God Shares His Glory with Moses, Elijah, and the Messianic King

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotcha 15:1

[Another interpretation:] What is the meaning of (Psalms 24:10) "The LORD of Hosts, He is the King of Glory"? That He shares of His glory with those who fear Him, as befits His glory. How so? He is called God (Elohim), and He called Moses "God," as it is said (Exodus 7:1), "See, I have made you a god to Pharaoh." He revives the dead, and He shared of His glory with Elijah, and he revived the dead one, as it is said (I Kings 17:23), "And Elijah said, See, your son lives." Because the Holy One, blessed be He, shares of His glory with those who fear Him, He clothes the Messianic King in His own garment, as it is said (Psalms 21:6), "Honor and majesty You lay upon him." Our Rabbis taught: A king of flesh and blood—none may ride upon his horse, none may wear his garment, none may make use of his seal, and none may sit upon his throne; yet with all of these the Holy One, blessed be He, shared with those who fear Him and gave them. How do we know? As it is said (Nahum 1:3), "The LORD—His way is in the whirlwind and the storm"; and He gave it to Elijah, as it is said (II Kings 2:11), "And [Elijah] went up by a whirlwind into the heavens." And none may wear his garment—what is written (Psalms 104:1)? "Honor and majesty You have put on"; and concerning the Messianic King it is written (Psalms 21:6), "Honor and majesty You lay upon him." And none may make use of his crown—what is written concerning Moses (Exodus 34:29)? "And Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone." And none may sit upon his throne—yet it is written (I Chronicles 29:23), "And Solomon sat upon the throne of the LORD as king." And none may make use of his scepter—yet He gave it to Moses, as it is said (Exodus 4:17), "And take this staff in your hand," etc. What is written concerning the Holy One, blessed be He (Psalms 47:6)? "God has ascended amid the blast, the LORD amid the sound of the shofar." The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: I have made you a king, as it is said (Deuteronomy 33:5), "And He was king in Jeshurun." Just as the king—when he goes forth, they sound the trumpet before him—so too you, when you go forth, let them sound the trumpet before you: "Make for yourself two trumpets of silver."

Themes

Biblical References