Another matter: “You shall take for you” – that is what is written: “Inform me of the way of life, abundant joy” (Psalms 16:11). David said before the Holy One blessed be He: Inform me which gate leads directly to life in the World to Come. Rabbi Yudan said: The Holy One blessed be He said to David: If it is life that you need, you need suffering [yisurin], as it is written: “Rebukes of admonition [musar] are the way of life” (Proverbs 6:23).
“Abundant joy [sova semaḥot]” (Psalms 16:11) – He satisfied us [sabenu] with five joys [semaḥot]: Bible, Mishna, Talmud, Tosefta, and aggada. Alternatively, “abundant joy in Your presence” (Psalms 16:11) – these are the seven groups of righteous people who are destined to receive the Divine Presence, and their faces are similar to the sun, the moon, the firmament, the stars, lightning, lilies, and the pure candelabrum8The candelabrum that was made of pure gold. that was in the Temple.
To the sun, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Pure like the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10). The moon, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Fair like the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10).
The firmament, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “The wise will shine like the radiance of the firmament” (Daniel 12:3). The stars, from where is it derived? As it is written: “Those who lead the multitudes to righteousness, like the stars, forever and ever” (Daniel 12:3).
Lightning, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “Their appearance is like torches, they romp like lightning” (Nahum 2:5). Lilies, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “For the conductor, for lilies” (Psalms 45:1).
The pure candelabrum, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “He said to me: What do you see? I said: I saw, and behold, a candelabrum of gold in its entirety” (Zechariah 4:2). “Eternal pleasure [ne’imot] is by Your right hand” (Psalms 16:11).
Who will inform us which group is the most beloved and delightful [hane’ima] among them? There are two amora’im; one said: The one that comes from the power of Torah and from the power of mitzvot. The other said: These are the Bible teachers and the Mishna teachers, who teach children accurately, as they are destined to stand to the right of the Holy One blessed be He. That is what is written: “Eternal pleasure is by Your right hand.”
Another matter: “Sova semaḥot” (Psalms 16:11) – do not read it so, but rather, as “seven [sheva] celebrations [semaḥot]”; these are the seven mitzvot of the festival of Sukkot, and these are: The four species of the palm branch, sukka, the festival peace offerings, and the peace offerings of rejoicing. If [one brings] festival offerings, why [also] offerings of rejoicing; if offerings of rejoicing, why festival offerings?
Rabbi Avin said: This is analogous to two [litigants] who came before a judge and we do not know who prevailed. But if one comes and takes palm branches in his hand we know that he is the one who prevailed. So, Israel and the nations of the world litigate before the Holy One blessed be He on Rosh HaShana, and we do not know who prevailed. But when Israel emerges from before the Holy One blessed be He with their palm branches and their citrons in their hands, we know that it is Israel that emerged victorious. Therefore, Moses exhorts Israel and says to them: “You shall take for you on the first day.”