Midrasch zu Mischlej 11:8

“The king said to the wise men, those knowledgeable about the times, for so was the practice of the king before those learned in custom and law” (Esther 1:13).
Who were they? Rabbi Simon said: This is the tribe of Issachar; that is what is written: “From the children of Issachar, possessors of understanding of the times, to know what Israel should do; [their leaders were two hundred, and all their brethren were at their command]” (I Chronicles 12:33). Rabbi Tanḥuma said: For the [times of] festivals. Rabbi Yosei bar Kotzrat said: For intercalations.¹Determining whether to add a month to the Hebrew calendar in order to keep it synchronized with the solar year. “To know what Israel should do” – that they knew how to cure kiros [lesions]. “Their leaders were two hundred” – these are the two hundred heads of the Sanhedrin that the tribe of Issachar produced. “And all their brethren were at their command” – and everyone agreed that the halakha was in accordance with their opinion as though it were a halakha transmitted to Moses from Sinai.
That wicked one [Aḥashverosh] said to them [his wise men]: ‘Since I decreed that Vashti should enter [the banquet] naked and she did not enter, what is her sentence?’ They said to him: ‘Our master the king, when we were in our homeland, we would consult with the Urim veTumim. Now, we are itinerant,’ and they read this verse before him: “Moav has been tranquil from its youth, and he is settled on his sediments, and was not emptied from vessel to vessel, and into exile he did not go; therefore, his taste has remained in him, and his scent has not dissipated” (Jeremiah 48:11).
“Those close to him [i.e. the relatives for him] were Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Persia and Media who viewed the face of the king, who were seated first in the kingdom” (Esther 1:14).
He [Aḥashverosh] said to them [the wise men for Issachar]: ‘Are there any of them [the Moabites mentioned in the verse above] here?’ They said to him: ‘Their relatives, that is what is stated: “Those close to him [i.e. the relatives for him] were Karshena, Shetar, Admata, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena, and Memukhan, the seven princes of Persia and…”’ (Esther 1:14).²The midrash does not read verse 13 as the direct continuation of verse 13. Rather, in verse 13, the king turns to the wise men, who are members of the tribe of Issachar according to the midrash. He asks them about people from Moav, and they tell him that the seven wise men listed in verse 14 are all related, and descendants of Moav.
“A righteous person is delivered from trouble, and a wicked one comes in his stead.” (Proverbs 11:8) “A righteous person is delivered from trouble” – that is the tribe of Issachar. “And a wicked one comes in his stead” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.
Alternatively: “Those close to him” – it is written: “The mouth of a hypocrite destroys his neighbor, but with knowledge, the just will be delivered” (Proverbs 11:9). “The mouth of a hypocrite destroys his neighbor” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media; “but with knowledge, the just will be delivered” – that is the role of Issachar.
Alternatively: “Those close to him” – it is written: “A wise man fears and turns away from evil, but the fool becomes enraged and confident” (Proverbs 14:16). “A wise man fears and turns away from evil” – that is the tribe of Issachar; “but the fool becomes enraged and confident” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.
Alternatively, “those close to him” – it is written: “The clever one sees evil and hides, but the naive pass and are punished” (Proverbs 22:3). “The clever one sees evil and hides” – that is the tribe of Issachar; “but the naive pass and are punished” – these are the seven princes of Persia and Media.

(Ib. b) It happened, one old slave painted his hair and beard and came to Raba that he should buy him. And Raba answered him: Let thy house be open for thy own poor. When he came to R. Papa b. Samuel, he bought him. One day he told him to bring a drink of water, and he washed away the paint and told him: "See, I am older than your father;" and R. Papa read to himself the following verse (Pr. 61, 8) The righteous is delivered out of distress, and another cometh in his stead.

R. Jochanan said: "Every place where the Minim gave their wrong interpretation, the answer of annulling it is to be found in the same place — i.e., they claim from (Gen. 1, 26) Let us make man. [Hence it is in the plural]; however, in (Ib. 27) it reads: And God created in His image (singular) (Ib. 9, 7) Let us go down [plural).] However, (Ib., ib. 5) And the Lord came down [singular]. (Deut. 4, 7) For what great natoin is there that hath gods so nigh unto it? However it reads further on, as is the Lord our God every time we call upon Him. (II Sam. 7, 23) Whom God went? [plural]. However, (Dan. 7, 9) I was looking down until chairs were set down, and the Ancient of days seated Himself [singular]. But why are all the above-mentioned written in the plural? This is in accordance with R. Jochanan; for R. Jochanan said: "The Holy One, praised be He! does not do anything until he consults the heavenly household, as it is said (Ib. 4, 14) Through the resolve of the angels is this decree, and by the order of the holy ones is this decision. However, this answer is for all the plurals mentioned, except the last one, the chairs. Why are they in plural? One for Him and one for David, as we are taught in a Baraitha: One for Him and one for David, so said R. Akiba. R. Elazar b. Azaryah then said to him: "Akiba, how do you dare to make the Shechina so common? It means one chair for Divine judgment and one for Divine righteousness." Did R. Akiba accept R. Elazar's answer, or did he not? Come and listen: from the following Baraitha: R. Elazar b. Azaryah said to him: "Akiba, what hast thou to do with Aggada? Give thy attention to Negaim and Ohaloth. One is a chair and one a footstoll, the chair to sit upon and the footstoll to put the feet upon." R. Nachman said: "He who knows how to give a right answer to the Minim like R. Aidith may discuss with them, but he who is not able to do so, it is better for him not to discuss with them at all." There was a Min who said to R. Aidith: "It is written (Ex. 24, 1) Come up unto the Lord. It ought to be, Come up to Me. [And when God said to him: Come up to the Lord, there must be one lord more]." And he answered: "That is the angel Mattatron, who bears the name of his master, as it is written (Ib., ib. 21) Because My name is in him." "If so," rejoined the Min, "let us worship him." It reads (Ib., ib.) Al tamer bee (Do not exchange Me). Hence Thou shalt not exchange him for Me." The Min said again: "But does it not read he will not pardon your transgression?" And Aidith answered: "Believe me, that even as a guide we refused to accept him, as it is written (Ib. 33, 15) If thy presence go not [with us], carry us not up from, here." A Min asked R. Ishmael b. R. Jose: It reads (Gen. 19, 24) And the Lord rained upon Sodom and Gomorrah brimstone and fire. From the Lord, etc. From the Lord! It ought to be from Him [hence there was one more Lord]? And a certain washer said to R. Ishmael: "Let me answer him. It reads (Gen. 4, 23) And Lemech said unto his wives, Adah and Zellah. Hear my voice, ye wives of Lemech, etc. Wives of Lemech! My wives, it ought to be. You must then say that so is it customary in the language of the verse, the same is the case here." And to the question of R. Ishmael to the washer: "Whence do you know this?" he answered: "From the lectures of R. Maier. As R. Jochanan used to say that R. Maier's lectures consisted always of one part Halacha, of another part Aggada, and the rest of parables." R. Jochanan said further: "R. Maier had three hundred fox parables, but we have only three. (Fol. 39) (Ezek. 18, 2) The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the teeth of the children have become blunt; (Lev. l9, 36) Just balances, just weighs, and (Prov. 11, 8) The righteous is delivered out of distress, and the wicked cometh in his stead.