Midrash su Amos 9:15

(Lev. 26:3:) “If you walk in My statutes….” This text is related (to Hos. 9:17), “My God will reject them because they did not heed Him….” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “I have said that you would be set in security, as stated (in Amos 9:15), ‘And when I plant them in their land, [they shall never again be uprooted]….’ When? (Lev.: 26:3, 5:) ‘If you walk in My statutes […] You shall eat your fill of bread.’ But you did not so act.” Instead (according to II Kings 17:9), “The Children of Israel attributed things which were not right to the Lord.” [So] I have also set upon you things which I did not write in My Torah. [It is so stated] (in Deut. 28:61), “Moreover [the Lord will bring upon you] every disease and every plague which is not written [in this book of the Torah].” Now what were the “things they attributed, which were not right to the Lord?” As Isaiah said (in Is. 1:4), “They have forsaken the Lord […];” do not say, “They have forsaken ('zbw) [Me],” but “They,” as it were, “have made me worth forsaking ('yzbw) (i.e., caused me to be cruel).” Now I was called (in Exod. 34:6), “The Lord, the Lord, a merciful and gracious God.” But through their sins, they have made Me cruel and changed My trait of mercy to cruelty, as stated (in Lam. 2:5), “The Lord has become like an enemy, He swallowed Israel.” It also says (in Is. 63:10), “But they rebelled, and grieved His holy spirit; then He became their enemy, and Himself made war against them.” Therefore, Hosea said, “Who has brought this about for you? [It was] because you did not heed Him, (in Hos. 9:17), ‘My God will reject them because they did not heed Him.’” It is also written (in Deut. 28:65), “And among those nations you shall find no peace. Another interpretation (of Lev. 26:3, 4, 14, 19) “If you walk in My statutes…, then I will give you your rains in their season…. But if you do not heed Me…. I will make your heavens like iron”: It also says so (in Hag. 1:10), “For that reason the heavens over you have withheld dew, and the earth has withheld its produce.” Because of your sins, the nations are also afflicted. R. Joshua ben Levi said, “If the nations had known that they are afflicted because of the sins of Israel, they would have raised two armies²Gk.: stratiai. to guard each and every person of Israel in order that they keep the Torah and not sin. However, it was not enough for the nations that they were not watching over Israel, but in addition they stopped them from [fulfilling] the commandments.” As when Israel sins, all the whole world is afflicted, as stated (in Hag. 1:10), “For that reason the heavens over you have withheld dew.” But if [the Israelites] do not sin, all the world is blessed on their account, as stated (in Gen. 26:4), “and through your seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Exod. 20:19-20), “You yourselves have seen that I spoke with you from the heavens. Along with Me you shall not make gods of silver, nor shall you make for yourselves gods of gold.” So if you sin [and pray to me], I will not answer you, as stated (in Zech. 7:13), “And it came to pass that, as He called, and they did not heed; ‘So let them call, and I will not heed,’ [says the Lord of hosts].” Therefore (according to Exod. 20:20), “Along with Me you shall not make gods of silver.”

[(Lev. 26:3:) IF YOU WALK IN MY STATUTES….] This text is related (to Hos. 9:17): GOD³Eloah. Cf. the Masoretic Text, which reads elohay (MY GOD). WILL REJECT THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HEED HIM. The Holy One said: I have said that you would be set in security, as stated (in Amos 9:15): AND WHEN I PLANT THEM IN THEIR LAND, [THEY SHALL NEVER AGAIN BE UPROOTED]….⁴Tanh., Lev. 10:2. When? (Lev.: 26:3, 5:) IF YOU WALK IN MY STATUTES…. YOU SHALL EAT YOUR FILL OF BREAD < AND DWELL SECURELY IN YOUR LAND >. I have so counseled, but you did not so act. Instead (according to II Kings 17:9): THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL ATTRIBUTED THINGS WHICH WERE NOT RIGHT < TO THE LORD THEIR GOD: THEY BUILT THEMSELVES HIGH PLACES IN ALL THEIR CITIES >…. I have also set upon you things which I did not write in the Torah. It is so stated (in Deut. 28:61): MOREOVER < THE LORD WILL BRING UPON YOU > EVERY DISEASE AND EVERY PLAGUE WHICH IS NOT WRITTEN IN {THIS BOOK OF THE TORAH} [THE BOOK OF THIS TORAH]. Now surely [if] you have set [things] on me which were not < right > by me, just as Isaiah said (in Is. 1:4): THEY HAVE FORSAKEN THE LORD; do not say: THEY HAVE FORSAKEN ('ZBW) < ME >, but: They, as it were, have made me worth forsaking ('YZBW) (i.e., caused me to be cruel). Now I was called (in Exod. 34:6): A MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS GOD, SLOW TO ANGER, but through their sins I have become cruel and changed my nature, as stated (in Lam. 2:5): THE LORD HAS BECOME LIKE AN ENEMY. It also says (in Is. 63:10): SO HE WAS TURNED INTO THEIR ENEMY. Therefore, Hosea says: Who has brought this about for you? < It was > because you did not heed him, as stated (in Hos. 9:17): {GOD} [MY GOD] WILL REJECT THEM BECAUSE THEY DID NOT HEED HIM. [It is also written] (in Deut. 28:65): AND AMONG THOSE NATIONS YOU SHALL FIND NO PEACE.

Another matter, “your belly is a pile of wheat,” but would one of pine cones not be fairer than one of wheat? But it is possible for the world to exist without pine cones, but it is not possible for the world to exist without wheat. Rabbi Idi said: Just as this wheat kernel is cleft, so Israel’s circumcision is cleft.³¹This is a reference to peria, the process in which the membrane under the foreskin is split and pulled back (Maharzu). Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥananya said: Just as wheat absorbs, so too Israel absorbs the property of the nations of the world. That is what is written: “You shall devour all the peoples…” (Deuteronomy 7:16), and it is written: “You will consume the wealth of the nations and in their glory you will revel” (Isaiah 61:6). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Just as with wheat, its waste is measured with it, so too Israel, “from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water” (Deuteronomy 29:10).
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Just as these wheat kernels, when they go out for sowing go out by measure, and when they enter from the grain pile they enter by measure, so too Israel, when they descended to Egypt they descended by number, as it is stated: “With seventy people, your ancestors descended to Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:22), and when they ascended, they ascended by number, as it is stated: “some six hundred thousand men on foot” (Exodus 12:37). Rabbi Ḥonya said regarding the statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Just as the landowner does not monitor boxes of manure, and not boxes of hay, and not boxes of straw, and not chaff; why? Because they are considered worthless; so too, the Holy One blessed be He does not monitor the nations of the world, why, because they are considered worthless, as it is stated: “All the nations are like nothing before Him…” (Isaiah 40:17). Whom does He monitor? Israel, as it is stated: “When you take a census of the children of Israel…” (Exodus 30:12), “take a census of the entire congregation of Israel” (Numbers 1:2).
Rabbi Neḥemya [said] in the name of Rabbi Avun: The nations of the world have no planting, have no sowing, and have no root, and the three of them are in one verse: “It is as though they were not planted, as though they were not sown, as though their trunk had not taken root in the earth” (Isaiah 40:24). However, Israel has planting, as it is stated: “I will plant them in this land” (Jeremiah 32:41), and it is written “I will plant them upon their land” (Amos 9:15). They have sowing, as it is stated: “I will sow her for Me in the land” (Hosea 2:25). They have root, as it is stated: “It is coming that Jacob will take root” (Isaiah 27:6).
To what is this matter comparable? Hay, chaff, and straw were deliberating with each other. This one said: The land was sown for my sake, and that one said: The field was sown for my sake. The wheat said to them: Wait until the [time for] threshing arrives and we will know for whose sake the field was sown. The time of the threshing arrived, and when they entered the threshing floor, the field owner emerged to winnow it. The chaff went with the wind, he took the hay and cast it to the ground, he took the straw and burned it, and he took the wheat and made it into a pile. People would pass and everyone who saw it would kiss it, just as it says: “Kiss the grain” (Psalms 2:12). So too the nations of the world; these say: We are the true Israel, and the world was created for our sake, and those say: We are the true Israel and the world was created for our sake. Israel said to them: Wait until the day the Holy One blessed be He will arrive and we will know for whose sake the world was created. That is what is written: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven [and all the wicked people and all the evildoers will be like straw; and that coming day will burn them]” (Malachi 3:19), and it is written: “You will winnow them and the wind will carry them” (Isaiah 41:16). However, it is stated in Israel’s regard: “But you will rejoice in the Lord, you will be glorified in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:16).

A time to love and a time to hate; a time for war and a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes 3:8).
“A time to love,” in peacetime, “and a time to hate,” in wartime; “a time for war,” in wartime, “and a time for peace,” in peacetime.

Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin interpreted the verses regarding Israel. “A time to be born and a time to die” – the Holy One blessed be He said: For a brief time I was the midwife for My children, as it is written: “As for your birth, on the day you were born” (Ezekiel 16:4).²⁶The verse quoted is followed by verses in which God describes Israel as an abandoned, bloodied baby, whom He cared for and nursed to health. This is a parable for God saving Israel from Egypt. “And a time to die,” as it is written: “In this wilderness they will expire and there they will die (Numbers 14:35). “No man was left of them, except Caleb son of Yefuneh, and Joshua son of Nun” (Numbers 26:65).
“A time to plant,” as it is stated: “I will plant them on their land” (Amos 9:15), “and a time to uproot that which is planted,” as it is written: “The Lord uprooted them from upon their land” (Deuteronomy 29:27). “A time to kill,” as it is written: “He killed all who delighted the eye” (Lamentations 2:4), “and a time to heal,” as it is written: “Behold, I am bringing it a remedy and cure” (Jeremiah 33:6). “A time to breach,” as it is written: “Each woman would depart through the breaches” (Amos 4:3), “and a time to build,” as it is written: “I will build it as in the days of old” (Amos 9:11). “A time to weep,” as it is written: “She will weep at night” (Lamentations 1:2), “and a time to laugh,” as it is written: “Then our mouths will be filled with laughter” (Psalms 126:2). “A time to mourn,” as it is written: “The Lord God of hosts declared that day for weeping and lamentation” (Isaiah 22:12), “and a time to dance,” as it is written: “The squares of the city will be filled [with boys and girls playing in its squares]” (Zechariah 8:5). “A time to cast stones,” as it is written: “The sacred stones are spilled” (Lamentations 4:1), “and a time to gather stones,” as it is written: “Behold, I am laying a stone foundation in Zion” (Isaiah 28:16). “A time to embrace,” as it is stated: “And his right hand embraces me” (Song of Songs 2:6), “and a time to refrain from embrace,” as it is stated: “The Lord will banish man” (Isaiah 6:12).
“A time to seek,” as it is written: “From there you will seek the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 4:29), “and a time to lose,” as it is written: “Beware, lest your heart be seduced…you will be swiftly eradicated” (Deuteronomy 11:16–17). “A time to keep [lishmor],” as it is written: “Behold, the Keeper [Shomer] of Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps” (Psalms 121:4), “and a time to discard,” as it is written: “He cast them to another land” (Deuteronomy 29:27). “A time to rend,” as it is written: “The Lord has rent the kingdom of Israel” (I Samuel 15:28), “and a time to sew,” as it is written: “They will become one in your hand” (Ezekiel 37:17). “A time to be silent,” as it is written: “I have kept silent for a long time” (Isaiah 42:14), “and a time to speak,” as it is written: “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem” (Isaiah 40:2). “A time to love,” as it is written: “I have loved you, said the Lord” (Malachi 1:2), “and a time to hate,” as it is written: “She raised her voice against me; therefore I hated her” (Jeremiah 12:8). “A time for war,” as it is written: “He was transformed into their enemy” (Isaiah 63:10), “and a time for peace,” as it is written: “Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river” (Isaiah 66:12).

“You shall bring them and plant them” Our Sages said: Praised be the name of the Holy One, who in the greatness of His love for Israel called them ‘My firstborn son Israel.’ (Shemot 4:22) Come and see how great is the loving generosity of the Holy One! A slave dresses his master, but the Holy One dresses Israel, as it says “And I clothed you with embroidered garments…” (Yechezkel 16:10) A slave washes his master, but the Holy One washes Israel, as it says “And I washed you with water…” (Yechezkel 16:9) A slave places the shoes on his master, but the Holy One shoed Israel, as it says “…and I shod you with the skin of the badger…” (Yechezkel 16:10) And beyond all this, when they were exiled to Egypt the Divine Presence was with them, as it says “I will go down with you to Egypt…” (Bereshit 46:4) When they were exiled to Elam the Divine Presence was with them, as it says “And I will place My throne in Elam…” (Yirmiyahu 49:38) They were exiled to Bavel and the Divine Presence went with them, as it says “Because of you, I sent to Babylon…” (Yeshayahu 43:14) In the future the Holy One will return Israel to His holy mountain, as it says “I will bring them to My holy mount…” (Yeshayahu 56:7) and it is written after this “And I will plant them on their land…” (Amos 9:15) Since Moshe saw the love of the Holy One for Israel he said before Him ‘Master of the World! Bring them and plant them there and let that planting be complete, which will never be uprooted. Bring down Jerusalem from the heavens and let it never be destroyed. Gather together there the exiled of Israel and let them settle upon the land in security. This is why it says “You shall bring them and plant them on the mount of Your heritage, directed toward Your habitation, which You made, O Lord; the sanctuary, O Lord, [which] Your hands founded.” (Shemot 15:17)

Another interpretation (of Lev. 19:23), “When you come into the land.” This text is related (to Ps. 105:44-45), “He gave them the lands of nations […]. In order that they might keep His statutes […]”: “He gave them the lands of nations.” Whatever the Holy One, blessed be He, took from the peoples of the world He gave to Israel; lands of silver and gold, fields, vineyards, and cities. But He gave these to them only so that they would occupy themselves with the Torah, as stated (in vs. 45), “In order that they might keep His statutes […].” But they did not do so. Instead (according to Ezek. 36:17), “and they defiled it (i.e., the land) by their way and by their deeds.” They defiled them (according to Josh. 7) in the anathema of Achan, as stated (in Jer. 2:7), “but you came and defiled My land,” by the anathema of Achan; (ibid. cont.), “and you made My heritage an abomination,” by the image of Micah (in Jud. 17-18). So what did the Holy One, blessed be He, do to them? He exiled them from it, as stated (in Deut. 29:27), “So the Lord uprooted them from their land.” What is the meaning of “And […] uprooted (rt.: ntsh) them?” He weakened (rt.: tshsh)³⁴TShSh and NTSh seem like the same root, because the form translated UPROOTED lacks the N, while the form translated “weakened” lacks the second Sh. their strength. They planted and toiled, but the peoples of the world came and took. It is so stated (in Jud. 6:3-4), “And so it happened that, if Israel planted, Midian, Amalek, and the Children of Kedem would arise against it. And they would encamp against them [and destroy the produce of the earth].” When they repent, (according to Is. 65:22), “They shall not build for another to dwell in; they shall not plant for another to eat.” Why? Because when they plant no one uproots, as stated (in Amos 9:15), “they shall never again be uprooted (rt.: ntsh) from their land.”

Another interpretation (of Lev. 19:23): WHEN YOU COME INTO THE LAND. This text is related (to Ps. 105:44–45): HE GAVE THEM THE LANDS OF NATIONS…, IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT KEEP HIS STATUTES…. HE GAVE THEM THE LANDS OF NATIONS. Whatever the Holy One took from the peoples of the world he gave to Israel: lands of silver and gold, fields, vineyards, and cities.⁴²Tanh., Lev.7:11. But he gave < these > to them only so that they would occupy themselves with the Torah, as stated (vs. 45): IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT KEEP HIS STATUTES…. But they did not do so. Instead (according to Ezek. 36:17): AND THEY DEFILED {THEM ACCORDING TO THEIR WAY} [IT (i.e., the land) BY THEIR WAY AND BY THEIR DEEDS]. They defiled them (according to Josh. 7) in the destruction of Achan, as stated (in Jer. 2:7): BUT YOU CAME AND DEFILED MY LAND [by the destruction of Achan]. (Ibid. cont.): AND YOU MADE MY HERITAGE AN ABOMINATION, by the image of Micah (in Jud. 17–18). So what did the Holy One do to them? He exiled them from it, as stated (in Deut. 29:27): SO THE LORD UPROOTED THEM FROM THEIR LAND. What is the meaning of AND… UPROOTED (rt.: NTSh) THEM? He weakened (rt.: TShSh)⁴³TShSh and NTSh seem like the same root, because the form translated UPROOTED lacks the N, while the form translated “weakened” lacks the second Sh. their army. They planted and toiled, but the peoples of the world came and took. It is so stated (in Jud. 6:3): AND SO IT HAPPENED THAT, IF ISRAEL PLANTED, < MIDIAN, AMALEK, AND THE CHILDREN OF KEDEM WOULD ARISE >…. Then it is written (in vs. 4): THEY WOULD ENCAMP AGAINST THEM AND DESTROY THE PRODUCE OF THE EARTH. When they repent, (according to Is. 65:22): THEY SHALL NOT BUILD FOR ANOTHER TO DWELL IN; THEY SHALL NOT PLANT FOR ANOTHER TO EAT. Why? Because when they plant no one uproots, as stated (in Amos 9:15): AND WHEN I PLANT THEM ON THEIR LAND, THEY SHALL NEVER AGAIN BE UPROOTED (rt.: NTSh) FROM THE LAND WHICH I HAVE GIVEN THEM, SAYS THE LORD YOUR GOD.

Variantly: "You will bring them and You will plant them" — a planting which does not uproot them, viz. (Jeremiah 24:6) "and I shall plant and not uproot," "and I shall build them and not destroy them," (Amos 9:15) "and I will plant them on their land and they will not be uprooted again."...

Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance" (Ex. 15:16, 17). Thou shalt bring them in to Thy holy mountain. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: Moses! Thou hast not said, "Bring us in and plant us," but (thou hast said), "Thou shalt bring them in and plant them." The One who brings in, He also brings out. By thy life ! According to thy words so shall it be. In this world I shall bring them in, and in the world to come I will plant them as a true plant which shall not be plucked up out of their land, as it is said, "And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall no more be plucked up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord thy God" (Amos 9:15); and it (also) says, "The Lord shall reign for ever and ever" (Ex. 15:18).