The Palm and the Righteous in the Census of Levi

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Bamidbar 17:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"ENROLL THE CHILDREN OF LEVI, etc." (Numbers 3:15). This is what Scripture says: "The righteous one shall flourish like the palm" (Psalms 92:13). Just as this palm—its shade is far off, so the giving of the reward of the righteous is far off. Just as this palm produces dates and produces unripe dates (novelot), so it is with Israel: among them are sons of Torah and among them are ignorant folk (amei ha-aretz). Just as this palm has within it unripe dates that do not enter the storehouse, yet produces dates, and these do enter the storehouse, so it was with Israel when they were in the wilderness: some of them entered the land of Israel, and some of them did not enter.

Themes

RighteousnessTribesLeviDavidPsalms

Biblical References

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Midrash Tanchuma Buber, BamidbarWhy the Tribe of Levi Flourishes Like the Palm in God's CourtsHear why the tribe of Levi stands taller than all the others. The verse sings, "The righteous one shall flourish like the palm tree", and the Sages tell us thisMidrash Tanchuma Buber, NoachWhy the Deeds of the Righteous Bear Fruit Like the MountainsMountains and the Deep The Sages opened the verse, "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, and Your judgments are a great deep" (Psalms 36:7), and askMidrash Tanchuma Buber, NoachThe Righteous as Mountains and the Wicked as the DeepThe sages turned a single verse of David over like a stone in the sun, and beneath it they found two kinds of men. "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountaMidrash Tanchuma Buber, Lech LechaWhy the Righteous Are Likened to the Palm and the CedarOur Sages asked a question of trees, and answered it about souls. Why does Scripture liken the righteous to the date palm and the cedar, and not to some hardierMidrash Tanchuma Buber, Lech LechaWhy the Righteous Are Likened to the Date Palm and Cedar"A righteous one shall flourish like the date palm" (Psalms 92:13). Rabbi Tanhuma opened with a question that turns a single verse over in the hand like a stoneMidrash Tanchuma Buber, Achrei MotWhen God Will Rejoice in the Works of the RighteousListen, and weigh your wish to be happy against the patience of Heaven. The Holy One, blessed be He, has not yet taken His own rejoicing in the world He made, s