וַיְהִ֡י כִּ֣י הִקִּיפֽוּ֩ יְמֵ֨י הַמִּשְׁתֶּ֜ה וַיִּשְׁלַ֧ח אִיּ֣וֹב וַֽיְקַדְּשֵׁ֗ם וְהִשְׁכִּ֣ים בַּבֹּקֶר֮ וְהֶעֱלָ֣ה עֹלוֹת֮ מִסְפַּ֣ר כֻּלָּם֒ כִּ֚י אָמַ֣ר אִיּ֔וֹב אוּלַי֙ חָטְא֣וּ בָנַ֔י וּבֵרֲכ֥וּ אֱלֹהִ֖ים בִּלְבָבָ֑ם כָּ֛כָה יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה אִיּ֖וֹב כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים׃ (פ)
Setiap kali hari-hari perjamuan itu selesai bergilir, Ayub mengutus orang dan menguduskan mereka. Ia bangun pagi-pagi dan mempersembahkan kurban bakaran sesuai dengan jumlah mereka semua, sebab Ayub berkata, “Barangkali anak-anakku telah berdosa dan menghujat Allah dalam hati mereka.” Demikianlah yang selalu dilakukan Ayub.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Lev. 7:11:) “This is the law of the sacrifice for peace offerings.” You find that all of the [other] sacrifices that they would bring, they would bring for sins. In the case of the guilt offerings, they would sacrifice them for sins, as stated (in Ezra 10:19), “And they gave their word (literally, their hand) that they would put away their wives; and being guilty, [they gave] a ram of the flock for their guilt.” Now the sin offering [took place] for the unintentional sin, as stated (in Numb. 15:25), “and their sin offering before the Lord for their unintentional sin.” A burnt offering took place for a thought of the heart. Thus it is stated (in Job 1:5), “and rising early in the morning, he would offer burnt offerings, one for each of them, for Job said, ‘Perhaps my children have sinned and blasphemed God in their hearts.’” But when the thank offering took place, it took place on account of their gratitude. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “This is the dearest to Me of all the offerings.” David said (in Ps. 50:23), “Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me (ykbdnni).” It does not say ykbdni but ykbdnni, [spelled with n] two times, [once] for this world and [once] for the world to come.20Lev. R. 9:2; Rashi on Sanh. 43b. R. Judah said, “Whoever answers amen in this world merits answering amen in the world to come. Where is it shown? (In Ps. 41:14), ‘Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting (literally: from the world and unto the world); amen and amen.’ What is the meaning of ‘amen and amen?’ Amen in this world and amen in the world to come.” Ergo (in Ps. 50:23), “Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me.” R. Aqiva said, “Whoever speaks songs [of praise] in this world merits speaking songs [of praise] in the world to come, as stated (Exodus 15:1), ‘Then Moshe sang (literally, will sing).’ It does not say, ‘Then he sang,’ but rather, ‘Then he will sing.’ Ergo, whoever speaks songs [of praise] in this world merits speaking songs [of praise] in the world to come.” Therefore, it is stated, (in Ps. 50:23), “Whoever sacrifices a thank offering honors Me.” (Lev. 7:11:) “This is the law of the sacrifice for peace offerings.” Peace offerings are great because they make peace between Israel and their Father in heaven. Eleazar Haqappar says, “Peace is great, because even though Israel worships idols but [still] forms one fellowship (havurah), strict justice does not harm them.21Numb. R. 11:17; cf. Gen. R. 38:6 It is so stated (in Hos. 4:17), ‘Ephraim is associated (havur) with idols. Let him be.’” R. Levi says, “Peace is great, because there is no conclusion to the priestly blessing other than peace, as stated (in Numb. 6:26), ‘and grant you peace.’” R. Simeon ben Gamaliel said, “Peace is great, because the Holy One, blessed be He, has written things in the Torah that did not happen, which are there only because of peace.22yPe’ah 1:1 (16a); see Gen. R. 48:18; 100:8; Lev. R. 9:9; Deut. R. 5:5; Yev. 65b. They are the following: When Jacob had died (Gen. 50:15), ‘And Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, and they said, “Perhaps Joseph begrudges us.”’ What did they do?23Above, Exod. 1:2. They went to Bilhah and said to her, ‘Go in unto Joseph and say to him (in Gen. 50:16), “Before he died, your father gave a command saying, ‘So shall you say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers.”’”’ Now Jacob never commanded any of these things at all; yet they said this thing on their own.” Rabban Simeon ben Gamaliel said, “See how much ink was spilled, how many pens24Gk.: kalamoi. were broken, how many skins were prepared, and how many children were whipped in order to learn something which did not happen which is in the Torah. See how great is the power of peace!” And so you find in the case of Sarah, when the ministering angels came to Abraham and said to him (in Gen. 18:14), ‘At the set time I will return unto you, at the time that life is due.’ At that time (according to Gen. 18:12), ‘Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “… and my husband is an old man.”’ The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Abraham (in vs. 13), ‘[But] why did Sarah laugh, saying, “Is it true that I also shall bear [a child] when I am old?”’25Thus for the sake of peace the Holy One hid from Abraham the fact that Sarah had called him an old man. Now why all this? For the sake of peace.” Also in the world to come, when the Holy One, blessed be He, returns the diaspora to Jerusalem, He shall return them in peace. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 122:6), “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may those who love you have serenity.” And so it says (in Is. 66:12), “Behold, I will extend peace unto her like a river.”
Vayikra Rabbah
Regarding the matter itself,9The midrash sometimes uses this expression when introducing an exposition that appears elsewhere. The following appears also in Tanḥuma (Warsaw), Lekh Lekha, 10 (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: The burnt offering [ha’ola] comes only for rumination of the heart.10Burnt offerings atone for sinful thoughts. Rabbi Levi said: It is a categorical verse: “What arises [ha’ola] in your thoughts will not be that which you say: [We will be like the nations…to serve wood and stone]” (Ezekiel 20:32).
From whom do you derive this? From the sons of Job. Initially, “his sons would go and make a feast [in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. It was when the cycle of their days of feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and have blasphemed God in their hearts]” (Job 1:4–5). Rabbi Meir says: As it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast.11These feasts were held as an expression of family unity and affinity. Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: They went to attend to them, as they had betrothed women for them.12The feasts were celebrations to mark the event of a son of Job betrothing a wife, and the other sons would attend in order to celebrate the occasion. That is what is written: “It was when the cycle of the days of their feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them [vaykadeshem]” (Job 1:5). According to the opinion of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya, who said that they betrothed [kideshu] women for them, they attended to them and went.13The children of Job would participate in the celebration and then go on their way. These feasts were not regular occurrences. According to the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said as it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast, it is as it says: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves [hitkadeshu] [tomorrow and you will eat meat]” (Numbers 11:18).14The feasts were not in celebration of a special and unusual occasion but rather were more regular occurrences.
“He would rise early in the morning and offer [burnt offerings corresponding to the number of them all]” (Job 1:5). Rabbi Yudan bar Ḥilfai raised a dilemma: [Corresponding to] the number of days, the number of sons and daughters, or the number of offerings in the Torah?15This question remains unresolved. When it says: “For Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and blasphemed,” that indicates that the burnt offering comes only for [sinful] rumination of the heart.
Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa: In order that Israel would not say: ‘In the past we would sacrifice offerings and engage in their study; now that there are no offerings, must we engage in their study?’ the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you engage in their study, I consider it for you as though you are sacrificing them.’ Rabbi Huna said two: All of the exiles will be ingathered only by virtue of Mishna. What is the source? “Even as they pay tribute [yitnu]16Yitnu is expounded to mean matnitin or Mishna. Thus, the verse implies that the exiles will be gathered back to the Land of Israel because of the study of Mishna. to the nations, now I will gather them” (Hosea 8:10). Rabbi Huna said another: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among the nations and in every place offerings are presented to My name, [and pure meal offerings]” (Malachi 1:11). Are there pure meal offerings, handfuls, and burning in Babylon?17The process of the meal offering included a priest taking a handful of the offering and burning it on the altar. Rather, what is this? This is Mishna. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you are engaging in the study of Mishna, it is as though you are sacrificing an offering.’
Shmuel said: “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, [make known to them the form of the House]” (Ezekiel 43:11). Was there a form of the House at that point?18The house referred to is the Temple, which was in ruins at the time of that prophecy. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Since you are engaged in it, it is as though you are building it.’ Rabbi Asi said: Why does one begin [teaching] children from the book of Leviticus and one does not begin with Genesis? It is because the children are pure and the offerings are pure, let the pure come and engage in the pure.
From whom do you derive this? From the sons of Job. Initially, “his sons would go and make a feast [in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. It was when the cycle of their days of feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and have blasphemed God in their hearts]” (Job 1:4–5). Rabbi Meir says: As it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast.11These feasts were held as an expression of family unity and affinity. Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: They went to attend to them, as they had betrothed women for them.12The feasts were celebrations to mark the event of a son of Job betrothing a wife, and the other sons would attend in order to celebrate the occasion. That is what is written: “It was when the cycle of the days of their feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them [vaykadeshem]” (Job 1:5). According to the opinion of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya, who said that they betrothed [kideshu] women for them, they attended to them and went.13The children of Job would participate in the celebration and then go on their way. These feasts were not regular occurrences. According to the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said as it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast, it is as it says: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves [hitkadeshu] [tomorrow and you will eat meat]” (Numbers 11:18).14The feasts were not in celebration of a special and unusual occasion but rather were more regular occurrences.
“He would rise early in the morning and offer [burnt offerings corresponding to the number of them all]” (Job 1:5). Rabbi Yudan bar Ḥilfai raised a dilemma: [Corresponding to] the number of days, the number of sons and daughters, or the number of offerings in the Torah?15This question remains unresolved. When it says: “For Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and blasphemed,” that indicates that the burnt offering comes only for [sinful] rumination of the heart.
Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa: In order that Israel would not say: ‘In the past we would sacrifice offerings and engage in their study; now that there are no offerings, must we engage in their study?’ the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you engage in their study, I consider it for you as though you are sacrificing them.’ Rabbi Huna said two: All of the exiles will be ingathered only by virtue of Mishna. What is the source? “Even as they pay tribute [yitnu]16Yitnu is expounded to mean matnitin or Mishna. Thus, the verse implies that the exiles will be gathered back to the Land of Israel because of the study of Mishna. to the nations, now I will gather them” (Hosea 8:10). Rabbi Huna said another: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among the nations and in every place offerings are presented to My name, [and pure meal offerings]” (Malachi 1:11). Are there pure meal offerings, handfuls, and burning in Babylon?17The process of the meal offering included a priest taking a handful of the offering and burning it on the altar. Rather, what is this? This is Mishna. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you are engaging in the study of Mishna, it is as though you are sacrificing an offering.’
Shmuel said: “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, [make known to them the form of the House]” (Ezekiel 43:11). Was there a form of the House at that point?18The house referred to is the Temple, which was in ruins at the time of that prophecy. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Since you are engaged in it, it is as though you are building it.’ Rabbi Asi said: Why does one begin [teaching] children from the book of Leviticus and one does not begin with Genesis? It is because the children are pure and the offerings are pure, let the pure come and engage in the pure.
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Lev. 7:11:) THIS IS THE LAW OF THE SACRIFICE FOR PEACE OFFERINGS…. You find (in Ezra 10:19): AND THEY GAVE THEIR WORD (literally, THEIR HAND) THAT THEY WOULD PUT AWAY THEIR WIVES; AND BEING GUILTY, < THEY GAVE > A RAM FROM {THE} [A] FLOCK FOR THEIR GUILT.31Tanh., Lev.2:7. Now the sin offering {was} [took place] for the unintentional sin, as stated (in Numb. 15:25): AND THEIR SIN OFFERING BEFORE THE LORD FOR THEIR UNINTENTIONAL SIN. A burnt offering took place for a thought of the heart. Thus it is stated (in Job 1:5): AND RISING EARLY IN THE MORNING, HE WOULD OFFER BURNT OFFERINGS, ONE FOR EACH OF THEM, FOR JOB SAID: PERHAPS MY CHILDREN HAVE SINNED AND BLASPHEMED GOD IN THEIR HEARTS. But when the thank offering took place, it took place on account of their gratitude. The Holy One said: This is the dearest to me of all the offerings. David said (in Ps. 50:23): WHOEVER SACRIFICES A THANK OFFERING HONORS ME (YKBDNNI). It does not say YKBDNI but YKBDNNI, < spelled with N > two times, < once > for this world and < once > for the world to come.32Lev. R. 9:2; Rashi on Sanh. 43b.