וָאֵ֤רֶא בַפְּתָאיִ֗ם אָ֘בִ֤ינָה בַבָּנִ֗ים נַ֣עַר חֲסַר־לֵֽב׃
Aku melihat di antara orang-orang yang naif, aku memperhatikan di antara para pemuda seorang anak muda yang tidak berakal budi,
Midrash Lekach Tov
And Israel settled in Shittim. Balak and all his people of Pethor took counsel and said, "We have no choice but to seek the advice of Balaam." Balaam... Balaam gave his advice. Balak came to curse the people of Israel. It is written in one place (Joshua 24:9), "And he fought against Israel." And in another place (Judges 11:17), "If we fight with them." But he came to fight, and it did not go well. Immediately they went and entrusted their daughters, as our sages said regarding the "remembered above" matter. Therefore, it is said, "And Israel settled in Shittim, and the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab." And it says (Numbers 31:16), "These caused the children of Israel to sin." Weren't they brought from Midian? Rather, it teaches us that Midian and Moab were in this advice that Balaam gave in order to cause Israel to stumble. When Israel saw that Balaam had no power to curse them, they immediately fell into immorality, and 24,000 of them perished. "In Shittim" means that they engaged in foolishness. As it is also said (Proverbs 7:7), "The adulterous woman lacks sense." Another interpretation: "And Israel settled in Shittim." Whenever the term "settling" is mentioned, it is a language of distress. It is said regarding Cain (Genesis 4:16), "And Cain went out from the presence of the Lord and settled in the land of Nod." (Genesis 37:1) "And Jacob settled." Joseph was sold. (Exodus 32:6) "And the people sat down to eat and drink." And they handed over Joseph. (Exodus 32:6) "And the people sat down to eat and drink, and they got up to play." And Israel settled in Shittim, and there were deaths, and the people began to commit sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab. They made profane what was once holy. "The daughters of Moab" refers to the plains of Moab on the eastern side of the Jordan. For the wilderness of Jeshimon is to the west of the land of Moab, close to the Jordan, as it is a day's journey.
Bereshit Rabbah
“It was after these matters that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said: Lie with me” (Genesis 39:7).
“It was after these matters.” “I saw among the naïve [bapetayim]” (Proverbs 7:7) – these are the tribes. Rabbi Levi said: In Arabia, they call children patya. “Discerned among the youths a lad” (Proverbs 7:7) – this is Joseph. He was “devoid of understanding” (Proverbs 7:7), as he would speak slander about his brothers. Is there anyone more devoid of understanding? From that, their descent to Egypt developed. “And behold, there is a woman to meet him” (Proverbs 7:10) – this is Potiphar’s wife, who confronted Joseph. “Dressed like a harlot” (Proverbs 7:10) – for Joseph. “And wily of heart” (Proverbs 7:10) – for Egypt.1Her public persona was modest. “She is turbulent and rebellious” (Proverbs 7:11) – muttering and confused.2Due to her lust. “Her feet do not abide in her house” (Proverbs 7:11) – but rather, “sometimes in the street, [sometimes in the squares, she lurks at every corner]” (Proverbs 7:12) – she would ask and say: ‘Have you seen Joseph?’ “She seized him and kissed him” (Proverbs 7:13) – “she seized him by his garment” (Genesis 39:12). “She was brazen and said to him” (Proverbs 7:13) – “lie with me” (Genesis 39:12).
“It was after these matters.” “I saw among the naïve [bapetayim]” (Proverbs 7:7) – these are the tribes. Rabbi Levi said: In Arabia, they call children patya. “Discerned among the youths a lad” (Proverbs 7:7) – this is Joseph. He was “devoid of understanding” (Proverbs 7:7), as he would speak slander about his brothers. Is there anyone more devoid of understanding? From that, their descent to Egypt developed. “And behold, there is a woman to meet him” (Proverbs 7:10) – this is Potiphar’s wife, who confronted Joseph. “Dressed like a harlot” (Proverbs 7:10) – for Joseph. “And wily of heart” (Proverbs 7:10) – for Egypt.1Her public persona was modest. “She is turbulent and rebellious” (Proverbs 7:11) – muttering and confused.2Due to her lust. “Her feet do not abide in her house” (Proverbs 7:11) – but rather, “sometimes in the street, [sometimes in the squares, she lurks at every corner]” (Proverbs 7:12) – she would ask and say: ‘Have you seen Joseph?’ “She seized him and kissed him” (Proverbs 7:13) – “she seized him by his garment” (Genesis 39:12). “She was brazen and said to him” (Proverbs 7:13) – “lie with me” (Genesis 39:12).
Yalkut Shimoni
“…that he did not obey her…” (Bereshit 39:10) Rebbe said: he listened to her but the Holy One brought the likeness of his father and he was embarred and fled. The second time he went in (to her) the Holy One lifted up the foundation stone and said to him, ‘if you touch her, behold I will throw it down and destroy the world!’ This is what is written, “…and his arms were gilded from the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob; from there he sustained the rock of Israel.” (Bereshit 49:24) R’ Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of R’ Yochanan: anyone who does one commandment in this world, it precedes him and goes before home in the World to Come as it says, “…and your righteousness shall go before you…” (Isaiah 58:8) and anyone who transgresses one transgression in this world it clings to him and goes before him to the Day of Judgement as it says, “The paths of their way are held [by them]; they go up in waste and are lost.”