“Like columns of smoke.” Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Yosei ben Zimra: When Israel was wandering from journey to journey, the pillar of cloud would descend and the pillar of fire would ascend, and the smoke from the arrangement of wood [on the altar] would ascend like two sparks of fire.44From the two altars, the copper altar used for sacrificial offerings and the gold altar used for incense.
They would emerge from between the two staves of the Ark and burn before them snakes, fiery serpents, and scorpions. The nations of the world would see and say: ‘They are gods and all their actions are performed with fire.’ Due to their terror of Israel, fear and trembling would beset them. That is what is written: “Terror and fear will beset them” (Exodus 15:16).
“Beset them” is not written, but rather “will beset them”—from here and on. “Perfumed with myrrh,” this is our patriarch Abraham. Just as myrrh is the first of all the spices,45See Exodus 30:23. so too, Abraham our patriarch was the first of all the righteous. Just as myrrh, anyone who gathers it, his hands have a bitter residue, so too, Abraham our patriarch would embitter and torment himself with suffering.
Just as myrrh emanates its fragrance only in fire, so Abraham divulged his good deeds only in the fiery furnace.46Abraham was thrown into a fiery furnace due to his rejection of idolatry (see Bereshit Rabba 38:13). “And frankincense,” this is our patriarch Isaac, who was sacrificed like a handful of frankincense on the altar. “With all the powders of the merchant,” this is Jacob our patriarch, whose bed was unflawed and no waste was found among them.47In contrast to Abraham and Isaac, all of Jacob’s sons were righteous.
Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Just as there are all kinds of spices in the peddler’s box, so too, priesthood is from Jacob, and Levites and royalty from Jacob. Isaac, Abraham gave him everything that was his, as it is stated: “Abraham gave everything that was his to Isaac” (Genesis 25:5). However, all of Jacob’s wares were only from the dust that was beneath his feet.48He solidified his hold on the blessings he received only in the aftermath of his struggle with Esau’s angel, symbolized by dust [avak], as the verse states: “A man wrestled [vaye’avek] with him there” (Genesis 32:25).
See Genesis 32:25–30. (Matnot Kehuna). Rabbi Yudan said two [statements]. Rabbi Yudan said: All the wares with which Israel engages and is successful in this world are due to the merit of that dust of Jacob our patriarch. Rabbi Yudan said another: All the merchandise49The midrash is using the term merchandise to refer to large-scale business, as opposed to “wares,” which is seen as small-scale peddling. that Israel produces and succeeds with in this world are due to the merit of that dust of Jacob our patriarch.
Rabbi Azarya said two [statements]: All the wars in which Israel engages and succeeds are due to the merit of that dust of Jacob our patriarch. Rabbi Azarya said another: All the Torah that Israel performs in this world is due to the merit of Jacob our patriarch. Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Abahu: That dust, the Holy One blessed be He took it and placed it under His throne of glory.
That is what is written: “The Lord, his way is in the tempest and in the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet” (Nahum 1:3).