Who Is the King of Glory at Heaven's Gates

Another thing, may the Lord be pleased with your majesty. Rabbi Simon said (Psalm 24:10), "Who is this King of Glory? The Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory, Selah." This is a King who shares His honor with His servants; the Lord of Hosts, He is the King of Glory, Selah.

Our sages taught, "A mortal king does not ride on his horse, nor sit on his throne, nor wield his scepter. But Moses used the scepter of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said (Exodus 4:20), 'And Moses took the staff of God in his hand.' And Elijah rode on his horse. And what was the horse of the Holy One, blessed be He?

It was the storm and tempest, as it is written (2 Kings 2:11), 'And Elijah went up in a whirlwind into heaven.' A mortal king does not wear his own crown. But the Holy One, blessed be He, gave the crown to the King Messiah, as it is said (Psalm 21:4), 'You set a crown of fine gold upon his head.' A mortal king does not wear his own mantle.

But the King Messiah will be clothed in splendor and majesty, as it is written (Psalm 21:6), 'You make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence.' A mortal king does not sit on his own throne. But Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king, as it is said (1 Chronicles 29:23), 'Then Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king.' A mortal king does not call his deputy by his own name.

But the Holy One, blessed be He, called Moses by his name, as it is said (Exodus 7:1), 'See, I have made you as God to Pharaoh.' And likewise, Israel said (Psalm 82:6), 'I said, "You are gods."' They are called holy ones, as it is said (Leviticus 19:2), 'You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.' And it is written (Deuteronomy 7:6), 'For you are a holy people.'

And the King Messiah will be called by his name. And what is his name? The Lord, the warrior. And the King Messiah's name will be called 'The Lord is our righteousness,' as it is said (Jeremiah 23:6), 'And this is his name whereby he shall be called, The Lord is our righteousness.'

And Jerusalem will be called by his name, as it is said (Ezekiel 48:35), 'And the name of the city from that day shall be, The Lord is there.' And Israel will wear the mantle of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said of Him (Psalm 93:1), 'The Lord reigns, He is clothed with majesty.' "And they will give to Israel, as it is said (Isaiah 52:1), "Awaken, awaken, clothe yourself in your strength."

Rabbi Levi said, "It is good for a province to have a name like its queen, and for a queen to have a name like that of God." This is what the verse means (Micah 5:3), "He will arise and shepherd in the name of the Lord." At that time, the king will rejoice in your strength. Another explanation is that there is no strength other than Torah, as it says (Psalm 29:11), "The Lord will give strength to His people."

Another explanation is that there is no strength other than the Land of Israel, as it says (Psalm 78:71), "And He gave his strength to captivity." And there is no strength other than kingship, as it says (1 Samuel 2:10), "And He will give strength to His kin...