מדרש על איוב 12:15

R. Berechiah said: Normally, if a man squeezes a sponge, the water in it flows out, and when he releases his grip, the water ceases to flow. The Holy One, blessed be He, does not do so. When he presses (‘asor) the waters stand still, as it is said: Behold, He withholdeth (ya’asor) the waters and they dry up (Job 12:15), but when He releases (patah) the pressure, the waters flow forth, as is said: The Lord will open (yiftah) unto thee His good treasure (Deut. 28:12).

(Gen. 30:22:) THEN GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL…. AND OPENED (rt.: PTH) HER WOMB. Let our master instruct us: Is it legitimate for one to wipe off a table on the Sabbath with a sponge.⁴⁸Gk.: spoggos. Thus have our masters taught (in Shab. 21:3): IN THE CASE OF A SPONGE, IF IT HAS A LEATHER HANDLE, ONE MAY WIPE WITH IT; BUT, IF NOT, ONE MAY NOT WIPE WITH IT. Now, if leather is not sewn to it, when one comes to wipe [on the Sabbath], the water enters. Then {it would absorb} [he would press down], the water would flow out, and he would be found squeezing on the Sabbath. Ergo (ibid.): IF IT HAS A LEATHER HANDLE, ONE MAY WIPE WITH IT; [BUT, IF NOT, ONE MAY NOT WIPE WITH IT], lest he squeeze and the water flows out. Come and see the works of the Holy One, that they are unlike the work of flesh and blood. In the case of flesh and blood, when one squeezes (rt.: 'TsR) on a sponge, the water flows down; < if > one opens his hand, the water does not flow down. With the Holy One, however, this is not so. If he squeezes, the water does not flow down, as stated (in Job 12:15): BEHOLD, HE SHALL SHUT UP (rt.: 'TsR) THE WATERS SO THAT THEY DRY UP. It is also written (in Deut. 11:17): AND HE SHALL SHUT UP (rt.: 'TsR) THE HEAVENS SO THAT THERE SHALL BE NO RAIN. However, if he opens up (PTH), then < the waters > come down, as stated (in Deut. 28:12): THE LORD SHALL OPEN (PTH) FOR YOU < HIS BOUNTEOUS TREASURY, THE HEAVENS, TO GIVE RAIN FOR YOUR LAND IN ITS SEASON >. R. Johanan said: There are four keys (rt.: PTH) in the hand of the Holy One which he has not delivered to the humans in the world, they are the following: the key of rains, the key of sustenance, the key of graves, and the key of barren women.⁴⁹Cf. above, 4:35; Frag. Targum, Gen. 30:22; Frag. Targum, Deut. 28:11; Ta‘an. 2ab; Gen. R. 73:4. Yet, when they were needed, the Holy One delivered them to the righteous. The key of rain he delivered to Elijah, as stated (in I Kings 17:1): DURING THESE YEARS THERE SHALL BE NEITHER DEW NOR RAIN EXCEPT AT MY (Elijah's) WORD. The key of sustenance he delivered to Noah, as stated (in Gen. 6:21): FOR YOUR PART, TAKE SOME OF EVERY KIND OF FOOD THAT IS EATEN…. < AND IT SHALL BE FOOD FOR YOU AND FOR THEM >. The key of graves he delivered to Ezekiel, as stated (in Ezek. 37:3-4 [4-5]): AND YOU SHALL SAY UNTO THEM: O DRY BONES … < YOU SHALL LIVE AGAIN >. The key of barren women he delivered to Elisha, as stated (in II Kings 4:16): < THEN HE (Elisha) SAID > AT THIS SEASON NEXT YEAR YOU SHALL BE EMBRACING A SON. Where is it shown that the Holy One has not delivered them to the humans in the world, but unlocks (rt.: PTH) them by himself? In respect to the key (rt.: PTH) of rains? Where it is stated (in Deut. 28:12): THE LORD WILL OPEN (rt.: PTH) FOR YOU < HIS BOUNTEOUS TREASURY, THE HEAVENS, TO GIVE RAIN FOR YOUR LAND IN ITS SEASON >. In respect to the key of sustenance? Where it is stated (in Ps. 145:16): < YOU > OPEN (rt.: PTH) YOUR HAND < AND SATISFY THE DESIRE OF EVERY LIVING BEING >. In respect to the key of graves? Where it is stated (in Ezek. 37:12): < THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD > : BEHOLD, I WILL OPEN (PTH) YOUR GRAVES < AND RAISE YOU UP OUT FROM YOUR GRAVES >. And in respect to the key of barren women, how is it shown? From what is written on the matter (in Gen. 30:22): THEN GOD REMEMBERED RACHEL < … > AND OPENED (rt.: PTH) HER WOMB.