Midrasch zu Mischlej 29:13

Three things were given conditionally: Eretz Yisrael, the Temple, and the kingdom of the house of David, but not the Torah scroll and the covenant of Aaron, which were not given conditionally. Eretz Yisrael — (Devarim 11:16-17) "Take heed unto yourselves lest your hearts be enticed … and the wrath of the L rd will burn against you." The Temple — (I Kings 6:12) "This Temple that you build, if you follow My statutes and keep all of My mitzvoth to walk in them, then I shall uphold My word with you that I spoke to David your father, etc." And if not, (Michah 7:15) "… then the land will be a ruin (together) with its inhabitants." The kingdom of the house of David — (Psalms 132:12) "If your sons keep My covenant, etc.", and if not, (Ibid. 89:33) "then I will punish their offense with the rod." And whence is it derived that the Torah scroll was given unconditionally? From (Devarim 33:4) "The Torah which Moses commanded us is the (eternal) inheritance of the congregation of Jacob." Whence is it derived that the covenant with Aaron was made unconditionally? From (Numbers 18:19) "It is a covenant of salt forever," (Ibid. 25:13) "And it shall be unto him and to his seed after him a covenant of eternal priesthood." And whence is it derived that the sons of Yonadav the son of Rechav are the descendants of Yithro? From (I Chronicles 2:55) "They were the Kenites, who descended from Chamath the father of Rechav." They sought a master and Yaavetz sought disciples, viz. (Ibid. 4:10) "and Yaavetz called out to the G d of Israel, saying: 'If You bless me and expand my borders, and Your hand be with me and You keep (me) from evil, not to sadden me …' And the L rd brought what he asked." "If you bless me" — with Torah study.. "and You expand my borders" — with disciples. "and Your hand be with me" — that I not forget my learning. "and You keep (me) from evil" — that You give me friends such as I am. "not to sadden me" — that the evil inclination not keep me from Torah study. "And the L rd brought what he asked" — He granted him what he asked, and them what they asked. As it is written (Proverbs 29:13) "the poor man and the man of means meet. The L rd brightens the eyes of both," and (Ibid. 22:2) "The rich man and the poor man have met. The L rd makes them all." How so? A disciple who pays attendance upon his master, and his master desires to teach him — "The L rd brightens the eyes of both." Both acquire life in the world to come. But if a disciple pays attendance upon his master, and his master does not desire to teach him — "The L rd makes them all" — The one whom He made wise, He makes stupid in the end; and the one He made stupid, He makes wise in the end.

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