Midrasch zu Divrej Hajamim I 1:55

(Deut. 14:22:) YOU SHALL SURELY TITHE <ALL>. Moses said: Sovereign of the World, does it follow from here that one takes out a tithe? The Holy One said to him (in Job 8:8, 10): SO PLEASE ASK A FORMER GENERATION, AND CONFIRM THE RESEARCH OF THEIR ANCESTORS…. WILL THEY NOT INSTRUCT YOU AND TELL YOU….? How so? (I Chron. 1:1:) ADAM, SETH, ENOSH. From Adam up to Noah there are ten generations,¹I.e., Adam, 2. Seth, 3. Enosh, 4. Kenan, 5. Mahalalel, 6. Jared, 7. Enoch, 8. Methuselah, 9. Lamech, and 10. Noah. See Tanh., Gen. 9:1; TDER (16), p. 80 (Friedmann). and I took the tenth.²Probably Noah (Gen. 6:9), but possibly Enoch (Gen. 5:21). See PRK 23:10. From Noah to Abraham there are ten generations,³I.e., 1. Noah, 2. Arpachshad, 3. Shelah, 4. Eber, 5. Peleg, 6. Reu, 7. Serug, 8. Nahor, 9. Terah, 10. Abraham. and I took the tenth, which was Abraham. So it is therefore written (in Job 8:10): WILL THEY NOT INSTRUCT YOU AND TELL YOU to take out one tenth? (Deut. 15:20:) YEAR BY YEAR. If you have taken out a tithe during a given year, you gain merit for another year. R. Abba bar Kahana said: The importance of tithes is <mentioned> throughout all the Torah (in the Law, in the Prophets, and in the Writings). It is written (in Deut. 6:16): DO NOT PUT THE LORD YOUR GOD TO THE TEST <AS YOU PUT HIM TO THE TEST THROUGH A TAX (MSH)>.⁴So the midrash understands this verse. Since Deut. 6:16 refers to an incident at Massah (MSH) in Exod. 17:1–7, biblical translations render the bracketed clause to mean, AS YOU PUT HIM TO THE TEST AT MASSAH. Exod. 17:1–7 also explains in vs. 7 that MASSAH means “test.” The midrash, however, either revowels MSH as MISSAH, a word which means “tribute,” “contribution,” or “quota,” in this case the tithe, or perhaps understands the name as a form of mas, which had come to mean “tax.” Also in reference to tithes it is written (in Mal. 3:10): [BRING ALL THE TITHE <INTO THE STOREHOUSE, THAT THERE MAY BE FOOD IN MY HOUSE>]. SO PLEASE TEST ME IN THIS, <SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS>. And who tested the tithes? The generation of Hezekiah, as stated (in II Chron. 31:9–10): THEN HEZEKIAH {THE KING} QUESTIONED <THE PRIESTS AND THE LEVITES> ABOUT THE HEAPS (of produce). SO THE CHIEF PRIEST AZARIAH OF THE HOUSE OF ZADOK SPOKE [UNTO HIM] <AND SAID: EVER SINCE PEOPLE BEGAN TO BRING THE TERUMAH (i.e., the priestly tithe on produce) TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,> WE HAVE EATEN {AND HAVE DRUNK} [AND HAVE BEEN SATISFIED], WHILE LEAVING OVER <FOOD IN GREAT AMOUNTS>. Why? (Ibid., cont.:) BECAUSE THE LORD HAS BLESSED HIS PEOPLE. The Holy One said: In this world I have blessed one generation, but hereafter in the world to come, I am blessing <all the generations of> Israel, as stated (in Jer. 31:22 [23]): AGAIN THEY SHALL SAY THIS THING {ON THE MOUNTAIN OF THE LORD, IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL THE CITIES OF JUDAH} [IN THE LAND OF JUDAH AND ITS CITIES, WHEN I RESTORE THEM AS BEFORE]: MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU, O HABITATION OF {RIGHTEOUS HOLINESS} [RIGHTEOUSNESS], O HOLY MOUNTAIN.

“It was during the days of Aḥashverosh; that [hu] Aḥashverosh who reigned from India to Kush, one hundred and twenty-seven provinces” (Esther 1:1). Hu [appears] five [times] for evil, and five for good. Five for evil: “He [hu] was a mighty hunter”⁴Nimrod. (Genesis 10:9); “he is [hu] Esau, father of Edom” (Genesis 36:43); “this is [hu] Datan and Aviram” (Numbers 26:9); “he is [hu] King Aḥaz” (II Chronicles 28:22); “that [hu] Aḥashverosh” (Esther 1:1). Five for good: “Abram, he is [hu] Abraham” (I Chronicles 1:27); “that [hu] Aaron and Moses…that [hu] Moses and Aaron” (Exodus 6:26–27); “David was [hu] the youngest” (I Samuel 17:14); “he [hu], Yeḥizhiyahu” (II Chronicles 32:30); “he [hu], Ezra, came up from Babylon” (Ezra 7:6). Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of the Rabbis from there: We have one that is better than all of them: “He is [hu] the Lord our God; His judgments are throughout the land” (Psalms 105:7), whose attribute of mercy is forever.

He concerned Himself also with the genealogy of Esau’s sons in the chapter These are the generations of Esau to disclose their degeneracy. You find that they too were the offspring of incestuous relations. Scripture states in one place: And the children of Elephaz were: Teman, and Omar, Zepho, and Gatam, and Kenaz. And Timna (ibid. 36:11), and elsewhere it states: And Timna was concubine to Elephaz (ibid., v. 12). This clearly informs us that Elephaz had sexual relations with his own daughter. How did that occur? He had sexual relations with Seir’s wife first and made her pregnant and begot Timna. Later he married Timna, as though she were Seir’s daughter, when in fact she was his own. That is why it says: And the children of Seir: Lotan … and Timna was Lotan’s sister (I Chron. 1:38–39). She was Lotan’s sister by her mother, but not by his father; Elephaz was her father, and Timna became the concubine of Elephaz the son of Esau.

Similarly, the Holy One, blessed be He, devoted Himself superficially to the earlier generations, and then ignored them. He mentioned Adam, Seth, Enoch, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, etc. (I Chron. 1:1–2), and also the second ten generations, Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, etc. (ibid. 1:24), so that a child could take the Bible and read about the ten generations from Adam to Noah at a single sitting, and also about the ten generations from Noah to Abraham at one time. But when he reached the section dealing with the pearls, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, he would have to apply himself diligently in reading about them. That is why the section on Elephaz the son of Esau is included in this chapter.

The same Ahasuerus; i.e., he was the same in his wickedness from beginning to end. (Gen. 36, 43) This is Esau; i.e., the same in wickedness from beginning to end; (II Chr. 28, 22) He, King Ahaz; i.e., the same in wickedness always; and so is meant (Num. 26, 9) These are that Dathan and Abriam. And so it is also with the righteous (I Chr. 1, 27) Abram — the same is Abraham; i.e., Abraham was the same in righteousness from the beginning to the end; (Ex. 6, 26) These are that Aaron and Moses; i.e., they were the same in righteousness from beginning to end; (I Sam. 17, 14) And David was the youngest, that means he conducted himself from beginning to end, as in his youth; as in his youth he humbled himself before one greater than he in order to learn the Torah, so also when he was a king he was modest before a man superior to him in wisdom and tried to learn the Torah from him.

(Ex. 1, 21) And it came to pass because the midwives feared God that He made them houses. Rab and Levi both explain the above passage: One says that this means kingly houses and the other said it means priestly and Levite houses. The latter interpretation refers to Moses, and the former contends that kings came forth from Miriam who was also one of the midwives, for it is written (I Chr. 1, 2) And Azubah died when Kaleb took unto himself Ephroth who bore unto him Chur and again it is written (I Sam. 17, 22) Now David was the son of that Ephritite, [hence David was of the same family as Miriam]. (I Chr. 2, 18) And Kaleb the son of Chetzron begot children of Azubah, and of Jerioth and these were her sonss Jeshner, Shobah and Ardon. Is he then the son of Chetzron? Behold he is the son of Yephunah, as stated (Num. 13, 6) He was called with the last name because he turned away from the advice of the spies. And again is he not the son of Kenaz, as it is written (Hosh. 15, 17) And Othniel, the son of Kenaz, the brother of Kaleb, captured it? Said Raba: "He was a step-son to Kenaz." (Fol. 12) This can be proved by the following — he is called a Kenizzite, but not the son of Kenaz. Hence the inference is maintained. (Ib. 14, 14) Azubah, refers to Miriam, "why was she called Azubah? Because every young man forsook her in the beginning; she begot, behold, she was married to him and she begot him? Said R. Jochanan: "Whoever marries a man from a respectable family for heavenly sake is considered by Scripture as if he begot her." Yerioth she was called, because her face was greenish like the curtains of the Temple. And these were her sons. Do not read Baneha (her sons) but boneha {who built her up); yashar means who kept himself straight in the right path, [did not listen to the spies]; Sho'ab means, who turned himself away [from his evil inclinations]; Ardon means who rebelled against his evil inclination, and according to others because his face was as prim as a rose. (I Chr. 4, 5) And Aschuhr the father of Teke'ah had two wives, Chelba and Nea'arah; i.e., Ashchur refers to Kaleb, and why was he called Ashchur; because he darkened his face because of the many fasts he observed, Abi, who became like a father to his wife; teko'ah, who attached his heart unto his Father in heaven; there were two wives, the one Miriam became like two wives; Chela and Na'arah, neither was her name Chela nor Na'arah, but it means in the beginning she was sick, and at the end she became young, (Ib., ib. 7) And the sons of Chilah were Zareth, Zochar and Ethnan; i.e., Zureth means that she caused grief and animosity to her friend [because of her beautiful] appearance; Zochar means that her face was like the mid-day; Ethnan because she appeared very handsome.

Abram, the same is Abraham. (I Chr. 1, 27.) i.e., at first he was the father (progenitor) of Aram but later he became the father (progenitor) of the entire world. And Sarai, the same is Sarah (lb.), i,e., at first she was a princess of her own nation but later she became a princess of the entire world. Bar Kappara recited: "Whoever calls him Abram instead of Abraham transgresses a positive commandment, for it is said (Gen. 17, 5.) But thy name shall be Abraham." R. Eliezer said: "He transgresses the prohibitory law which says: (Ib. ib. ib.) Neither shall thy name any more be called Abraham." But according to this, if one calls Sarai instead of Sarah, would you also say [that he transgresses the positive law]? Nay: In this case the Holy One, praise be He! said to Abraham only: As for Sarai thy wife, thou shall not call her name Sarai. but Sarah shall her name be. But according to this, if one calls Jacob "Jacob" instead of Israel, should we also say [that he transgresses the positive law]? Nay: The latter is different because the Scripture itself repeats his name later as Jacob, for it is written (Ib. 46, 2.) And God said to Israel in the vision of the night saying "Jacob, Jacob." R. Jose b. Abin and according to others R. Jose b. Zebida raised the following contradiction: Thou art indeed the Lord the (true) God, who didst choose Abram (Neh. 9, 7). [Hence he calls; him Abram]? There the prophet renewed the praises of the Lord by referring to the past [when Abraham's name was still Abram].

(Devarim 1:3) "And it was, in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first of the month, that Moses spoke to the children of Israel": What does this ("in the eleventh month") come to teach us? If that a year has eleven months, is it not written (Esther 3:13) "on the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the month of Adar"? And thus is it written (I Kings 4:7) "And Solomon had twelve commissioners over all of Israel … (Ibid. 19) and one commissioner over the land." For which month? The intercalated month, whereby we are taught that the year (itself) is twelve months. R. B'na'ah says: Now before Solomon did we not know that the year was twelve months? Is it not written (I Chronicles 1:27) "… month by month throughout all the months of the year … the twelfth (marshal), for the twelfth month, etc." — But it ("the eleventh month") comes to teach us that in thirty-six days (from the first of Shvat ["the eleventh month"] to the sixth of Adar) Moses explained the entire Torah, as it is written (Devarim 34:8) "And they mourned Moses thirty days" and (Joshua 1:11) "for in three more days you will be crossing this Jordan," and (Ibid. 4:19) "And the people ascended from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month (Nissan)." Subtract thirty-three days retroactively and it is found that Moses died on the seventh of Adar. (And whence is it derived that Moses was born on the seventh of Adar? From (Devarim 31:2) "And he said to them: I am one hundred and twenty years old this day." Let "this day" not be written. Why is it written? (To signify) this day (the full circuit of) my years and days have been completed — whence it is derived that the Holy One Blessed be He "sits" and fills out the years of the righteous from day to day and from month to month and from hour to hour, as it is written (Shemoth 23:26) (If you are righteous) "the number of your days shall I complete." — whence it is derived that in thirty-six days Moses explained the entire Torah.

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana began: “Tremble [rigzu] and do not sin…” (Psalms 4:5). David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: ‘How long will they be provoking [mitragzim] me, and saying: Does he not have flawed lineage? Does he not descend from Ruth the Moavite?’ ‘“…Say in your heart, on your bed…” (Psalms 4:5) – you also, do you not descend from two sisters?²⁵⁸You also have lineage that could be considered questionable, as Jacob married two sisters, Leah and Rachel. This would later be prohibited by the Torah. This is stated by David as a response to the elders of Judah, who had been taunting him due to his lineage. You, see what are your roots! “…and be silent, Sela” (Psalms 4:5). Tamar, too, whom Judah your grandfather took as a wife, is that not flawed lineage?²⁵⁹Judah married Tamar, who had previously been his daughter-in-law. This relationship too would later be prohibited by the Torah. And she was the daughter of Shem ben Noah.²⁶⁰The Sages identify him with Malkitzedek king of Shalem, who was a priest, and the Torah severely punishes the daughter of a priest who engages in licentiousness. Consequently, the lineage of her children Peretz and Zeraḥ were compromised by her act of having relations with Judah. What, do you have pedigree?’
Rabbi Yaakov bar Aviya said: Confront [argiz] your evil inclination and you will not sin. The Rabbis said: Anger your evil inclination and you will not sin.
“These are the generations of Peretz: Peretz begot Ḥetzron” (Ruth 4:18).
“These [eleh] are the generations of Peretz.” Rabbi Abba said: Anywhere that eleh is stated, it rejects what preceded it; ve’eleh, it adds to what preceded it. Bereshit Rabba 12 until “informed him that Ishmael repented,” end of quote>.
“Ḥetzron begot Ram and Ram begot Aminadav” (Ruth 4:19).
“Ḥetzron begot Ram.” But wasn’t Yeraḥme’el a previous son, [as it is stated:] “the sons of Ḥetzron who were born to him: Yeraḥme’el, Ram, and Keluvi” (I Chronicles 2:9)? Rather, he married a Canaanite woman in order to exalt himself [lehitater] through her, as it is written: “Yeraḥme’el had another wife, and her name was Atara” (I Chronicles 2:26).²⁶¹Since Yeraḥme’el married a Canaanite woman, the line of kingship did not come through him.
“Aminadav begot Naḥshon and Naḥshon begot Salma. Salmon begot Boaz and Boaz begot Oved” (Ruth 4:20–21).
“Ram begot Aminadav…and [Naḥshon begot…] Salmon.” To this point, they were the ladder for the princes;²⁶²Of the tribes. from this point on they were ladders to kings.²⁶³The name Salma, or Salmon, is similar to sulam, ladder. It appears in two different forms in these verses to allude to the change in status of the family: To this point, its members were tribal princes; from Boaz, Salmon’s son, the family was moving toward establishing the Israelite monarchy (Midrash HaMevoar). Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “Then [az] I said, behold, I have entered” (Psalms 40:8). I should have sung a song when I came.²⁶⁴When I was accepted into the congregation. Az means nothing other than song, as it is stated: “Then [az] Moses sang” (Exodus 15:1). I was included in “shall not enter,” and [yet] I entered.²⁶⁵David is cited as saying that he was assumed to be included within the prohibition against a Moavite convert entering the congregation, as he was a descendant of Ruth, but he was able to enter the congregation because of the acceptance of the halakha that this prohibition applies only to male converts.
“Oved begot Yishai and Yishai begot David” (Ruth 4:22).
“In the scroll of a book it is written about me” (Psalms 40:8). “In the scroll” – “whom You commanded that they should not enter into Your congregation” (Lamentations 1:10). “Of a book” – “An Ammonite and a Moavite shall not enter [into the assembly of the Lord]” (Deuteronomy 23:4). Not only did I enter, but in a scroll and a book it is written about me. In the scroll: Peretz, Ḥetzron, Ram, Aminadav, Naḥshon, Oved, Yishai, David.²⁶⁶The reference is to the verses in Ruth 4:18–22. In a book – “the Lord said: Arise, anoint him; for this is he” (I Samuel 16:12). Rabbi Huna says: It is written: “The Lord has provided me another [aḥer] offspring” (Genesis 4:25), an offspring that comes from another [aḥer] place, and who is this? It is the messianic king.²⁶⁷The messianic king is a descendant of David, and thus David is alluded to in the Torah itself.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Simon [said]: This is analogous to a king who would pass from place to place and a pearl fell from [the crown] on his head. The king and his entire entourage stopped there, and passersby would say: ‘What is the nature [of the stay] of the king and his entourage here?’ They saw and said: ‘A pearl fell from upon his head.’ What did he do? He piled up the dirt, and brought sifters, and sifted one pile but did not find it; the second, but did not find it; and the third, and he found it. They said: ‘The king found his pearl.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Go for yourself [lekha]” (Genesis 12:1) – It was you [lekha] that I was anticipating. What need was there to delineate the lineage: “Shem, Arpakhshad, Shelaḥ, Ever, Peleg… Naḥor, Teraḥ” (I Chronicles 1:24–26)? It was only for you. “Abram is [hu] Abraham” (I Chronicles 1:27)²⁶⁸It was he [hu] that God was anticipating, and for whom all the previous generations were listed. – “and You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8). So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to David: ‘What need was there for Me to delineate the lineage: Peretz, Ḥetzron, Ram, Aminadav, Naḥshon, Oved, Yishai? Was it not for you?’ – “I have found David My servant” (Psalms 89:21).

Rabbi Abba bar Kahana began: “Tremble [rigzu] and do not sin…” (Psalms 4:5). David said before the Holy One, blessed be He: ‘How long will they be provoking [mitragzim] me, and saying: Does he not have flawed lineage? Does he not descend from Ruth the Moavite?’ ‘“…Say in your heart, on your bed…” (Psalms 4:5) – you also, do you not descend from two sisters?²⁵⁸You also have lineage that could be considered questionable, as Jacob married two sisters, Leah and Rachel. This would later be prohibited by the Torah. This is stated by David as a response to the elders of Judah, who had been taunting him due to his lineage. You, see what are your roots! “…and be silent, Sela” (Psalms 4:5). Tamar, too, whom Judah your grandfather took as a wife, is that not flawed lineage?²⁵⁹Judah married Tamar, who had previously been his daughter-in-law. This relationship too would later be prohibited by the Torah. And she was the daughter of Shem ben Noah.²⁶⁰The Sages identify him with Malkitzedek king of Shalem, who was a priest, and the Torah severely punishes the daughter of a priest who engages in licentiousness. Consequently, the lineage of her children Peretz and Zeraḥ were compromised by her act of having relations with Judah. What, do you have pedigree?’
Rabbi Yaakov bar Aviya said: Confront [argiz] your evil inclination and you will not sin. The Rabbis said: Anger your evil inclination and you will not sin.
“These are the generations of Peretz: Peretz begot Ḥetzron” (Ruth 4:18).
“These [eleh] are the generations of Peretz.” Rabbi Abba said: Anywhere that eleh is stated, it rejects what preceded it; ve’eleh, it adds to what preceded it. Bereshit Rabba 12 until “informed him that Ishmael repented,” end of quote>.
“Ḥetzron begot Ram and Ram begot Aminadav” (Ruth 4:19).
“Ḥetzron begot Ram.” But wasn’t Yeraḥme’el a previous son, [as it is stated:] “the sons of Ḥetzron who were born to him: Yeraḥme’el, Ram, and Keluvi” (I Chronicles 2:9)? Rather, he married a Canaanite woman in order to exalt himself [lehitater] through her, as it is written: “Yeraḥme’el had another wife, and her name was Atara” (I Chronicles 2:26).²⁶¹Since Yeraḥme’el married a Canaanite woman, the line of kingship did not come through him.
“Aminadav begot Naḥshon and Naḥshon begot Salma. Salmon begot Boaz and Boaz begot Oved” (Ruth 4:20–21).
“Ram begot Aminadav…and [Naḥshon begot…] Salmon.” To this point, they were the ladder for the princes;²⁶²Of the tribes. from this point on they were ladders to kings.²⁶³The name Salma, or Salmon, is similar to sulam, ladder. It appears in two different forms in these verses to allude to the change in status of the family: To this point, its members were tribal princes; from Boaz, Salmon’s son, the family was moving toward establishing the Israelite monarchy (Midrash HaMevoar). Rabbi Yitzḥak began: “Then [az] I said, behold, I have entered” (Psalms 40:8). I should have sung a song when I came.²⁶⁴When I was accepted into the congregation. Az means nothing other than song, as it is stated: “Then [az] Moses sang” (Exodus 15:1). I was included in “shall not enter,” and [yet] I entered.²⁶⁵David is cited as saying that he was assumed to be included within the prohibition against a Moavite convert entering the congregation, as he was a descendant of Ruth, but he was able to enter the congregation because of the acceptance of the halakha that this prohibition applies only to male converts.
“Oved begot Yishai and Yishai begot David” (Ruth 4:22).
“In the scroll of a book it is written about me” (Psalms 40:8). “In the scroll” – “whom You commanded that they should not enter into Your congregation” (Lamentations 1:10). “Of a book” – “An Ammonite and a Moavite shall not enter [into the assembly of the Lord]” (Deuteronomy 23:4). Not only did I enter, but in a scroll and a book it is written about me. In the scroll: Peretz, Ḥetzron, Ram, Aminadav, Naḥshon, Oved, Yishai, David.²⁶⁶The reference is to the verses in Ruth 4:18–22. In a book – “the Lord said: Arise, anoint him; for this is he” (I Samuel 16:12). Rabbi Huna says: It is written: “The Lord has provided me another [aḥer] offspring” (Genesis 4:25), an offspring that comes from another [aḥer] place, and who is this? It is the messianic king.²⁶⁷The messianic king is a descendant of David, and thus David is alluded to in the Torah itself.
Rabbi Berekhya and Rabbi Simon [said]: This is analogous to a king who would pass from place to place and a pearl fell from [the crown] on his head. The king and his entire entourage stopped there, and passersby would say: ‘What is the nature [of the stay] of the king and his entourage here?’ They saw and said: ‘A pearl fell from upon his head.’ What did he do? He piled up the dirt, and brought sifters, and sifted one pile but did not find it; the second, but did not find it; and the third, and he found it. They said: ‘The king found his pearl.’ So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham: “Go for yourself [lekha]” (Genesis 12:1) – It was you [lekha] that I was anticipating. What need was there to delineate the lineage: “Shem, Arpakhshad, Shelaḥ, Ever, Peleg… Naḥor, Teraḥ” (I Chronicles 1:24–26)? It was only for you. “Abram is [hu] Abraham” (I Chronicles 1:27)²⁶⁸It was he [hu] that God was anticipating, and for whom all the previous generations were listed. – “and You found his heart faithful before You” (Nehemiah 9:8). So too, the Holy One blessed be He said to David: ‘What need was there for Me to delineate the lineage: Peretz, Ḥetzron, Ram, Aminadav, Naḥshon, Oved, Yishai? Was it not for you?’ – “I have found David My servant” (Psalms 89:21).

Woe to the kingdom of Esau when the Holy One sees its works and arises to exact retribution from it. We have found in the case of Egypt that, when the Holy One exacted retribution from them, he exacted retribution from them in the early morning. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 14:24): THEN IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MORNING WATCH < THAT THE LORD LOOKED DOWN AT THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS FROM THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND THE CLOUD AND CONFOUNDED THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS >. What is written about Assyria (in II Kings 19:35)? < 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…. In the case of Media it was at the hands of Mordecai and Esther. In the case of Greece it was at the hands of Mattathias and his sons. But in the case of Edom the Holy One said: There is no creature who will exact retribution from it. I myself will exact retribution against it. Where is it shown? (In Obad. vs. 1-2:) THE VISION OF OBADIAH. THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD TO EDOM: WE HAVE HEARD TIDINGS FROM THE LORD…. < BEHOLD I WILL MAKE YOU SMALL AMONG THE NATIONS >…. R. Berekhyah said: What did Obadiah see exacting retribution from Edom? He saw that, < if > the Holy One gives back recompense to those who love him, how much the more < would he do > so for those who hate him. So the Holy Spirit says through Eliphaz the Temanite (in Job 4:1-2): THEN ANSWERED ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE³²Eliphaz is identified as Esau’s eldest son in Gen. 36:4, 10-12, 15; 1 Chron. 1:35-36. Teman was a district of Edom. AND SAID: IF ONE TRIES YOU IN SOMETHING, DO YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH?³³This translation fits the context here better than a more traditional one, which would read, IF ONE VENTURES A WORD WITH YOU, WILL YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH? Eliphaz said to Job: Here you say: In what way am I not like Abraham? Thus have you said (in Job 30:19): < GOD > HAS CAST ME INTO THE MUD, AND I HAVE BECOME LIKE DUST AND ASHES.³⁴Cf. Gen. 18:27, according to which Abraham said: AND I AM DUST AND ASHES. Do you think that he is comparing you to him? R. Berekhyah said: Transpose the text and interpret it. (Job 30:19a:) AND I HAVE BECOME LIKE DUST AND ASHES < means >, "And he judges you like the generation of the dispersion (i.e., of the Tower of Babel), of which it is written in Gen. 11:3): NOW THEY HAD BRICKS FOR STONE < AND BITUMEN FOR MORTAR >. (Job 30:19a:) < GOD > HAS CAST ME INTO THE MUD. Eliphaz said to him: Are your works like < those of > Abraham? Abraham was tried in ten trials and endured all of them, but you < have only been > in one trial. (Job 4:2-3:) IF ONE TRIES YOU IN SOMETHING, DO YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH? < … > HERE YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED MANY. You would comfort all who were suffering. When a blind person came to you, you would say to him: The Holy One already knows what he is going to do. After all, he < was the one who > made that person blind. You also used to console him and say to him: If you had built a house and did not want to open windows, who would have protested your right? So the Holy One is going to be glorified in you, as stated (in Is. 35:5): THEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE OPENED. When a deaf person would come to you, [you would comfort him and say to him:] If you want to make a juglet,³⁵Gk.: kothon. < but > did not want to make ears for it, who would protest your right? So the Holy One is going to be glorified in you, as stated (in ibid., cont.): AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF SHALL BE OPENED. To a lame person you would say (in ibid., vs. 6): THEN THE LAME SHALL LEAP LIKE A DEER. So you would comfort him. (According to Job 4:4:) YOUR WORDS HAVE UPHELD THE STUMBLING. But now that it affects you, you are dismayed! (Job. 4:5:) BUT NOW THAT < TROUBLE > HAS COME UNTO YOU, YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH…. (Job 4:6:) IS NOT YOUR GODLY FEAR YOUR CONFIDENCE? After all, you have said: I am a righteous person; so why does he punish me? Have you ever seen a righteous person perishing? (Job 4:7:) PLEASE RECALL, WHAT INNOCENT ONE HAS PERISHED … ? Because Noah was righteous, he was saved from his generation. Abraham was saved from the furnace; Isaac was saved from the knife; Jacob was saved from the angel; Moses was saved from Pharaoh's sword. (Job 4:7:) PLEASE RECALL, WHAT INNOCENT ONE HAS PERISHED … ? He delivered Israel from Egypt, but he destroyed the Egyptians (according to Job 4:8): AS [I HAVE SEEN], THOSE WHO PLOW EVIL AND SOW TROUBLE, REAP IT. So what happened to them (according to vs. 9)? BY THE BREATH (NShMT) OF GOD THEY PERISH. It is so stated (in Exod. 15:10): YOU BLEW (NShMT) WITH YOUR WIND, AND THE SEA COVERED THEM. Also < with reference to > all the wicked who are going to arise, (according to Job 4:10) < there is > A LION'S ROAR AND A FIERCE LION'S VOICE. Job said to him (to Eliphaz): Please look at your father, Esau. He said to him: I am not concerned with him. (According to Ezek. 18:20): {THE} [A] SON SHALL NOT BEAR THE FATHER'S GUILT…. (Job 4:11:) THE STRONG LION PERISHES FOR LACK OF PREY. This < strong lion > is Esau in that he perishes for lack of < good > works. (Ibid., cont.:) AND THE OFFSPRING OF THE LIONESS ARE SCATTERED. These < offspring > are his chieftains. Job said to him: Now in your case, what do you have for yourself? (Job 4:12:) NOW A WORD WAS SECRETLY BROUGHT UNTO ME. I am a prophet. My only concern with him is to rebuke you (according to vs. 13) IN OPINIONS³⁶The Hebrew word here is a homonym of the reading in Masoretic Text, which denotes THOUGHTS. FROM NIGHT VISIONS. The Holy One said [to Eliphaz]: You have rebuked my servant Job through a vision. I am raising up a prophet from you who will exact punishment from your father's house (the Edomites) through a vision. [It is so stated (in Obad., vs. 1): THE VISION OF OBADIAH.] So R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: What did Obadiah see, since he only prophesied against Edom? The Holy One said: Esau grew up between two righteous people³⁷Jacob and Rebekah. So Sifre, Numb. 27:1 (133). without learning from their works; but Obadiah dwelt between two wicked people³⁸Ahab and Jezebel. So Sifre, Numb. 27:1 (133); Rashi on Sanh. 39b. See also Jerome’s introduction to his commentary on Obadiah. without learning from their works. Obadiah would come and exact punishment from Esau. Ergo (in Obad., vs. 1) THE VISION OF OBADIAH. And what is written in his prophecy (in vs. 18)? THE HOUSE OF JACOB SHALL BE FIRE, AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH A FLAME, AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BE STRAW; THEY SHALL BURN IT AND CONSUME IT, AND THERE SHALL BE NO SURVIVOR TO THE HOUSE OF ESAU; FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.

"The descendants of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan (Genesis 10:2)": Rabbi Samuel son of Ammi said: "This is Africa, Germania, Media, Macedonia Isania". "And Tiras": Rabbi Simon said: "This is Persia". The Rabbis said: "Thrace". "The descendants of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah (Genesis 10:3)": Asia, Adiabene, and Germania. Rabbi Berechya said: "Germanica". "The descendants of Javan: Elishah and Tarshish (Genesis 10:4)": Hellas, Italia, Dardania. One verse says: "the Dodanim" and a different verse says "the Rodanim (1 Chronicles 1:7)". Rabbi Simon and Rabbi Chanin: Rabbi Simon said: "Dodanim" because they are the children of the uncles [dodin] of Israel, Rodanim because they went and attack [rodin] them". Rabbi Chanina said: "When Israel was placed in a high position they came and said to them, we are the children of your uncle [dod-khen], and when they are placed in a low position they come and attack [rodin] them".