מַשָּׂ֖א מוֹאָ֑ב כִּ֠י בְּלֵ֞יל שֻׁדַּ֨ד עָ֤ר מוֹאָב֙ נִדְמָ֔ה כִּ֗י בְּלֵ֛יל שֻׁדַּ֥ד קִיר־מוֹאָ֖ב נִדְמָֽה׃
Vortrag über Moab. In der Nacht wurde Ar geplündert und Moab verheert; in der Nacht wurde Kir geplündert. Moab deshalb verheert.
Eikhah Rabbah
“The adversary extended his hand over all her delights; for she saw the nations entering her Sanctuary, whom You had commanded that they should not enter Your assembly” (Lamentations 1:10).
“The adversary extended his hand.” You find that when the enemies entered the Temple, Amonites and Moavites entered with them. Everyone was running to plunder silver and gold, and the Amonites and Moavites were running to plunder the Torah, in order to remove “An Amonite and Moavite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:4). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi ben Perata: This is analogous to a conflagration that was ignited in a king’s palace. Everyone was running to plunder the silver and the gold while a slave ran to plunder his writ of servitude. So too, when the enemies entered the Temple, Amonites and Moavites entered with them. Everyone was running to plunder silver and gold, and the Amonites and Moavites were running to plunder the Torah, in order to remove “An Amonite and Moavite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.”
Abraham bestowed four good things upon Lot. That is what is written: “Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:4). And it says: “Lot, too, who was going with Abram [had sheep, cattle and tents]” (Genesis 13:5). And it says: “He returned all the property, [and also his brother Lot and his property he returned]” (Genesis 14:16). And it says: “It was when God destroyed the cities of the plain [God remembered Abraham, and He sent Lot from the midst of the upheaval]” (Genesis 19:29). Correspondingly, they should have repaid them with goodness;143Lot’s descendants, the nations of Amon and Moav, should have been kind to Abraham’s descendants. however, they performed acts of wickedness. That is what is written: “He sent messengers to Bilam…now, please go and curse for me…. The elders of Moav and the elders of Midian went…” (Numbers 22:5–7). “He gathered to him the children of Amon and Amalek, [and he went and smote Israel]” (Judges 3:13).144The verse is stated regarding Eglon, king of Moav. “It was thereafter, the children of Moav, and the children of Amon, and with them some Amonites, came against Yehoshafat” (II Chronicles 20:1). And this: “The adversary extended his hand...”
Correspondingly, their sins are written in four places. “An Amonite and Moavite [shall not enter the assembly of the Lord]…because they did not greet you with bread and with water…” (Deuteronomy 23:4–5). “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav devised…” (Micah 6:5). “Because they did not greet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and hired Bilam against them, to curse them” (Nehemiah 13:2). “He sent and summoned Bilam son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9).
Correspondingly, four prophets stood and sealed their sentence, and they were: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. Isaiah said: “A prophecy of Moav: For on the night that Ar of Moav is plundered, it is ruined; for on the night that Kir of Moav is plundered, it is ruined” (Isaiah 15:1). Jeremiah said: “Behold, days are coming, the utterance of the Lord, and I will sound to Raba of the children of Amon an alarm of war, and it will become a mound of desolation, and its environs will be burned in fire, and Israel will inherit its inheritors, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:2). Ezekiel said: “To the children of the east, against the children of Amon, and I will give it as a heritage, so that the children of Amon will not be remembered among the nations. I will administer punishments to Moav, and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:10–11). Zephaniah said: “Therefore, as I live, the utterance of the Lord of hosts, God of Israel, Moav will be like Sodom and the children of Amon like Gomorrah, a rustling thornbush, a salt mine, a desolate wasteland forever. The remnant of My people will plunder them and the rest of My nation will inherit them” (Zephaniah 2:9).
“The adversary extended his hand.” You find that when the enemies entered the Temple, Amonites and Moavites entered with them. Everyone was running to plunder silver and gold, and the Amonites and Moavites were running to plunder the Torah, in order to remove “An Amonite and Moavite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 23:4). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi ben Perata: This is analogous to a conflagration that was ignited in a king’s palace. Everyone was running to plunder the silver and the gold while a slave ran to plunder his writ of servitude. So too, when the enemies entered the Temple, Amonites and Moavites entered with them. Everyone was running to plunder silver and gold, and the Amonites and Moavites were running to plunder the Torah, in order to remove “An Amonite and Moavite shall not enter the assembly of the Lord.”
Abraham bestowed four good things upon Lot. That is what is written: “Abram went, as the Lord had spoken to him, and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:4). And it says: “Lot, too, who was going with Abram [had sheep, cattle and tents]” (Genesis 13:5). And it says: “He returned all the property, [and also his brother Lot and his property he returned]” (Genesis 14:16). And it says: “It was when God destroyed the cities of the plain [God remembered Abraham, and He sent Lot from the midst of the upheaval]” (Genesis 19:29). Correspondingly, they should have repaid them with goodness;143Lot’s descendants, the nations of Amon and Moav, should have been kind to Abraham’s descendants. however, they performed acts of wickedness. That is what is written: “He sent messengers to Bilam…now, please go and curse for me…. The elders of Moav and the elders of Midian went…” (Numbers 22:5–7). “He gathered to him the children of Amon and Amalek, [and he went and smote Israel]” (Judges 3:13).144The verse is stated regarding Eglon, king of Moav. “It was thereafter, the children of Moav, and the children of Amon, and with them some Amonites, came against Yehoshafat” (II Chronicles 20:1). And this: “The adversary extended his hand...”
Correspondingly, their sins are written in four places. “An Amonite and Moavite [shall not enter the assembly of the Lord]…because they did not greet you with bread and with water…” (Deuteronomy 23:4–5). “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav devised…” (Micah 6:5). “Because they did not greet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and hired Bilam against them, to curse them” (Nehemiah 13:2). “He sent and summoned Bilam son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9).
Correspondingly, four prophets stood and sealed their sentence, and they were: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah. Isaiah said: “A prophecy of Moav: For on the night that Ar of Moav is plundered, it is ruined; for on the night that Kir of Moav is plundered, it is ruined” (Isaiah 15:1). Jeremiah said: “Behold, days are coming, the utterance of the Lord, and I will sound to Raba of the children of Amon an alarm of war, and it will become a mound of desolation, and its environs will be burned in fire, and Israel will inherit its inheritors, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:2). Ezekiel said: “To the children of the east, against the children of Amon, and I will give it as a heritage, so that the children of Amon will not be remembered among the nations. I will administer punishments to Moav, and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:10–11). Zephaniah said: “Therefore, as I live, the utterance of the Lord of hosts, God of Israel, Moav will be like Sodom and the children of Amon like Gomorrah, a rustling thornbush, a salt mine, a desolate wasteland forever. The remnant of My people will plunder them and the rest of My nation will inherit them” (Zephaniah 2:9).
Bereshit Rabbah
“Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold” (Genesis 13:2).
“Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” That is what is written: “He took them out with silver and gold…” (Psalms 105:37).22All the details of this incident with Abraham foreshadowed the events of the Exodus, as the Midrash explained earlier (40:6).
“He went on his journeys from the Negev to Beit El, to the place where his tent had been initially, between Beit El and Ai” (Genesis 13:3).
“He went on his journeys” – on the same journeys [routes] that he went [to Egypt], he returned. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Menaḥem said: He went to pay his credit debts.23He had been granted credit at various inns on the way to Egypt, and he now went to repay those debts.
“Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents” (Genesis 13:5).
“Lot, who went with Abram, also…” – Lot derived four benefits due to Abram: “Abram went…and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:4); “Lot, who went with Abram, also [had flocks, cattle…]”; “He returned all the possessions, and also his brother Lot” (Genesis 14:16); “It was when God destroyed…God remembered Abraham, and He sent out Lot from the midst [of the upheaval]…” (Genesis 19:29). Corresponding to them, his descendants24The nations of Ammon and Moav (Genesis 19:37-38). should have repaid us with favors. But not only did they not repay us with favors, but [they paid us] with [four] troubles. That is what is written: “He25Balak, king of Moav. sent messengers to Bilam son of Beor…now, please come curse this people for me” (Numbers 22:5–6); “He gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they took possession of the city of the date palms” (Judges 3:13); “It was thereafter that the children of Moav, [the children of Ammon], and some Ammonites with them, came against Yehoshafat” (II Chronicles 20:1). Moreover, it is written: “The foe26Referring to Ammon and Moav (Eikha Rabba 1:38). spread its hand over all its delights” (Lamentations 1:10). And their sin is recorded in four places: “An Ammonite or a Moavite shall not enter [into the congregation…] because they did not greet you with bread and with water…[and because they hired…Bilam…to curse you]” (Deuteronomy 23:4–5); and it is written: “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav counseled, and what [Bilam son of Beor] answered him” (Micah 6:5); “Because they [Ammon and Moav] did not greet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and hired Bilam against them, to curse them” (Nehemiah 13:2); “Balak son of Tzipor, king of Moav…summoned Bilam son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9).
[Consequently,] four prophets arose and sealed their sentence. They are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel. Isaiah said: “A prophecy of Moav: For on the night that Ar of Moav was plundered, it was ruined; for on the night that Kir of Moav was plundered, it was ruined” (Isaiah 15:1). Jeremiah said: “Therefore, behold, days are coming, the utterance of the Lord, and I will sound to Raba of the Ammonites an alarm of war, and it will become a mound of desolation, and its environs will be burned in fire, and Israel will dispossess its dispossessors, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:2). Ezekiel said: “To the children of the east, against the children of Ammon, I will give it as a heritage, so that the children of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. I will administer punishments to Moav, and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:10–11). Zephaniah said: “Therefore, as I live – the utterance of the Lord of hosts, God of Israel – Moav will be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah” (Zephaniah 2:9).
“Abram was very wealthy in livestock, in silver, and in gold.” That is what is written: “He took them out with silver and gold…” (Psalms 105:37).22All the details of this incident with Abraham foreshadowed the events of the Exodus, as the Midrash explained earlier (40:6).
“He went on his journeys from the Negev to Beit El, to the place where his tent had been initially, between Beit El and Ai” (Genesis 13:3).
“He went on his journeys” – on the same journeys [routes] that he went [to Egypt], he returned. Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Menaḥem said: He went to pay his credit debts.23He had been granted credit at various inns on the way to Egypt, and he now went to repay those debts.
“Lot, who went with Abram, also had flocks, cattle, and tents” (Genesis 13:5).
“Lot, who went with Abram, also…” – Lot derived four benefits due to Abram: “Abram went…and Lot went with him” (Genesis 12:4); “Lot, who went with Abram, also [had flocks, cattle…]”; “He returned all the possessions, and also his brother Lot” (Genesis 14:16); “It was when God destroyed…God remembered Abraham, and He sent out Lot from the midst [of the upheaval]…” (Genesis 19:29). Corresponding to them, his descendants24The nations of Ammon and Moav (Genesis 19:37-38). should have repaid us with favors. But not only did they not repay us with favors, but [they paid us] with [four] troubles. That is what is written: “He25Balak, king of Moav. sent messengers to Bilam son of Beor…now, please come curse this people for me” (Numbers 22:5–6); “He gathered to him the children of Ammon and Amalek, and he went and smote Israel, and they took possession of the city of the date palms” (Judges 3:13); “It was thereafter that the children of Moav, [the children of Ammon], and some Ammonites with them, came against Yehoshafat” (II Chronicles 20:1). Moreover, it is written: “The foe26Referring to Ammon and Moav (Eikha Rabba 1:38). spread its hand over all its delights” (Lamentations 1:10). And their sin is recorded in four places: “An Ammonite or a Moavite shall not enter [into the congregation…] because they did not greet you with bread and with water…[and because they hired…Bilam…to curse you]” (Deuteronomy 23:4–5); and it is written: “My people, remember now what Balak king of Moav counseled, and what [Bilam son of Beor] answered him” (Micah 6:5); “Because they [Ammon and Moav] did not greet the children of Israel with bread and with water, and hired Bilam against them, to curse them” (Nehemiah 13:2); “Balak son of Tzipor, king of Moav…summoned Bilam son of Beor to curse you” (Joshua 24:9).
[Consequently,] four prophets arose and sealed their sentence. They are: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, and Ezekiel. Isaiah said: “A prophecy of Moav: For on the night that Ar of Moav was plundered, it was ruined; for on the night that Kir of Moav was plundered, it was ruined” (Isaiah 15:1). Jeremiah said: “Therefore, behold, days are coming, the utterance of the Lord, and I will sound to Raba of the Ammonites an alarm of war, and it will become a mound of desolation, and its environs will be burned in fire, and Israel will dispossess its dispossessors, said the Lord” (Jeremiah 49:2). Ezekiel said: “To the children of the east, against the children of Ammon, I will give it as a heritage, so that the children of Ammon will not be remembered among the nations. I will administer punishments to Moav, and they will know that I am the Lord” (Ezekiel 25:10–11). Zephaniah said: “Therefore, as I live – the utterance of the Lord of hosts, God of Israel – Moav will be like Sodom, and the children of Ammon like Gomorrah” (Zephaniah 2:9).
Bereshit Rabbati
"Behold, I am with you (Genesis 28:15)." Our Rabbis stated: with "Anochi" God spoke with Moses, as it is stated: "I (Anochi) am the God of your ancestors (Shemot 3:6). With "Anochi" God created the word, and placed it in his [Moses'] mouth, as it is stated: "And I (Anochi) will be with your mouth." With "Anochi" God sent him to Pharaoh: "'Anochi' sent you." With "Anochi" God gave the Torah: "I (Anochi) am Hashem your God." With "Anochi" God sent them into the Wilderness, as it is stated: "Behold I (Anochi) led her and brought her into the wilderness (Hoshea 2:16). With "Anochi" God built Zion: "Behold I (Anochi) will bedeck with emeralds your stones (Isaiah 44:11)." With "Anochi" God brings the redemption, as it is stated: "Behold, I (Anochi) will send you Elijah the prophet (Malakhi 3:23)." With Anochi God comforts Israel: "I, I (Anochi, Anochi) am your comforter (Isaiah 41:12)." With 'Anochi" God spoke with Avraham: "I (Anochi) am a shield to you." With Isaac too: "I (Anochi) am the God of Avraham your father." With Jacob: "And behold I (Anochi) am with you." But when God was revealed upon Jacob at first, God did not reveal God's self except with "Ani," as it is stated: "And behold, Hashem stood on top of it [the ladder] and said 'I (Ani) am Hashem, God of Avraham..." Immediately, Jacob was frightened! He said, "Upon my Ancestors, God was revealed in the language of 'Anochi," but upon me in the language of 'Ani.' Say what trangression occurred for me that God did not speak to me in the language of my ancestors!" When the Holy Blessed One saw Jacob in pain and worrying about this, he immediately began speaking with him using "Anochi": "And behold, I (Anochi) am with you." Since Jacob was exiled from his father's home, God promised him that God would be with him, as it is stated: "I (Anochi) am with him in suffering (Psalms 91:15)." Rabbi Hama said: the engraving of lips is so difficult that it is weighed equally to the creation of the universe, that with the creation of the universe it is written: "These are the begettings of the heavens and the earth in their being created," and about the engraving of lips it is written "God creates a new expression of the lips (Isaiah 47:19)." Rabbi Shmuel bar Nahmani said: If you want to know the power of speech, what the Blessed One created with this tongue... sometimes, a person speaks one thing and he loosens his tongue, and sometimes there is a word that he stretches the tongue until his teeth. And with one word we find 11 contexts used [for Anochi): "like their corrupt doings (Ezekiel 20:44)."