The righteous will flourish like a palm tree. This palm tree is beautiful in appearance, and all of its fruits are sweet and good. Similarly, the son of David is beautiful in his appearance, and all of his actions are sweet and good before the Lord. Rabbi Yitzhak bar Ada said: "Just as the shade of the palm tree is far from it, so too is the reward of the righteous far from them until the World to Come, as it is written (Deuteronomy 7:12), 'And it will come to pass, if you shall hearken.'

And it is written (ibid. 7:9), 'To keep His commandments unto a thousand generations.' Another interpretation: Just as this palm tree is not lacking in any of its three kinds of produce, so too Israel is not lacking in three righteous individuals, such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, or Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Another interpretation: This palm tree provides a lulav for the holiday of Sukkot, and its branches for kindling, as well as strength and advice for illumination.

Similarly, Israel is not lacking in upright righteous individuals who are knowledgeable in Torah and do acts of kindness, even among the unlearned, as it says (Song of Songs 4:13), 'Your shoots are an orchard of pomegranates, with choice fruits.' Another interpretation: This palm tree makes moist dates from dry ones and produces baskets. Thus, the wise student should be careful with their embers, so as not to be burnt, for anyone who is not careful with them will be punished, as it says (Genesis 12:17), 'And the Lord struck Pharaoh with great plagues.' (Similarly, Israel has among them those who are knowledgeable in Torah, Mishnah, Talmud, and Aggadah.)

Another interpretation: This palm tree's heart faces upward, so too do the hearts of Israel face their Father in Heaven. Another interpretation: This palm tree has desires, so too does Israel desire the Lord. Our rabbis said: There was a story about a palm tree in one of the hot springs, which they would ride upon, but it did not produce fruit. One date palm said to them, "This tree sees the fragrance of the miriacho and desires it."

They went and brought the miriacho, and immediately it bore fruit. So too, the desire of Israel is for the Holy One, blessed be He. Just as they do not make utensils from this palm tree, so too Israel. It is written, "Like a cedar in Lebanon."

Rabbi Tanchuma said, "I asked Rabbi Huna about it, and he said to me that they saw it in Babylon and made utensils and tables and lamps from it." Just as the cedar does not bear fruit, so too Israel. It is written, "Like a date palm." Just as the date palm bears fruit, so too Israel.

Just as the date palm, its trunk does not change, so too Israel. It is written, "Like a cedar." Just as the cedar changes its trunk, so too Israel. And what about the cedar in Lebanon, whose roots are numerous below the ground, and even all the winds in the world come and settle upon it, they do not move it from its place, so too Israel, who are planted in the house of God, and the Holy One, blessed be He, will gather them from the four corners of the earth.

And like a garden planted from row to row, so too Israel. And so will the Holy One, blessed be He, plant them from an unclean land to a pure land, as it is said, "Planted in the house of the Lord." And like this herb they will flourish and grow in the Temple, as it is said, "They shall flourish in the courts of our God." They will still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing.

They will show forth the Lord's good works, as it is said, "They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing."