Rabbi Mani began: “All my bones will say: Lord, who is comparable to You” (Psalms 35:10) – this verse is stated only for the sake of the palm branch. The spine of the palm branch resembles the spine of a person, the myrtle resembles the eye, the willow resembles the mouth, and the citron resembles the heart. David said: There are none among the limbs greater than these, as they are equal in significance to the entire body. That is, “all my bones will say.”
Another matter: “You shall take for you on the first day” – after all that wisdom that is written regarding Solomon: “Wisdom and knowledge is granted to you” (I Chronicles 2:12), “Solomon’s wisdom exceeded [the wisdom of all the people].… He became the wisest of all people” (I Kings 5:10–11), he sat and wondered regarding these four species, as it is stated: “There are three things that are beyond me” (Proverbs 30:18). “There are three things” – the paschal offering, unleavened bread, and bitter herbs. “And four I do not know” (Proverbs 30:18) – these are the four species of the palm branch that he sought to ascertain. “The fruit of a pleasant tree” – who will say that it is a citron? All trees produce pleasant fruit. “Branches of date palms” – the Torah said: Take two branches of date palms29This is based on the fact that the verse employs the plural term “branches.” with which to praise, but one takes only the lulav, from the heart of the date palm.30It is at a stage before it hardens into a branch. “A bough of a leafy tree” – who will say that this is a myrtle? It says elsewhere: “Go out to the mountain and bring olive branches, [pine branches, myrtle branches, date palm branches, and branches of a leafy tree, to make sukkot]” (Nehemiah 8:15). “Willows of the brook” – all trees grow with water. “And four I do not know” – he again mentioned them another time, as it is stated: “There are three that are accomplished [striders, and four accomplished walkers]” (Proverbs 30:29) – these are the four species that each and every individual of Israel goes, runs, and takes of them for himself to praise the Holy One blessed be He. They appear insignificant in the eyes of man, but they are significant before the Holy One blessed be He. Who clarified for Israel regarding these four species that they are the citron, palm branch, myrtle, and willow? It was the Sages, as it is stated: “[They are four that are small upon the earth], but they are exceedingly wise” (Proverbs 30:24).