The Four Species as God, the Patriarchs, and All Israel

Rabbi Akiva says: "the fruit of a goodly tree" -- this is the Holy One, blessed be He, of whom it is written, "You are clothed in glory and majesty (hadar)" (Psalms 104:1). "Branches of palm trees" -- this is the Holy One, of whom it is written, "The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree" (Psalms 92:13). "And boughs of a leafy tree" -- this is the Holy One, "and He stands among the myrtles" (Zechariah 1:8). "And willows of the brook" -- this is the Holy One, of whom it is written, "Extol Him who rides upon the clouds (aravot)" (Psalms 68:5). Another interpretation: "the fruit of a goodly tree" is our father Abraham, whom the Holy One adorned (hidero) with a good old age, as it is written, "And Abraham was old" (Genesis 24:1). "Branches of palm trees" is our father Isaac, who was bound (kafut) and tied upon the altar. "And boughs of a leafy tree" is our father Jacob: just as this myrtle is dense with leaves, so was Jacob dense with children. "And willows of the brook" is Joseph: just as this willow withers and dries before the other three species, so Joseph died before his brothers. Another interpretation: "the fruit of a goodly tree" is our mother Sarah, whom the Holy One adorned with a good old age, as it is written, "And Abraham and Sarah were old" (Genesis 18:11). "Branches of palm trees" is our mother Rebekah: just as this palm has edible fruit and has thorns, so Rebekah raised up a righteous one and a wicked one. "And boughs of a leafy tree" is our mother Leah: just as the myrtle is dense with leaves, so Leah was dense with children. "And willows of the brook" is our mother Rachel: just as this willow withers before the three species, so Rachel died before her sister. Another interpretation: "the fruit of a goodly tree" is the Great Sanhedrin of Israel, whom the Holy One adorned with a good old age, as it is written, "Rise before the aged" (Leviticus 19:32). "Branches of palm trees" are the disciples of the sages, who bend themselves to learn Torah from one another. "And boughs of a leafy tree" are the three rows of disciples who sit before the Sanhedrin. "And willows of the brook" are the two scribes of the court who stand before the Sanhedrin, one on the right and one on the left. Another interpretation: "the fruit of a goodly tree" -- these are Israel. Just as this citron has fragrance and has edible fruit, so among Israel there are people who possess Torah and possess good deeds. "Branches of palm trees" -- these are Israel. Just as this palm has edible fruit but no fragrance, so among Israel there are people who possess Torah but no good deeds. "And boughs of a leafy tree" -- these are Israel. Just as this myrtle has fragrance but no edible fruit, so among Israel there are people who have good deeds in hand but no Torah. "And willows of the brook" -- these are Israel. Just as this willow has neither taste nor fragrance, so among Israel there are people who have neither Torah nor good deeds. The Holy One said: to destroy them is impossible. Rather, let them all be made one bundle, and they atone, these for those. Therefore Moses warns Israel and says to them, "And you shall take for yourselves" (Leviticus 23:40).