מֵאַחַ֥ר עָל֗וֹת הֱ֫בִיא֥וֹ לִ֭רְעוֹת בְּיַעֲקֹ֣ב עַמּ֑וֹ וּ֝בְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃
Dari menggembalakan domba-domba betina yang menyusui, Dia membawanya untuk menggembalakan Yakub, umat-Nya, dan Israel, milik pusaka-Nya.
Ohr HaTzafun
The Test of the Righteous
The verse says: “The Lord will test the righteous” (Psalms 11:5). And the sages said: "How does He test him? It is with sheepherding. He tested David with flocks and found him a fine shepherd, as it is stated: 'He took him from the sheepfolds [mikhleot tzon]' (Psalms 78:70). What are mikhleot tzon? It is like: 'The rain was restrained [vayikkaleh]' (Genesis 8:2). He would hold back the large ones [sheep] due to the small ones, and would take out the small ones so they could graze on the soft grass, then the old ones so they could graze on the middling grass, then he would take out the choice ones to graze on the tough grass. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘One who knows how to herd the flocks, each according to its ability, will come and herd My people.’ That is what is written: 'From the suckling ewes He brought him, to herd Jacob His people' (Psalms 78:71). Moses, too, the Holy One blessed be He tested him only with flocks. Our Rabbis say: When Moses, may he rest in peace, was herding Yitro’s flock in the wilderness, a kid fled from him. He pursued it until it reached cover. Once it reached cover, it happened upon a pool of water, and the kid stopped to drink. When Moses reached it, he said: ‘I didn’t know that you were running due to thirst. You are tired.’ He carried it on his shoulder and was walking. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘You have the compassion to behave with the flocks belonging to flesh and blood in this manner; by your life, you will herd My flock, Israel.’ That is: 'Moses was herding.'” (Shemot Rabbah 2:2)*Translation adapted from the Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022.
The verse says: “The Lord will test the righteous” (Psalms 11:5). And the sages said: "How does He test him? It is with sheepherding. He tested David with flocks and found him a fine shepherd, as it is stated: 'He took him from the sheepfolds [mikhleot tzon]' (Psalms 78:70). What are mikhleot tzon? It is like: 'The rain was restrained [vayikkaleh]' (Genesis 8:2). He would hold back the large ones [sheep] due to the small ones, and would take out the small ones so they could graze on the soft grass, then the old ones so they could graze on the middling grass, then he would take out the choice ones to graze on the tough grass. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘One who knows how to herd the flocks, each according to its ability, will come and herd My people.’ That is what is written: 'From the suckling ewes He brought him, to herd Jacob His people' (Psalms 78:71). Moses, too, the Holy One blessed be He tested him only with flocks. Our Rabbis say: When Moses, may he rest in peace, was herding Yitro’s flock in the wilderness, a kid fled from him. He pursued it until it reached cover. Once it reached cover, it happened upon a pool of water, and the kid stopped to drink. When Moses reached it, he said: ‘I didn’t know that you were running due to thirst. You are tired.’ He carried it on his shoulder and was walking. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘You have the compassion to behave with the flocks belonging to flesh and blood in this manner; by your life, you will herd My flock, Israel.’ That is: 'Moses was herding.'” (Shemot Rabbah 2:2)*Translation adapted from the Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022.