I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near; a star shall tread from Yaakov, and a scepter shall rise from Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moav and undermine all the sons of Sheth.
English: A certain man came before R. Yishmael son of R. Yose and said to him: I saw in a dream that I swallowed a star. He said to him: May that man’s spirit burst — you killed a Jew; “a star shall tread from Yaakov.”
Type of Learning
Dream interpretation grounded in the verse’s star image for Israel.
What Is Learned
Israel is the star of the verse — harm to a Jew is read as swallowing that star.