Midrash su Deuteronomio 5:26

R. Joshua b. Levi said further: "The crime of the golden calf was committed only to give a chance to the repenter, as it is said (Deut. 5, 26) O, that they had such a heart as this always, to fear Me." So also said R. Jochanan in the name of R. Simon b. Jochai: "Neither was David befitted for that crime with Bath Sheba, nor Israel for that crime [of the calf]." David was not befitted to commit the crime, as concerning the passage reads (Ps. 109, 22) My heart is deeply wounded within me. And also Israel was not befitted for the above crime, as it is written, O, that they had such a heart as this always to fear Me. And why was it committed? (Fol. 5) For the benefit of sinners. If it happens to be an individual, it may be said to him: Repent, as the individual David did. And if it happens to be a congregation, they also may be told to repent, as the congregation of the desert did. And both are necessary to show that there is no difference between an individual and a congregation in obtaining a pardon. This is what R. Samuel b. Nachmeni, in the name of Jonathan said: "What is the meaning of the passage (II Sam. 23, 1) And thus saith David b. Jessi, and thus said the man who was raised up (Ol) on high? The word Ol means, the man who had raised the yoke of repentance."

Our Rabbis were taught: Concerning the above-cited verse (Deut. 5, 26) O, that they had such a heart as this always to fear Me, Moses said to Israel: "Ye are ungrateful, my children; for at the time the Holy One, praised be He! said to you, O, that they had such a heart, etc., ye should have said, 'Thou, Lord, grant it to us.' Your ungratefulness is also marked from (Num. 21, 5) And our soul loathed (Ib. b) this light bread. Your ungratefulness is also marked from the passage (Gen. 3, 12) The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, etc." Moses, however, hinted this to Israel only after the forty years in which he led them in the desert, as it is said (Deut. 29, 3) But the Lord hath not given you a heart to know. Said Raba: "From this it may be inferred that one cannot find the real mind of his master, until the lapse of forty years."

1) (Vayikra 26:3) ("If in My statutes you walk, and My mitzvoth you keep to do them,") "If in My statutes you walk … (Vayikra 26:4) then I shall give your rains in their proper times, etc.": We are hereby taught that the Holy One Blessed be He yearns that Israel toil in Torah. And thus is it written (Tehillim 81:14-15) "Would that My people heeded Me, that Israel walked in My ways! In an instant I would humble their foes and against their oppressors turn My hand!" (Isaiah 18:19) "Would that you heeded My mitzvoth — then your peace would be like a river and your righteousness like the waves of the sea. And your seed would be like the sand and the issue of your loins like its innards. Its name would not be cut off and blotted out before Me!" And (Devarim 5:26) "Who would grant that this their heart would be in them to fear Me and to keep all My mitzvoth all the days, so that it be good for them and for their children forever" — whence we learn that the Holy One Blessed be He yearns that they toil in Torah.