Midrasch zu Chabakkuk 2:21

R. Nechemiah says: If one takes upon himself a single mitzvah in (true) faith, he is worthy of having the Holy Spirit repose upon him. And thus do we find with Moses, David, and Devorah that (in the fulness of their faith) they chanted song and the Holy Spirit reposed upon them. And thus do you find that Israel were redeemed from Egypt only in reward for their faith, viz. (Exodus 4:31) "And the people believed, etc." And thus is it written (Psalms 31:24) "The L rd guards the faithful." The faithfulness of the fathers is brought to remembrance, viz. (Exodus 17:12) "And Aaron and Chur supported his (Moses') hands, and his hands were (lifted in) faithfulness until the sun set." And it is written (Psalms 108:20) "This is the gate to the L rd. Tzaddikim (faithful in prayer) will enter through it." What is written of the "believers"? (Isaiah 26:2) "Open the gates and let there enter a nation that is (a) tzaddik, a keeper of faith" — this gate is to be entered by all believers. (Psalms 92:2-5) "It is good to praise the L rd and so sing to Your exalted name. To proclaim in the morning Your lovingkindness, and Your faithfulness in the nights. With a ten-stringed harp, with voice and lyre together. For You have gladdened me by Your deeds, O L rd. At the work of Your hands I will sing." What made him worthy of this joy? The belief held by our fathers in this world, which is all "night." Thus, "to proclaim in the world (to come) Your lovingkindness and Your faithfulness in the 'nights'" (i.e., this world). And thus with Yehoshafat (II Chronicles 20:20) "And they rose early in the morning and they went to the desert of Tekoa. And as they went forth Yehoshafat arose and said: 'Hear me, Judah and dwellers of Jerusalem: Believe in the L rd your G d and you will rest assured. Believe in His prophets and you will succeed.'" And it is written (Jeremiah 5:3) "O L rd, are Your eyes not (looking) for belief?" (Habakkuk 2:4) "And the tzaddik in his belief shall live", and (Eichah 3:23) "They (Your mercies) are renewed every morning — Great is Your faithfulness." And thus do you find that the exiles are gathered in, only in reward for faith, as it is written (Song of Songs 4:8) "With Me, from Levanon, My bride; With Me from Levanon shall you come (out of exile). You shall look (upon the redemption) merosh amanah" (homiletically: "in the merit of emunah [belief]). (Hoshea 2:22) "And I will betroth you to Me forever … and I will betroth you to Me with emunah."

R. Huna used to gather ten disciples of the college when a case came before him, saying: "In order that each of us may carry off a chip of the beam" (all should share the responsibility). And R. Ashi, whenever a Trefah came before him for his examination as to its legality, used to gather all the slaughterers of the city, saying: "In order that each of us may carry off chips of the beam." When R. Dimi came from Palestine he said: R. Nachman b. Cohen lectured: "What is the meaning of the passage (Ib. 29, 4) A king will through the exercise of justice establish [the welfare of] a land; but one that loveth gifts overthroweth it; if the judge is like unto a king, who needs not the favor of any one, he establishes the land; but if he is like a priest who goes around the barns asking for heave-offerings (support), he overthroweth it." The house of the Prince had appointed a judge who was ignorant, so the Rabbis said to Juda b. Nachman, the interpreter of Resh Lakish: "Go and be his interpreter." He inclined his ear to hear what he wanted to say for interpretation; but the judge said nothing. Juda then exclaimed (Hab. 2, 19) Woe unto him that saith to the wood, Awake! Rouse up! to the dumb stone, shall this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and no breath whatever is in its bosom. And the Holy One, praised be He! will punish his appointers, as it is said (Ib.) But the Lord is in His holy temple; be silent before Him, all the earth.

(Fol. 11) Our Rabbis were taught: "When the community of Israel is in trouble and one withdraws himself from them [refusing to share their sorrow], two ministering angels who accompany each man lay their hands upon his head and say: 'The Baraitha we are taught: "When the community when in distress shall not live to see the relief of the community.' " In another Baraitha we are taught that when the community is in distress one must not say: 'I will go to my house, eat, drink and make myself comfortable'; for concerning him the passage reads (Is. 22, 13) And behold {there are) joy and gladness, in staying oxen, and killing sheep, eating flesh, and drinking wine; 'Let us eat and drink; for tomorrow) we must die'; and immediately follows: Truly this iniquity shall not be purged from you till you die. But a man must suffer (deny himself enjoyment), when the community suffers: for thus we find that Moses afflicted himself when the community suffered; as it is said (Ex. 17, 12) But when the hands of Moses became heavy, they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon. Did not Moses possess a pillow or bolster upon which he could have sat down? Yea; but Moses said thus: 'Since Israel lives in trouble I must therefore share their woes.' And he who afflicts himself in sympathy with the community, will live to see the relief of the community. One might perhaps say: 'Who will testify that I did not share the suffering of the community?' He should know that the stones and beams of his very house will bear testimony to this fact; as it is said (Hab. 2, 11) For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the woodwork will answer it." In the college of R. Shila it was said that the two angels who accompany a man will testify against him; as it is said (Ps. 91, 11) For his angels will he given charge concerning thee. R. Chidka says: "The soul of man will testify against him; as it is said (Micah 7, 4) Keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom." Still others say that the members of a man's body will testify against him; as it is said (Is. 43, 10) Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord.

... Our teachers have said: Once, while Moses our Teacher was tending [his father-in-law] Yitro’s sheep, one of the sheep ran away. Moses ran after it until it reached a small, shaded place. There, the lamb came across a pool and began to drink. As Moses approached the lamb, he said, “I did not know you ran away because you were thirsty. You are so exhausted!” He then put the lamb on his shoulders and carried him back. The Holy One said, “Since you tend the sheep of human beings with such overwhelming love - by your life, I swear you shall be the shepherd of My sheep, Israel.”

R. Juda b. Nachmeni, the interpreter of Resh Lakish lectured again: "What is the meaning of the passage (Micha 7, 5) Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a familiar friend? This means, if the evil spirit say to thee, Go and commit a sin for the Holy One, praised be He! will forgive thee, be not persuaded, as it is said: Trust ye not in an evil (Ro'a); put ye not confidence in a familiar friend, this refers to none else than the Holy One, praised be He! as it is said (Jer. 3, 4) My father, Thou art; the friend (Aluph) of my youth art Thou. Perhaps one will say, who will testify against me? The stones and the timbers of his house will bear witness against him, as it is said (Hab. 2, 11) For the stone will cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the wood (work) will answer it. "We are taught in a Baraitha: R. Shila says the two angels which accompany a man will testify against him, as it is said (Ps. 91, 11) For his angels will he give charge concerning thee, to guard thee on all thy ways. R. Zerika says the soul of a man will testify against him, as it is said (Mie. 7, 5) From her that lieth in thy bosom guard the doors of thy mouth. What is this that lieth in a man's bosom? We must say, it is the soul. The sages say: "The members of a man's body testify against him, as it is said (Is. 43, 12) And ye are My witness, saith the Lord, and I am God."

Rav began: “Woe! He gives drink to his neighbor, amplifies your wrath, and intoxicates him, so that you may look upon their nakedness” (Habakkuk 2:15). “Woe! He gives drink” – that is Nebuchadnezzar; “his neighbor” – that is Zedekiah. The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Nebuchadnezzar]: ‘Wicked one, is he not a king like you? Is he not a shepherd like you?’ “Amplifies your wrath” – ‘why are you leveling accusations against him in your wrath?’ He [Nebuchadnezzar] said to him [Zedekiah]: ‘Had you rebelled against me and not rebelled against your God, your God would have stood beside you. Had you rebelled against your God and not rebelled against me, I would have stood beside you. However, you rebelled against your God and rebelled against me,’– that is what is written: “He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had administered an oath to him by God” (II Chronicles 36:13). Upon what did he administer the oath? Rabbi Yosei son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: He administered the oath on the horns of the inner altar. What would that wicked one [Nebuchadnezzar] do to him [Zedekiah]? He would feed him warm barley bread and give him wine from the winepress to drink. Why did he do so? He did so to empty his bowels; that is what is written: “So that you may look upon their nakedness.”
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: Your honor and the honor of your ancestors: You became royalty only because your grandfather respected his grandfather; that is what is written: “At that time Merodakh Baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent scrolls and a gift to Hezekiah; he had heard that he had become ill and recovered” (Isaiah 39:1). They said: Merodakh Baladan was a sun worshipper, and he was accustomed to eat at the sixth hour and sleep until the ninth hour. On that day, when the sphere of the sun reversed its course during the days of Hezekiah, he slept until the ninth hour and awakened at the fourth hour. Once he awoke from his sleep, he sought to kill all his servants. He said to them: ‘You allowed me to sleep the entire day and the entire night.’ They said to him: ‘No, rather, the sphere of the sun reversed its course.’
He said to them: ‘Is there a god who is greater than my god, who is capable of reversing it?’ They said to him: ‘Hezekiah’s God is greater than your god.’ Immediately he arose and sent [letters]: Peace to Hezekiah, peace to the God of Hezekiah, and peace to Jerusalem. Once the letters and messengers were on their way, he was calmed and he said: ‘I have honored Hezekiah only because of his God, and I offered salutations to Hezekiah, who is flesh and blood, before [I offered] salutations to his God?’ Immediately, he arose from his throne and took three steps, and sent messengers to recall the letters and wrote other scrolls: Peace to the great God of Hezekiah, peace to Hezekiah, and peace to Jerusalem. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: You arose from your throne and took three steps for the glory of My name; by your life, I will establish from you three kings, who will rule the entire world from one end to the other end, and these are they – Nebuchadnezzar, Evil Merodakh, and Belshatzar. That is why The Holy One blessed be He said [to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah]: ‘Your honor and your honored grandfather and father became kings only because he [Merodakh Baladan] honored this king’s grandfather [Hizkiyyahu], and you are dishonoring him?’
“You are sated with more shame than glory; you too, drink and be exposed! The cup in the right hand of the Lord shall come around to you, and disgrace upon your glory” (Habakkuk 2:16). “More shame than glory” – Zedekiah my son is being dishonored in the manner that anyone is dishonored, but you [Nebuchadnezzar], “disgrace [kikalon] upon your glory” – vomiting [ki] above and shame [kalon] below. Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav said: When the two commanders of his legions saw that he was vomiting above and being shamed below, they stood him from his throne, removed his crown from upon his head, and removed his royal cloak from upon him; that is what is written: “They removed his honor from him” (Daniel 5:20), and they stood him in his nakedness; the nakedness of shame.
Who were the commanders of his legions? Cyrus and Darius. Rabbi Menaḥem, son-in-law of Rabbi Eliezer bar Avina, said in the name of Rabbi Yaakov bar Avina: The entire household of that wicked one are only judged naked. “You too, drink and be exposed naked” (Habakkuk 2:16), this is Nebuchadnezzar; “you too,” this is Belshatzar, “and be exposed naked,” this is Vashti.

Rav began: “Woe! He gives drink to his neighbor, amplifies your wrath, and intoxicates him, so that you may look upon their nakedness” (Habakkuk 2:15). “Woe! He gives drink” – that is Nebuchadnezzar; “his neighbor” – that is Zedekiah. The Holy One blessed be He said to him [Nebuchadnezzar]: ‘Wicked one, is he not a king like you? Is he not a shepherd like you?’ “Amplifies your wrath” – ‘why are you leveling accusations against him in your wrath?’ He [Nebuchadnezzar] said to him [Zedekiah]: ‘Had you rebelled against me and not rebelled against your God, your God would have stood beside you. Had you rebelled against your God and not rebelled against me, I would have stood beside you. However, you rebelled against your God and rebelled against me,’– that is what is written: “He also rebelled against King Nebuchadnezzar, who had administered an oath to him by God” (II Chronicles 36:13). Upon what did he administer the oath? Rabbi Yosei son of Rabbi Ḥanina said: He administered the oath on the horns of the inner altar. What would that wicked one [Nebuchadnezzar] do to him [Zedekiah]? He would feed him warm barley bread and give him wine from the winepress to drink. Why did he do so? He did so to empty his bowels; that is what is written: “So that you may look upon their nakedness.”
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: Your honor and the honor of your ancestors: You became royalty only because your grandfather respected his grandfather; that is what is written: “At that time Merodakh Baladan, son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent scrolls and a gift to Hezekiah; he had heard that he had become ill and recovered” (Isaiah 39:1). They said: Merodakh Baladan was a sun worshipper, and he was accustomed to eat at the sixth hour and sleep until the ninth hour. On that day, when the sphere of the sun reversed its course during the days of Hezekiah, he slept until the ninth hour and awakened at the fourth hour. Once he awoke from his sleep, he sought to kill all his servants. He said to them: ‘You allowed me to sleep the entire day and the entire night.’ They said to him: ‘No, rather, the sphere of the sun reversed its course.’
He said to them: ‘Is there a god who is greater than my god, who is capable of reversing it?’ They said to him: ‘Hezekiah’s God is greater than your god.’ Immediately he arose and sent [letters]: Peace to Hezekiah, peace to the God of Hezekiah, and peace to Jerusalem. Once the letters and messengers were on their way, he was calmed and he said: ‘I have honored Hezekiah only because of his God, and I offered salutations to Hezekiah, who is flesh and blood, before [I offered] salutations to his God?’ Immediately, he arose from his throne and took three steps, and sent messengers to recall the letters and wrote other scrolls: Peace to the great God of Hezekiah, peace to Hezekiah, and peace to Jerusalem. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: You arose from your throne and took three steps for the glory of My name; by your life, I will establish from you three kings, who will rule the entire world from one end to the other end, and these are they – Nebuchadnezzar, Evil Merodakh, and Belshatzar. That is why The Holy One blessed be He said [to Zedekiah, the last king of Judah]: ‘Your honor and your honored grandfather and father became kings only because he [Merodakh Baladan] honored this king’s grandfather [Hizkiyyahu], and you are dishonoring him?’
“You are sated with more shame than glory; you too, drink and be exposed! The cup in the right hand of the Lord shall come around to you, and disgrace upon your glory” (Habakkuk 2:16). “More shame than glory” – Zedekiah my son is being dishonored in the manner that anyone is dishonored, but you [Nebuchadnezzar], “disgrace [kikalon] upon your glory” – vomiting [ki] above and shame [kalon] below. Rabbi Yirmeya in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav said: When the two commanders of his legions saw that he was vomiting above and being shamed below, they stood him from his throne, removed his crown from upon his head, and removed his royal cloak from upon him; that is what is written: “They removed his honor from him” (Daniel 5:20), and they stood him in his nakedness; the nakedness of shame.
Who were the commanders of his legions? Cyrus and Darius. Rabbi Menaḥem, son-in-law of Rabbi Eliezer bar Avina, said in the name of Rabbi Yaakov bar Avina: The entire household of that wicked one are only judged naked. “You too, drink and be exposed naked” (Habakkuk 2:16), this is Nebuchadnezzar; “you too,” this is Belshatzar, “and be exposed naked,” this is Vashti.

[Another interpretation (of Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE.] The Holy One said to them: I am not bothering with <any> other people except you. What is written (in Hab. 2:4)? LO, HIS INNER SOUL IS ARROGANT, NOT UPRIGHT; BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS. LO, <HIS INNER SOUL> IS ARROGANT. This refers to Nebuchadnezzar. How? The Holy One had made him king over all the world but he was unhappy with his lot. (Ibid.:) HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. Then he looked at himself and felt ashamed;¹⁷Cf. PRK 13:8, according to which Nebuchadnezzar was a dwarf. Similarly Tanh., Exod. 7:4, which finds a clue to his smallness in his name. but he said: I am king. Thus it says: HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS (rt.: 'MN). In the world to come the Holy One will judge the children of Adam, each and every one along with the children of his handiwork (rt.: 'MN); BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE with fidelity (rt.: 'MN). The Holy One said to them: Each and every one {is from} [lives off] his handiwork (rt.: 'MN). Now I have redeemed you from Egypt, but you are not setting aside for me a priestly share. (Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE….

R. Simlai lectured: "Six hundred and thirteen commands were spoken to Moses; three hundred and sixty-five of them negatives, corresponding to the number of days in the year counting according to the solar system, and two hundred and forty-eight positives, corresponding to the members of a human body." Said R. Hamnuna: "Where is the passage to prove this? (Deut. 33, 4) The Torah which Moses commanded us. The numerical value of the word Torah amounts to six hundred and eleven. (Fol. 24) I am; and, Thou shalt have no [of the first two commandments], we heard from the Almighty Himself. David, however, came and reduced their number to eleven, as it is written (Ps. 15, 2-5) A Psalm of David, Lord, we shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart, etc., i.e., He that walketh uprightly, refers to Abraham, concernnig whom such an expression is written (Gen. 17, 1) Walk before Me, and be upright. Worketh righteously, refers to a man like Aba Chelkia.' And speaketh the truth refers to man like Rabbi Saphra. Nor doeth evil to his fellows, i.e., who takes care not to compete with his neighbor's business. That hath no slander upon his tongue, refers to our father Jacob, concerning whom it is written (Gen. 27, 12) My father peradventure will feel me. Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, refers to one who befriends his relatives. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, refers to Hezekiah, King of Judea, who caused his father's bones to be carried on a bed of ropes. But he honoreth them that fear the Lord, refers to Jehoshaphath, King of Judea, who upon seeing a scholar, would rise from his throne, kiss him, and call him, my father, my master, my teacher, my master, my master. But that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; this refers to R. Jochanan, who said: 'If one says I will fast until I will come home.' He that putteth not out his money on interest, i.e., not even from an idolater. Nor taketh no bribe, refers to men like R. Ismael b. Jose. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. When R. Gamaliel would come to this passage, he used to weep, saying: "Only one who performed all these shall not be moved, but [if he performs merely] one of them, he might be moved;" whereupon R. Akiba said to him: "According to your opinion then how would you explain the passage (Lev. 18, 24) Defile not ye yourselves in all of those things. Do you mean to say that only if in all of these things, but not one?" You must therefore say that it means to any of these things. The same could also be explained. Isaiah then came and reduced them (the six hundred and thirteen commands) to six as it is said (33, 15) He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes; that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking on evil. He that walketh righteously, refers to Abraham, of whom it is written (Gen. 18, 19) For I have known him, to do righteousness and justice, etc. Speaketh uprightly, refers to him who does not anger his colleague in public. And he despiseth the gain of oppressions, refers to R. Ismael b. Elisha. That shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, refers to R. Ishmael b. Jose. That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, refers to R. Elazar b. Simon. And shutteth his eyes from looking on evil, as R. Chiya b. Aba explained this to refer to one "who does not look upon women washing near the bank of the river." When Michah [the prophet] came he reduced them to three (6, 8) It hath been told thee, o man, what is good; and what the Lord doth require of thee: (only) to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. To do justly, refers to the law; love mercy, refers to loving kindness; and walk humbly, providing for the marriage of poor maidens and the burial of the dead. Is this not an a fortiori conclusion! If concerning matters which are not to be performed in secrecy, the Torah says to walk humbly, how much more so should this be applied to matters which are accustomed to be done in secrecy! Isaiah finally reduced them to two, as it is said (56, 1) Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness. Amos then came and reduced them to one, as it is said (Amos 5, 4) For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live. R. Nachman b. Isaac raised the following objection: Perhaps he means by Seek ye Me, to perform the entire Torah? We must therefore say that it was Habakkuk [the prophet] who came and reduced them to one (2, 4) But the righteous shall live by his faith.

Our Rabbis were taught: "It once happened that the greater part of the month of Adar had passed and no rain had yet fallen. Choni Hama'gel was thereupon requested to pray for rain. He prayed, but no rain descended. So he marked out a circle around him, the same as Habakkuk did, as it is said (Habak. 2, 1) Upon my watch will I stand. He placed himself in the midst of it, and said: 'Sovereign of the Universe! Thy children have always looked up toward me as being near unto Thee. I swear, therefore, by Thy great Name, that I shall not move from this place until Thou shalt have compassion upon Thy children.' Whereupon the rain commenced to come down in drops. 'Rabbi,' said the disciples to him, 'may it be that we may see thee and not die; for we think that the rain is merely dropping in order to release thee from thy vow.' 'Fear not, you will not die,' said he to them, and he again pleaded before God, saying: 'It was not for this I prayed, but for rain sufficient to fill the wells, cisterns and caves.' The rain began to come down with vehemence, each drop being as large as the mouth of a barrel, and the sages estimated that each drop contained no less than a lug of water. The disciples again said to him: 'Rabbi, may we see thee and not die! We believe that the rain is falling in order to destroy the world.' Whereupon he again pleaded before God, saying: 'Not for such rains have I prayed; but for a needed rain that should be a blessing.' The rain then descended in the usual manner, until the Israelites of Jerusalem were obliged to seek refuge from the city to the Temple mound, on account of the rain. They then came to him and said: 'Rabbi, just as thou didst pray that the rain should descend, so pray now that it may cease.' Whereupon he replied: 'Thus have I a precedent: It is not permitted to pray for a cessation of too much good. Still, bring me a praise-offering.' It was accordingly brought to him, and putting both hands upon it, he said: 'Sovereign of the Universe! Thy people which Thou hast brought out of Egypt can sustain neither too much misfortune, nor too much goodness. When Thou becamest angry with them, they could no longer bear it; and now that Thou has showered too much goodness (rain) upon them, they cannot bear it either. Let it be Thy will that the rains may cease and the world become happy.' Thereupon a wind came up, dispersing the clouds, and the sun commenced to shine; and when the people left the Temple mound they saw it was entirely covered with mushrooms."

And it shall be if you listen to listen (Deuteronomy 28:1): If you listened a little, your end will be to listen much. Another interpretation: You will make your studies heard in front of the Holy One, blessed be He. When will you make your studies heard? Rabbi Yehudah says, "At the time that he comes to part from the world, as it is stated (Ecclesiastes 12:13), 'The end of the matter, everything is heard.'" And Rabbi Meir says, "until he completes his soul, as stated (Job 10:22), 'gloom and not arranged,' as he arranges his study." Another interpretation: "If you surely listen," your prayer will be heard, like Choni the Circle-maker. At the time that Israel required rain, they went into him and said to him, "Pray for us, as we need rain." Immediately, he drew a circle and stood inside it, to fulfill that which is stated (Habakuk 2:1), "I will stand on my watch." The rain began to drizzle. He said, "This is not what I requested, but rains of desire, blessing and freewill." The rain [then] began to fall in its accustomed way. What caused him to be one who prays, such that the Holy One, blessed be He listens to his prayers? [It was] because he listened to the words of the Torah. Another interpretation: If you listen in this world, you will listen [to it] in the world to come from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He. Rabbi Yonah the father of Rabbi Manna said in the name of Rabbi Levi who said in the name of Rabbi Abba, "The Torah was not supposed to have been given to Israel in this world. Why? Because everyone will learn it from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the future, in the world to come. [So] why was it given to them in this world? So that when the Holy One, blessed be He, comes to teach them in the world to come, everyone will know in what section He is occupied." Therefore, if you listen in this world, you will listen in the world to come from the mouth of the Holy One, blessed be He. Another interpretation: If you merited to listen to words of the Torah that were given with many voices, you will merit to hear that voice about which it is written (Jeremiah 7:34), "the voice of gladness and the voice of joy." Another interpretation [of] "if you listen to listen": If you have listened to the voice of your teacher, your end is that others [will] listen to you. "To guard to do" (Deuteronomy 28:1). You should only study in order to do. Rabbi Yochanan said, "Anyone who studies [Torah] but does not do [what he studied], it would have been better had his placenta turned over his face (died in the womb). But if you merited to guard and to do, 'the Lord your God will set you high above (elyon)' (Deuteronomy 28:1)." Rabbi Levi said, "What is [the meaning of] elyon? It is like this thumb (alyon). If you merited, behold you will be above the four fingers, 'and the Lord your God will set you high above,' on condition. But if not, 'the stranger that is in your midst will rise higher and higher' (Deuteronomy 28:43)." "Blessed shall you be in your coming" (Deuteronomy 28:6), on condition [that it is] in your coming to the synagogues and study halls; "and blessed shall you be in your going," from the synagogues and study halls. "You shall be blessed in the city and you shall be blessed in the field" (Deuteronomy 28:3). It should have said, "You shall be blessed in the field and you shall blessed in the city," as it is from what he brings in from the field that he is blessed in the city. Rather what do we learn to say [from,] "You shall be blessed in the city and you shall be blessed in the field?" If you have come to the commandment in the city, do not say, "I was only commanded in the field to extract the priestly tithes and the [other] tithes outside." The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "Open your hand [to give tithes] also in the city." Another interpretation: "You shall be blessed in the city," with the commandments that you do in the midst of your house in the city, such as sukkah, mezuzah and parapet. "You shall be blessed in the field," [with the commandments that you do in the field], such as [leaving] gleanings, forgotten sheaves, and the corner [of the field]. Another interpretation: A man should not say, "If the Holy One, blessed be He, had given me a field, I would have extracted tithes from it. [But] now that I do not have a field, I will not give anything." The Holy One, blessed be He, says [in response], "See what I have written in My Torah, 'You shall be blessed in the city,' for those living in the city; 'and you shall be blessed in the field,' for those that have fields." "Blessed shall be your basket" (Deuteronomy 28:5). These are the first-fruits that you you bring up to Jerusalem, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 26:4), "And the priest shall take the basket from your hand." "And your kneading bowl" (Deuteronomy 28:5), that is the challah tithe. "[Blessed shall be...] the calving (shegar) of your herd" (Deuteronomy 28:4). Rabbi Yehudah bar Shalom said, "That they shall be moving (shegurin) and coming out [effortlessly] like [from] the mouth of a box; 'and the lambing (ashterot) of your flock' (Deuteronomy 28:4), that they should be as strong as boulders (ashterot)." Another interpretation: "You shall be blessed in the city," this [refers to] Jerusalem, which is called a city, as it is stated (Lamentations 2:15), "Is this the city that they said was the perfection of beauty?" "And you shall be blessed in the field," this [refers to] Zion, as it is stated (Jeremiah 26:18), "Zion shall be plowed for a field." And when will the Holy One, blessed be He, show this blessing to Israel? When Jerusalem is rebuilt and the exiles are returned within her, as it is stated (Psalms 133:3), "As the dew of Hermon which runs down on the mountains of Zion, for there the Lord commanded the blessing, life forever." [May it happen] speedily in our day, Amen!

Take for Me an offering. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel: I did not impose this upon other nations but upon you alone. Observe what is written in the verse Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous shall live by his faith (Hab. 2:4). Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him refers to Nebuchadnezzar. How do we know this? The Holy One, blessed be He, made him ruler of the entire world, yet he did not rejoice in his lot, as it is said: His soul is not upright in him. When he looked at himself he became embarrassed in the presence of his fellow men. He would say: “I am king,” yet his soul was not upright in him. Why was that? Because he was squat in stature, like a kad (“jug”). That is why he was called Nebukadnezzar.

(Lev. 10:8-9:) “And the Lord spoke unto Aaron, [saying], ‘Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.’” Why did He give a commandment concerning wine?¹³Lev. R. 12:1; cf. Numb. R. 10:2; M. Prov. 23. Because anyone who drinks wine will have boils, sores, shame, and reproach come upon him. So the holy spirit cries out (in Prov. 23:29-35), “Who has woe; who has sorrow; who has contentions; who has talk; who has unexplained sores; who has redness of eyes? Those who tarry over wine [….] Do not stare at wine when it is red, [when it gives its color to the cup….] In the end it will bite like a snake; [….] Your eyes will see strange things; [….] You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, [….] They struck me, but I felt no hurt.” (Vs. 29) “Who has woe; who has sorrow” [means,] about whom do they say, “Woe?”; “who has contentions,” [means,] about whom do they say [that he is a master of] quarrels. [(ibid., cont.) “Who has talk, means,] and about whom do they talk? (ibid., cont.) “Who has unexplained sores,” [means,] whom [do they say] has boils on his face? [(ibid., cont.) “Who has redness of eyes ('ayin),” [means,] and about whom do they say that his eyes ('ayin) are bleary and red from wine? About whom do they say all these evils? (Vs. 30) “Those who tarry over wine.” (Vs. 31) “Do not stare at wine when it is red.” Its end is blood. It is fine on the outside and bad on the inside; so never say that it is beautiful on the inside, just as [it appears] on the outside. (According to ibid., cont.,) “When it gives its color ('ayin) to the cup (kos).” [This is the oral text (the qere).] The written text (ketiv) [says] “to the purse (kis).” The drunkard sets his eye on the cup, but the shopkeeper [sets his eye] on the purse. “When it gives its color to the cup.” When one sees his comrade drinking, he says, “Pour one for me to drink.” Then he drinks and defiles himself in dung and urine. (Ibid., cont.) “He/it¹⁴In the Biblical context it is the wine that goes down smoothly. goes down smoothly.” He ends in selling all the objects in his house and all his useful implements. Thus he [is left with] no clothes and no useful implements for the house, so that [he is left] with nothing and the house is empty from [having] everything. “He/it goes down smoothly.” In the end he declares transgressions permissible and makes them something accessible [to all] like a commons. He converses with a woman in the market place where he talks obscenely and says evil things in a drunken state without being ashamed, because he is confused and knows neither what he is saying nor what he is doing. (Prov. 23:32) “In the end it will bite like a snake.” When the snake bites a person, he does not feel it for a time; but after he goes home, [the poison in] the wound permeates him. “In the end it will bite like a snake,” most certainly like a snake. Just as in the case of the snake, [the Holy One, blessed be He,] cursed the land on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 3:17), “cursed is the land because of you”; so in the case of wine, Canaan, who was a third of the world was cursed on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 9:24-25), “Then Noah awoke from his wine…, [And he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan].’”¹⁵As Enoch Zundel explains in his commentary on Tanh., Lev. 3:5, Canaan’s curse comes through his father Ham, upon whom the curse actually fell. Since Ham represented a third of Noah’s sons, a third of the world came from him. So also Numb. R. 10:2. Ergo (in Prov. 23:32), “In the end it will bite like a snake….” (Vs. 33) “Your eyes will see strange things.” See what wine causes one who drinks it! “Your eyes will see strange things” [is a reference to], (Ps. 81:10) “There shall not be a strange god with you.” It causes him to serve idols. So it says (in Is. 28:7), “These also reel with wine and stagger with strong drink.” What is the meaning of these? [These of] which it is spoken (in Exod. 32:4), “These are your gods, O Israel.” Thus it is stated (in Exod. 32:6), “and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to engage in amorous sport.” [It was] because of wine that they said (in Exod. 32:4), “These are your gods, O Israel.” Therefore (in Prov. 23:33), “and your heart will speak deceitful things.” Thus it causes four things: idolatry, uncovering of nakedness, shedding of blood, and evil speech. See how strong wine is! So it is written (in Hab. 2:5), “And moreover, wine betrays an arrogant man.” It is also written (in Prov. 21:24), “An insolent and arrogant one, scorner is his name.” Now “insolent” must mean idolatry. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 119:21), “You rebuke the cursed insolent ones.” Moreover, “insolent ones” must [also] refer to the uncovering of nakedness. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 86:14), “O God, insolent ones have risen up over against me…”; and it says (in Ps. 19:14), “Also keep your servant from insolent ones.” Moreover, when one drinks and transgresses, he sees the whole world as a ship. It is so stated (in Prov. 23:34), “You will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea.” When he lies down they smite him, but he does not feel it. Thus it is stated (in vs. 35), “They struck me, but I felt no hurt; they beat me, but I did not know it.” So when he is unknowing and unashamed, he uncovers himself. Then afterwards he returns and seeks it (i.e., wine). [Thus it is stated (ibid.),] “when I wake up, I seek it yet again.” See how evil is the end of those who drink wine. [Isaiah said (in Is. 5:11),] “Woe to those who rise early in the morning to pursue strong drink; who remain behind in the evening for wine to inflame them.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Inasmuch as wine causes such [evils], it is right for Me to command the priests not to drink wine when they minister before Me. Ergo (in Lev. 10:9:), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Solomon said (in Prov. 23:20), “Do not be among those who imbibe wine.” Do not cause yourself to drink [wine (yyn), which implies] seventy. Then you would face seventy [judges of the Sanhedrin] and fall into the hands of death. Y (= 10) plus y (= 10), for a subtotal of 20, plus n (= 50) results in seventy.¹⁶Cf. Sanh. 38a. So you would face seventy [members of] the Sanhedrin¹⁷Gk.: Synedrion. and cause your own death. See what is written (in Deut. 21:18-19), “If one has a defiant and rebellious son…, his father and mother shall take hold of him [and bring him out unto the elders of his town]….” Then the sentence shall be passed over him; and (in vs. 21) “[All the people of his own town] shall stone him [to death] with stones.” Why? Because he is (according to vs. 20) “a glutton and a drunkard.” So Solomon has said (in Prov. 23:20), “Do not be among those who imbibe wine, who gorge themselves on meat,”¹⁸See also Prov. 23:22, which adds an admonition to obey parents. lest you bring stoning upon yourself, the most weighty of the executions.
R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said, “In the Hebrew language the name [for wine] is yyn, and in the Aramaic language its name is hmr. By gematria¹⁹Gk.: geometria or grammateis. Gematria is an exegetical method in which an interpretation is reached from the sum of the numerical value of the letters in a word. hmr becomes two hundred and forty-eight, corresponding to the [number of] parts in a human being. The wine enters into each and every limb, so that the body becomes weakened and knowledge becomes confounded. When wine enters, knowledge departs.” And so Eleazar Haqappar has taught, “Wine (yyn), with a numerical value of seventy enters; and secrets (swd), with a numerical value of seventy,²⁰S (= 60), W (= 6), and D (= 4) add up to 70. depart.”²¹Cf. Sanh. 38a, which attributes the teaching to R. Hiyya. Therefore, the high priest was commanded not to drink wine during the time of the service, lest it confound his knowledge; for he preserves the Torah (and preserves the service) and the knowledge. Thus it is stated (in Mal. 2:6), “The true Torah was in his mouth, and no injustice was found on his lips.” It also says (in vs. 7), “For the lips of a priest preserve knowledge.” Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, commanded Aaron (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor, you and your children as well.” And do [not] think that I may have commanded you [only] for the past in the beginning, at a time when the Temple was standing and you were ministering in it, since it is stated (ibid., cont.), “when you come unto the tent of witness….” [Rather,] you shall also keep yourselves from wine forever, as stated (ibid., cont.), “it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations.” Therefore, keep yourselves from wine, because wine is a sign²²Gk.: semeion. of a curse. In the case of Noah, what is written about him? (In Gen. 9:21), “Then he drank of the wine and became drunk.” Cham entered and saw his nakedness. What did [Noah] say to him? He cursed his son (in vs. 25), “And he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan.’” Therefore (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” And so you find that the ten tribes went into exile only from wine.²³Cf. Lev. 5:3; Numb. 10:3. See what [scripture] says (in Amos 6:1), “Woe to those who are at ease in Zion,” because they were dwelling at ease in pleasure palaces. (Ibid., cont.) “and who have confidence in the mountain of Samaria,” because they were dwelling confidently in [Sebaste].²⁴The city built by Herod on the site of old Samaria. (Ibid., cont.:) “The notables of the leading nation, the ones to whom the House of Israel comes.” In what sense? The peoples of the world would sit and talk. They would say, “Who is the mightiest in Israel?” And they would answer, “Samson.” Then again they would say, “Who is the mightiest among the gentiles?” And they would answer, “Goliath,” about whom it is written (in I Sam. 17:4), “his height was six cubits and a span.” Ergo (in Amos 6:1), “The notables of the leading nation, the ones to whom the House of Israel comes.” Then again they would say, “Who is the wealthiest among the peoples of the world?” And they would answer, “Hadrian.” Then, “Who is the wealthiest in Israel?” And they would answer, “Solomon.” And these would agree with those that Solomon was the wealthiest, as stated (in I Kings 10:27), “And the king made silver [in Jerusalem as plentiful as stones].” Come and see, each and every tribe had its own May festival.²⁵Gk. Maioumas. When one wanted to go to his May festival, he would take his herd with him, so that he would eat fatlings from his flock. It is so stated (in Amos 6:4, 6), “and they would eat lambs from the flock…. Those who drink [straight] from the wine bowls….” What is their end? (Amos 6:7) “Therefore they shall now go at the head of the exiles.” Why? Because they had a passion for wine. For this reason he warns Aaron (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Blessed is the one who does not have a passion for wine, for you find such to be the case with the children of Jonadab ben Rechab, in that their ancestor had commanded them, “Do not drink wine, you and your children forever” (Jer. 35:6). But what was his reason for saying, “Do not drink wine, you and your children?” It is simply that he had heard Jeremiah prophesying that the Temple would be destroyed. He said to them, “From now on, (Jer. 35:6-7), ‘Do not drink wine… You shall not build a house, sow seed, plant a vineyard, [or own such things]; but you shall dwell in tents all your days.” Now they had mourned and observed the commandments of their ancestor; but when Jeremiah was prophesying to Israel [and] telling them to repent, they were not doing so. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah, “You are telling them to repent, and they are not doing so. Now in the case of the children of Jonadab ben Rechab, when their ancestor gave them a simple commandment, they observed it; but when I tell Israel to repent, they do not observe [My commandment].” It is so stated (in Jer. 35:14), “The words of Jonadab ben Rechab have been upheld. He commanded his children not to drink wine, and to this day they have not drunk it…. But I spoke to you from early morning to late evening, [and you did not hearken unto me].” What is written there? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Jeremiah, “Say to them, ‘By your life, whereas you have heeded this commandment, your lineage shall never disappear from before Me, even as it is written (in vs. 19), “Therefore, thus says the Lord [of hosts, the God of Israel], ‘Someone belonging to Jonadab ben Rechab shall not (ever) be cut off [from standing] before Me for ever.’”’” He therefore enlightens them concerning wine (in Lev. 10:9), “Drink no wine or intoxicating liquor.” Isaiah said (in is. 24:11), “There is a cry over wine in the streets; all gladness is obscured.” What is the meaning of “all gladness is obscured (rt.: 'rb)?”²⁶Above, Exod. 11:8. [That ] all gladness has become dark, just as you say (in Gen. 1:5),²⁷Also Gen. 1:8, 13, 19, 23, 31. “and there was evening ('rb).” (Is. 24:11, cont.:) “The joy of the earth has [departed], because Zion has come to an end.” Thus it is written (in Ps. 48:3), “Beauteous landscape, joy of the whole earth, [even Mount Zion].” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “In this world wine is a sign of a curse, but in the world to come I will make it into fresh grape juice. Thus it is stated (in Joel 4:18), “And it shall come to pass on that day the mountains shall flow with fresh grape juice….”

(Fol. 98) R. Chiya b. Joseph said: "The fate of wine depends upon one's luck, as it is said (Habak. 2, 5) And even the wine of a proud man rebels, whose house will not stand." R. Mari said: "The one who is proud is not tolerated even among his household, as it is written And even the wine of a proud man rebels, whose house will not stand." What is the meaning of Whose house will not stand? i.e., he is not tolerated by his household. R. Juda, in the name of Rab, said: "An ordinary commoner who disguises himself in the garment of a scholar will not be able to enter the habitation of the Holy One, praised be He! for it is written here (Naveh), will not stand, and it is written (Ez. 15, 13) Unto Thy habitation (Naveh)."

(Exodus 15:7) "And in the greatness of Your grandeur You break those who rise up against You": You have magnified Your grandeur against those who rise up against You. And who are those? Those who rise up against Your children. It is not written "those who rise up against us," but "those who rise up against You," whereby we are apprised that all who rise up against Israel are rising up, as it were, against the Holy One Blessed be He. Similarly, (Psalms 74:23) "Do not forget the vice of Your foes, the roar of those who rise against You always." Why? (Ibid. 83:4) "They have been subtle in counsel against Your people, etc." (Ibid. 139:21) "Will I not hate Your haters, O L rd, and battle with those who rise up against You?" Why? (Ibid. 22) (For) "I have hated them to the heights of hatred. I have deemed them my (own) enemies." Similarly, (Zechariah 2:12) "for whoever touches you touches the pupil of His eye." R. Yehudah says: It is not written "the pupil of the eye, but "the pupil of His eye" — the "eye" of the Holy One, as it were. Similarly, (Malachi 1:13) "And you say (of an offering) 'What a burden it is!' and you (thereby) sully it." It is actually written "Him," but Scripture here is euphemistic. Similarly, (I Samuel 3:13) "because of his knowing that his sons were blaspheming them and his not censuring them" — a euphemism (for "Me"). Similarly, (Iyyov 7:20) "Why did You make me a target for Yourself and a burden to myself" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly (Habakkuk 1:12) "Are You not of yore, O L rd my G d, my Holy one — we shall not die" — a euphemism (for "You"). Similarly, (Jeremiah 2:11) "Has a nation ever exchanged (its) god though they be no god? Yet My people has exchanged its glory" — a euphemism (for "My"). Similarly, (Psalms 106:20) "And they exchanged their glory for the image of an ox, etc." — a euphemism (for "Your"). (Numbers 11:15) "and let me not see my misfortune" — a euphemism (for "their"). Similarly, (II Samuel 20:1) "We have no portion in David … Each man to his tent ("ohalav"), O Israel" — a euphemism (for "god" ["elohav"]). (Ezekiel 8:17) "And, behold, they thrust the branch to their nostrils" — a euphemism (for "My"). (Numbers 12:13) "who leaves his mother's womb" — a euphemism (for "our"). Here, (Zechariah 2:12) likewise, "One who touches him (a Jew) touches the pupil of his eye" — a euphemism (for "G d's") eye. And all who help Israel, help, as it were, the Holy One Blessed be He, viz. (Judges 5:23) "Curse Meroz, said the angel of the L rd. Curse bitterly its dwellers. For they came not to the aid of the L rd, to the aid of the L rd among the warriors." He who rises up against Your children rises up against You. And who were they (who rose up against Him?) (Genesis 14:9) "Kedarlaomer and Tidal king of Goyim, etc." (Ibid. 15) "And he (Avram) deployed against them at night, he and his servants, and he smote them." And thus is it written (Isaiah 41:2-3) "Who roused (the exemplar of) righteousness, (i.e., Avram) from the east, summoned him to His service? … He pursues them. He passes on, unscathed." And thus is it written (Psalms 110:1-5) "This is the word of the L rd to my master (David). Sit at My right hand until I make your foes your footstool. The sceptre of your strength will the L rd send from Zion. Your people will offer themselves on the day of (the gathering of) your army. The L rd has sworn and He will not retract … The L rd is at your right hand, etc." You magnified Yourself greatly against Pharaoh and his army, viz. (Exodus 14:7) "And he (Pharaoh) took six hundred choice chariots, etc." — (Ibid. 15:4) "The chariots of Pharaoh and his host He cast into the sea." And thus Sisra and all his chariots, viz. (Judges 4:13) "And Sisra called up all his chariots" — (Ibid. 5:20) "From the heavens they warred" (against Sisra). Sancheriv and all of his ranks, viz. (Isaiah 37:24) "Through your servants you have blasphemed my L rd, etc.) — (II Chronicles 32:21) "and the L rd sent an angel who annihilated every warrior, etc." Nevuchadnezzar and all his hosts," viz. (Isaiah 14:83) "You said in your hearts: I will climb to the heavens, etc." Nevuchadnezzar said: I will make myself a little cloud and I will live within it, viz. (Ibid. 14) "I will mount the heights of a cloud, etc." The Holy One Blessed be He said: You wished to separate yourself from men. In the end, they will separate themselves from you, viz. (Daniel 4:25-30) "All this befell King Nevuchadnezzar, etc." (Ibid. 8:1-6) "King Belshazzar made a great banquet, etc." About this it is written (Habakkuk 2:15) "Woe unto him who makes his neighbor drink! You pour out your wrath even unto intoxication," and (Ibid. 16) "You will be sated with shame rather than glory." (Daniel 5:30) "That very night King Belshazzar was killed."

Another interpretation (of Prov. 23:31): HE/IT GOES DOWN SMOOTHLY. In the end he declares transgressions permissible and makes them {a common like something accessible < to all >} [something accessible < to all > like a common]. He converses with a woman in the market place where he talks obscenely and says evil things in a drunken state without being ashamed, because he is confused and knows neither what he is saying nor what he is doing. (Prov. 23:32:) IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE. When the snake bites a person, he does not feel it for an time; but after he goes home, < the poison in > the wound permeates him. IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE, most certainly like a snake. Just as in the case of the snake, < the Holy One > cursed the land on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 3:17): CURSED IS THE LAND BECAUSE OF YOU; so in the case of wine, a third of the world was cursed on account of it, as stated (in Gen. 9:24–25): THEN NOAH AWOKE FROM HIS WINE…, [AND HE SAID: CURSED BE CANAAN].¹⁹As Enoch Zundel explains in his commentary on Tanh., Lev. 3:5, Canaan’s curse comes through his father Ham, upon whom the curse actually fell. Since Ham represented a third of Noah’s sons, a third of the world came from him. So also Numb. R. 10:2. Ergo (in Prov. 23:32): IN THE END IT WILL BITE LIKE A SNAKE…. (Vs. 33:) YOUR EYES WILL SEE STRANGE THINGS. See what wine causes one who drinks it! It causes him to serve idols. So it says (in Is. 28:7): THESE ALSO REEL WITH LIQUOR AND STAGGER WITH STRONG DRINK. What is the meaning of {REEL?} [THESE? < These of > which they spoke] (in Exod. 32:4): THESE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 32:6): AND THE PEOPLE SAT DOWN TO EAT AND DRINK, AND ROSE UP TO {PLAY} [TO ENGAGE IN AMOROUS SPORT].²⁰See above, Gen. 2:21. < It was > because of wine that they said (in Exod. 32:4) THESE ARE YOUR GODS, O ISRAEL. Therefore (in Prov. 23:33): AND YOUR HEART WILL SPEAK DECEITFUL THINGS. Thus it causes four things: idolatry, uncovering of nakedness, shedding of blood, and evil speech. See how strong wine is! So it is written (in Hab. 2:5): AND MOREOVER, WINE IS TREACHEROUS. It is also written (in Prov. 21:24): A SCORNER AND ARROGANT ONE, INSOLENT IS HIS NAME.²¹In the Masoretic Text SCORNER and INSOLENT are reversed. Now INSOLENT must mean idolatry. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 119:21): YOU REBUKE THE CURSED INSOLENT ONES. Moreover, INSOLENT ONES must < also > refer to the uncovering of nakedness. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 86:14): O GOD, INSOLENT ONES HAVE RISEN UP OVER AGAINST ME….; and it says (in Ps. 19:14 [13]): ALSO KEEP YOUR SERVANT FROM INSOLENT ONES. Moreover, when one drinks and transgresses, he sees the whole world as a ship. It is so stated (in Prov. 23:34): YOU WILL BE LIKE ONE WHO LIES DOWN IN THE MIDST OF THE SEA. When he lies down they smite him, but he does not feel it. Thus it is stated (in vs. 35): THEY STRUCK ME, BUT I FELT NO HURT; THEY BEAT ME, BUT I DID NOT KNOW IT. So when he is unknowing and unashamed, he uncovers himself. Then afterwards he returns and seeks it (i.e., wine). [Thus it is stated] (ibid.): WHEN I WAKE UP, I SEEK IT YET AGAIN.

Another interpretation (of Exod. 7:1) SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. The Holy One said: Because he made himself into a god, they informed him that he was nothing in the world. See, I have made you a god over him.⁴⁹Tanh., Exod. 2:9. And where is it shown that Pharaoh made himself into a god? Where it is stated (of Pharaoh in Ezek. 29:3): {BECAUSE HE} [WHO] SAID {THE} [MY] NILE IS MY OWN, AND I MADE MYSELF.⁵⁰A more traditional rendering would be, AND I MADE IT FOR MYSELF. I am the one who created myself. Now this is one of four sons of Adam who made themselves into gods and had sexual relations like women.⁵¹See Enoch Zundel’s commentary, ‘Ets Yosef, on Tanh., Exod. 2:9, which explains that, because the four promoted themselves to divinity, they would have had to bestow largess like a god, who always bestows it to the world as the male bestows it in the female. He gives and she receives. Therefore, “they had sexual relations like women” to show that they were bestowed upon and did not do the bestowing. Three were from the nations of the world, and one was from Israel. They were the following: Hiram, Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, and Joash. Where is it shown of Hiram? Where it is stated (in Ezek. 28:2): SAY TO THE PRINCE OF TYRE: THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD: BECAUSE YOUR HEART IS PROUD, YOU HAVE SAID: I AM A GOD. Because he had made himself into a god, he had sexual relations like women, as stated (in vs. 17): YOU HAVE DEBASED YOUR WISDOM…; <I HAVE CAST YOU UPON THE GROUND; I HAVE GIVEN YOU OVER BEFORE KINGS > TO STARE AT YOU. What is the meaning of TO STARE (R'WH) AT YOU? <That> they would work their "friendship" (as if from R'WT) on you. Where is it shown of Nebuchadnezzar? Where it is stated <of the king of Babylon that he said> (in Is. 14:14): I WILL ASCEND UPON THE HEIGHTS OF A CLOUD; I WILL BECOME LIKE THE MOST HIGH. The Holy One said to him: By your life, (in vs. 15) YOU SHALL ALSO BE BROUGHT DOWN UNTO SHEOL, UNTO THE UTTERMOST PARTS OF THE PIT. What did the Holy one do? He banished him while he was in his kingship and had him eat grass like the cattle. It is so stated (in Dan. 4:22 [25]): AND THEY SHALL FEED YOU GRASS LIKE OXEN…. So, when the cattle and the wild beasts saw him in the likeness of a <female> animal, they had sexual relations with him, as stated (in Hab. 2:17): AND THE VIOLENCE OF THE BEASTS WILL TERRIFY THOSE FEMALES. What is the meaning of TERRIFY THOSE FEMALES (rt.: HTT+N)? <Its meaning > is like what is stated (in Deut. 7:3): YOU SHALL NOT INTERMARRY (rt.: HTN) WITH THEM. So he became a bridegroom (HTN) to all cattle and wild beasts. Where is it shown of Joash? Where it is stated (in II Chron. 24:17): NOW AFTER THE DEATH OF JEHOIADA, THE PRINCES OF JUDAH CAME AND BOWED LOW TO THE KING. What is the meaning of BOWED LOW TO THE KING? That they made him < their > god. Moreover, since he was in agreement, as stated (ibid., cont.): THEN THE KING HEARKENED TO THEM, he had sexual relations like a woman. Thus it is stated (vs. 24): <FOR THE ARMY OF ARAM CAME WITH A FEW MEN….> SO THEY INFLICTED JUDGMENTS ON JOASH. It is just as it says (in Lev. 20:13): IF A MAN LIES WITH A MALE AS ONE LIES WITH A WOMAN, BOTH OF THEM HAVE COMMITTED AN ABOMINATION.⁵²The midrash is arguing that the JUDGMENT inflicted on Joash is this ABOMINATION. Cf. Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, ‘Amaleq 1, which would revowel JUDGMENTS (shefatim) to read “sports” (shipputim). For a similar solution, see Exod. R. 8:2. Pharaoh also made himself into a god and had sexual relations like a woman. It is so stated (in Jer. 44:30): BEHOLD, I AM GIVING PHARAOH HOPHRA, KING OF EGYPT, <INTO THE HANDS OF HIS ENEMIES>. What is the meaning of HOPHRA (rt.: PR')?⁵³Although the Masoretic Text spells HOPHRA with a gutturalized initial H (het), the midrash text spells the name with a simple H (he), which need not be part of the root. That they uncovered (PR') his posterior. He was a pharaoh who had been a male and became a female. Another interpretation of HOPHRA. <Its meaning is> like that used (in the context of Numb. 5:18): AND HE (the priest) SHALL UNCOVER (PR') THE WOMAN'S HEAD. And to which father's house did he belong? (Is. 19:16:) IN THAT DAY {THE LAND OF EGYPT SHALL BE A FESTIVAL….} [EGYPT SHALL BE LIKE WOMEN.] And what was the cause? <It was> because he made himself into a god. Thus it is stated (in Ezek. 29:3): {BECAUSE HE} [WHO] SAID {THE} [MY] NILE IS MY OWN, AND I MADE MYSELF. For that reason the Holy One said to Moses: Because he has made himself into a god, go and become a god over him. It is so stated (in Exod. 7:1): SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. Why? (Eccl. 5:7 [8]:) FOR ONE EXALTED PERSON WATCHES ANOTHER FROM ABOVE, AND THERE ARE MORE EXALTED ONES OVER THEM. Ergo, you are a god over him; so make him an arrogant abomination (ShHTs) in the world because he became exalted by himself. And this is what is written (in Job 41:26 [34]): HE BEHOLDS EVERYTHING EXALTED, {AND} HE IS KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF ABOMINABLE ARROGANCE (ShHTs). Does the Holy One not see the lowly? It is also written (in Zech. 4:10): <THESE SEVEN ARE> THE EYES OF THE LORD. THEY ROAM AROUND ALL THE EARTH. And (in Job 41:26 [34]) what is the meaning of HE BEHOLDS EVERYTHING EXALTED? R. Berekhyah said: These are the proud, whose spirit becomes <too> haughty for them, so that they exalt themselves and make themselves into gods. What does the Holy One do to them? He exhibits them to mortals and makes them arrogant abominations (ShHTs) in the world, as stated (in Job 41:26 [34]): HE IS KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF ABOMINABLE ARROGANCE (ShHTs). <There is> Nebuchadnezzar, for example, in that he made him an arrogant abomination (ShHTs), as stated (in Dan. 5:21): HE WAS DRIVEN AWAY FROM HUMANS…. So also was Sennacherib made an arrogant abomination (ShHTs), as stated (II Kings 19:35 = Is. 37:36 // II Chron. 32:21): SO IT CAME TO PASS IN THAT NIGHT THAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT OUT AND SMOTE <ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY FIVE THOUSAND > IN THE CAMP OF ASSYRIA…. Thus the Holy One shows the abominable arrogance (ShHTs) of the proud to every creature. The Holy One has said (in Jer. 23:24): IF SOMEONE HIDES IN SECRET PLACES, SHALL I NOT SEE (rt.: R'H) HIM? SAYS THE LORD. R. Benjamin bar Levi said: If someone goes to handle the Torah and sits by himself, I will exhibit (rt.: R'H) his deed in the world. And so, if someone conceals himself to commit a transgression, I will exhibit (rt.: R'H)his deed to the world. It is so stated (in Jer. 23:24): SHALL I NOT SEE (rt.: R'H) HIM? SAYS THE LORD. DO I NOT FILL THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH? SAYS THE LORD. What is the meaning of I FILL? R. Hama b. R. Hanina said: The Holy One said: From him (i.e., from his evil works) I will fill the upper and lower worlds. Then I will exhibit (rt.: R'H) him to humankind as an arrogant abomination (ShHTs). Why? Because they (sic) are proud and make themselves into gods. (Job 41:26 [34]:) HE BEHOLDS EVERYTHING EXALTED, {AND} HE IS KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF ABOMINABLE ARROGANCE (ShHTs). Thus he reigns over all those who are proud and makes them arrogant abominations (ShHTs). For that reason, the Holy One said to Moses (in Exod. 7:1): SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH. Go and exact punishment from him.⁵⁴Exod. R. 8:3. Go and bring the ten plagues (of Exod. 7:14–12:29) upon him. He said to him: How shall I bring the plagues upon him? The Holy One said to him (in Exod. 4:17): AND YOU SHALL TAKE IN YOUR HAND THIS ROD, < WITH WHICH YOU SHALL PERFORM THE SIGNS>. R. Judah bar Ammi said: The rod which he had weighed forty seahs⁵⁵I.e., weighed forty seahs of wheat. and was <made> of sapphire.⁵⁶Gk.: sappheirinon. Moreover ten plagues were inscribed upon it through an acronym,⁵⁷Gk.: notarikon. <i.e.,> DeTsaKh 'aDaSh Be'aHaBh.⁵⁸The acronym stands for the following: Dam (blood), Tsefarde‘im (frogs), Kinnam (gnats), ‘arov (flies), Dever (pestilence), Shehin (boils), Barad (hail), ‘arbeh (locusts), Hoshekh (darkness), and Bekhor (first-born). The Holy One said to him: this rod will bring the plagues upon him. (Exod. 7:1:) SEE, I HAVE SET YOU AS A GOD TO PHARAOH.

(Zech. 13:8:) “’And it shall come to pass throughout all the land,’ says the Lord, ‘that two-thirds in it shall be cut off [and] die, but one-third shall remain in it.’” This is what is stated with the holy spirit through David (in Ps. 97:7), “All who worship an image, who boast in idols, are put to shame.” With reference to whom was he saying it? He only said it with reference to the Holy One, blessed be He. R. Hanina said, “The Holy One, blessed be He, is going to show His glory to all who have come into the world; for He will lower His throne in the middle of the firmament and again set it in place where the sun rises during the period of [the month of] Tebeth.” R. Hanina the Elder said to him, “Is it possible to see His glory, even the One of whom it is written (in Exod. 33:20), ‘for no human may see Me and live?’ Now you are saying, ‘The Holy One, blessed be He, is going to show His glory to all who have come into the world.’” He said to him, “See, it is written (in Ps. 84:12), ‘For the Lord God] is sun and shield […].” Just as a sun and shield denotes a shield over one in time of war, so also will the Holy One, blessed be He, be a shield over His children at that time [of His appearing].²⁰Even though the Holy One on his throne shines with the blinding rays of the sun, He will also provide a shield from these rays. R. Hanina said, “In the time that the Lord judges the peoples of the world, He seizes them for judgment; them, their Gods, and the one who sets up images²¹The translation reads protomin (Gk. partomai, denoting imperial busts.) for Buber’s pittumin. The emendation was first suggested by Jastrow, s.v. perotomi, and agrees with a note from S. Lieberman given orally to Daniel Sperber and cited in “Greek and Latin Words in Rabbinic Literature,” Bar-Ilan: Annual of Bar-ilan University Studies in Judaica and the Humanities, 14–15(1977), p. 12, n. 7. Buber’s pittumin, which means “ingredients” or “spices,” makes relatively little sense. Cf. Codex Vaticanus, Ebr. 34, which reads “patronin” (Gk.: patrones; Lat.: patroni), and denotes protectors. for them. Next He brings the two tablets with the Ten Commandments and says to them (i.e., to the tablets), ‘Have they all paid attention to you?’ Then they say to him, ‘From the day that You created us, no one has paid attention to us with the lone exception of Your people Israel.’” (Ps. 96:7:) “Who boast in idols.” [It would be] more fitting for Scripture to say, “who trust.” What is the meaning of “who boast?” That they did not perform idol worship until they had honored each other (for doing so). The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “On each day you will feel shame before Me. There are those among you who serve doves, and a lot of doves are slaughtered. There are also those among you who serve bricks, and a lot of bricks are broken in the marketplace. There are those among you who serve fish, and a lot of fish are sold in the marketplace.” Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, put them to shame, as stated (in Micah 7:16), “The nations shall see Me and be ashamed […].” R. Hama bar Hanina said, “What is the meaning of (Is. 43:9), ‘All the nations are gathered together […].’ In the world to come the Holy One, blessed be He, brings the book of Torah and puts it on His lap.²²‘AZ 2a-3b. Then He says, ‘Let anyone who is occupied with this, come and receive his reward.’ Immediately all the peoples gather in confusion, as stated (ibid.), ‘All the nations are gathered together […].’ The Holy One, blessed be He, says to them, ‘Do not be gathered in confusion, but [have] every nation [come separately] with its scribes,’ as stated (ibid, cont.), ‘and let the peoples assemble.’ Edom (the Roman Empire) entered. The Holy One, blessed be He, says to them, ‘With what were you occupied?’ They say to Him, ‘We have established a lot of marketplaces, produced a lot of baths, and multiplied silver and gold. And everything was [done] so that Israel would [have leisure to] be occupied with Torah.’ He [then says] to them, ‘Everything that you did, you did for your own needs. Marketplaces are for settling harlots in. Baths are to refresh yourselves. Silver and gold are mine, as stated (in Hag. 2:8), “The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine.”’ The Persian Empire entered. He says to them, ‘With what were you occupied?’ They say, ‘We have conquered a lot of cities, established a lot of bridges, waged a lot of wars. And everything was [done] for the sake of Israel.’ He [then] says to them, ‘Everything that you did, you did for the sake of yourselves. Cities were for producing forced labor²³Gk.: angareia; Lat.: angaria. in them. Bridges were for collecting tolls. Wars [are what] I have waged, as stated (in Exod. 15:3), “The Lord is a man of war.” Are there any among you declaring “this?”’ It is so stated (in Is. 43:9, cont.), ‘who among them will declare this?’ Now ‘this’ can only be Torah, since it is stated (in Deut. 4:44), ‘And this is the Torah which Moses set.’ They say to Him ‘Did you give us anything that we have not accepted?’ [But] it says about them (in Deut. 33:2), ‘The Lord came forth from Sinai, and shone upon them from Seir….’ [This] teaches that the Holy One, blessed be He, brought [the light of Torah] to all the peoples of the world, but they did not want to accept it. [So] they say to Him, ‘Did You overturn the mountain above us like a basin like you did to Israel, as stated (in Exod. 19:17), “And they stood at the nether part of the mount,” and You said to them, “If you accept the Torah, excellent, but if not, there [under the mountain], will be your burial.” As if it were not for this, they [too] would not have accepted it.’ The Holy One, blessed be He, says to them, ‘But did they not say from the beginning (in Exod. 24:7), “we shall do and we shall heed?”’ They [then] say to Him, ‘Master of the world, give it to us in advance, and we will carry it out.’ He says to them, ‘I am giving you an easy commandment. If you observe it, I will give you a reward like [that of] Israel.’ He says to them, ‘Go and make a sukkah (booth).’ Immediately each and every one goes and builds a sukkah for himself. [But] when the Holy One, blessed be He, brings out the sun from its case,²⁴Gk. and Lat.: narthex, where it originally denoted a shrub. each one tramples down his sukkah and goes away, as stated (in Ps. 2:3), ‘Let us break their bonds asunder.’ Then the Holy One, blessed be He, sits and laughs at them, as stated (in vs. 4), ‘The One sitting in the heavens will laugh; the Lord will deride them.’” (Ps. 97:7, end:) “And all the powers will bow down to Him.” When He judges the peoples of the world, he will judge their gods along with them, as stated (in Is. 66:16), “For in fire will the Lord execute judgment….” When they are unable to remain in the fire, they fly away. Then the Holy One, blessed be He, sends out angels with [prisoner] collars²⁵Qolarin from the Lat.: collaria; cf. colla (“necks”). and chains, and they cast them into the midst of the fire, as stated (in Mal. 3:19), “’And that day is coming burning like an oven,’ said the Lord of Hosts, ‘[(it) shall burn them to ashes] and leave of them neither stock nor boughs.’” Another interpretation (of Ps. 97:7), “And all the powers bow down to Him”: All the idolaters say to their gods, “Come and bow down before the Holy One, blessed be He, for you have led us astray.” Immediately (according to Is. 2:18), “And the idols shall completely vanish,” and the idolaters bring them down into Gehinnom. It is therefore stated (in Ps. 97:7), “All who worship an image are put to shame.” (Zech. 13:8:) “And it shall come to pass throughout all the land, says the Lord, that two-thirds in it shall be cut off [and] die,” these are those that say there are two powers in the Heavens; “but one-third (shelishit) shall remain in it,” these are Israel, who are from a third (shelishit) of the world, [as they are] the children of three (sheloshet) patriarchs. Another interpretation (of Zech. 13:8) “but one-third shall remain in it”: [These words mean] that they shall only settle in their land in the third deliverance. The first deliverance was the deliverance from Egypt. The second was the deliverance of [in the time of] Ezra. The third has no interruption. R. Simlay said, “Six hundred and thirteen commandments were spoken to Moses on Sinai.²⁶Makk. 23b-24a; M. Pss. 17(addendum):18-25. David came and established them upon eleven [principles], as stated (in Ps. 15:1), ‘O Lord, who shall dwell in Your tent,’ and all [of that] psalm.²⁷The five verses to this psalm contain exactly eleven stipulations (in vss. 2-4a) for dwelling with the Holy One without being shaken. Isaiah came and established them upon six, as stated (in Is. 33:15), ‘(1) One who walks righteously and (2) speaks uprightly, (3) who detests the unjust gain of oppression, (4) who shakes his finger (literally, his hand) against grasping at a bribe, (5) [who shuts off his ears against hearing of bloodshed, and (6) closes his eyes against looking at evil].’ And it is written after that (in vs.16), ‘Such a one shall dwell on the heights; the strongholds on cliffs shall be his refuge, with his food supplied and his water assured.’ Micah came and established them upon three, as stated (in Micah 6:8), ‘He has told you, O human, what is good; so what does the Lord demand of you but to practice justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.’ Amos came established them upon two, as stated (in Amos 5:4), ‘For thus says the Lord […], “seek Me and live.”’ Habakkuk came and established them upon one, as stated (in Hab. 2:4), ‘but the righteous person shall live by his faithfulness.’”

“What is the advantage of one who works, in that he toils?” (Ecclesiastes 3:9).
“What is the advantage of one who works…” – Solomon said: Since there are appointed times for everything, to what avail is his craft for the craftsman, and uprightness for the upright?²⁷One is subject to good or bad fortune regardless of one’s efforts in this world, or one’s uprightness. Alternatively, “what is the advantage”? Each and every person is situated only with those whose actions are like his.²⁸People whose degree of righteousness is similar receive a similar portion in the World to Come. Rabbi Yitzḥak ben Rabbi Maryon said: “The righteous one will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4), even the eternal Righteous One is sustained by His faithfulness. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Initially, I killed the Egyptian firstborn, as it is stated: “It was at midnight, and the Lord smote…” (Exodus 12:29); so, too, every firstborn that will be born to you, you shall consecrate to me, as it is stated: “Consecrate to me each firstborn” (Exodus 13:2); you shall consecrate the firstborn to me due to My faithfulness’ – that is: “The righteous one will live by his faith.”
Rabbi Pinḥas [said] in the name of Rabbi Reuven: To what is this matter comparable? [It is comparable] to a king who prepared a feast and invited guests to join him. The king issued an edict and said: ‘Each and every person shall bring with him something on which to recline.’ Some brought rugs, some brought mats, some brought blankets, some brought pillows, some brought chairs, some brought logs, and some brought stones. The king viewed them and said: ‘Each and every person shall recline on what he brought.’ Those who were sitting on the logs and the stones were aggrieved at the king, and said: ‘Is this befitting the honor of a king, that we should be sitting on logs and stones?’ When the king heard [this], he said to them: ‘Is it not enough that you tarnished the palace with [your] logs and stones, which cost me significant [cleaning] expenditures, but you are also impudent to me, and direct accusations against me? Your “honor” was achieved only by you, yourselves.’ So too, in the future, the wicked will be sentenced to Gehenna, and they will be aggrieved at the Holy One blessed be He: ‘We were anticipating the salvation of the Holy One blessed be He, and this befell us?’ The Holy One blessed be He will say to them: ‘When you were [alive] in the world, were you not quarrelsome, slanderers, and evildoers? Were you not men of disputes and men of violence?’ That is what is written: “Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who gird yourselves with firebrands” (Isaiah 50:11) – therefore, “go in the flame of your fire, and among the firebrands that you kindled” (Isaiah 50:11). Lest you say: “From My hand this was to you” (Isaiah 50:11): no, you did this to yourselves; therefore, “you shall lie in sorrow” (Isaiah 50:11), you did this to yourselves.
Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish was toiling in Torah study to the fullest extent in the forest of Tiberias. There was a potter there who would prepare him a vessel of drinking water each day. [Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish] would enter²⁹A cave, where the potter would leave water for him (Etz Yosef). very tired, and take it and drink it. One time, [the potter] entered and sat with him and fanned him lightly. He said to him: ‘Rabbi, do you remember that you and I would go to the synagogue³⁰When they were children, to study Torah. together? You merited and this man³¹The potter said this about himself. did not merit. Pray for me that my portion will be with you in the World to Come.’ He said to him: ‘What will I pray for you that you should have it? You will come with people whose actions are like yours. Each and every person is situated only with those whose actions are like his.’

We know that Nebuchadnezzar claimed divinity, because it is written: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High (Isa. 14:14). Thereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Wretch! Yet thou shalt be brought down to the netherworld, to the uttermost parts of the pit (ibid., v. 15). What did He do to him? He exiled him into the desert though he was a king, and compelled him to eat grass like a beast, as it is said: Thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee (Dan. 4:29). To the beasts and the cattle he appeared like a female beast, and they had intercourse with him, as it is said: The destruction of the beast, which made them afraid (yehitan) (Hab. 2:17). This corresponds to what is stated in the verse Neither shalt thou make marriages (tithaten) with them (Deut. 7:3). Nevertheless, a human heart was given to him so that he might realize that he had once ruled the entire world, and now was having intercourse with beasts and animals. And it is written about him: And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever (Dan. 4:31).

We know that Nebuchadnezzar claimed divinity, because it is written: I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High (Isa. 14:14). Thereupon the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: Wretch! Yet thou shalt be brought down to the netherworld, to the uttermost parts of the pit (ibid., v. 15). What did He do to him? He exiled him into the desert though he was a king, and compelled him to eat grass like a beast, as it is said: Thou shalt be made to eat grass as oxen, and seven times shall pass over thee (Dan. 4:29). To the beasts and the cattle he appeared like a female beast, and they had intercourse with him, as it is said: The destruction of the beast, which made them afraid (yehitan) (Hab. 2:17). This corresponds to what is stated in the verse Neither shalt thou make marriages (tithaten) with them (Deut. 7:3). Nevertheless, a human heart was given to him so that he might realize that he had once ruled the entire world, and now was having intercourse with beasts and animals. And it is written about him: And at the end of the days, I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up my eyes unto heaven, and my understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored Him that liveth forever (Dan. 4:31).

Since wordlings increased the courts became deprived, and the deeds of man became corrupt and there is no satisfaction [to the Lord] in the world. Since respect for litigants increased at the courts, all mention of the following disappeared, (Deut. 1, 17) Ye shall not be afraid of any man, and application of, Ye shall not retpect person in judgment, ceased. People revoked from themselves the heavenly yoke, and placed, instead, upon themselves the yoke of frail man. Since the habit of whispering among the judge while sitting at court increased, the anger of the Lord waxed strong [for advising quietly, to each and every one, how to mistreat justice], and the Shechina departed from Israel, as it is said (Ps. 82, 1) In the midst of Judges does He judge. Since it increased, (Ez. 33, 31) While their heart goeth after their unlawful games, it increased, (Is. 5, 20) Woe unto those that say of the evil, it is good, and of the good, it is evil. Since those who say of the evil it is good, and of the good it is evil, grew more in numbers woes increased upon the world. Since those who draw with the increased spittle (assumed aristocratic airs), the scholars decreased and the Torah had to look after its students. Since haughty people increased, the daughters of Israel began to get married to them, which caused the entire generation to become a camouflage. Is that so, has not R. Mari said: "He who is boastful is not favored even by his own household, as it is said (Haba 2, 5) Ye, moreover, wine is a treacherous dealer; the haughty man abideth not; he who enlargeth his desire even in his own house will he not be tolerated, [hence we see that he is not beloved to anyone]? Indeed in the very beginning [not knowing the exact nature] people like such a man, but at the end he is despised by them. Since the custom of the judges to force goods on private people increased, [making people their mercantile agents or their customers], bribes and the wresting of judgment thereby increased and goodness ceased from Israel. When those who say 'I accept thy favors and I shall appreciate thy favors, became numerous [in official life]; then the custom to do whatever one pleased increased among the people. The lower class became exalted and the exalted became low and the kingdom became more and more corrupt. Since selfishness increased, robberies and the hard-hearted [that closed their hearts against the poor] became numerous, who closed their hands from lending to their friends increased, transgressing thereby the passage, (Deut. 15, 9) Beware that there be not a wicked thought in thy heart. Since those who receive presents increased, man's days decreased and his years were shortened because it is said (Pr. 15, 27) But he that hateth gifts will live. Since wantonness increased, the quarrels in Israel increased; since the disciples of Shammai and Hillel became numerous, dissension increased in Israel and the Torah became like two separate Torahth.

[(Exod. 3:1:) NOW MOSES WAS TENDING <THE FLOCK>.] This text is related (to Ps. 11:4): THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE….⁴⁴Cf. Hab. 2:20. R. Samuel bar Nahman said: Before the destruction of the Sanctuary, the Divine Presence was situated in the Temple, as stated (Ps. 11:4): THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE;⁴⁵Exod. R. 2:2; M. Pss. 11:3. but, after the Temple was destroyed, (ibid. cont.:) THE LORD'S THRONE IS IN THE HEAVENS. He had removed his Divine Presence to the heavens. R. Eleazar ben Pedat said: Whether the Temple is destroyed or not destroyed, the Divine Presence has not moved from its place, as stated (in Ps. 11:4): THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE. And where is it shown? Where it is stated (in I Kings 9:3): MY EYES AND MY HEART SHALL BE THERE FOR ALL TIME. It also says so (in Ps. 3:5 [4]): I RAISE MY VOICE UNTO THE LORD, AND HE ANSWERS ME FROM HIS HOLY HILL. SELAH. For even though it is <only> a hill,⁴⁶Midrash Tanhuma (Jerusalem: Eshkol: n.d.), vol. 1, appendix, p. 90, n. 2, suggests emending HR (“hill”) to HRB (“destroyed”) so that the clause would read in agreement with Codex Vaticanus Ebr. 34 and Exod. R. 2:2: “For even though it is destroyed.” here he remains in his holiness. R. Eleazar ben Pedat said: See what is written (in Ezra 1:3): AND LET HIM BUILD THE HOUSE OF THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. HE IS THE GOD WHO IS IN JERUSALEM. He has not moved from there. R. Aha said: The Divine Presence has never moved from the West Wall (i.e., the Wailing Wall) of the Sanctuary. Thus it is stated (in Cant. 2:9): THERE HE STANDS BEHIND OUR WALL. Ergo (in Ps. 11:4): THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE. R. Jannay said: Although they said (in Ps. 11:4): THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE; THE LORD HAS HIS THRONE IN THE HEAVENS; < nevertheless > (the verse continues), HIS EYES BEHOLD, HIS EYELIDS TEST THE CHILDREN OF ADAM. To what is the matter comparable? To a king who had an orchard⁴⁷Pardes. Cf. the Gk.: paradeisos, i.e., “paradise.” and brought in the workers. Now by the orchard gate there was a certain storehouse full of everything good. The king said: Whoever does his work wholeheartedly will receive his reward from here, but whoever does not do his work wholeheartedly, him I shall return to my palace⁴⁸Lat.: palatium. and judge. Who is this king? This is the Supreme King of Kings, the Holy One. And what is the garden? It is this world. Within it the Holy One has put the children of Adam so that they may observe the Torah. But he has made a stipulation with them and said to them: For everyone who truly observes the Torah, here is paradise < lying > before him; but for everyone who does not truly observe the Torah, here is Gehinnom < lying > before him. The Holy One said: Although I seemed to have removed my Divine Presence from the Sanctuary, still (in Ps. 11:4): MY EYES BEHOLD, <MY EYELIDS TEST THE CHILDREN OF ADAM >.⁴⁹The Masoretic Text of this verse reads “his” for MY in both places. Whom does he test? (According to vs. 5:) THE LORD TESTS THE RIGHTEOUS. And why does he not test the wicked? R. Jannay said: When the flax worker is pounding away and sees that the flax is good, he pounds it a lot; but, when he sees that it is not good, he does not pound on it, lest it be spoiled.⁵⁰Gen. R. 32:3; 34:2; 55:2; Cant. R. 2:16:2. Ergo (in Ps. 11:4:) HIS EYES BEHOLD, HIS EYELIDS TEST THE CHILDREN OF ADAM. [And whom does he test? The righteous, as stated (in vs. 5):] THE LORD TESTS THE RIGHTEOUS.

Another interpretation (of Ps. 97:7): {AND} ALL GODS BOW DOWN TO {YOU} [HIM]. The peoples of the world say to their gods: Come and fall down before the Holy One, for you have led us astray. Immediately (according to Is. 2:18): AND THE IDOLS SHALL COMPLETELY VANISH. Then the Holy One brings the peoples of the world down into Gehinnom. It is therefore stated (in Ps. 97:7): ALL WHO WORSHIP AN IMAGE, <WHO BOAST IN IDOLS, > ARE PUT TO SHAME…. (Zech. 13:8:) AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND, SAYS THE LORD, THAT TWO-THIRDS IN IT SHALL BE CUT OFF {AND} DIE, BUT ONE-THIRD (shelishit) SHALL REMAIN IN IT. [These comprise Israel, who are from a deposit (shelishut)⁴⁴Cf. the parallel in Tanh., Deut. 5:9, which reads shelishut (“third”) here. for the world <as> the children of three (sheloshet) patriarchs. Another interpretation (of Zech. 13:8:) BUT ONE-THIRD SHALL REMAIN IN IT.: <These words mean> that they shall only settle in their land in a third deliverance. The first deliverance was the deliverance from Egypt. The second was the deliverance of <in the time of> Ezra. The third has no interruption. R. Simlay said: Six hundred and thirteen commandments were spoken to Moses on Sinai.⁴⁵Makk. 23b-24a; M. Pss. 17(addendum):18–25. David came and reduced them to eleven, as stated (in Ps. 15:1–2): O LORD, WHO SHALL DWELL IN YOUR TENT? […. ] THE ONE WHO WALKS BLAMELESSLY…. up to (vs. 5): THE ONE WHO DOES THESE THINGS SHALL NEVER BE SHAKEN.⁴⁶The five verses to this psalm contain exactly eleven stipulations (in vss. 2–4a) for dwelling with the Holy One without being shaken. Isaiah came and reduced them to six, as stated (in Is. 33:15): (1) ONE WHO WALKS RIGHTEOUSLY AND (2) SPEAKS UPRIGHTLY, (3) WHO DETESTS THE UNJUST GAIN OF OPPRESSION, (4) WHO SHAKES HIS FINGER (literally: HIS HAND) AGAINST GRASPING AT A BRIBE, (5) [WHO SHUTS OFF HIS EARS AGAINST HEARING OF BLOODSHED,] AND (6) CLOSES HIS EYES AGAINST LOOKING AT EVIL. It is also written after that (in vs.16): {AND} THAT SUCH A ONE SHALL DWELL ON THE HEIGHTS; THE STRONGHOLDS ON CLIFFS SHALL BE HIS REFUGE, WITH HIS FOOD SUPPLIED AND HIS WATER ASSURED. Micah came and reduced them to three, as stated (in Micah 6:8): HE HAS TOLD YOU, O HUMAN, WHAT IS GOOD. SO WHAT DOES THE LORD DEMAND OF YOU BUT TO PRACTICE JUSTICE, LOVE KINDNESS, AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD. Amos came and reduced them to two, as stated (in Amos 5:4): FOR THUS SAYS THE LORD […]: SEEK ME AND LIVE. Habakkuk came and reduced them to one, as stated (in Hab. 2:4): BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS.⁴⁷See Romans 1:17.

Scripture states: This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it (Ps. 118:20). Who are the righteous ones that will enter? The faithful ones, as it is said: Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation that keepeth faithfulness may enter in (Isa. 26:2). This is the gate that the faithful enter, as it is said: It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto Thy name, O Most High, to declare Thy loving-kindness in the morning (Ps. 92:2). What is written after that? For Thou hast made me glad. What makes us glad? It is the faith which our fathers professed in this world, which is all night, as it is written: And thy faithfulness in the night seasons (ibid., v. 3). And it is also written: But the righteous shall live by his faith (Hab. 2:4), and They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness (Lam. 3:23).

(Numb. 7:1), “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.” Let our master instruct us: How many things preceded the act of creation? Thus have our masters taught: Seven things preceded the world. These are the following: The throne of glory, the Torah, the Temple,⁷⁰See Sifre, Deut. 7:12 (37). the ancestors of the world, Israel, the name of messiah, and repentance. And some say also the Garden of Eden and gehinnom. In the case of the throne of God, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 93:2), “Your throne is established from of old; You are from everlasting,” [meaning] from before the world was created. And in the case of the Torah, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Prov. 8:22), “The Lord acquired me (i.e., wisdom) as the beginning of His way the first of His works of old.” In the case of the Temple, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Jer. 17:12), “O glorious throne, on high from the beginning, the place of our sanctuary.” In the case of the ancestors (forefathers), where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Hos. 9:10), “I saw your ancestors like the first fruit on a fig tree in its first season.” In the case of Israel, where is it shown? “Where it is stated of them] (in Ps. 74:2), “Remember Your congregation which You acquired of old […].” In the case of the name of the messiah, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 72:17), “Before the sun, his name is Yinon (a name of the messiah).”⁷¹This translation of Ps. 72:17 is a literal rendering, which the midrash understands to mean that this name existed before the sun was created. A more traditional rendering would be MAY HIS NAME ENDURE AS LONG AS THE SUN. In the case of repentance, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 90:2-3), “Before the mountains were brought forth […]. You return humanity to contrition and say, ‘Repent you mortals.’” In the case of the Garden of Eden [that] some say, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 2:8), “And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, from of old.”⁷²This is the interpretation of miqqedem by the midrash. A more traditional rendering would be IN THE EAST. In the case of gehinnom, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Is. 30:33), “For Topheth has been prepared from of old.” Come and see. When the Holy One, blessed be He, told Moses to tell Israel to make a Tabernacle for Him, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “Moses, Behold, My sanctuary is [already] built above.” It is so stated (in Jer. 17:12), “O glorious throne, on high from the beginning.” And a chamber is there, as stated (in Hab. 2:20), “But the Lord is in His holy chamber […].”⁷³Cf. Ps. 11:4. So also has Isaiah said (in Is. 6:1), “[I saw the Lord] seated upon a throne, high and lifted up […].” Out of love for you I left my Temple on high, which had been prepared before the world was created, to come down and dwell among you. It is so stated (in Exod. 25:8), “[And make me a sanctuary] that I may dwell among them.” R. Judah bar Simon said in the name of R. Johanan, “This is one of the three commands which Moses heard from the mouth of the Almighty and which took him aback:⁷⁴Numb. R. 12:3; PRK 6:4; PR 16:7; M. Pss. 91:1. When He said to him (in Exod. 30:12), ‘each shall give a ransom for his life.’⁷⁵Here is the second command that shook Moses. Moses said, ‘Who can give a ransom for his life? It is written (in Job 2:4), “Skin for skin; all that one has [he will give for his life],”⁷⁶Cf. above, Exod. 9:6. and still it is not enough. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 49:8), “Surely no one will redeem a brother nor give a ransom for him to God.”’ The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, ‘I am not asking [a ransom] in accordance with My means but in accordance with their means.’ [Hence,] (Exod. 30:13) ‘This shall they give.’” R. Meir said, “The Holy One, blessed be He, took something like a kind of coin of fire from under the throne of glory and showed it to Moses and He said to Him,⁷⁷See above, Lev. 9:7, and the note there. ‘This shall they give.’” Again, when He said (in Numb. 28:2), “My offering, My bread for My fire offering,” Moses said, “Who can supply enough offerings for You.⁷⁸Numb. 28:2 is the third of the three commands that shook Moses. If we sacrificed all the beasts of the forest and all the trees of Lebanon, they would not be enough, as stated (in Is. 40:16), ‘For Lebanon is not fuel enough, nor its beasts enough for sacrifice.’” He said to him, “I am not asking [offerings] in accordance with My means but in accordance with their means.” Thus it is stated (in Numb. 28:3), “Now you shall say to them, ‘This is the burnt offering [which you shall offer to the Lord: two yearling lambs without blemish…].’” And not both of them at once, but (according to vs. 4), “The one lamb you shall offer in the morning and the second lamb you shall offer at twilight.” And when He said to him (in Exod. 25:8), “And make me a sanctuary [that I may dwell among them],”⁷⁹With this repetition of Exod. 25:8, the midrash returns to the first command that shook Moses. Moses said [to the Holy One, blessed be He,] (in I Kings 8:27), “Even the heavens and the heavens above the heavens cannot contain you!” It also says (in Jer.. 23:24), “’Do I not fill the heavens and the earth,’ says the Lord.” And it says (in Is. 66:1), “The heavens are My throne and the earth is My footstool.” So can we make Him a sanctuary? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “I am not asking [a sanctuary] [in accordance with My means] but in accordance with their means.” Thus it is stated (in Exod. 26:1), “Now as for the Tabernacle, you shall make it with ten curtains.”’ When Israel heard this, they arose and donated gladly. So they made the Tabernacle. Moreover, when they had made the Tabernacle, it was filled with His glory, as stated (in Exod. 40:35), “Now Moses could not enter the tent of meeting, [because … the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle].” The princes said, “Now is the time for us to offer sacrifices with joy, because the Divine Presence is dwelling among us.” Where is it shown? From what they read on the matter (in Numb. 7:1), “So it came to pass on the day that Moses had finished.”

We are taught in a Baraitha that R. Nathan said: "The following passages bore and penertate to the depth (i.e., no one can fathom their exact meaning) viz., (Habak. 2, 3) For there is yet a vision for the appointed time, and it speaketh of the end, and it will not deceive: Though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not be delayed." It is in accordance neither with our Rabbis who lectured about this from (Dan. 7, 25) And they will be given up into his hand until a time, and times and half a time, nor with R. Simlai, who lectured about this from (Ps. 80, 6) Thou feedest them with the bread of tears, and givest them tears to drink in great measure; and also not in accordance with R. Akiba, who used to lecture about this from (Hag. 2, 6) For thus said the Lord … Yet one thing more [will I do], it is but little, when I will cause the heavens and the earth to quake and the sea and the dry land. But we observe that the first kingdom endured seventy years, the second fifty-two, and the kingdom of Bar Kochba, two years and a half. What does, Speaketh of the end, mean? R. Samuel b. Nachmeni said in the name of R. Jonathan: "May despair come upon those who sit and figure the time for the arrival of the Messiah [because they usually err] and when the appointed time comes and the Messiah does not appear, they say that he will not come any more. But every one has to wait for him, as it is said (Ib. ib) Wait for him, because he will surely come. And lest one say, 'We are waiting but He does not wait, therefore it is said (Is. 30, 18) And therefore will the Lord wait to be gracious unto you, and therefore will he exalt himself, to have mercy upon you.' But if He and we are awaiting, who prevents him from coming? The Divine Attribute of Justice prevents it. But if the Divine Attribute of Justice prevents it, then what is the use of our waiting? To receive reward for waiting, as it is said (Ib. ib) Happy are those that wait for him. Abaye said: "There are no less than thirty-six righteous men in every generation who receive the appearance of the Shekhina, as it is said (Ib.) Happy are those that wait for him (Lo); the word Lo in numerical value amounts to thirty-six." Is this so? Did not Raba say that the first row [of righteous men] in front of the Omnipotent, contains eighteen thousand parsas, as it is said (Ezek. 48, 35) All round it shall be eighteen thousand rods? This presents no difficulty. The former speaks of those who contemplated [Deity] through a lucid speculum, aud the latter speaks of those who contemplated [Deity] through a dim speculum. But are there, indeed, so many [righteous]? Did not R. Simon b. Jochai say: "I see that those who enjoy the Divine presence in the future world are very few. If they are a thousand, I and my son are included, etc., and if they are only two, they are I and my son?" This presents no difficulty. The former speaks of those who enter after getting permission, and the latter speaks of those who enter without permission.

King Belshazzar held a great feast for a thousand of his lords, and drank wine with them. While drinking the wine, Belshazzar commanded that the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar, his father, had removed from the Temple in Jerusalem, be brought to him in order that the king and his lords, his consorts and his concubines, might drink from them. They brought him the golden vessels taken from the altar of the Lord, and the king and his lords, his consorts, and his concubines, drank from them. They drank wine, and praised the gods made of gold, of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone. In the same hour came forth fingers of a man’s hand and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaster of the wall of the king’s palace; and the king saw the palm of the hand that wrote. Then the king’s countenance was changed in him, and his thoughts affrighted him; and the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against the other (Dan. 5:1–6). Concerning him, it is said: Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that puttest thy venom thereto, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness! Thou art filled with shame instead of glory, drink thou also, and be uncovered; the cup of the Lord’s right hand shall be turned unto thee, and filthiness shall be upon thy glory (Hab. 2:15–16). In that night Belshazzar, the Chaldean king, was slain (Dan. 5:30).

Another interpretation (of Prov. 22:29:) HE SHALL STAND BEFORE KINGS. This refers to the Holy One, of whom it is written (in Deut. 5:28 [31]): BUT AS FOR YOU, STAND HERE WITH ME. (Prov. 22:29, cont.:) HE SHALL NOT STAND BEFORE THE OBSCURE. This is Pharaoh, [since it is written <of Moses>] (in Exod. 9:13): GO EARLY IN THE MORNING <TO PRESENT YOURSELF BEFORE PHARAOH>. All the wicked ones become corrupt during their lifetimes. You find in the case of Zedekiah, king of Judah, that all the kings were subjugated to Nebuchadnezzar. What is written about him (in Jer. 27:6)? {ALL} [AND EVEN] THE BEASTS OF THE FIELD HAVE I GIVEN HIM TO SERVE HIM. Zedekiah went up to offer a gift.¹⁰⁰Gk.: doron. Nebuchadnezzar said: Dine with me at noon. So he made a dinner. Now a Babylonian dinner is not like a dinner in the land of Israel. He brought him meat which he had roasted. He saw Nebuchadnezzar eating with his spittle running down onto his beard. Zedekiah looked at him in astonishment and said: Is it to this one that the whole world is subjugated? He ate with him. What did he do? After he had dined, he took Zedekiah and made him take an oath. He said to him: <Swear> that you shall not go to your land and leave me. He got free and came to the land of Israel. He began to scorn (rt.: BZH) him, and he revoked that oath <which he had taken >. So Ezekiel cried out concerning him (in Ezek. 17:16): {BECAUSE HE SCORNED (BZH) AN OATH} [WHOSE OATH HE SCORNED (BZH)]. The kings who were reclining with him heard him. They sent and said to him (to Nebuchadnezzar): Zedekiah is sitting <here> laughing at you. Where is it shown that they sent to him and said < this > to him? R. Samuel said: It is written (in Is. 16:1): SEND A LAMB (KR) TO THE RULER OF THE LAND. What is the meaning of KR? It is like someone who says to his comrade: Find out (HKR) for whom he is ruling the land. Where is it shown that he had sworn an oath to him? Where it is stated (in II Chron. 36:13): AND HE ALSO REBELLED AGAINST KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR WHO HAD MADE HIM TAKE AN OATH BY GOD. What did he do? He immediately sent and had him come. Then he fed him barley, stood him up, and scorned (rt.: BZH) him shamefully. The Holy One said (to Nebuchadnezzar): So you have shamed (rt.: BZH) him. By your life, you shall not depart from this world until all creatures laugh at you. Thus it is stated (in Dan. 4:29 [32]): YOU SHALL BE DRIVEN AWAY FROM HUMANKIND. Moreover, just as you have shamed (rt.: BZH) him, so you shall be shamed (rt.: BZH) before all creatures. What is written (in Hab. 2:17)? AND THE VIOLENCE OF THE BEASTS WILL TERRIFY THOSE FEMALES (rt.: HTT+N)….¹⁰¹This translation of Hab. 2:17 fits the context of the midrash. In the biblical translations shod is usually rendered DESTRUCTION rather than VIOLENCE. Moreover, since the midrash is concerned with sexual acts, it is necessary to translate the femimine verbal suffix meaning “them” as THOSE FEMALES. R. Abba bar Kahana said that he became a bridegroom (HTN) to all cattle and wild beasts. And what caused him this shame (rt.: BZH)? It was simply because he had shamed (BZH) Zedekiah.

(Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED. Let our master instruct us: How many things preceded the act of creation?⁸¹Tanh., 2:11. Thus have our masters taught: Seven things preceded the world. These are the following: The throne of glory, the Torah, the Temple,⁸²See Sifre, Deut. 7:12 (37). the ancestors of the world, [Israel,] the name of Messiah, and repentance. And some would also say the Garden of Eden and Gehinnom. In the case of the throne of God, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 93:2): YOUR THRONE IS ESTABLISHED FROM OF OLD; YOU ARE FROM EVERLASTING. And in the case of the Torah, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Prov. 8:22): THE LORD ACQUIRED ME (i.e., wisdom) AS THE BEGINNING OF HIS WAY THE FIRST OF HIS WORKS OF OLD. In the case of the Temple, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Jer. 17:12): O GLORIOUS THRONE, ON HIGH FROM THE BEGINNING, THE PLACE OF OUR SANCTUARY. In the case of the ancestors of the world, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Hos. 9:10): I FOUND [ISRAEL] LIKE GRAPES IN THE DESERT; [I SAW] YOUR ANCESTORS [LIKE THE FIRST FRUIT ON A FIG TREE IN ITS FIRST SEASON]. In the case of Israel, where is it shown? [Where it is stated of them] (in Ps. 74:2): REMEMBER YOUR CONGREGATION WHICH YOU ACQUIRED OF OLD. In the case of the name of the Messiah, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 72:17): BEFORE THE SUN HIS NAME IS YENNON (a symbolic name for the Messiah).⁸³This translation of Ps. 72:17 is a literal rendering, which the midrash understands to mean that this name existed before the sun was created. A more traditional rendering would be MAY HIS NAME ENDURE AS LONG AS THE SUN. In the case of repentance, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Ps. 90:2): BEFORE THE MOUNTAINS WERE BROUGHT FORTH, since it is written (in vs. 3): YOU RETURN HUMANITY TO CONTRITION, [AND SAY: REPENT YOU CHILDREN OF ADAM]. In the case of the Garden of Eden, where is it shown? where it is stated (in Gen. 2:8): AND THE LORD GOD PLANTED A GARDEN IN EDEN, FROM OF OLD.⁸⁴This is the interpretation of miqqedem by the midrash. A more traditional rendering would be IN THE EAST. In the case of Gehinnom, where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Is. 30:33): FOR TOPHETH HAS BEEN PREPARED FROM OF OLD. Come and see. When the Holy One told Moses to tell Israel to make a tabernacle for him, the Holy One said to Moses: Say to those Israelites, as it were: It is not because I have nowhere to dwell that I am telling you to make me a tabernacle. Before the world was created, here was my sanctuary built in heaven above. It is so stated (in Jer. 17:12): O GLORIOUS THRONE, ON HIGH FROM THE BEGINNING…. And a temple was built there for my throne, as stated (in Hab. 2:20): BUT THE LORD IS IN HIS HOLY TEMPLE.⁸⁵Cf. Ps. 11:4. So also has Isaiah said (in Is. 6:1): I SAW THE LORD SEATED UPON A THRONE, HIGH AND LIFTED UP. Out of love for you I left my temple on high, which had been prepared before the world was created, to come down and dwell among you. It is so stated (in Exod. 25:8): [AND MAKE ME A SANCTUARY] THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM. R. Judah bar Simon said in the name of R. Johanan: This is one of the three commands which Moses heard from the mouth of the Almighty and which took him aback.⁸⁶Numb. R. 12:3; PRK 6:4; PR 16:7; M. Pss. 91:1. When he said to him (in Exod. 30:12): EACH SHALL GIVE A RANSOM FOR HIS LIFE.⁸⁷Here is the second command that shook Moses. Moses said: Who can give a ransom for his life? It is written (in Job 2:4): SKIN FOR SKIN! ALL THAT ONE HAS HE WILL GIVE FOR HIS LIFE,⁸⁸Cf. above, Exod. 9:6. and still it is not enough. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 49:8 [7]): SURELY NO ONE WILL REDEEM A BROTHER NOR GIVE A RANSOM FOR HIM TO GOD. The Holy One said to him: I am not asking <a ransom> in accordance with my means but in accordance with their means. (Exod. 30:13:) <EVERYONE … > SHALL GIVE THIS. [R. Meir said: The Holy One took something like a kind of coin of fire from under the throne of glory and showed it to Moses.⁸⁹See above, Lev. 9:7, and the note there. <EVERYONE … > SHALL GIVE THIS; <i.e., EVERYONE … > SHALL GIVE one like THIS.] Again, when he said (in Numb. 28:2): MY OFFERING, MY BREAD FOR MY FIRE OFFERING, Moses said: Who can supply enough offerings for you.⁹⁰Numb. 28:2 is the third of the three commands that shook Moses. If we sacrificed all the beasts of the forest and all the trees of Lebanon, they would not be enough, as stated (in Is. 40:16): FOR LEBANON IS NOT FUEL ENOUGH, NOR ITS BEASTS ENOUGH FOR SACRIFICE. He said to him: I am not asking <offerings> in accordance with my means but in accordance with their means. Thus it is stated (in Numb. 28:3): NOW YOU SHALL SAY TO THEM: THIS IS THE BURNT OFFERING WHICH YOU SHALL OFFER TO THE LORD: <TWO YEARLING LAMBS WITHOUT BLEMISH… > And not both of them at once, but (according to vs. 4): THE ONE LAMB YOU SHALL OFFER IN THE MORNING AND THE SECOND LAMB YOU SHALL OFFER AT TWILIGHT. And when he said to him (in Exod. 25:8): AND MAKE ME A SANCTUARY <THAT I MAY DWELL AMONG THEM>,⁹¹With this repetition of Exod. 25:8, the midrash returns to the first command that shook Moses. Moses said [to the Holy One] (in I Kings 8:27): EVEN THE HEAVENS AND THE HEAVENS ABOVE THE HEAVENS CANNOT CONTAIN YOU! It also says (in Jer. 23:24): DO I NOT FILL THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH? SAYS THE LORD. And it says (in Is. 66:1): THE HEAVENS ARE MY THRONE AND THE EARTH IS MY FOOTSTOOL.⁹²Cf. Acts 7:47-50. So can we make him a sanctuary? The Holy One said to him: I am not asking <a sanctuary> [in accordance with my means] but in accordance with their means. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 26:1): NOW AS FOR THE TABERNACLE, YOU SHALL MAKE IT WITH TEN CURTAINS. When Israel heard this, they arose and donated gladly. So they made the Tabernacle. Moreover, when they had made the Tabernacle, it was filled with his glory, as stated (in Exod. 40:35): NOW MOSES COULD NOT ENTER THE TENT OF MEETING, <BECAUSE … THE GLORY OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE>. The princes said: Now is the time for us to offer sacrifices with joy, because the Divine Presence is dwelling among us. Where is it shown? {Where it is stated} [From what they read on the matter] (in Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED.

(Ibid. 20) "Then Miriam the prophetess took": Where do we find that Miriam was a prophetess? She said to her father (Amram): In the end, you will beget a son who will be the savior of Israel from Egypt — (Ibid. 2:1) "And there went a man (Amram) from the house of Levi and took the daughter of Levi, (Yocheved — after he had separated from her because of Pharaoh's decree to drown the males) (2) "And she conceived and bore a son … (3) and could conceal him no longer…" — whereupon her father rebuked her, saying: My daughter, where is your prophecy? But she stood fast to her prophecy, viz. (4) "And his sister stood from afar to know what would be done with him," "standing" ("yetzivah") signifying prophecy, viz. (Amos 9:1) "I saw the L rd standing on the altar", and (I Samuel 3:10) "And the L rd came and He stood, etc.", and (Devarim 31:14) "Call Joshua and stand, etc." (Exodus, Ibid.) "from afar": "from afar" everywhere signifies the Holy Spirit, viz. (Jeremiah 31:2) "From afar the L rd appeared to me." (Exodus, Ibid.) "to know": "Knowing" signifies the Holy Spirit, viz. (Isaiah 11:9) "for the earth will be filled with knowing of the L rd, etc." (Exodus, Ibid.) "what would be done with him": "Doing signifies the Holy Spirit, viz. (Amos 3:7) "For the L rd G d will not do a thing unless He has revealed His secret to His servants the prophets." (Exodus 15:20) "Then Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron": Was she not (also) the sister of Moses? Why, then, "the sister of Aaron"? __ Because Aaron risked his life for his sister (viz. Numbers 12:2), she was called by his name. Similarly, (Genesis 34:25) "Shimon and Levi, the brothers of Dinah." Now was she not the sister of all of the tribes? Why, then, "the brothers of Dinah"? __ Because they risked their lives for her, she was called their sister. Similarly, (Numbers 25:18) "Kazbi, the daughter of a prince of Midian, their sister." Now was she their (Midian's) sister? Was he (Tzur, her father,) not "the head of the peoples of a father's house in Midian" (viz. (Numbers 25:15)? Why, then, "their (Midian's) sister'? __ Because she risked her life for her people, they were called by her name.