Rabbi Ḥiyya taught: Olive oil, but not sesame oil, nor walnut oil, nor turnip oil, nor almond oil, but rather, olive oil from your olive trees. Rabbi Avin said: This is analogous to a king whose legions revolted against him. One legion of his did not revolt. The king said: That legion that did not revolt against me will be appointed commanders, lieutenants, and military governors.

So, the Holy One blessed be He said: This olive tree brought light to the world in the days of Noah; that is what is written: “The dove came to him at evening time and, behold, a plucked [taraf] olive leaf was in its mouth” (Genesis 8:11). What is “taraf”? Killed, just as it says: “Joseph was mauled [tarof taraf]” (Genesis 37:33).25And presumed dead. Rabbi Berekhya said: Had it not killed it, it would have become a great tree.26When the dove plucked the olive leaf that it brought back to Noah, it killed the olive tree, which was a small sapling but could have grown into a great tree.

From where did it bring it? Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: It brought it from the Mount of Olives. Rabbi Levi said: It brought it from the branches of the Land of Israel. That is what they say: The Land of Israel was not stricken with the Flood waters.

That is what the Holy One blessed be He said by means of Ezekiel: “Son of man, say to it: You are a land that has not been purified, [that has not been rained upon on the day of fury]” (Ezekiel 22:24). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Even the lower millstone was obliterated in the waters.27Since the Flood was so destructive that even large stones, such as millstones, were eroded, the dove could have found an olive leaf only in the Land of Israel, which was not destroyed in the flood.

Rabbi Berekhya said; The gates of the Garden of Eden opened before it, and it brought it from there. Rabbi Aivu said: Had it brought it from the Garden of Eden, was there not a more exceptional item to bring, e.g., cinnamon or balsam? Rather, it [brought the olive leaf] as an indication to him, saying: My master, Noah, [I prefer something] bitter like this from the hand of the Holy One blessed be He, and not something sweet from your hand.

“Outside the curtain of the testimony, in the Tent of Meeting, Aaron shall arrange it from evening until morning before the Lord continually; an eternal statute for your generations” (Leviticus 24:3).