Why Righteousness Holds Down Judgment Like Mountains Over the Deep

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Noach 8:6

Another interpretation: "Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains" (Psalms 36:7). Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: Just as the mountains press down upon the deep, so that it does not rise up and flood the world, so does righteousness press down upon the attribute of judgment and upon punishment, so that it does not come upon the world. "Your righteousness" is over "Your judgments," like "the mighty mountains" are over "the great deep."

Themes

Biblical References