Hebrew Bible Study
Hebrew Bible Study

Midrash for Joshua 3:7

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־יְהוֹשֻׁ֔עַ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה אָחֵל֙ גַּדֶּלְךָ֔ בְּעֵינֵ֖י כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֲשֶׁר֙ יֵֽדְע֔וּן כִּ֗י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הָיִ֛יתִי עִם־מֹשֶׁ֖ה אֶהְיֶ֥ה עִמָּֽךְ׃

And the LORD said unto Joshua: ‘This day will I begin to magnify thee in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee.

Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)

Our Rabbis were taught: "For the sake of each of the following three men the sun broke through (reappeared): Moses, Joshua and Nakdimon ben Gurion." Regarding Nakdimon ben Gurion we have the above. In the case of Joshua it is written (Jos. 10, 13) And the sun stood still in the midst of the heavens. But whence do we adduce that the sun reappeared for the sake of Moses? R. Elazar said: "This may be inferred through the rule of analogy, comparing the words Acheil. It is written (Deut. 2, 25) This day will I commence (Acheil) to put the dread of thee, and (Jos. 3, 7) This day will I commence (Acheil) to make thee great. R, Samuel b. Nachmeni, in the name of R. Jonathan, said, "We infer it through the word Teith. It is written (Deut. 2, 25) Will I begin to put (Teith) the dread of you, and it is written (Jos. 10, 12) In the day when the Lord delivered up (Teith) the Emorites." R. Jochanan said: "It may be adduced from the passage itself (Deut. 2, 25) Whoever will hear of thee shall tremble and shall quake because of thee. When did they tremble and quake? At the time when the sun remained still for the sake of Moses."
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Kohelet Rabbah

“I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:12).
“I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak said: It would have been appropriate for this to be written at the beginning of the book. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, Rabbi Yishmael taught: “The enemy said: I will pursue, I will overtake” (Exodus 15:9), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the song. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “it was on the eighth day” (Leviticus 9:1), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “you are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “The Lord said to Joshua: This day I will begin to exalt you” (Joshua 3:7), it would have been appropriate for this to be written at the beginning of the book. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “hear, kings, listen, princes” (Judges 5:3), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the song. Why is it written here? It is because there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “in the year of the death of King Uziyahu” (Isaiah 6:1), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book, but there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “Go, and cry in the ears of Jerusalem” (Jeremiah 2:2), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book, but there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “the word of the Lord was to me saying: Son of man, propound a riddle” (Ezekiel 17:1–2), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book, but there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “I am a boor and do not know, [I was like] a beast [before You]” (Psalms 73:22), it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book, but there is no chronological order in the Torah. Similarly, “I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem,” it would have been appropriate for this to be the beginning of the book, but there is no chronological order in the Torah.
“I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.” I was when I was, but now I am nothing.95I am stripped of my position, my wealth, and my wisdom. Rabbi Ḥanina bar Yitzḥak said: When I was, I was, but now I am not worth anything.96I am stripped of my position and my wealth, but my wisdom remains. However, it is of no value to me. He saw three worlds97He had three different types of life experience. during the days of his life. Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Onya, Rabbi Yudan said: King, commoner, king; wise man, fool, wise man; wealthy man, poor man, wealthy man. What is the reason? “I have seen everything in the days of my vanity” (Ecclesiastes 7:15) – a person relates his distress only at a time when he has gained relief, when his wealth is restored. Rabbi Onya said: Commoner, king, commoner; fool, wise man, fool; poor man, wealthy man, poor man. What is the reason? “I, Kohelet, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.”98This is stated in past tense, implying that Solomon is recalling the days when he was king. There is no updated version of this verse in which this formulation is changed, indicating that Solomon ended his life as a commoner.
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