They weren't just seeing the world; they were reading it like a sacred text. They saw more than just a landscape; they saw a mirror reflecting the destiny of their people.
What did they see, exactly? They saw a land blessed with springs. These springs reminded them of the twelve tribes of Israel. Each tribe, if righteous, would be like a "well of water," constantly bubbling forth with good deeds. Piety, you see, wasn't just a feeling; it was an active force, a source of endless blessings. Ginzberg retells this idea in Legends of the Jews, drawing from earlier traditions.
And then there were the leaders, the seventy elders. They were different. They were like a noble palm tree. Now, the palm tree wasn't just any tree. It was considered the most beautiful of trees, majestic in its appearance and abundant in its fruits. But the real magic, according to this ancient interpretation, lay in where its life force resided. Unlike other plants whose life is rooted deep in the ground, the palm tree's life center "soars high," nestled like a heart amidst its branches, protected like a queen by her guards. It's a powerful image!
What does this have to do with leadership? Well, the palm tree represents the soul of someone who has tasted true piety. This soul, like the palm tree's heart, has learned to look upward, to ascend. It is constantly engaged with spiritual matters, seeking out the beauty of the Divine. Earthly things? They seem like mere child's play in comparison. Only the pursuit of the spiritual, that aspiration, feels truly serious and important. It's a beautiful analogy, isn't it?
This idea of ascending to spiritual heights appears throughout Jewish mystical thought. The Zohar, for example, often speaks of the soul's journey upward. And as we find in Midrash Rabbah, the idea of seeing symbols and meaning in the natural world was widespread.
So, the next time you see a tree, or a wellspring, remember this ancient interpretation. Remember the wise elders who saw in nature a reflection of their community's potential. Remember the call to look upward, to seek out the Divine, and to let that spiritual aspiration guide our lives. What if we, too, could learn to see the world not just as it is, but as it could be, brimming with meaning and potential for goodness? What beautiful deeds might we then be inspired to bring forth?