Midrasch zu Jeschijahu 29:15

(Numb. 1:1:) THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT, IN THE TENT OF MEETING. This text is related (to Ps. 36:7 [6]): YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS IS LIKE THE MIGHTY MOUNTAINS; YOUR JUDGMENTS ARE LIKE THE GREAT DEEP. R. Meir said: <The passage> is speaking allegorically about the righteous in their dwelling, and it is speaking allegorically about the wicked in their dwelling.¹Above, in Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 2:8; Lev. 8:7; Gen. R. 33:1; Lev. R. 27:1; Numb. R. 1:1; PRK 9:1; Tanh., Lev. 8:5 (some texts); cf. Tanh., Numb. 1:1. It is speaking allegorically about the righteous <in their dwelling> (in Ezek. 34:14): I WILL FEED THEM IN A GOOD PASTURE, {AND IN A PASTURE OF OIL} [AND UPON THE MOUNTAINS OF THE LOFTY ONE OF ISRAEL] SHALL BE THEIR FOLD. It speaks allegorically about the wicked <in their dwelling> (in Ezek. 31:15): THUS SAYS THE LORD {GOD}: IN THE DAY THAT HE WENT DOWN TO SHEOL, I CAUSED HIM TO MOURN; I COVERED HIM WITH THE DEEP. With what are the wicked covered, when they go down to Gehinnom?²Above, Exod. 3:2; Tanh., Exod. 3:2. WITH THE DEEP. Hezekiah bar Hiyya said: In the case of a vat, with what does one cover it? With a lid of clay, since <the vessel itself > is <made> of clay. For that reason one covers it with a lid of clay. Similarly in the case of the wicked, it is written of them (in Is. 29:15): AND THEIR WORKS ARE IN DARKNESS. For that reason they are darkened before the Holy One.³See above, Gen. 1:19. So he brings them down to Sheol, which is darkness, and covers them with the deep, which is darkness, as stated (in Gen. 1:2): WITH DARKNESS UPON THE FACE OF THE DEEP.

Another matter, “have you seen a man diligent in his labor…,” these are the righteous who are engaged in the labor of the Holy One blessed be He; therefore, “he will stand before kings,” as they stand resolute in the Torah, as it is stated: “Through me kings reign” (Proverbs 8:15).³This statement is stated from the persective of the Torah. Thus, one who stands resolute in Torah is able to stand before kings. “He will not stand before dark ones,” these are the wicked, as it is stated: “Their deeds are in the dark” (Isaiah 29:15), and it is written: “Let their way be dark and slippery” (Psalms 35:6).

Rabbi Yehudah Bar Simon opened with (Daniel 2:22): "He reveals the deep and secret. He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him." "He reveals the deep"--this is Hell, as it says (Proverbs 9:18): "He does not know there are spirits there," and it says (Isaiah 30:33): "deep and large". "And secret"--this is Paradise, as it says (Isaiah 4:6): "for a cover and refuge from storm and rain," and it says (Psalms 31:21): "You hide them in the cover of Your presence." Alternatively, "he reveals the deep and secret"--these are the acts of the wicked, as it says (Isaiah 29:15): "Woe to the ones who seek deep from God to make their counsel secret." "And secret"--these are the acts of the wicked, as the verse states. "He knows what is in the dark"--these are the acts of the wicked, as it says in Isaiah: "Their acts are in the dark." "The light dwells with Him"--these are the acts of the righteous, as it is written (Proverbs 4:18): "The path of the righteous is like the light at dawn," and it says (Psalms 97:11): "Light is sown for the righteous." Rabbi Abba Srungia said: "The light dwells with Him"--this is the Messiah, as it says (Isaiah 60:1): "Arise, shine, for your light has come." Rabbi Yehudah Bar Simon said: From the beginning of the creation of the world, "he revealed the dark and secret". "In the beginning God created the heavens," but it is not explained. Where is it explained? Here (Isaiah 40:22): "He stretches out the heavens like a curtain." "And the land," but it is not explained. Where is it explained? Here (Job 37:6): "For He says to the snow: 'Fall on the earth.'" and (Job 38:38) "When the dust runs into a mass, and the clods cleave together." "And God said: 'Let there be light,'" and it is not explained. Where is it explained? (Psalms 104:2) "You cover Yourself with light like a garment."