שמואל א ה

"Even the world was not stable, Rabbi Abbahu said a parable: What is this matter like? It is like a king who first conquered a certain province. The leader of the province gave the king a cornerstone that did not move from its place. Similarly, when the Holy One, blessed be He, created His world, the earth shook and said, 'I am not stable.' The Holy One, blessed be He, said to it, 'I will give you a cornerstone,' as it is written, 'He founded the earth upon its bases; it shall not falter forever and ever.' (Psalms 104:5) True is Your throne from the beginning. This is one of seven things that were created before the world was created, and they are: the Throne of Glory, as it is written, 'True is Your throne from the beginning,' the name of the King Messiah, as it is written, 'Before the sun, his name is Yinnon,' (Psalms 72:17) and why is he called Yinnon? Because he will ennoble those who are downtrodden like a dove that is crushed and turns to dust. The Torah, as it is written, 'The Lord acquired me as the beginning of His way' (Proverbs 8:22), Israel, as it is written, 'Remember Your congregation which You acquired long ago' (Psalms 74:2), the Temple, as it is written, 'A throne of glory, exalted from the beginning, is the place of our sanctuary' (Jeremiah 17:12), repentance, as it is written, 'Before the mountains were born, before You brought forth the earth and the inhabited world, from eternity to eternity You are God' (Psalms 90:2), and Gehenna, as it is written, 'For from yesterday it was prepared' (Isaiah 30:33). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: When the Philistines returned the Ark, they began to boast and say, 'It was not only the Ark that was between us and our Lord, but also His Master.' This is what is written, 'The rivers raise, O Lord' (Psalms 93:3). And what are the rivers? They are none other than the Philistines, as it is written, 'From the river is the land of the Philistines' (1 Samuel 5:6). The Holy One, blessed be He, said, 'The rivers will raise themselves with haughtiness, but I will break them with hard afflictions.' 'With haughtiness.' Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani said: Their internal affairs are corrupt. 'I will break them.' Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Their external affairs are corrupt. 'The rivers will raise, O Lord.'"