Rabbi Meir says: “These are the ordinances,” the Holy One blessed be He entrusted justice to the elders of Israel, just as the Sanhedrin On High sits before God, as it is stated: “I was seeing until thrones were set in place, and the Ancient One sat…the court convened, and the books were opened” (Daniel 7:9–10).74The Sanhedrin sits before God, just as the heavenly Sanhedrin of angels (see Vayikra Rabba 24:2) sits before God.
The Holy One blessed be He, who is called the Ancient One, sat to exact retribution against those who came against him arrogantly, as it is stated: “Do not speak exceedingly with arrogance” (I Samuel 2:3). This is analogous to a king whose guardsmen demeaned him regarding the royal garment in which he was clad. The king said to them: ‘You ignored everything [else] and occupied yourselves with the royal garment in which I am clad; as you live, I will change it and I will exact retribution against you.’
So too with these wicked ones who criticized the Ancient One. It is not that He is old, but that [Israel] had exhausted Him with their actions, as it is written: “You wearied the Lord with your words” (Malachi 2:17).75God is described as ancient because He refrains from taking action against those who act against Israel, as though He were an old man, incapable of waging war. This is not the case, it is just that Israel has sinned.
He said to them: ‘I will change it,’ as it is stated: “Why is there red on Your garment?” (Isaiah 63:2), ‘and I will exact retribution against you,’ as it is stated: “The Lord will emerge like a warrior, He will arouse zealotry like a man of war” (Isaiah 42:13).