Jerusalem Will Become a Torch for All Nations

[4] Rabbi Pinhas in the name of Rabbi Reuven said: The Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to bring Sinai and Tabor and Carmel, and to build the Temple upon their tops. And what is the reason? "And it shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established at the head of the mountains" (there, 2:2). Rabbi Huma said: Is this enough for you? Rather, the Temple says song and the mountains answer after it. And what is the reason? "And it shall be lifted up above the hills" (Micah 4:1). And this expression "lifted up" means nothing but song, and what is the reason? "And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was in charge of the lifting up of song; he directed the lifting up, for he was skilled" (1 Chronicles 15:22). Rabbi Hoshaiah in the name of Rabbi Aphes: Jerusalem is destined to become a lantern for the nations of the world, and they will walk by its light. And what is the reason? "And nations shall walk by your light," and so forth (Isaiah 60:3). Rabbi Aha said: Israel is likened to an olive tree, "a leafy olive tree, fair with goodly fruit" (Jeremiah 11:16), and the Holy One, blessed be He, is likened to a lamp, "The lamp of God is the soul of man" (Proverbs 20:27). Just as it is the way of oil to be placed in a lamp and the two of them give light as one, so too the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: My children, since My light is your light and your light is My light, I and you, let us go and give light to Zion. "Arise, shine, for your light has come" (Isaiah 60:1).