מדרש אויף דניאל 7:13

“I will tell of the decree” (Psalms 2:7). They have been declared, in the decree of the Torah, and the decrees of the Prophets and the Writings. In the decree of the Torah, “Israel is my firstborn son” (Exodus 4:22). In the decree of the Prophets, “Behold my servant will prosper; he will be exalted and elevated” (Isaiah 52:13). What is written next? “This is my servant whom I support; [my chosen one; the delight of my soul]” (Isaiah 42:1). In the Writings: “God said to my lord, [Sit at my right hand while I make your enemies into your footstools]” (Psalms 110:1). “God said to me, “You are My son”” (Psalms 2:7). And another [prooftext from the] Writings says, “behold, [one like a son of man came] with the clouds of heaven” (Daniel 7:13) [a reference to the Messiah]. “God said to me, “You are My son”” (Psalms 2:7) Rabbi Yuden said, all of these retributions are [contained within] the decree of the King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He [regarding His Messiah]. Why so much? Because [His Messiah] toils in the Torah. Another interpretation of “You are My son” – from here [one can find an] answer to those who say that God [really and truly] has a son. And you can answer them: [God doesn’t say, “You] are a son unto me,” rather, [He says, as a mere term of endearment, “You] are my son,” like a slave who brings his master satisfaction, [such that his master] says to him, “I love you as if you were my son.” Rav Huna said, the afflictions [of Israel] were divided into three portions. One was taken by the forefathers of old, and by all of the generations; one [was taken] by the generation of the [Hadrianic] persecution; and one [is reserved for] the generation of the Messiah. And when his time comes, the Holy One, blessed be He, will say, “I must create [the Messiah] as a new creation.” And so, it is said, “I have fathered you this day” (Psalms 2:7). At that very moment, He created him. [It doesn’t mean that He created him ex nihilo, or fathered him as a father has a biological child. Rather, it means that God will transform this person into a Messiah]. And so too, it is said [regarding Adonijah,] “[and his mother] bore him after Absalom” (I Kings 1:6) [and yet the verse isn’t detailing a real birth, but a type of transformation]. Did the mother of Absalom give birth to Adonijah [after giving birth to Absalom – as a literal construal of this verse would suggest]? But wasn’t [Absalom] the son of Ma’acha, and wasn’t [Adonijah] the son of Hagit? Rather, just as this one made chariots and horsemen [to rebel against David his father], so did that one; just as this one was quarrelsome, so too was that one; and just as this one had an entourage of fifty men running before him, so too did that one. [In other words, after Absalom was all of those things; Adonijah was, so to speak, reborn in the likeness of Absalom, and did all of those things too; so too the Messiah will be remade to rise to the challenges before him].

R. Alexandri said: "R. Joshua b. Levi raised the following contradiction: It is written: (Ib. 60, 22) "I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time." Hasten and in its time contradict each other, i.e., if they will be worthy, I will hasten it, and if not, they must wait till the appointed time will come." R. Alexandri said again: "R. Joshua b. Levi raised the following contradiction: It is written (Dan. 7, 13) Behold with the clouds of heaven came one like a son of man, … and it is also written: (Zech. 9, 9) Lowly, and riding upon an ass [hence he is poor]?" i.e., If they will be worthy, he will come with the clouds of heaven, and if not, he will come upon an ass." King Sabur said to Samuel: "You say that your Messiah will come upon an ass; let me send him the best horse of my stable." And he answered: "Do you possess a horse of a hundred colors as the ass of the Messiah?" R. Joshua b. Levi met Elijah standing at the entrance of the cave of R. Simon b. Jochai and asked him: "Will I have a share in the world to come?" And he answered: "If it will be the will of this Lord." R. Joshua b. Levi said: "I have seen two persons and the voice of the third have I heard." I then questioned them: 'When will the Messiah appear?' And they answered: 'Go and ask Messiah himself.' 'But where is he to be found?' 'At the gate of Rome.' 'And what is the sign [to recognize him]?' 'He goes among poor people afflicted with wounds. All the afflicted poor open the bandages of all their wounds, fix them and then dress them. And he opens one bandage, fixes the wound and dresses it, and then goes on to the next one, for the reason that when he might be called, there should be no delay [till all the wounds are dressed]. I went to him, and said: 'Peace be to thee, my master and teacher.' And he answered: 'Peace be with thee, bar Levi.' I asked him: 'When will the master appear?' He answered: 'This day.' I then went back to Elijah, and he questioned me as to what the Messiah said to me, and I told him that he said: 'Peace be with thee, bar Levi.' Elijah then said: 'I can assure you [now] of a share for thyself and for thy father in the world to come.' 'But he made a fool of me,' I said to Elijah, 'for he said that he will come this day.' And Elijah answered: 'The expression, this day, means as in (Ps. 95) Yea, this day, if you will hearken to his voice.' "

Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Clouds come only from above, as it is stated: “And behold, among the clouds of the heavens” (Daniel 7:13). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Clouds come only from below, as it is stated: “He makes clouds ascend from the ends of the earth” (Psalms 135:7). According to the opinion of Rabbi Yoḥanan, it is analogous to one who gifts someone a cask of wine along with its pitcher. Rabbi Shimon says: It is analogous to one who said to another: ‘Lend me a se’a of wheat.’ He says to him: ‘Bring your basket and come measure [the wheat] into it.’ So, the Holy One blessed be He says to the earth: ‘Bring your clouds and receive rain.’