מדרש אויף מלכים א 17:23

"Who has ascended to Heaven and come down? Who has gathered the wind in the hollows of his hands? Who has bound water in a mantle?^*Poetic expression for the manner in which rain is enclosed within a cloud (Jastrow); see Job 26:8 (see below) Who established all the extremities of the Earth? What is his name and what is his son's name, if you know?" (Prov. 30:4.) "Who has ascended to Heaven" -- that is the Holy One Blessed be He, as is written in that regard: "God ascended with sounds of exultation (teruah)" (Ps. 47:6). "And come down" -- "And the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai" (Ex. 19:20). "Who gathered wind" -- "He who has the soul of every living being in His hand, etc." (Job 12:10). "Who bound water"-- "He binds water in His clouds" (Job 26:8). "Who established all the extremities of the Earth?" -- "The Lord causes death and brings to life" (1 Sam. 2:6). "And what is his name?" -- Rock is His name, Shaddai is his name, the Lord of Hosts is His name. "And what is the name of His son?" -- "My son, my first born, is Israel" (Ex. 4:22) is His [son's] name.
Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to Heaven?" Who is the one whose prayer ascends to Heaven and causes the rains to fall? He who separates his tithes with the hollows of his hands -- it is he who brings down dew and rainfall eternally. "Who has gathered the wind in the hollows of his hands? Who has bound water in a mantle? Who established all the extremities of the Earth?" Who is the one whose prayer does not ascend to Heaven and does not cause the rains to fall? He who does not separate his tithes with the hollows of his hands -- it is he who stops the Heavens from bringing down dew and rainfall eternally.
Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to Heaven?" -- that is Elijah, about whom it is written, "And Elijah ascended in a whirlwind to Heaven" (2 Kings 2:11). "And come down" -- "[The angel of Hashem said to Elijah,] 'Go down with him, do not be afraid,'" (2 Kings 1:15). Who has gathered the wind in the hollows of his hands?" -- "[Ejijah the Tishbite from the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, 'As lives] Hashem, the God of Israel, who I have stood before, [there will be no dew or rain in these years except at my word]'" (1 Kings 17:1). "Who bound up water [in a garment]?" -- "And Elijah took his mantle and rolled it up, [and he struck the waters]" (2 Kings 2:8). "Who established all the extremities of the Earth?" -- "And Elijah said, 'See, your son lives!'" (1 Kings 17:23).^*Commentators note that the Hebrew phrase מי הקים כל אפסי ארץ ("Who established all the extremities of the Earth"), can also be rendered "Who has raised up (hekim) all the nothingness (afsei) of the Earth"; i.e., Elijah raised from death (nothingness) the child of the widow from Tzarphatah.
Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to Heaven?" -- that is Moses, about whom it is written, "And Moses ascended to God" (Ex. 19:3). "And come down" -- "And Moses come down from the mountain" (Ex. 19:14). "Who has gathered the wind?" -- "As soon as I have gone out of the city, [I will spread my hands to Hashem, [and] the thunder will cease and the lightning will be no more]" (Ex. 9:29). "Who has bound water?" -- "The waters stood up in a heap" (Ex. 15:9). "Who has established (hekim) all the extremities of the Earth?" -- that is the Tent of Meeting, as it is said, "And it was on the day that Moses completed [establishing (l'kayem) the Tabernacle]." For the world was established with it.
Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai: "Establishing a tabernacle" is not stated; rather, "Establishing the Tabernacle." Before it was established, the world was wobbling; once the Tabernacle was established, the world had a solid base. Therefore it is said, "And it was on the day that Moses completed, etc."

(Numb. 10:1–2:) “Then the Lord spoke [unto Moses saying], ‘Make two silver trumpets (hatsotserot).’” This text is related (to Ps. 24:7), “O gates, lift up your heads, be lifted up, you everlasting doors, [that the King of glory may come in].” When Solomon was bringing the ark into the Temple,¹⁷Numb. R. 15:13; above Exod. 2:6 and the note there. he began to say, “O gates, lift up your heads...,” because the openings were [too] low. [Then] he said, “Be lifted up you everlasting doors, that the King of glory may come in.” The gates said to him (in vss. 8 and 10), “Who is this king of glory? The gates immediately wanted to break his head [and would have done so,] if he had not said (in vs. 10), “The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.” Again he said (in vs. 8), “The Lord strong and mighty [...].” He said to them, “Expand yourselves, for the King of glory is coming upon you. They immediately showed Him honor (kavod), and raised themselves up.¹⁸Lam. R. 2:9 (13). So the ark entered. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “You have shown Me honor. Upon your lives, when I destroy My house, no one will prevail against you.” You know that all the implements of the Temple went into exile in Babylon as stated (in Dan. 1:2), “Then the Lord gave King Jehoiakim of Judah into his hand, with some of the implements from the house of God; and he brought them to the land of Shinar.” But the Temple gates were hidden in their place, as stated (in Lam. 2:9), “Her gates have sunk into the ground.” [Another interpretation:] What is the meaning (of Ps. 24:10), “the Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah?” That He imparts some of His glory to those who fear Him.¹⁹Numb. R.15:13; see PRK 32:9 (= Suppl. 1:9); M. Pss. 90:1. How? He is called "God" (elohim, a term denoting a power), and he called Moses "elohim," as stated (in Exod. 7:1), “See I have set you as elohim to Pharaoh.” He (the Holy One, blessed be He,) causes the dead to live, and he imparted some of His glory to Elijah. Thus he (i.e., Elijah) caused the dead to live, as stated (in I Kings 17:23), “and Elijah said, ‘See your son is alive.’” Because the Holy One, blessed be He, imparts some of his glory to those who fear Him, He put His own clothing on the messianic king, as stated (in Ps. 21:6), “honor and majesty You shall lay upon him.” What is written about the Holy One, blessed be He, (in Ps. 47:6)? “God has ascended amid acclamation; the Lord with the sound of a horn (shofar).” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I have made you a king. It is so stated (in Deut. 33:5), ‘Then he became king in Jeshurun.’ Just as when the king goes forth, they sound trumpets before him, so also for you, (in Numb. 10:2:), ‘Make for yourself two silver trumpets.’ [This is] so that will they sound the trumpets before you when you take out and bring in Israel, as stated (Numb.10:3), ‘And they shall blow them and the whole community shall assemble before you.’” Hence (Numb. 10:2:), “Make for yourself two silver trumpets.” This text is related (to Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king, and do not associate with those who would differ.” But what is the meaning of “and the king?” Simply [this, to] make Him (i.e., the Holy One, blessed be He,) king over you.²⁰Numb. R. 15:14 cont. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21), “and the king”: Be king over the evil drive, which is called a king, where it is stated (in Eccl. 9:14), “[There was a little city with few people in it,] and a great king came against it […].”²¹Cf. see above Gen. R. 11:1; 23:2; also Eccl. R. 4:13:1; 9:14:6, 9. Another interpretation (of Prov. 24:21), “and the king.” [More] than the king: Lest it be supposed that if the king says to you, “Worship an idol,” you should heed him;²²See above Gen. 2:15. the text reads (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king.” Thus [when] Nebuchadnezzar told Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah to worship an idol, they did not heed him. Instead they said to him (in Dan. 3:18), “We will not serve your gods, nor will we pay homage to the image of gold which you have set up.” Nebuchadnezzar said to them (in Dan. 3:14), “’Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego?’ Did not the Holy One, blessed be He, say this to you that you should obey royalty in whatever it tells you, where it is stated (in Eccl. 8:2), ‘I [say], “Keep the king's command?”’” They said to him, “You are king over us for taxes and crop levies;²³Lat.: annona. but in regard to the service of idols, Nebuchadnezzar and a dog [have] equal [authority].” (Dan. 3:16-17:) “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, ‘O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to answer you in this [matter]. If our God [whom we serve is able to save us, He shall save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your hand O king].’” They said to him, “Whether He delivers us or whether He does not deliver us (in vs. 18), ‘be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods nor pay homage to the image of gold which you have set up.’” Ergo (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king; and do not associate with those who would differ”; [i.e.,] in that Israel is called a third to all those that fear Him, but do not associate with those who say that there are two gods in the world, for the end of [such people] is to perish from the world. It is so stated (in Zech. 13:8), “And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the Lord, that two-thirds [in it] shall be cut off [and die], but one-third shall remain in it.” And who is the one-third? This is Israel as stated (in Is. 19:24), “And on that day Israel shall be a third [partner with Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth].” Ergo (in Prov. 24:21), “Fear the Lord, my child, and the king.” Whoever is in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, becomes a king. From whom did you learn [that]? From Abraham because he was in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, and became a king. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 22:12), “for now I know that you fear God.” But where is it shown that he became a king? It is written (in Gen. 14:17), “[And the king of Sodom came out to meet him …] at the Valley of Shaveh, i.e., the valley of the king.” What is the meaning of the Valley of Shaveh (rt.: shwh?] That they all became equal (rt.: shwh). So taking counsel (or taking wood),²⁴‘Etsah. The word can mean either “counsel” or “wood.” they cut cedars, made a throne, and set him over them as king. And you should not say [this] only [in the case of] Abraham alone. In the case of Moses [as well did this happen], because he was in fear of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Exod. 3:6), “then Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.” And where is it shown that he became a king?] Where it is stated (in Deut. 33:5), “Then he became king in Jeshurun.”²⁵Thus the king of whom Prov. 24:21 demands obedience, is a king who fears the Holy One like Abraham or Moses. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I have made you a king. As they blow trumpets before a king when he goes forth to war, so shall they blow trumpets before you when you go forth to war.” How is it shown? From that which they read about the matter (in Numb. 10:2), “Make two silver trumpets.”²⁶The context of the passage concerns the sounding of an alarm in time of war.

“Erecting the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Who ascended heavenward and descended? [Who gathered the wind in his fists? Who bound water in a garment? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son's name, if you know]?” (Proverbs 30:4). “Who ascended heavenward?” – this is the Holy One blessed be He, in whose regard it is written: “God ascended with acclaim, the Lord…” (Psalms 47:6). “And descended” – “the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai” (Exodus 19:20). “Who gathered the wind?” – “in whose hand is the life of every living being” (Job 12:10). “Who bound [tzarar] water in a garment?” – “He, who amasses [tzorer] water in His clouds” (Job 26:8). “Who established all the ends of the earth?” – “The Lord puts to death and brings to life” (I Samuel 2:6). “What is his name?” His name is Rock, His name is Almighty, His name is Lord of Hosts. “And what is his son’s name, if you know?” “My son, My firstborn, Israel” (Exodus 4:22).
Another matter: “Who ascended heavenward?” (Proverbs 30:4) – this is Elijah, in whose regard it is written: “Elijah ascended heavenward in a storm” (II Kings 2:11). “And descended” (Proverbs 30:4) – “[the angel of the Lord spoke to Elijah:] Go down with him; do not fear” (II Kings 1:15). “Who gathered the wind?” (Proverbs 30:4) – “as the Lord, God of Israel, before whom I stand, lives, there shall be neither dew nor rain during these years” (I Kings 17:1). “Who bound [tzarar] water in a garment?” (Proverbs 30:4) – “Elijah took his mantle, [rolled it up, and struck the water]” (II Kings 2:8). “Who established all the ends of the earth?” (Proverbs 30:4) – “Elijah said: See, your son lives” (I Kings 17:23).
Another matter: “Who ascended heavenward and descended?” (Proverbs 30:4) – who is it whose prayer ascends heavenward and causes rain to fall, and by his merit wind blows to grow the grass, as it is stated: “Who gathered the wind [in his fists]?” (Proverbs 30:4). It is the one who distributes tithes in his fists; that is “in his fists.” Likewise it says: “Bring all the tithe to the storehouse, and let it be food in My house. Test Me now with this, said the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out an endless [ad beli dai] blessing for you” (Malachi 3:10), until your lips will be worn [yivlu] from saying enough [dai]. From where is it derived that winds are needed for grain? It is as it is written: “My lesson will fall as the rain, [my saying] will flow [like dew, like storm winds on grass, and like raindrops on vegetation]” (Deuteronomy 32:2). “Who bound water in a garment?” (Proverbs 30:4) – one who does not distribute his tithe with his fists, his prayers do not ascend heavenward and do not cause rain to fall; rather, it causes the water to amass in the clouds, and they do not fall to the ground. “Who established all the ends of the earth?” (Proverbs 30:4) – it is just as it says: “The Lord will render the rain of your land dust and dirt” (Deuteronomy 28:24). “What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know?” (Proverbs 30:4). “What is his name?” – Abraham separated tithe first, as it is stated: “He gave him a tithe from everything” (Genesis 14:20), and the Holy One blessed be He granted him the heavens and earth. Why did he [Malkitzedek] bless him that God should grant him the heavens and earth? It was for his offspring. “And what is his son’s name?” – this is Isaac, who gave a tithe and was blessed, as it is stated: “Isaac sowed [in that land, and found in that year one hundredfold]” (Genesis 26:12). What is, “and found in that year one hundredfold [me’a she’arim]”? It teaches that he measured them in order to tithe them. “If you know” – likewise, the Holy One blessed be He exhorted Israel that if they tithe their grain, He will bless them with wealth, as it is stated: “You shall tithe [aser te’aser]…” (Deuteronomy 14:22); tithe [aser] so you will become wealthy [shetitasher].
Another matter: “Who ascended heavenward?” (Proverbs 30:4) – this is Moses, in whose regard it is written: “Moses ascended to God” (Exodus 19:3). “And descended” (Proverbs 30:4) – “Moses descended from the mountain to the people” (Exodus 19:14). “Who gathered wind in his fists?” (Proverbs 30:4) – “As I leave the city, I will spread [my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease and the hail will be no longer]” (Exodus 9:29). “Who bound water in a garment?” (Proverbs 30:4) – “flowing water stood upright like a wall” (Exodus 15:8). “Who established all the ends of the earth?” (Proverbs 30:4) – did Moses establish the ends of the earth? Rather, he established the Tent of Meeting, with which the world was established. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: It is not written here: Erecting a Tabernacle [mishkan], but rather, “erecting the Tabernacle [et hamishkan.]”⁴²The extraneous word et is expounded to include a second Tabernacle. A second Tabernacle was erected with it that is called a tent, just as the Tabernacle is called the Tent of Meeting, just as it says: “He stretched them like a tent in which to dwell” (Isaiah 40:22). Until the Tabernacle was erected, the world was unsteady. Once the Tabernacle was erected, the world was stabilized. That is why it is stated: “Erecting the Tabernacle [et hamishkan].”