Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: A flesh and blood [king] imposes exile, and the Holy One blessed be He imposes exile, as it is stated: “Command the children of Israel and they shall expel from the camp” (Numbers 5:2). A flesh and blood [king] incarcerates in prison and the Holy One blessed be He incarcerates in prison, as it is stated: “The priest shall quarantine the leprous mark” (Leviticus 13:4).
A flesh and blood [king] decrees banishment and the Holy One blessed be He decrees banishment: “He shall dwell in isolation, outside the camp is his dwelling” (Leviticus 13:46). A flesh and blood [king] administers flogging and the Holy One blessed be He administers flogging: “Forty he shall flog him, he shall not add” (Deuteronomy 25:3). A flesh and blood [king] collects fines and the Holy One blessed be He collects fines, “they shall penalize him one hundred silver pieces” (Deuteronomy 22:19).
A flesh and blood [king] provides provisions and the Holy One blessed be He provides provisions, “behold I am raining food for you from the heavens” (Exodus 16:4). A flesh and blood [king] grants promotions and the Holy One blessed be He grants promotions, “take a census…” (Numbers 1:2).27“Se’u et rosh” literally “raise the head,” promote them. A flesh and blood [king] provides rations and the Holy One blessed be He provides rations, “an omer per person according to the number of your people” (Exodus 16:16).
A flesh and blood [king] strikes a person due to [testimony] of witnesses, but the Holy One blessed be He strikes him Himself, “I crushed and I will heal” (Deuteronomy 32:39). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Levi: A flesh and blood [king] strikes with a blade and heals with a bandage, but the Holy One blessed be He heals with that with which He strikes, as it is stated: “For I will bring a remedy for you, and from your wounds I will heal you” (Jeremiah 30:17).28The healing will arise from the wound.