Israel Likened to Noah's Dove Bringing Light Through the Olive

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Tetzaveh 1:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of "Your eyes are doves" (Song of Songs 1:15): Rabbi Yitzchak said, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Your sample resembles a dove. One who seeks to buy wheat says to his fellow, "Show me their sample." So too your sample resembles a dove. How so? When Noah was in the ark, what is written? "And he sent out the dove" etc., "and the dove came to him at evening time" (Genesis 8:8 and 8:11). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: Just as the dove brought light to the world, so too you, who were likened to a dove, bring an olive and kindle it before Me, as it is said, "And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring to you pure olive oil" (Exodus 27:20).

Themes

AnimalsNoahLightMusicAdam Eve

Biblical References

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