Midras Yesaya 27:5: Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Midrash Tanchuma, Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Bamidbar Rabbah

R. Eleazar said: If there is judgement (din) below there is no judgement above; if there is no judgement above, there is judgement below.¹⁹Tanh., Exod. 6:5, cont.; M. Ps. 72:3; Gen. R. 26:6; Deut. R. 5:5; see also Gen. R. 35:3; 65:9. How so? If those below carry out a judgement, there is no judgement above? For this reason the Holy One said: Observe justice (mishpat) below so that you will not cause me to carry out justice (mishpat) above.²⁰See I Corinthians 11:32. Ergo (in Exod. 21:1): AND THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES (mishpatim). The Holy One said to them: Whatever I do, I do with justice (din). Thus, had I desired to transgress against justice (din) one time, the world would have been unable to survive. Isaiah has said (in Is. 27:4): THERE IS NO ANGER IN ME. [WOULD THAT HE WOULD GIVE ME THORNS AND THISTLES. I WOULD STEP FORTH AGAINST THEM IN BATTLE. I WOULD SET THEM ON FIRE ALL TOGETHER.] Had I walked one step and disregarded judgment (din), I WOULD SET THEM ON FIRE ALL TOGETHER, <i.e.> the world would have burned immediately. (Is. 27:5:) OR LET HIM TAKE HOLD OF MY PROTECTION, when my hand is seized in justice (din), [as stated (in Deut. 32:41):] MY HAND LAYS HOLD ON JUSTICE (mishpat). (Is. 27:5, cont.:) AND LET HIM MAKE PEACE FOR ME, <i.e.> LET HIM MAKE PEACE between me and the judgement (mishpat). (Deut. 32:41:) IF I SHARPEN (rt.: SNN) MY FLASHING SWORD, <i.e.> if I should change (rt.: SNH) the measure of judgement (din), a single flash of lightning would go forth to destroy the world. What should I do? (Deut. 32:41, cont.:) MY HAND LAYS HOLD ON JUSTICE (mishpat). The Holy One said: I am called the Lord of Justice (mishpat, rt.: ShPT), and I want to stretch out (rt.: PShT) my hand against Esau. Still I am unable <to do so> until I pay him a reward for a small favor which he did for me in this world. R. Pinhas bar Hama the Priest said:²¹Esther R. 1:6. Look at what is written (in Zech. 12:9): SO IT WILL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY {SAYS THE LORD} THAT I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS. Israel says to him: Sovereign of the World, then who will stay your hand, since you are saying: I SEEK? The Holy One said: It is simply that, when I SEEK their merit and do not find it, then I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS. R. Levi said: What is written (in Dan. 7:9)? I LOOKED UNTIL THRONES WERE THROWN DOWN.²²Remaw. The word can mean “were set in place,” and this meaning better fits the biblical context. The context of the midrash, however, requires the translation, WERE THROWN DOWN. The Holy One said: When I acquit some of the nations of the world <for> a few simple commandments which they have carried out in my presence, <it is> during that < limited > time, UNTIL THRONES WERE THROWN DOWN. <It is those > thrones belonging to the nations of the world that the Holy One is going to overturn, as stated (in Hag. 2:22): THEN I WILL OVERTURN THE THRONES OF {THE}KINGDOMS [AND DESTROY THE MIGHT OF THE KINGDOMS] OF THE NATIONS. At that time I will <also> redeem you so that you shall be enslaved no more, as stated (in Nahum 1:12): THOUGH I HAVE AFFLICTED YOU, I WILL AFFLICT YOU NO MORE.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Whatever I do, I do according to the rule of justice, but should I violate the rule of justice even once the world would not endure. Isaiah said: Fury is not in Me; would that I were as the brass and thorns and flame! I would with one step burn it all together (Isa. 27:4). (This verse indicates that) if I took a single step in violation of justice, I would with one step burn it completely, and the whole world would be consumed forthwith. Why does Scripture say Or else take hold of My strength (ibid., v. 5)? Because whatever My hand seizes with strength, My hand also seizes with justice, as it is said: If I sharpen my glittering sword, My hand takes hold with justice (Deut. 32:41). Yea, let him make peace for me (Isa. 27:5). That is, let him make peace between Me and the law (by fulfilling the law): Let him make peace for Me (ibid.).

Reuben went in the days of harvest, etc. Raba b. Isaac said in the name of Rab: "Infer from this that the righteous do not stretch their hands out to robbery." What were the dudaim which Reuben found? Rab said: "They were mandrakes," and Samuel said: "Violet flowers." R. Alexandri said: "Those who occupy themselves with the Torah for its own sake [for no selfish ends] cause peace to reign in the heavenly household and in the household here below," as it is said (Is. 27, 15) "If he would but take hold of my strength, make peace with me, make peace with me." And Rab said: "He is considered as if he had built both palaces of heaven and earth," as it is said: (Ib. 51, 16) "And I have placed My words in thy mouth, and with the shadow of My hand have I covered thee: To plant the heavens and lay the foundations of the earth." R. Jochanan said: "He also protects the world, as it is said (Ib.) "With the shadow of My hand have I covered thee." And Levi said: "He brings nearer the redemption, as it is said (Ib.) To say to Zion, Thou art My people." Resh Lakish said: "He who teaches the Torah to his neigbor's son, is considered by Scripture as if he had created him," as it is said: (Gen. 12, 5) "And the persons they had obtained Charan." R. Elazar said: "He is considered as the creator of the law, as it is said: (Deut. 29, 8) Keep ye, therefore, the words of the covenant, and do them." And Raba said: "He is considered as the creator of himself," as it is said, "And do them; do not read otham (them), but atem, (ye yourselves)." R. Abahu said: "He who causes his neighbor to do a meritorious act, is considered by Scripture as if he himself has done it, for it is said: (Ex. 17, 5) "And take in thy hand thy staff wherewith thou smotest the river, and go." Did he, then, smite the river? Did not Aaron do this? But this is to teach thee that whoever causes his neighbor to do a meritorious act is considered by Scripture as if he himself had done it."