Another matter: “Well set [al milet]” – with the fullness [mele’atah] of Jerusalem, just as it says: “[The faithful city,] full of [mele’ati] justice” (Isaiah 1:21). Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Hoshaya the Great: There were four hundred and eighty synagogues in Jerusalem, the numerical value of mele’ati.63Mem – 40, lamed – 30, alef – one, tav – 400, yod – 10, equals a total of 481, corresponding to the 480 synagogues and the Temple (Midrash HaMevo’ar).
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: “Well set [al milet]” – this one fills [memaleh] a little and that one fills a little, until the halakha emerges as though from Lebanon.64Lebanon is expounded as though it is from the word lavan, white. Together, the students clarify the matter under discussion until it is absolutely clear [melubenet]. As Rabbi Tanḥuma said: This one welds part of the matter and that one welds part of the matter, until the halakha emerges like joined beams.