The passage begins with a rather grand statement from Exodus: "See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1). But what does it really mean to be "as god"? To explore this, the text cleverly connects this verse to (Psalm 24:7): "Lift up your heads, O gates!"
Now, the story takes an unexpected turn. We're transported to the time of King Solomon and the construction of the First Temple in Jerusalem. Remember, Solomon, famed for his wisdom, was bringing the Ark of the Covenant – a sacred chest containing the tablets of the Ten Commandments – into the Kodesh Hakodashim, the Holy of Holies, the most sacred space within the Temple.
Here’s the problem: the Ark was ten cubits wide, and the Temple entrance was also ten cubits wide. Ten cubits cannot fit into ten cubits! Plus, think about the Levites carrying the Ark! How could they possibly squeeze through? Solomon was stumped, embarrassed even. He didn’t know what to do.
So, what did he do? According to our Rabbis, Solomon turned to prayer. But not just any prayer. Rabbi Berekhya, quoting Rabbi Helbo, tells us Solomon brought the coffin of his father, King David, and pleaded with God, "Lord God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed" (II (Chronicles 6:4)2), essentially asking for David's merit to intercede.
The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) even suggests that David momentarily came back to life! Solomon was essentially saying, "Master of the universe, do this for the sake of this one!" Immediately, immediately, his prayer was answered. Fire descended from heaven, consuming the offerings, and the glory of God filled the Temple (II Chronicles 7:1).
The Ruach (spirit) Hakodesh, the Divine Spirit, cried out, "I praise the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive" (Ecclesiastes 4:2). It’s a powerful statement about the enduring power of those who lived righteously.
Then, Solomon speaks the words of (Psalm 24:7): "Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in!" But the gates challenge him: "Who is this King of glory?" (Psalms 24:8). Solomon responds, "The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle!" (Psalms 24:8). When he declares this, the gates are "calmed." Imagine, if he hadn't answered correctly, the gates would have crushed him!
But why call God the "King of glory" in the first place? Here, Shemot Rabbah offers a beautiful interpretation: because God bestows glory upon those who fear Him. The text contrasts this with earthly kings. A human king doesn't let anyone ride his horse or sit on his throne. Yet, God seated Solomon on His own throne, as it is stated: "Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king" (I (Chronicles 29:2)3), and allowed Elijah to ride on His "horse" – the whirlwind (II (Kings 2:11), Nahum 1:3).
A human king doesn't share his scepter, but God gave His scepter to Moses: "Moses took the staff of God in his hand" (Exodus 4:20). A king doesn't give away his crown, but God will place His crown – the finest gold – upon the messianic king (Psalms 21:4, (Song of Songs 5:1)1).
And finally, a king of flesh and blood doesn't share his garments, but Israel dons the garments of God. What are these garments? Strength! "The Lord is clothed; He has girded Himself with strength" (Psalms 93:1), and He gives this strength to Israel: "The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace" (Psalms 29:11).
The passage concludes by circling back to Moses and Pharaoh. An earthly king doesn't allow anyone to be called by his name, but God called Moses "god" to Pharaoh. Why? Because the wicked Pharaoh had declared himself a god, saying, "My Nile is my own; I made it for myself" (Ezekiel 29:3). So, God says, let Pharaoh see Moses and think, "This is a god."
So, what’s the takeaway? This passage from Shemot Rabbah isn't just a story about moving the Ark or the relationship between Moses and Pharaoh. It's a profound meditation on divine power, humility, and the reciprocal relationship between God and humanity. It reminds us that even the most powerful figures, like Solomon, needed to rely on prayer and the merit of others to achieve their goals. And it suggests that true glory isn't about hoarding power, but about sharing it, bestowing it upon those who are worthy. It challenges us to consider how we, too, can embody God's glory in our own lives.
“It was on the day when the Lord spoke to Moses in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 6:28). “The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh; and Aaron your brother will be your prophet” (Exodus 7:1). “It was on the day when the Lord.… The Lord said to Moses: See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh” – that is what is written: “Lift your heads, gates” (Psalms 24:7). Solomon recited this verse when he was taking the Ark into the Holy of Holies. He crafted an Ark that was ten cubits [wide]. When he arrived at the entrance of the Temple, the entrance was ten cubits and the Ark was ten cubits, and ten cubits are unable to enter into ten cubits. Moreover, they were carrying it [and there was certainly not enough space for those bearing the Ark to enter]. When he came to take it in, he was unable to do so. Solomon stood and was embarrassed and did not know what to do. He began praying before the Holy One blessed be He. What did Solomon do? Our Rabbis, of blessed memory, say: He went and brought David’s coffin, and said: “Lord, God, do not turn away the face of Your anointed” (II Chronicles 6:42). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: At that moment, David came alive, as you may expound [from the verse]: “Lord, You took up my soul from the grave, you kept me alive so I would not descent into the pit” (Psalms 30:4). Solomon was saying: ‘Master of the universe, do so due to the merit of this one,’ as it is stated: “Remember the kindnesses of David Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42). Immediately, [his prayer] was answered. What is written thereafter? “When Solomon finished praying, fire came down from the heavens and consumed the burnt offering and the offerings, and the glory of the Lord filled the house” (II Chronicles 7:1). The Divine Spirit was shouting and saying: “I praise the dead who are already dead more than the living who are still alive” (Ecclesiastes 4:2). Solomon began saying: “Lift your heads, gates, and be uplifted, everlasting doors; and the King of glory will come” (Psalms 24:7). The gates said to him: “Who then is the King of glory?” (Psalms 24:10). He said to them: “The Lord of Hosts; He is the king of glory. Selah” (Psalms 24:10). When he said this to them, they were immediately calmed. Had it not been so, they would have attempted to crush his skull to kill him. Another interpretation: “Who then is the King of glory?” – why did he call the Holy One blessed be He the King of glory? It is because He allots glory to those who fear Him. How so? A king of flesh and blood, one does not ride his horse and one does not sit on his throne. But the Holy One blessed be He seated Solomon on His throne, as it is stated: “Solomon sat on the throne of the Lord as king” (I Chronicles 29:23), and He had Elijah ride on His horse. What is the horse of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the whirlwind and the storm, as it is stated: “The Lord, in the whirlwind and in the storm is His way, and the clouds are the dust of His feet” (Nahum 1:3). And it is written: “Elijah went up by the whirlwind to the heavens” (II Kings 2:11). A king of flesh and blood, one does not use his scepter; but the Holy One blessed be He passed His scepter to Moses, as it is stated: “Moses took the staff of God in his hand” (Exodus 4:20). A king of flesh and blood, one does not wear his crown; but the Holy One blessed be He is destined to place His crown on the messianic king. What is the crown of the Holy One blessed be He? It is the finest gold, as it is stated: “His head is the finest gold; his locks are curled, black as a raven” (Song of Songs 5:11), and it is written: “You set a crown of fine gold on his head” (Psalms 21:4).1This verse refers to the messianic king. A king of flesh and blood, one does not don his garments; but Israel dons the garments of the Holy One blessed be He. What are the garments of the Holy One blessed be He? Strength, as it is stated: “The Lord is clothed, He had girded Himself with strength” (Psalms 93:1). He gave it to Israel, as it is stated: “The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace” (Psalms 29:11). A king of flesh and blood, one is not called by his name, [such as] Caesar Augustus, and one who is called by his name, they would execute him; but the Holy One blessed be He called Moses by His name, as it is stated: “See, I have set you as god to Pharaoh.” The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘The wicked Pharaoh made himself a god, as it is stated: “My river is mine, and I have made it for myself” (Ezekiel 29:3); therefore, he will see you and say: This is a god.’
