Midrash su I Re 14:27

Another interpretation (of Exod. 12:2): THIS MOON (i.e., THIS MONTH). If you are worthy, you will be keeping the records of its (i.e., Israel's) waxing <stronger>:⁵⁹PRK 5:12; PR 15:proem, 17; Exod. R. 15:26. Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, [Judah], Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Jesse, David, and Solomon. THEN (according to I Chron. 29:23) SOLOMON SAT UPON THE THRONE OF THE LORD. But if not, you will be keeping the records of its waning: Rehoboam, {Abijah}. Then after Rehoboam they began to wane and pass away. Solomon made shields of gold; but when Rehoboam arose, he made them of bronze, as stated (in I Kings 14:27): THEN KING REHOBOAM MADE SHIELDS OF BRONZE IN PLACE OF THEM. They began to diminish: {Rehoboam}, Ahijah, Asa, Jehoshaphat, {JUDAH,} [Jehoram], Ahaziah, Joash, Amaziah, Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, Hezekiah, Manasseh, Amon, Josiah, and Zedekiah. [It is also written (in II Kings 25:7):] THEN HE PUT OUT ZEDEKIAH'S EYES. Ergo: The moon was in its decline. The moon set; they began to walk in darkness. The people of Israel said to the Holy One: Sovereign of the World, how long will the worldly darkness remain upon us, and the light belong to the peoples of the world? The Holy One said: [By your life, In the world to come I am bringing darkness to the nations of the world] and the light to you. Isaiah has said (in Is. 60:2): FOR BEHOLD, DARKNESS SHALL COVER THE EARTH, AND THICK CLOUDS THE PEOPLES. THEN THE LORD WILL SHINE UPON THEM,⁶⁰The Masoretic Text reads YOU. AND HIS GLORY WILL APPEAR OVER YOU.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 4:18:) DO NOT CUT OFF. See how well the text has said (in II Kings 14:27): AND THE LORD DID NOT RESOLVE TO BLOT OUT [THE NAME OF] ISRAEL FROM UNDER THE HEAVENS. The Holy One does not wish that anyone from Israel would die.¹⁵³Tanh., Numb. 1:25; Numb. R. 5:3. See what is written (in Is. 56:3): AND LET NOT THE FOREIGNER WHO HAS ATTACHED HIMSELF TO THE LORD SPEAK, SAYING: THE LORD WILL SURELY SEPARATE ME FROM HIS PEOPLE. Now if in the case of a foreigner I have promised not to reject him, how much the more so with my <own> children. Ergo (in I Kings 14:27): THE LORD DID NOT RESOLVE TO BLOT OUT [THE NAME OF] ISRAEL. And so <it was with> the Gibeonites, who were not true proselytes but were forced proselytes¹⁵⁴Gerim gerurim, literally: “dragged-in proselytes.” See AZ 3b. [in that they were proselytized] out of fear. <Still> I accepted them. Moreover, when Saul wanted to harm them and killed some of them, I killed him.¹⁵⁵Lev. R. 22:5; Numb. R. 8:4; yQid. 4:1 (65c). And not only that, but I sent three years famine because of him, as stated (in II Sam. 21:1): AND THERE WAS A FAMINE IN THE DAYS OF DAVID FOR THREE YEARS. Now surely if I did not reject the Gibeonites who came to be with you, shall I reject my own children? Ergo (in II Kings 14:27): AND THE LORD DID NOT RESOLVE TO BLOT OUT [THE NAME OF ISRAEL FROM UNDER THE HEAVENS]. And how much the more so in the case of the Levites, who minister before me? Ergo (in Numb. 4:18): DO NOT CUT OFF <THE TRIBE OF THE KOHATHITE FAMILIES FROM THE LEVITES>.