Israel Yearns for Standards Like the Angels at Sinai

[(Numbers 2:2) EACH MAN BY HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS.] This is what Scripture says (Song of Songs 2:4): "He has brought me to the house of wine, [and his standard over me is love]." What is the meaning of "He has brought me to the house of wine"? When the Holy One, blessed be He, was revealed upon Mount Sinai, there descended with Him twenty-two thousand chariots of angels, as it is said (Psalms 68:18): "The chariots of God are myriads upon myriads, thousands of angels." And they were all arrayed by standards. Therefore it is said (Song of Songs 5:10): "distinguished by his standard above a myriad." When Israel saw them arrayed by standards, they yearned for standards. They said: "If only we too could be made into standards like them!" Therefore it is said: "He has brought me to the house of wine, [and his standard over me is love]." "The house of wine" is Sinai, on which the Torah was given, [which is compared to wine], as it is said (Proverbs 9:5): "and drink of the wine I have mixed." Thus, "He has brought me to the house of wine"—this is Sinai. "And his standard over me is love"—they said: "If only He would raise the standard of love over me!" And so it says (Psalms 20:6): "We will rejoice in your salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our standards." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: "You have yearned for standards; by your lives, I will fulfill your request," as it is said (ibid.): "May the LORD fulfill all your petitions." Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, made known His love for Israel, and said to Moses: "Go and make them into standards, just as they have yearned."