Midrash su Deuteronomio 28:40

This is what Scripture says: "Your oils yield a sweet fragrance" (Songs 1:3) the sages say: "there are five things that are metaphors for Torah: water, and wine, and honey, and milk, and oil. Water, as it says: "Ho, all who are thirsty, go to water" (Isaiah 55:1). Wine, as it says: "Come, eat my food, and drink the wine that I have mixed" (Proverbs 9:5). Honey and milk, as it says: "Honey and milk under your tongue" (Songs 4:11). Oil, form where? " Your name is like finest oil" (Songs 1:3). Just as like with oil, which begins bitter and ends sweet, so too the words of Torah: a person suffers in the beginning, but in the end it is sweet for them, as it is written "Though your beginning be constricted/painful, in the end you will grow very great" (Job 8:7). Another interpretation: just as oil lives forever (never spoils) so too the words of Torah never spoil. Just as oil gives light to the world so too the words of Torah give light to the world. Another interpretation: just as oil does not mix with other liquids, so too Israel cannot mix with idolaters. From where do we get this? Because it is written "I have separated you from the [other] peoples to be mine!" (Lev. 20:26). Another interpretation: Just as oil, even if you put it in many different liquids, it comes on top, so too Israel are higher than the idolaters, just as it is written "" (Deut. 28:1). Another interpretation: "and it will be, if you hear" (Deut. 11:13) - Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin says, in the name of Rabbi Levi: the Holy Blessed One said - if you (singular) listen to My mitzvot, I will listen to your (singular) prayers. Another interpretation: Rabbi Yehoshua says, in the name of Rabbi Nachman - everyone who comes to the synagogue and listens to words of Torah will merit to sit among sages in the world to come, as it is written "A ear that listens the directions of life will dwell among sages" (Prov. 15:31).