Ibid.

Rabbi Avin said four kinds of excellency were created in the world:  (1.) Man’s excellency over the animal kingdom; (2.) the eagle’s excellency over the feathered tribes; (3.) the excellency of the ox over domestic cattle; and (4.) the lion’s excellency over the wild beasts.  All were fixed under the chariot of God; as it is said (Ezek. i. 10), “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, the face of a lion, the face of an ox, and the face of an eagle.”  And why all this?  In order that they should not exalt themselves, 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.”