Midras Daniel 3:18: Midrash Tanchuma, Vayikra Rabbah, Aggadat Bereshit & Shir HaShirim Rabbah

“When a camp goes out against your enemies, you shall beware of everything evil” (Devarim 23:10). There should be no levity among you so that you do not incur any liability. From whom should you learn? From Yiftach. What is written about him? “…and he was the son of a harlot…” (Shoftim 11:1) Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said that she brought her sister-wife into her house, and our Rabbis say that she was really a harlot; and because there was some levity in him all of the people fell upon him. Therefore it is written “you shall beware of everything evil" and “If there is among you a man who is unclean…” These are Israel who became impure through idolatry, as it says “…scatter them afar like a menstruant; 'Go out,' say to it.” (Yeshayahu 30:22) “…he shall go outside the camp…” (Devarim 23:11) that they were exiled to Bavel. “And it shall be, towards evening…”(Devarim 23:12) the evening of the kingdoms, and the Holy One purifies them as it says “…he shall bathe in water…” (ibid.) and it is written “When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion…” (Yeshayahu 4:4) “…and when the sun sets…” (Devraim 23:12) When the King Messiah comes of whom it is written “…and his throne is like the sun before Me.” (Tehillim 89:37) “…he may come within the camp” (Devarim 23:12) These are Israel, entering into the Holy Temple. “And you shall have a designated place outside the camp…” (Devarim 23:13) this is the merit of Avraham. R. Pinchas said- “…so that you can go out there,” to Bavel. “And you shall keep a stake in addition to your weapons…” (Devarim 23:14) Nevuchadnezar demanded that they serve an idol and they said “…let it be known to you, O king, that we will not worship your god…” (Daniel 3:18) “…and you shall return and cover your excrement.” (Devarim 23:14) The covering of idolatry that was in Jerusalem. “For the Lord, your God, goes along in the midst of your camp…” (Devarim 23:15) The Holy One will be revealed to them immediately and saved them from the fire. “Therefore, your camp shall be holy…” (ibid.) Afterwards He will sanctify them as it says “And they shall call them the holy people, those redeemed by the Lord…” (Yeshayahu 62:12)

Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina interpreted the verse regarding a sota. “And if a person will sin” – she sinned to her husband, who feeds her and supports her, and she goes and acts corruptly with another. “And hear the voice of adjuration” – “The priest shall administer to the woman the oath of the curse” (Numbers 5:21). “And he is a witness” – “And there is no witness against her” (Numbers 5:13). “Who either saw” – “And it was hidden from the eyes of her husband” (Numbers 5:13), but not from the eyes of the Holy One blessed be He. “Or knew” – “and she was secluded and she was defiled” (Numbers 5:13). “If he does not tell, he shall bear his iniquity” – if she does not tell the priest, “her belly shall distend and her thigh shall fall” (Numbers 5:27).

Chapter 7: Torah. [1] "Go out from the ark" (Genesis 8:16). In the scriptures it is said: I do obey the king’s orders—[and don’t rush into uttering an oath by God.]" (Ecclesiastes 8:2) - the Holy Spirit said to Israel: "I adjure you that if the kingdom decrees something upon you, do not rebel against it in anything it decrees upon you. But if it decrees to abolish the Torah, the commandments, and the Sabbath, do not listen to them." As it says: "I am the king's servant, keep [his word] for every matter" (Ecclesiastes 8:2). However, regarding the oath of God, "Do not hurry to leave his presence" (Ecclesiastes 8:3). Just as Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah did when Nebuchadnezzar set up the statue, they were told, "What do you say that you are casting us into the fiery furnace, and the Lord will not save us? Whether He saves us or not, we will not bow down to the image," as it says, "But if not, let it be known to you" (Daniel 3:18). He said to them, "You are rebels." They replied, "The truth is clear," as it says, "There is a way that is straight before a person" (Daniel 3:14). They said to him, "We do not care about Nebuchadnezzar," as it says, "We will not be concerned with your words" (Daniel 3:16)." They said to him, "Whatever you decree upon us, we will do, and we will listen to you, and we will not rebel against you, except for Yom Kippur of our God. [Say to him] I do! “Obey the king’s orders, leave his presence, do not tarry in a dangerous situation, for he can do anything he pleases;" (Ecclesiastes 8:2-3). When Nebuchadnezzar heard this, he became angry, as it says: "Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury" (Daniel 3:19), and he threw them bound into the furnace, as it says: "And they cast them into the midst of the burning fiery furnace" (Daniel 3:23). When they descended, they lifted their eyes and said before the Lord: "Master of the Universe, it is revealed and known before You that we did not trust in anything except Your great Name, as it says: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory" (Psalm 115:1). At that point, all the languages gathered, as it says: "Then the satraps, the prefects, and the governors, the counselors, the treasurers, the justices, the magistrates, and all the officials of the provinces gathered for the dedication of the image that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up" (Daniel 3:3). Immediately, the angels requested to descend and release them, but the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, "Do these angels descend on account of any one of you? Rather, they descend on account of My name. I will descend and save them, as it is said, 'He executes justice for the oppressed...the Lord frees the bound.' (Psalm 146:7) Just as Moses freed the Israelites from the furnace, and the Holy One, blessed be He, removed the furnace and raised it up and leveled it with the ground, which had been low and deep. Once the angel descended and said to them, 'Go out from here,' then the Holy One, blessed be He, released them and performed miracles for them. He leveled the furnace with the ground, and they went out. They said to him, 'We will not go out without the permission of Nebuchadnezzar, lest people say that we fled from the furnace. "I do Obey the king’s orders" (Ecclesiastes 8:2) We were thrown in here by his permission, and we will go out by his permission." Once Nebuchadnezzar came and saw them, he was amazed and began to shout, 'Come out!' As it is said, 'The king cried out to bring in the astrologers...' (Daniel 2:2) Once the furnace had become level with the ground, they went out. They said to the angel, 'Now we will go out,' as it is said, 'Then they went out...' (Daniel 3:26) From whom did they learn this? From Noah. When he entered the ark, he did so with the permission of the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said, 'And the Lord said to Noah, "Enter the ark, you and all your household."' (Genesis 7:1) Once the earth dried up and the ark rested, as it is said, 'And the ark rested...' (Genesis 8:4) His children said to him, 'Let us go out from here.' He said to them, 'God forbid! We entered with the permission of the Holy One, blessed be He, and we will go out with His permission.' Once the Holy One, blessed be He, heard this, He immediately spoke to Noah, saying, 'Go out of the ark.' (Genesis 8:16) Therefore, it is said, 'I do Obey the king’s orders' (Ecclesiastes 8:2)