Midrash su Deuteronomio 24:20

An Athenian came to Jerusalem, and he greatly mocked the residents of Jerusalem. They said: ‘Who will go and bring him to us?’ One person said to them: ‘I will go and I will bring him with his head shaved.’ The Jerusalemite went to Athens and was received by that man. In the morning, the two of them went out to stroll in the marketplace. One of [the Jew’s] sandals tore. He said to the cobbler: ‘Take this coin³¹It was a valuable coin. and repair this sandal.’ He repaired it for him. The following day, the two of went out to stroll in the marketplace and [the Jew’s] other sandal tore. He said to him:³²He said to his Athenian host. ‘Take this coin and go have the cobbler repair this sandal of mine.’ He said to him: ‘Are sandals so expensive in your place?’³³Is that the reason you came with tattered sandals, and are willing to pay so much to repair them? He said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to him: ‘How many dinars?’ He said to him: ‘Some are nine and some are ten dinars, and when they are inexpensive, some are seven and some are eight dinars.’ He said to him: ‘If I come to you with this merchandise will you sell it for me?’ He said to him: ‘Yes, but do not enter the city without my knowledge.’
When [the Athenian] performed his labor he purchased a stock of sandals. He travelled, ascended to Jerusalem, and sat at the gate of the city walls. He sent after [the Jew] and he came. When [the Jew] came, he said to [the Athenian]: ‘We made an agreement among us that no person may enter to sell his merchandise unless his head is shaved and his face blackened.’ He said to him: ‘What harm is there to me if I shave my head, provided that I sell my merchandise.’ After he shaved his head, [the Jew] took him and seated him in the middle of the marketplace. When a person would come to purchase sandals from him, he would say to him: ‘How much does a pair of these sandals cost?’ [The Athenian] would say to him: ‘Some are ten and some are nine dinars; however, I will not take less than eight dinars.’ When [the purchaser] would hear this, he would knock him on his head with a sandal, go, and not make the purchase. He said to [the Jew]: ‘Did I treat you so badly when you were in my place?’ He said to him: ‘From now on, do not mock [tefalei] the residents of Jerusalem.’ <Tefalei is a term meaning examination. The verse: “You shall not examine branches again” (Deuteronomy 24:20), is translated as lo tefalei aḥarekha.>³⁴This linguistic note, which is added to the text of the midrash, employs the term examination in the sense of critique.

27 (Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers [to Sihon …]”: This text is related (to Ps. 37:3), “Trust in the Lord and do good, abide in the land and remain loyal.” And it states (in Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments. Rather [it states] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter [the ox of one who hates you]”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey [of one who hates you]”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”

(Numb. 21:21:) “Then Israel sent messengers to Sihon […].” This text is related (to Ps. 34:15), “Depart from evil and do good; [seek peace and pursue it].” The Torah did not command [them] to go in pursuit of the commandments.¹⁴⁵Numb. R. 19:27. Rather [it says] (in Deut. 22:6), “When you come on a bird's nest”; (in Exod. 23:4) “When you encounter the ox of one who hates you”; (in Exod. 23:5) “When you see the donkey of one who hates you”; (in Deut. 24:20) “when you beat your olive tree”; (in Deut. 24:21), “When you gather the grapes of your vineyard”; and (in Deut. 23:25) “When you go into your neighbor's vineyard.” If [these situations] present themselves to you, you are given a command concerning them; but [you are] not to go in pursuit of them. In the case of peace, however, (according to Ps. 34:15), “seek peace,” wherever you are; “and pursue it,” wherever else it may be. And this is what Israel did. Although the Holy One, blessed be He, had said to them (in Deut. 2:24), “begin to take possession, and engage him in battle,” they went in pursuit of peace. So is it stated (in Numb. 21:21) “Then Israel sent messengers….”