Midrasch zu Schemot 2:7

(Gen. 2, 7) Then said his sister to Pharaoh's daughter: "Shall I go and call thee a nurse of the Hebrew women that she may nurse the child for thee? Why did she emphasize a Hebrew nurse? From this it may be inferred that Moses was given to be nursed by many Egyptian women, but he refused to be nursed; the Holy One, praised be He, said: Shall an unclean thing nurse the mouth that is destined to speak with Me?" And this is the nearing of the passage (Is. 23, 9) Whom shall he teach knowledge? And whom shall he give to understand doctrine? Those that are weaned from the milk, those that are taken from the breasts; i.e., unto whom did the Lord teach knowledge? and to whom did He grant the understanding of doctrines? To him that weaned from the milk and that was taken from the breasts [from the Egyptians]. And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, 'Go;' and the maiden went. Said R. Elazar: "From this it may be inferred that she went quickly as a maiden." R. Samuel b. Nachmeni said: "This means that she concealed her words by not telling [Pharaoh's daughter] that she was his sister and that she was going to call her mother." (Ib., ib. 9) And Pharaoh's daughter said unto her, 'Take this child away.' Said R. Chama b. Chanina: "She prophesied but did know what she was prophesising. Helichi means take what belongs to thee." (Ib.) And I will give thee thy wages. Said R. Chama b. R. Chanina: "It is not sufficient for the righteous that their lost things are returned to them, but they are even paid for them, as it is said. And I will give thee thy wages."

(Lev. 1:7:) “And the sons of Aaron the Priest shall put fire upon the altar, and they shall lay wood in order upon the fire.” (Tamid 2:3:) All of the trees are proper for [altar] firewood except the vine and the olive.¹⁸TMen. 9:14; Sifra to Lev. 1:7, Wayyiqra, Pereq 6.Why? Because they produce excellent fruit.¹⁹Cf. Tamid 29b. See, you have learned that by virtue of sons, fathers are honored. (Lev. 2:5:) “And if [your offering] is a meal offering on a griddle.” [But] it is also written (in Exod. 2:7), “And if [your offering] is a meal offering in a pan.” (Men. 5:8:) What is the difference between a griddle and a pan?²⁰Sifra to Lev. 2:5, Wayyiqra, Pereq 12. A pan has a cover, and a griddle does not have a cover. A pan (rt.: rhsh) is deep, and its products tremble (rt.: rhsh).²¹Lev. R. 3:7. A griddle is flat and its products are solid. (Men. 11:3:) The cakes of the high priest had their kneading and their rolling out within [the Temple court], and [doing so] overrides the Sabbath. Their grinding and sifting do not override the Sabbath. (Men. 5:1:)²²See Tanh. (Buber), Numb. 8:11. All meal offerings were offered unleavened except the leavened [cakes] in the thank offering and the two loaves (of Pentecost) which were offered leavened. (Men. 5:2:) All meal offerings were kneaded in lukewarm water and one watched them lest they become leavened; and if the rest of it became leavened, one transgressed a negative commandment, as stated (in Lev. 2:11), “No meal offering which you offer to the Lord [shall be made with leaven].”

(Exod. 7:1:) THEN THE LORD SAID UNTO MOSES: SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. It is written (in Ps. 24:7): O GATES, LIFT UP YOUR HEADS…. Who said this verse? Solomon said it, when he made the ark.⁴⁴Below, Numb. 3:14 and the notes there; Tanh., Exod. 2:7; Shab 30a; MQ 9a; Sanh. 107b; Exod. R. 8:1; Numb. R. 14:3; 15:13; M. Pss. 24:10; cf. Lam. R. 2:10:13; Eccl. R. 4:3:1. He made an ark of ten cubits. Then he lifted it up to bring it into the Holy of Holies. When he reached the Sanctuary, the entrance was ten cubits. Now the ark (aron) was ten cubits, and ten cubits cannot get inside of ten <cubits>. Moreover, those who were bearing it <needed space>. When he saw that he was unable to bring it in, he felt ashamed and did not know what to do. He began to pray to the Holy One. What did Solomon do? He went and brought in the coffin (aron) of his father David. Then he prayed and said (in II Chron. 6:42): MY LORD GOD, DO NOT TURN AWAY THE FACE OF YOUR ANOINTED; REMEMBER THE GOOD DEEDS OF YOUR SERVANT DAVID. As soon as he mentioned the merit of his father David, he was answered immediately. What is written next (in II Chron. 7:1)? WHEN SOLOMON FINISHED PRAYING, FIRE CAME DOWN [FROM HEAVEN…, AND THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE HOUSE.] Also the Holy Spirit cried out (in Eccl. 4:2): THEN I PRAISED THE DEAD. Solomon began saying (in Ps. 24:7): O GATES, LIFT UP YOUR HEADS. At that time the gates were seeking to crush his skull, because they were of the opinion that perhaps he was speaking on his own authority. (Ibid., cont.): SO THAT THE KING OF GLORY MAY COME IN. They said to him (in Ps. 24:8 & 10): WHO IS THIS KING OF GLORY? He said to them (in vs. 10, cont.): THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY. SELAH. When he had said that to them, they left him alone.

(Lev. 2:5:) AND IF <YOUR OFFERING > IS A MEAL OFFERING ON A GRIDDLE…. It is also written (in Exod. 2:7): AND IF <YOUR OFFERING > IS A MEAL OFFERING IN A PAN. (Men. 5:8:) WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GRIDDLE AND A PAN?²⁶Sifra to Lev. 2:5, Wayyiqra, pereq 12. A PAN HAS A COVER, AND A GRIDDLE DOES NOT HAVE A COVER. <…> A PAN (rt.: RHSh) IS DEEP, AND ITS PRODUCTS TREMBLE (rt.: RHSh).²⁷Lev. R. 3:7. A GRIDDLE IS FLAT AND ITS PRODUCTS ARE SOLID. (Men. 11:3:) THE CAKES OF THE HIGH PRIEST HAD THEIR KNEADING AND THEIR ROLLING OUT WITHIN <THE TEMPLE COURT >, AND < DOING SO> OVERRIDES THE SABBATH. THEIR GRINDING AND SIFTING DO NOT OVERRIDE THE SABBATH. (Men. 5:1:)²⁸See below, Tanh. (Buber), Numb. 8:11. ALL MEAL OFFERINGS WERE OFFERED UNLEAVENED EXCEPT THE LEAVENED <CAKES> IN THE THANK OFFERING AND THE TWO LOAVES (of Pentecost) WHICH WERE OFFERED LEAVENED. (Men. 5:2:) ALL MEAL OFFERINGS WERE KNEADED IN LUKEWARM WATER AND ONE WATCHED THEM LEST THEY BECOME LEAVENED; AND IF THE REST OF IT BECAME LEAVENED, ONE TRANSGRESSED A NEGATIVE COMMANDMENT, ASSTATED (in Lev. 2:11): NO MEAL OFFERING WHICH YOU OFFER TO THE LORD SHALL BE MADE WITH LEAVEN….

[Another interpretation:] What is the meaning (of Ps. 24:10): THE LORD OF HOSTS, HE IS THE KING OF GLORY? That he imparts some of his glory to those who fear him as befits his glory.⁴¹Tanhuma Numb. 3:9 cont.; Numb. R.15:13; see PRK 32:9 (= Suppl. 1:9); M. Pss. 90:1. How? He is called "god" (elohim), and he called Moses "god," as stated (in Exod. 7:1): SEE I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. He (the Holy One) causes the dead to live, and he imparted some of his glory to Elijah. Thus he (i.e., Elijah) caused the dead to live, as stated (in I Kings 17:23): AND ELIJAH SAID: SEE YOUR SON IS ALIVE. Because the Holy One imparts some of his glory to those who fear him, he put his own clothing on the Messianic King, as stated (in Ps. 21:6 [5]): HONOR AND MAJESTY YOU SHALL LAY UPON HIM. Our masters have taught:⁴²Cf. Sanh. 2:5; see also TSanh. 4:2. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one rides upon his horse, no one puts on his clothes, no one uses his crown, and no one sits upon his throne; but in all these <instances> the Holy One shared <his glory> with those who feared him and gave to them.⁴³Above Exod. 2:7; Numb. 2:34. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Nahum 1:3): THE LORD IS IN THE WHIRLWIND, AND THE STORM IS HIS ROAD. But he gave it (i.e., the divine whirlwind horse) to Elijah, as stated (in II Kings. 2:11): AND [ELIJAH] WENT UP IN A WHIRLWIND INTO THE HEAVENS. No one puts on his clothes. What is written (in Ps. 104:1)? {AND} YOU HAVE PUT ON HONOR AND MAJESTY. Also with reference to the Messianic King, it is written (in Ps. 21:6 [5]): HONOR AND MAJESTY YOU BESTOWED UPON HIM. No one uses his crown. What is written concerning Moses (in Exod. 34:29)? AND MOSES DID NOT KNOW THAT THE SKIN OF HIS FACE WAS SHINING. And no one sits upon his throne. Now it is written (in I Chron. 29:23): THEN SOLOMON SAT UPON THE THRONE OF THE LORD AS KING. (Sanh. 2:5:) AND NO ONE USES HIS SCEPTER. But he gave it to Moses as stated (in Exod. 4:17): YOU SHALL TAKE IN YOUR HAND THIS ROD <WITH WHICH YOU SHALL PERFORM THE SIGNS>. What is written about the Holy One (in Ps. 47:6 [5])? GOD HAS ASCENDED AMID ACCLAMATION; THE LORD WITH THE SOUND OF A TRUMPET (shofar). The Holy One said to Moses: I have made you a king. It is so stated (in Deut. 33:5): THEN HE BECAME KING IN JESHURUN. Just as when the king goes forth, they sound trumpets before him, so also will they sound trumpets before you when you go forth. (Numb. 10:2:) MAKE TWO SILVER TRUMPETS (hatsotserot).

(Numbers 7:54:) "On the eighth day, the prince of the Children of Manasseh." R. Abbin Berabbi the Levite said, “As Joseph was offering his praise, his master saw him murmuring with his mouth.¹²²Numb. R. 14:3. He said to him, ‘What are you saying.’ Then he answered and said to him, ‘I am offering praise to the Holy One, blessed be He.’ He said to him, ‘I want to see Him.’ Joseph said to him, ‘Consider the sun, [who is merely] one of His several attendants.¹²³In an unvowelled Hebrew text “sun” (shemesh) and “attendant” (shammash) would have the same spelling, i.e., ShMSh. [Since] you cannot look at [His attendant], how much the less [can you look at] His own glory.’¹²⁴See above. Exod. 8:6; below, Numb. 3:15. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, ‘By your life, because of you I am appearing to him.’ Thus it is stated (in Gen. 39:3), ‘When his master saw that the Lord was with him.’” R. Chaninah said, “What is the meaning of (Ps. 24:10), ‘Who is this King of glory]?’ [It is] since He shares His glory with those who fear Him.¹²⁵Above, Exod. 2:7, and the other parallels listed there. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one [else] uses his scepter; but the Holy One, blessed be He, gave his scepter to Moses, as stated (in Exod. 4:20), ‘and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.’ In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one [else] sits on his throne; but it is written about Solomon (in I Chron. 29:23), ‘Then Solomon sat upon the throne of the Lord.’ In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one [else] rides on his horse; but Elijah ride on the horse of the Holy One, blessed be He. Now which horse belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He? Storm and whirlwind. Thus it is stated (in Nahum 1:3), ‘the Lord is in the whirlwind, and the storm is His road.’ And He gave it to Elijah. So it is written (in II Kings 2:11), ‘and Elijah went up in a whirlwind into the heavens.’ In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one [else] wears his attire; but the Holy One, blessed be He has put his attire on the messianic king. And what is the attire of the Holy One, blessed be He? Honor and majesty, as stated (in Ps. 104:1), ‘You have put on honor and majesty.’ And it is written (in Ps. 21:6), ‘honor and majesty do You bestow upon him.’” What is written about the Holy One, blessed be He (in Is. 59:18)? “According to their deeds, so shall He repay.”¹²⁶Biblical translations commonly render “RECOMPENSE” (gemulot) as “THEIR DEEDS.” What is the meaning of “[He] shall repay […] He shall repay” (twice)? That He repays the good according to their good [deeds] and the evil according to their evil [deeds]. What is written about Joseph (in Gen. 49:22)? “Joseph is a fruitful son.”¹²⁷So literally. Biblical translations usually render “son” (ben) by a word like “bough” or “vine.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Joseph, there shall be peace upon the eye which you closed and did not look at any of the Egyptian women.”¹²⁸Cf. Gen. R. 98(99):18. Thus it is stated (ibid., cont.), “daughters¹²⁹Again English versions generally read “boughs” or the like. step upon the wall (i.e., to gaze).” R. Abbin said, “What is the meaning of ‘upon the wall ('ly shwr)’?¹³⁰Numb. R. 14:6. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, ‘It is for me ('ly) to pay a reward (skr) for that eye.’” Our masters have taught (in Zev. 14:4, 5, 6, 7, 8) that they would eat in the Temple within the curtains, but in Shiloh (which lay in Ephraimite territory) [they would eat outside the sanctuary as far away as the eye could see,¹³¹See Zev. 118b. as] the Holy One, blessed be He, rewarded Joseph for what he did. What is written [about Joseph (in Gen. 39:12)? “And he left his cloak [in her hand].” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “By your life, when the Children of Israel go out from Egypt in the future, the sea is going to see your coffin and flee.”¹³²See Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Beshallah, 4; Gen. R. 84:5; M. Pss. 114:9. It is so stated (in Ps. 114:3), “The sea saw and fled […].” What did it see? It saw that Joseph had kept all of the Ten Commandments. Simeon, the man of Kitron, says, “It saw the bones of Joseph.”¹³³Gen. R. 87:8). And in addition, Joseph's coffin (aron) proceeded before the ark (aron). And the peoples of the world saw it and said, “What is the nature of this ark which is proceeding before the ark of the Torah?” Then Israel said, “This is a coffin of a dead man that is proceeding before the ark of the Torah, since this [man] fulfilled everything that was written in this [Torah], before the Torah was given. And therefore he merited to proceed with it.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Joseph, “Joseph, although I have rewarded you with a little reward in this world, the main fund remains for you in the world to come, when Israel is redeemed with an everlasting redemption. Through the merit of Jacob and through your merit, they will be redeemed, as stated (in Ps. 77:16), “With Your mighty arm You redeemed Your people, the Children of Jacob and Joseph. Selah.”

R. Abbin [Berabbi] the Levite said: As Joseph was offering his praise, his master saw him murmuring with his mouth.¹⁴⁵Tanh., Numb. 2:30; Numb. R. 14:3. He said to him: Joseph, what are you saying. Then he answered and said to him: I am offering praise to the Holy One. He said to him: I want to see your God. Joseph said to him: Consider Helios, <who is merely> one of his several attendants.¹⁴⁶In an unvowelled Hebrew text “sun” (shemesh) and “attendant” (shammash) would have the same spelling, i.e., ShMSh. If you cannot look at <his attendant>, how much the less <can you look at> his own glory.¹⁴⁷See above. Exod. 8:6; below, Numb. 3:15. The Holy One said to him: Because of you I am appearing to him. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 39:3): WHEN HIS MASTER SAW THAT THE LORD WAS WITH HIM…. R. Abbin Berabbi the Levite said: What is the meaning of {(Ps. 24:8 or 10): WHO IS THIS <KING OF GLORY>?} [(Ps. 24:9:) AND THE KING OF GLORY SHALL COME IT]? The one who shares some of his glory with those who fear him, i.e., the Holy One.¹⁴⁸Above, Exod. 2:7, and the other parallels listed there. In the case of a king of flesh and blood, no one <else> uses his scepter, but the Holy One gave his scepter to Moses, as stated (in Exod. 4:20): AND MOSES TOOK THE ROD OF GOD IN HIS HAND. Moreover, no one <else> sits on his throne, [but the Holy One had Solomon sit on his throne], as written (in I Chron. 29:23): THEN SOLOMON SAT UPON THE THRONE OF THE LORD AS KING. No one <else> rides on his horse, [but the Holy One had Elijah ride on his horse]. Now which horse belongs to the Holy One? Storm and whirlwind. Thus it is stated (in Nahum 1:33): THE LORD IS IN THE WHIRLWIND, AND THE STORM IS HIS ROAD. So it is written (in II Kings 2:11): AND ELIJAH WENT UP IN A WHIRLWIND INTO THE HEAVENS. Ergo: The Holy One shares his glory with those who fear him. He has also given his attire to the Messianic King, as stated (in Ps. 21:6 [5]): HONOR AND MAJESTY YOU BESTOW UPON HIM; for the attire of the Holy One is HONOR AND MAJESTY, [as stated] (in Ps. 104:1): YOU HAVE PUT ON [HONOR AND MAJESTY]. What is written about the Holy One (in Jer. 51:56)? [FOR THE LORD IS A GOD] OF RECOMPENSE;¹⁴⁹Biblical translations commonly render “RECOMPENSE” (gemulot) as “THEIR DEEDS.” HE SHALL REPAY IN FULL,] for he repays the good according to their good <deeds> and the evil according to their evil <deeds>. What is written about Joseph (in Gen. 49:22)? JOSEPH IS A FRUITFUL SON.¹⁵⁰So literally. Biblical translations usually render “son” (ben) by a word like “bough” or “vine.” The Holy One said to him: Joseph, there shall be peace upon the eye which closed and did not look at any of the Egyptian women.¹⁵¹Cf. Gen. R. 98(99):18. Thus it is stated (ibid., cont.): DAUGHTERS¹⁵²Again English versions generally read “boughs” or the like. STEP UPON THE WALL (i.e., to gaze). R. Reuben said: what is the meaning of UPON THE WALL ('LY SHwr)?¹⁵³Numb. R. 14:6. The Holy One said: It is for me ('LY) to pay a reward (SKR) for that eye. Our Masters have taught (in Zev. 14:4, 5, 6, 7, 8) that they would eat in the sanctuary inside the hangings, but in Shiloh (which lay in Ephraimite territory) <they would eat outside the sanctuary> as far away as the eye could see.¹⁵⁴See Zev. 118b. Whatever Joseph did, the Holy One rewarded him. What is written (in Gen. 39:12)? AND HE LEFT HIS CLOAK {WITH HER} [IN HER HAND], FLED, AND WENT OUTSIDE]. The Holy One said ot him: [By your life,] when the children of Israel go out from Egypt, the sea is going to see your coffin and flee.¹⁵⁵See Mekhilta deRabbi Ishmael, Beshallah, 4; Gen. R. 84:5; M. Pss. 114:9. It is so stated (in Ps. 114:3): THE SEA SAW <IT> AND FLED. What did it see? [It saw] that Joseph had kept all of the Ten Commandments. Simeon, the man of Kitron, says: It saw the bones of Joseph.¹⁵⁶Gen. R. 87:8). And in addition, when Joseph's coffin (aron) proceeded before the ark (aron), the peoples of the world saw it and said: What is the nature of this ark which is proceeding along with the ark of the Torah? Then Israel answered them and said: This confirms what is written in this <ark>. And what was in the ark? The Ten Commandments. Now Joseph fulfilled all of them before they were given from Sinai. The Holy One said to Joseph: Joseph, although I have rewarded you with a little reward in this world, the main fund remains for you in the world to come, when Israel is redeemed with an everlasting redemption. Through the merit of Jacob and through your merit, they will be redeemed, a stated (in Ps. 77:16 [15]): WITH YOUR MIGHTY ARM YOU REDEEMED YOUR PEOPLE, THE DESCENDANTS OF JACOB AND JOSEPH. SELAH.