Ephraim the Darling Child and the LORD's Special Love for Israel

"Speak to the children of Israel and say to them" (Leviticus 1:2). This is what Scripture says, "Is Ephraim a precious son to Me, is he a child of delight?" (Jeremiah 31:19). Who is a child of delight? A child of two, a child of three years. Rabbi Acha in the name of Rabbi Levi bar Sisi: A child of four, a child of five years. "For as often as I speak of him", that is, My speaking is enough in him, even when I speak with him I cannot bear without him. "For as often as I speak of him", for surely My speech is in him. A parable of a king who had a fine garment, and he would command his servant and say to him, "Fold it, shake the dust from it, give your attention to it." The servant said to him, "My lord the king, of all the garments you have, you command me only about this one?" He said to him, "Because I press it to my body." So Moses said before the Holy One, blessed be He, "Master of the world, of the seventy nations You have in Your world, You command me only concerning Israel?" He said, "Because I cling them to My body." Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Even the Scriptures gave honor to Israel. Here you say, "A man, when he brings of you," but when it comes to another matter, "A man, when there shall be of you in the skin of his flesh," is not written here, but only, "A man, when there shall be in the skin of his flesh."