Five Rabbis Expound the Hidden Meanings of Mount Moriah

Another interpretation of "Moriah": [Rabbi Joshua ben Levi said:] It is the place from which the righteous give instruction (morin) before the Holy One, blessed be He, and He acts, as it is said (in 1 Chronicles 24:5): "And they divided them by lots." Rabbi Samuel bar Nahman said: What is "Moriah"? The place where the Holy One, blessed be He, gives instruction (moreh) to the wicked and brings them down to Gehinnom, as it is said (in Psalms 49:15): "Like sheep they are appointed for Sheol; [death shall shepherd them, and the upright shall rule over them in the morning, and their form shall waste away in Sheol, far from its lofty dwelling]." Rabbi Simeon ben Yohai says: What is "Moriah"? A place of instruction (moreh), set directly opposite the Temple that is above, as it is said (in Exodus 15:17): "A place (makhon) for You to dwell in [that You made, O Lord, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Your hands established]." Rabbi Judah ben Palma says: What is "Moriah"? Abraham said before the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the worlds, to which place shall we go? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: To the place where I adorn (koshet) you. And this expression means nothing other than an expression of adornment (kishut), as it is said (in Exodus 19:13): "No hand shall touch it, but it shall surely be stoned or shot through (yaroh yiyareh)." Rabbi Pinhas the Priest ben Hama says: What is "Moriah"? The place of authority (maruteh) of the world. Rabbi Judah the Levite son of Rabbi Shallum said: Whence is this known? As it is said (in 1 Chronicles 13:6): "And David [and all Israel] went up to Baalah, that is, to Kiriath-jearim."