ride his horse and one does not sit on his throne. But the Holy One blessed be He seated Solomon on His throne, as it is stated: “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king” (I Chronicles 29:23), and He had Elijah ride on His horse. What is the horse of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the whirlwind and the storm, as it is stated: “The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). And it is written: “Elijah went up by the whirlwind to the heavens” (II Kings 2:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one does not use his scepter; but the Holy One blessed be He passed His scepter to Moses, as it is stated: “Moses took the staff of God in his hand” (Exodus 4:20). A king of flesh and blood, one does not wear his crown; but the Holy One blessed be He is destined to place His crown on the messianic king. What is the crown of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the finest gold, as it is stated: “His head is the finest gold; his locks are curled, black as a raven” (Song of Songs 5:11), and it is written: “You set a crown of fine gold on his head” (Psalms 21:4).1This verse refers to the messianic king. A king of flesh and blood, one does not don his garments; but Israel dons the garments of the Holy One blessed be He. What are the garments of the Holy One blessed be He? Strength, as it is stated: “The Lord is clothed, He had girded Himself with strength” (Psalms 93:1). He gave it to Israel, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalms 29:11).
A king of flesh and blood, one is not called by his name, [such as] Caesar Augustus, and one who is called by his name, they would execute him; but the Holy One blessed be He called Moses by His name, as it is stated: “See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh.” The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The wicked Pharaoh made himself a god, as it is stated: “My river is mine, and I have made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3); therefore, he will see you and say: This is a god.’
Midrash Tanchuma
No one may use the scepter of a human king, but the Holy One, blessed be He, handed His scepter to Moses, as it is said: And Moses took the scepter of the Lord in his hand (Exod. 4:20). No one would dare don the crown of a human king, but in the future the Holy One, blessed be He, will place His crown upon the head of King Messiah. What is the crown of the Holy One, blessed be He, like? The crown of the Holy One, blessed be He, is of the finest gold, as it is said: His head is of the most fine gold (Song 5:11), and it is also written about Him elsewhere: Thou settest a crown of fine gold on his head (Isa. 21:4).