וְ֭אֵלַי דָּבָ֣ר יְגֻנָּ֑ב וַתִּקַּ֥ח אָ֝זְנִ֗י שֵׁ֣מֶץ מֶֽנְהֽוּ׃
Kepadaku pernah datang suatu firman secara diam-diam, dan telingaku menangkap sedikit saja darinya.
Vayikra Rabbah
What is the difference between prophets of Israel and prophets of the nations of the world? Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina and Rabbi Yisakhar of Kefar Mandi: Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: The Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world with only truncated speech, just as it says: “God happened [vayikar] upon Bilam” (Numbers 23:4). But [He communicates with] the prophets of Israel with complete speech, as it is stated: “He called [vayikra] to Moses.” Rabbi Yisakhar of Kefar Mandi said: So shall be their reward. Vayikar is an expression of nothing other than impurity, just as it says: “Who will not be pure due to a nocturnal incident [mikreh]” (Deuteronomy 23:11). But the prophets of Israel [receive prophecy] with an expression of sanctity, with an expression of purity, with an expression of clarity, with an expression with which the ministering angels laud the Holy One blessed be He, just as it says: “One called [vekara] to the other and said: [Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3).
Rabbi Ilai bar Menaḥem said: It is written: “The Lord is far from the wicked” (Proverbs 15:29), and it is written: “And He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). “The Lord is far from the wicked” – these are the prophets of the nations of the world. “And He hears the prayer of the righteous” – these are the prophets of Israel. You find that the Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only like a man who came from a distance, just as it says: “From a distant land they came to me” (Isaiah 39:3). But the prophets of Israel, immediately: “[The Lord] appeared” (Genesis 18:1), “He called.”21God appears to the prophets of Israel immediately, whereas regarding prophecies to individuals from other nations the verse first states that God came to them, and only then states that he spoke with them. See Genesis 20:3, 31:24, and Numbers 22:20 (Rabbi David Luria).
Rabbi Yosei said: The Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only at night, at a time when people are separated from one another, as it is written: “In thoughts from visions of the night, [when slumber] falls” (Job 4:13), “a matter was smuggled to me…” (Job 4:12).
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa and the Rabbis: Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: This is analogous to a king who was in a hall with his friend and there was a curtain between them. When he would speak with his friend, he would fold the curtain until he could see his friend face-to-face and speak with him. But for others, he would not do so; rather, he would speak to them with the curtain partition spread between them, and they could not see him. The Rabbis say: This is analogous to a king who had a wife and a concubine. When he would go to his wife, he would go in public, and when he would go to his concubine he would go clandestinely. So too, the Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only at night, as it is stated: “God came to Avimelekh in a nocturnal dream” (Genesis 20:3); “God came to Laban the Aramean in a nocturnal dream” (Genesis 31:24); “God came to Bilam at night” (Numbers 22:20). But [God appears] to the prophets of Israel by day, as it is stated: “[The Lord appeared to him…] and he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1); “it was on the day the Lord spoke to Moses” (Exodus 6:28); “this is the legacy of Aaron and Moses on the day the Lord spoke to Moses…” (Numbers 3:1).
Rabbi Ilai bar Menaḥem said: It is written: “The Lord is far from the wicked” (Proverbs 15:29), and it is written: “And He hears the prayer of the righteous” (Proverbs 15:29). “The Lord is far from the wicked” – these are the prophets of the nations of the world. “And He hears the prayer of the righteous” – these are the prophets of Israel. You find that the Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only like a man who came from a distance, just as it says: “From a distant land they came to me” (Isaiah 39:3). But the prophets of Israel, immediately: “[The Lord] appeared” (Genesis 18:1), “He called.”21God appears to the prophets of Israel immediately, whereas regarding prophecies to individuals from other nations the verse first states that God came to them, and only then states that he spoke with them. See Genesis 20:3, 31:24, and Numbers 22:20 (Rabbi David Luria).
Rabbi Yosei said: The Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only at night, at a time when people are separated from one another, as it is written: “In thoughts from visions of the night, [when slumber] falls” (Job 4:13), “a matter was smuggled to me…” (Job 4:12).
Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa and the Rabbis: Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa said: This is analogous to a king who was in a hall with his friend and there was a curtain between them. When he would speak with his friend, he would fold the curtain until he could see his friend face-to-face and speak with him. But for others, he would not do so; rather, he would speak to them with the curtain partition spread between them, and they could not see him. The Rabbis say: This is analogous to a king who had a wife and a concubine. When he would go to his wife, he would go in public, and when he would go to his concubine he would go clandestinely. So too, the Holy One blessed be He appears to the nations of the world only at night, as it is stated: “God came to Avimelekh in a nocturnal dream” (Genesis 20:3); “God came to Laban the Aramean in a nocturnal dream” (Genesis 31:24); “God came to Bilam at night” (Numbers 22:20). But [God appears] to the prophets of Israel by day, as it is stated: “[The Lord appeared to him…] and he was sitting at the entrance of his tent in the heat of the day” (Genesis 18:1); “it was on the day the Lord spoke to Moses” (Exodus 6:28); “this is the legacy of Aaron and Moses on the day the Lord spoke to Moses…” (Numbers 3:1).
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Woe to the kingdom of Esau when the Holy One sees its works and arises to exact retribution from it. We have found in the case of Egypt that, when the Holy One exacted retribution from them, he exacted retribution from them in the early morning. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 14:24): THEN IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MORNING WATCH < THAT THE LORD LOOKED DOWN AT THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS FROM THE PILLAR OF FIRE AND THE CLOUD AND CONFOUNDED THE HOST OF THE EGYPTIANS >. What is written about Assyria (in II Kings 19:35)? < SO IT CAME TO PASS IN THAT NIGHT > THAT THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WENT OUT AND SMOTE < ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY-FIVE THOUSAND > IN THE CAMP OF ASSYRIA…. In the case of Media it was at the hands of Mordecai and Esther. In the case of Greece it was at the hands of Mattathias and his sons. But in the case of Edom the Holy One said: There is no creature who will exact retribution from it. I myself will exact retribution against it. Where is it shown? (In Obad. vs. 1-2:) THE VISION OF OBADIAH. THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD TO EDOM: WE HAVE HEARD TIDINGS FROM THE LORD…. < BEHOLD I WILL MAKE YOU SMALL AMONG THE NATIONS >…. R. Berekhyah said: What did Obadiah see exacting retribution from Edom? He saw that, < if > the Holy One gives back recompense to those who love him, how much the more < would he do > so for those who hate him. So the Holy Spirit says through Eliphaz the Temanite (in Job 4:1-2): THEN ANSWERED ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE32Eliphaz is identified as Esau’s eldest son in Gen. 36:4, 10-12, 15; 1 Chron. 1:35-36. Teman was a district of Edom. AND SAID: IF ONE TRIES YOU IN SOMETHING, DO YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH?33This translation fits the context here better than a more traditional one, which would read, IF ONE VENTURES A WORD WITH YOU, WILL YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH? Eliphaz said to Job: Here you say: In what way am I not like Abraham? Thus have you said (in Job 30:19): < GOD > HAS CAST ME INTO THE MUD, AND I HAVE BECOME LIKE DUST AND ASHES.34Cf. Gen. 18:27, according to which Abraham said: AND I AM DUST AND ASHES. Do you think that he is comparing you to him? R. Berekhyah said: Transpose the text and interpret it. (Job 30:19a:) AND I HAVE BECOME LIKE DUST AND ASHES < means >, "And he judges you like the generation of the dispersion (i.e., of the Tower of Babel), of which it is written in Gen. 11:3): NOW THEY HAD BRICKS FOR STONE < AND BITUMEN FOR MORTAR >. (Job 30:19a:) < GOD > HAS CAST ME INTO THE MUD. Eliphaz said to him: Are your works like < those of > Abraham? Abraham was tried in ten trials and endured all of them, but you < have only been > in one trial. (Job 4:2-3:) IF ONE TRIES YOU IN SOMETHING, DO YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH? < … > HERE YOU HAVE INSTRUCTED MANY. You would comfort all who were suffering. When a blind person came to you, you would say to him: The Holy One already knows what he is going to do. After all, he < was the one who > made that person blind. You also used to console him and say to him: If you had built a house and did not want to open windows, who would have protested your right? So the Holy One is going to be glorified in you, as stated (in Is. 35:5): THEN THE EYES OF THE BLIND SHALL BE OPENED. When a deaf person would come to you, [you would comfort him and say to him:] If you want to make a juglet,35Gk.: kothon. < but > did not want to make ears for it, who would protest your right? So the Holy One is going to be glorified in you, as stated (in ibid., cont.): AND THE EARS OF THE DEAF SHALL BE OPENED. To a lame person you would say (in ibid., vs. 6): THEN THE LAME SHALL LEAP LIKE A DEER. So you would comfort him. (According to Job 4:4:) YOUR WORDS HAVE UPHELD THE STUMBLING. But now that it affects you, you are dismayed! (Job. 4:5:) BUT NOW THAT < TROUBLE > HAS COME UNTO YOU, YOU FIND IT TOO MUCH…. (Job 4:6:) IS NOT YOUR GODLY FEAR YOUR CONFIDENCE? After all, you have said: I am a righteous person; so why does he punish me? Have you ever seen a righteous person perishing? (Job 4:7:) PLEASE RECALL, WHAT INNOCENT ONE HAS PERISHED … ? Because Noah was righteous, he was saved from his generation. Abraham was saved from the furnace; Isaac was saved from the knife; Jacob was saved from the angel; Moses was saved from Pharaoh's sword. (Job 4:7:) PLEASE RECALL, WHAT INNOCENT ONE HAS PERISHED … ? He delivered Israel from Egypt, but he destroyed the Egyptians (according to Job 4:8): AS [I HAVE SEEN], THOSE WHO PLOW EVIL AND SOW TROUBLE, REAP IT. So what happened to them (according to vs. 9)? BY THE BREATH (NShMT) OF GOD THEY PERISH. It is so stated (in Exod. 15:10): YOU BLEW (NShMT) WITH YOUR WIND, AND THE SEA COVERED THEM. Also < with reference to > all the wicked who are going to arise, (according to Job 4:10) < there is > A LION'S ROAR AND A FIERCE LION'S VOICE. Job said to him (to Eliphaz): Please look at your father, Esau. He said to him: I am not concerned with him. (According to Ezek. 18:20): {THE} [A] SON SHALL NOT BEAR THE FATHER'S GUILT…. (Job 4:11:) THE STRONG LION PERISHES FOR LACK OF PREY. This < strong lion > is Esau in that he perishes for lack of < good > works. (Ibid., cont.:) AND THE OFFSPRING OF THE LIONESS ARE SCATTERED. These < offspring > are his chieftains. Job said to him: Now in your case, what do you have for yourself? (Job 4:12:) NOW A WORD WAS SECRETLY BROUGHT UNTO ME. I am a prophet. My only concern with him is to rebuke you (according to vs. 13) IN OPINIONS36The Hebrew word here is a homonym of the reading in Masoretic Text, which denotes THOUGHTS. FROM NIGHT VISIONS. The Holy One said [to Eliphaz]: You have rebuked my servant Job through a vision. I am raising up a prophet from you who will exact punishment from your father's house (the Edomites) through a vision. [It is so stated (in Obad., vs. 1): THE VISION OF OBADIAH.] So R. Samuel bar Nahmani said: What did Obadiah see, since he only prophesied against Edom? The Holy One said: Esau grew up between two righteous people37Jacob and Rebekah. So Sifre, Numb. 27:1 (133). without learning from their works; but Obadiah dwelt between two wicked people38Ahab and Jezebel. So Sifre, Numb. 27:1 (133); Rashi on Sanh. 39b. See also Jerome’s introduction to his commentary on Obadiah. without learning from their works. Obadiah would come and exact punishment from Esau. Ergo (in Obad., vs. 1) THE VISION OF OBADIAH. And what is written in his prophecy (in vs. 18)? THE HOUSE OF JACOB SHALL BE FIRE, AND THE HOUSE OF JOSEPH A FLAME, AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BE STRAW; THEY SHALL BURN IT AND CONSUME IT, AND THERE SHALL BE NO SURVIVOR TO THE HOUSE OF ESAU; FOR THE LORD HAS SPOKEN.
Midrash Tanchuma
What did Satan do then? He said to Abraham: “Now a word was secretly brought to me (Job 4:12); that is, I have heard from behind the heavenly curtain that a lamb will be sacrificed as a burnt offering instead of Isaac.” Abraham responded: “It is a liar’s fate that even though he should speak the truth, no one will believe him.”