Midrasch zu Schemot 15:18

There was an incident involving Miriam daughter of the baker, who was taken captive with her seven sons. The emperor took them and placed them behind seven partitions. He brought the first and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid, I will not prostrate myself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ [He responded:] ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “I am the Lord your God”’ (Exodus 20:2). Immediately, he took him out and executed him.
He took out the second and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid, my brother did not prostrate himself and I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall have no other gods before Me”’ (Exodus 20:3). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the third and said to him: ‘Prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘I will not prostrate myself.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “For you shall not prostrate yourself to another god”’ (Exodus 34:14). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fourth and [the son] recited his verse: “One who sacrifices to gods shall be destroyed” (Exodus 22:19). He issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the fifth and he, too, recited his verse: “Hear Israel, the Lord is our God the Lord is one” (Deuteronomy 6:4). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him. He took out the sixth and he, too, recited his verse: “For the Lord your God is in your midst, a God great and awesome” (Deuteronomy 7:21). Immediately, he issued a decree against him and they executed him.
He took out the seventh, who was the youngest of them all. He said: ‘My son, prostrate yourself to the idol.’ He said to him: ‘God forbid.’ He said to him: ‘Why?’ He said to him: ‘Because so it is written in our Torah: “You shall know this day, and restore to your heart, that the Lord, He is the God in the heavens above and upon the earth below, there is no other” (Deuteronomy 4:39). Moreover, we took an oath to our God that we will not exchange Him for another God, as it is stated: “You have exalted the Lord today [to be your God]” (Deuteronomy 26:17). And just as we took an oath to Him, so He took an oath that He would not exchange us for a different nation, as it is stated: “The Lord has exalted you today [to be a people of distinction for Him]”’ (Deuteronomy 26:18).
The emperor said to him: ‘Your brothers had full days, full lives, and experienced goodness, but you are young, you have not had full days, you have not had a full life, and you have never experienced goodness. Prostrate yourself to the idol and I will do good things for you.’ He said to him: ‘It is written in our Torah: “The Lord will reign forever” (Exodus 15:18). And it says: “The Lord is king forever, nations have been eliminated from His land” (Psalms 10:16). You will cease and His enemies will cease. Flesh and blood lives today and dies tomorrow, is wealthy today and poor tomorrow; but the Holy One blessed be He lives and persists forever and for all time.’ The emperor said to him: ‘See your brothers slain before you. I am casting my ring to the ground before the idol, lift it so everyone will know that you heeded my voice.’ He said to him: ‘It is a shame for you, emperor; if you fear people, who are your equivalent, will I not fear the King of kings, the Holy One blessed be He, the eternal God?’ He said to him: ‘Is there a God in the world?’ He said to him: ‘Woe are you, emperor, have you seen a world without a master?’
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a mouth?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a mouth but cannot speak” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made; [by the breath of His mouth, all their hosts]”’ (Psalms 33:6).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have eyes?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have eyes but cannot see” (Psalms 115:5). Regarding our God it is written: “They are the eyes of the Lord ranging throughout the land”’ (Zechariah 4:10).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have ears?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have ears but cannot hear” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord listened and heard”’ (Malachi 3:16).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a nose?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have a nose but cannot smell” (Psalms 115:6). Regarding our God it is written: “The Lord smelled the pleasing aroma”’ (Genesis 8:21).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have hands?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have hands but cannot feel” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “My hand, too, laid the foundation”’ (Isaiah 48:13).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have feet?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They have feet but cannot walk” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “His feet will stand that day on the Mount of Olives”’ (Zechariah 14:4).
He said to him: ‘Does your God have a throat?’ He said to him: ‘Regarding your gods it is written: “They cannot produce sound with their throats” (Psalms 115:7). Regarding our God it is written: “Sound emerges from His mouth”’ (Job 37:2).
He said to him: ‘If there are all these attributes in your God, why does He not rescue you from my hand, like He rescued Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya from the hand of Nebuchadnezzar?’ He said to him: ‘Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were upright, and Nebuchadnezzar was a king worthy of having a miracle performed through him. But you are not worthy, and we have been condemned to death at the hand of Heaven. If you do not execute us, there are many executioners for the Omnipresent, many wolves, lions, snakes, leopards, and scorpions to attack us and kill us. But ultimately, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to exact retribution from you for our blood.’ Immediately, he issued a decree against him to execute him.
His mother said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, give me my son and I will hug him and kiss him.’ He gave him to her, and she bared her breasts and nursed him with her milk. She said to him: ‘By the life of your head, emperor, execute me first and then execute him.’ The emperor said to her: ‘I will not heed you because it is written in your Torah: “An ox or a sheep, it and its offspring you shall not slaughter on one day”’ (Leviticus 22:28). She said to him: ‘You absolute fool, have you already fulfilled all the mitzvot and only this one remains?’ Immediately, he commanded to execute [the son]. His mother fell upon him and was hugging him and kissing him. She said to him: ‘My son, go to Abraham your patriarch and say to him: So said my mother: Do not be overly impressed with yourself and say: I built an altar and sacrificed Isaac, my son. My mother built seven altars and sacrificed seven sons on one day. Yours was an ordeal, mine was an action.’¹⁸¹Your was a test to see if you were willing to sacrifice your son, but you did not actually sacrifice him. My sons were actually killed. While she was hugging him and kissing him, he issued a decree against him and they executed him upon her. When he was executed, the Sages calculated the age of that child and it was discovered that he was two years, six months, and six and one half hours. At that moment, all the nations of the world screamed out and said: ‘What is the God of these people doing to them that they are killed on His behalf all the time?’ In their regard it is written: “For we are killed all day long for You” (Psalms 44:23).
Sometime later, that woman went mad and she fell from the roof and died, to realize what is stated: “She who bore seven is miserable” (Jeremiah 15:9). A Divine Voice was calling out, saying: “The mother of the children is joyful” (Psalms 113:9). The Divine Spirit was crying out and saying: “For these I weep.”

“It is the sound of my beloved knocking” – by means of Moses when he said: “Moses said: So said the Lord: At about midnight, I will emerge in the midst of Egypt” (Exodus 11:4). “Open for me” – Rabbi Yasa said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: My children, open for Me one opening of repentance like the eye of the needle, and I will open for you openings that wagons and carriages enter through it.
Rabbi Tanḥuma, Rabbi Ḥunya, and Rabbi Abbahu [said] in the name of Reish Lakish: It is written: “Desist, and know that I am God…” (Psalms 46:11) – the Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: Desist from your evil actions and know that I am God. Rabbi Levi said: Were Israel to repent even one day, they would be redeemed immediately and the son of David would come immediately. What is the reason? “For He is our God, and we are the people of His flock and the sheep under His hand; today, if you heed His voice” (Psalms 95:7). Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Levi say: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: Desist from your wicked actions and repent in the blink of an eye, “and know that I am God.”¹⁵Earnest repentance, even for a very short time, will lead to redemption, which will itself cause widespread recognition of God.
“My sister [aḥoti]” – as they were stitched [nitaḥu] to Me in Egypt with the blood of the paschal offering and the blood of circumcision. That is what is written: “I passed you and saw you wallowing in your blood, and I said to you, in your blood you shall live” (Ezekiel 16:6) – this is the blood of the paschal offering. “I said to you, in your blood you shall live” – this is the blood of circumcision (Ezekiel 16:6).
“My love [rayati]” – as they fell in love [sheriu] with Me at the sea and said: “This is my God and I will exalt Him” (Exodus 15:2), “the Lord will reign for ever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). “My dove” – at Mara, as from there they were commanded and became distinctive through all the mitzvot, acts of charity, and good deeds, like the dove that is distinctive.¹⁶A dove recognizes its mate, distinguishing it from among the other doves. That is what is written: “There He instituted for it statutes and ordinances” (Exodus 15:25). “My faultless [tamati]” – My wholehearted ones [tamuti], as they were wholehearted with Me at Sinai, and said: “Everything that the Lord said, we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7).
Rabbi Yannai said: My twin [teomati], as it were; I am not greater than it and it is not greater that I am.¹⁷God is as assiduous regarding the honor of the righteous of Israel as He is of His own honor. Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: My twin [teomati], just as with twins, if one has a headache his counterpart feels it. So too, as it were, the Holy One blessed be He says: “I am with him in times of trouble” (Psalms 91:15).
“For my head is filled with dew” – on the basis of: “The earth quaked, the heavens dripped” (Psalms 68:9). “My locks, drops of night” – on the basis of what is stated: “The clouds dripped water” (Judges 5:4).

Said Rabbi Yochanan: Once I was walking on a path and I came across a man who was collecting firewood. I spoke to him but he did not respond to me. Afterwards he approached me and said "Rabbi, I am dead and not alive", I said to him: "If you are dead - why do you need the firewood?". He responded: "Rabbi, listen carefully to what I am saying to you, when I was alive, my friend and I were doing a sin in my palace and when we came here we were sentenced to punishment by fire, when I gather wood they burn my friend, and when my friend gathers wood they burn me". I asked him: "Till when do you have to endure this punishment?" He told me: "When I came here I left my wife pregnant and I know she is pregnant with a son, therefore, please take caution with him and from the time he is born until he is five years old take him to he house of his rabbi to learn biblical verse (mikrah) because when he can say Barchu Et Hashem HaMevorach then I will be saved from the punishment of Gehenna".

[(Exod. 30:12): WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS.] What is written <just> before this lection (in Exod. 30:10)? AARON SHALL MAKE ATONEMENT UPON ITS HORNS (i.e., the horns of the incense altar) <ONCE A YEAR>.¹³Tanh., Exod. 9:6; PRK 2:7. When Israel sinned, the Holy One said to Moses: Go and make atonement for them. He said to him: Sovereign of the World, did you not say this: ONCE A YEAR? The Holy One said to him: Go and restore them. R. Abbin the Levite said: Moses said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, out of all the peoples that you have in your world, you only charge me concerning Israel. (Lev. 20:2:) AND UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL YOU SHALL SAY. (Exod. 30:31:) UNTO THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL YOU SHALL SPEAK. To what is the matter comparable?¹⁴Tanh., Exod. 9:8. To a King who had purple garments.¹⁵Gk.: porphurai. Now he had a certain purple cloak which he cherished more than all of them. So he commanded his servant and said to him: Shake it out; fold it up. He also said to him: Set your mind on it. He said to him: My Lord King, of all your purple garments you have only commanded me concerning this one. He said to him: Because I wore this one when I first became king, I therefore cherish it more than all these <other> garments of mine. In such a way did the Holy One speak, when <Moses> said to him: For what reason did you command me more concerning Israel than all the <other> peoples which are in the world? He said to him: For what reason? Because they were the first to make me king, <when they did so> by the sea. (Exod. 15:18:) THE LORD SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER.

“Avert your eyes from me, as they excite my arrogance. Your hair is like a flock of goats that streams down from Gilad” (Song of Songs 6:5).
“Avert your eyes,” Rabbi Azarya [said] in the name of Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon: [This is analogous] to a king who was angry at the queen and banished her, expelling her from the palace. What did she do? She went and concealed her face behind a pillar outside the palace. When the king passed, the king said: ‘Remove her from before me, as I am unable to bear [her suffering].’ So too, when the rabbinical court convenes and decrees fasts and the individuals fast, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘I am unable to bear it.’¹⁶God is unable to bear their distress and therefore alleviates the suffering or ends the drought that was the cause of their fasting. “As they excite my arrogance”—they caused Me to extend My hand against My world.¹⁷It is due to the merit of the righteous individuals that I displayed My dominance over the world by redeeming Israel from Egypt.
When the rabbinical court convenes and decrees fasts and the children fast, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘I am unable to bear it.’ “As they excite my arrogance,” they crowned Me as king over them, and said: “The Lord will reign for ever and ever” (Exodus 15:18). When they decree fasts and the elderly fast, the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘I am unable to bear it.’ “As they excite my arrogance [hirhivuni],” they accepted My kingdom over them at Sinai, and said: “Everything that the Lord says we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7), and it is written: “To those of my acquaintance, I mention Rahav¹⁸In this verse, too, the word Rahav is a term indicating exaltedness or kingship, as the word hirhivuni, which shares the same root as Rahav, is understood in the midrash. and Babylon…” (Psalms 87:4).
Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina bar Pappa: It is written: “Even the rebellious You captured to dwell over, Lord God” (Psalms 68:19); even the rebellious, the Holy One blessed be He rests His Divine presence in their midst. By what merit? By the merit of: “Everything that the Lord says we will perform and we will heed.”
“Your hair is like a flock of goats,” just as the goat is contemptible,¹⁹This is because its tail does not cover its sexual organs. so, too, Israel was contemptible in Shitim, as it is stated: “Israel was living in Shitim, [and the people began to engage in licentiousness with the daughters of Moav]” (Numbers 25:1).

R. Joshua b. Levi said: "One who walks on a road and has no companion, shall study the Torah; for it is said (Pr. 1, 9.) For a wreath of grace are they; if a man have a headache, let him study the Torah, for it is said (Ib. ib. ib.) Are they unto thy head; if a man have a sore throat, let him study the Torah, for it is said (Ib. ib. ib.) And necklaces for thy neck; if a man have stomach sickness, he shall study the Torah, for it is said (Ib. 3, 8.) It will he healthy to thy body, if a man is sick with rheumatism, he shall study the Torah, for it is said (Ib. ib. ib.) And marrow to thy bones; if a man is sick in all or any part of his body, he shall study the Torah, for it is said (Ib. 4, 23.) And to the whole body a healing." R. Juda, the son of R. Chiya, said: "Come and see how the nature of the Holy One, praised be He! differs from that of mortal man. The nature of mortal man is that if a man prescribes a remedy, it may benefit one and injure another; but the Holy One, praised be He! gave the Torah to all Israel, as a remedy for all, and for the whole body, as it is said (Ib. ib. ib.) And to the whole body a healing." R. Ami said: "What is meant by the passage (Ib. 22, 18.) For it is a pleasant thing if thou keep them within thy bosom, if they be altogether firmly seated upon thy lips, i.e., when are the words of the Torah a pleasant thing? If thou keepeth them within thy bosom. And when canst thou keep them in thy bosom? If they are firmly seated upon thy lips." R. Zeira said: "We know from the following: (Ib. 15, 23.) A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth; and how good is a word spoken at the proper time! i.e., when has a man joy? If his mouth is able to answer [a question]." R. Isaac said: "We deduce the above from the following (Deu. 30, 14.) But the word is very nigh unto thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart, that thou mayest do it, i.e., when is the word nigh unto thee? If it is in thy mouth and in thy heart to do it." Raba said: "We deduce the above from the following (Ps. 21, 3.) The longing of his heart hast Thou given him and the request of his lips hast thou not withheld, Selah, i.e., when hast Thou given him the request of his heart? If the request was not withheld by his lips, Selah." Raba raised the following contradictory question: "It is written (Ib. ib. ib.) The longing of his heart hast Thou given him; [even without praying]; and immediately following, And the request of his lips hast Thou not withheld, Selah. And he answered thus: If the man has merited it, the longing of his heart is given him without requesting it; but if he has not merited it, he must first request it before it is granted to him." In the school of R. Eliezer b. Jacob it was taught: "Wherever we find Netzach, Selah, Va'ed, forming the conclusion of a passage, it signifies that it will be forever, without interruption." As for Netzach, it is written (Is. 57, 16.) For not to eternity will I contend, neither will I be wroth (Lanetzath) forever. As for Selah, it is written (Ps. 48, 9.) As we have heard, so have we seen, in the city of the Lord of Hosts, in the city of our God; God will establish it forever, Selah; as for Va'ed, it is written (Ex. 15, 18.) The Lord will reign forever, and ever (Va'ed) . R. Elazar said: "What is the meaning of the passage (Pr. 1, 9.) And necklace around thy neck, i.e., just as a necklace is loose around the neck and is not seen, all the time [as when the wearer is bending down, so is it with a man. If he is not constantly seen in the streets or markets, but sits at home and studies] he will retain his learning; but if otherwise, he will not retain his learning."

When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel (Exod. 30:12). R. Judah said in the name of R. Samuel the son of Nahman: This may be compared to a king who has many silk garments. He tells one of his stewards: “This robe looks better on me than any of the others. Remember that when I wore it for the coronation ceremonies, it clung firmly to my body and gave me a distinguished appearance.” In the same way, the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses: Bear in mind that Israel cleaves to my loins, as it is said: For as the girdle cleaveth to the loins of man, so have I caused to cleave to Me the whole house of Israel (Jer. 13:11). They acknowledged My authority and said: The Lord shall reign forever and ever (Exod. 15:18). Because of their great love for Me, I have descended from the heavenly sphere to the earthly sphere and shall dwell behind the curtain of goats’ hair.

The Eternal shall reign forever: R. Yossi said: If only the Israelites had said, "The Eternal reigns forever" no nation or kingdom would have ruled over them, but rather [they said] the Eternal shall reign forever, [meaning] in a future time to come. Why [incomplete]

(Cant. 5:2:) I SLEEP, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE.⁷²PRK 5:6; PR 15:6; Cant. R. 5:2:1-2. The congregation of Israel said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the Universe, I SLEEP without the Holy Temple, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE in the synagogues and in the academies. I SLEEP without the sacrifices, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE in the commandments and almsgiving. I SLEEP without the good deeds, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE for performing them. I SLEEP without the end time, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE for the redemption. I SLEEP without the redemption, BUT MY HEART IS AWAKE for the Holy One when he redeems me. R. Hiyya bar Abba said: {How} [Where] do we find that the Holy One is called the Heart of Israel? In this scripture (Ps. 73:26): GOD IS THE ROCK OF MY HEART AND MY PORTION FOREVER. (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) THE SOUND OF MY BELOVED KNOCKING. This refers to Moses, since it is stated (in Exod. 11:4): THEN MOSES SAID: THUS SAYS THE LORD: ABOUT MIDNIGHT < I SHALL GO FORTH INTO THE MIDST OF EGYPT >. (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) OPEN FOR ME. R. Jose said: The Holy One said: Make an opening for me as with the point of a needle so that I may open up [an opening] for you through which tents and {siege fortifications} [< even > a camp]⁷³Lat.: castra. can pass. (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) MY SISTER (rt.: 'H), < so named > in Egypt, where they became grafted (rt.: 'HH) to me by < performing > two commandments through the blood of the paschal offering and through the blood of circumcision. (Ibid., cont.:) MY BELOVED (rt.: R'H): They became beloved (rt.: R'H) to him at the sea and said (in Exod. 15:18): THE LORD SHALL REIGN FOR EVER AND EVER. (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) MY DOVE, < so named > in Marah where they were given orders for me⁷⁴The translation follows MS 1240 of the De Rossi Library in Parma, which is similar to PRK 5:6. The Buber text reads: “I myself was given orders.” like a dove through commandments (see Exod. 15:23-25) (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) MY INNOCENT, because they became innocent to me at Sinai and said (in Exod. 24:7): ALL THAT THE LORD HAS SPOKEN WE WILL DO AND OBEY. (Cant. 5:2, cont.:) FOR MY HEAD IS DRENCHED WITH DEW, since it is stated (in Jud. 5:4): EVEN THE HEAVENS DRIPPED.

Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance" (Ex. 15:16, 17). Thou shalt bring them in to Thy holy mountain. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Moses! Thou hast not said, "Bring us in and plant us," but (thou hast said), "Thou shalt bring them in and plant them." The One who brings in, He also brings out. By thy life ! According to thy words so shall it be. In this world I shall bring them in, and in the world to come I will plant them as a true plant which shall not be plucked up out of their land, as it is said, "And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God" (Amos 9:15); and it (also) says, "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever" (Ex. 15:18).