hemselves, but know that there is a
kingdom of heaven over them; and on this account it is said (Eccles. v.
8), "He that is higher than the highest regardeth, and there be higher
than they." This is the meaning of Exod. xv. 1: "He hath triumphed
gloriously."

_Midrash Shemoth_, chap. 23.

No man in Israel despised himself more than David when the precepts of
the Lord were concerned, and this is what he said before God (Ps. cxxxi.
1, 2), "'Lord, my heart was not haughty' when Samuel anointed me king.
'Nor were mine eyes lofty' when I slew Goliath. 'Neither did I exercise
myself in matters too great and wonderful for me' when I brought up the
ark. 'Have I not behaved myself, and hushed my soul, as a babe that is
weaned of his mother?' As a child which is not ashamed to uncover
himself before his mother, so have I likened myself before Thee, in not
being ashamed to depreciate myself before Thee for Thy glory," etc. (See
2 Sam. vi. 20, 21.)

_Bamidbar_, chap. 4.

"I sleep, but my heart waketh" (Cant. v. 2). The Synagogue of Israel
says "I sleep" with regard to the end of days, "but my heart waketh"
with regard to the redemption; "I sleep" with regard to redemption, but
the heart of the Holy One--blessed be He!--waketh to redeem me.

_Midrash Shir Hashirim._

Rabbi Ishmael saith all the five fingers of the right hand of the Holy
One of Israel--blessed be He!--are severally the efficient causes of
redemptions. (1.) With His little finger He pointed out to Noah how to
construct the ark; as it is said (Gen. vi. 15), "And thus thou shalt
make it." (2.) With the finger next to the little one He smote the
Egyptians; as it is said (Exod. viii. 19), "This is the finger of God."
(3.) With the third finger from the little one He wrote the tables; as
it is said (Exod. xxxi. 18), "Tables of stone written by the finger of
God." (4.) With the fourth finger, that which is next the thumb, the
Holy One--blessed be He!--pointed out to Moses how much the Israelites
should give as a ransom for their souls; as it is said (Exod. xxx. 13),
"This shall they give." (5.) With the thumb and the whole hand the Holy
One--blessed be He!--will in the future destroy the children of Esau,
for they oppress the children of Israel, as also the children of
Ishmael, for they are their enemies; as it is said (Micah v. 9), "Thine
hand shall be uplifted upon thy adversaries, and all thy enemies shall
be cut off."

_Pirke d'Rab. Eliezer_, chap. 48.

"For