Midrash su II Samuele 21:19
וַתְּהִי־ע֧וֹד הַמִּלְחָמָ֛ה בְּג֖וֹב עִם־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים וַיַּ֡ךְ אֶלְחָנָן֩ בֶּן־יַעְרֵ֨י אֹרְגִ֜ים בֵּ֣ית הַלַּחְמִ֗י אֵ֚ת גָּלְיָ֣ת הַגִּתִּ֔י וְעֵ֣ץ חֲנִית֔וֹ כִּמְנ֖וֹר אֹרְגִֽים׃ (ס)
E c'era di nuovo la guerra con i Filistei a Gob; ed Elhanan, figlio di Jaare-oregim, il Beth-lehemita, uccise Golia il Gittita, il cui bastone era come un tessitore'raggio s.
Ruth Rabbah
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani interpreted the verses as referring to David: “The sons of Shela, son of Judah: Er, father of [avi] Lekha” (I Chronicles 4:21) – the President of the Court [Av Beit Din] of Lekha. “And Lada, father of [avi] Maresha” (I Chronicles 4:21) – the President of the Court [Av Beit Din] of Maresha. “And the families of the house of those who wrought fine linen,” – this is David, who was engaged [in preparing] the Tabernacle curtain.64Which was woven from linen. David prepared various materials for the construction of the Temple. That is what is written: “Elḥanan [son of Yarei Oregim the Bethlehemite] slew [Goliath the Gitite]” (II Samuel 21:19) – this is David, to whom the Holy One blessed be He was gracious;65Elḥanan may be interpreted as the two words El ḥanan, God was gracious. “son of Yarei” – a son who was growing up in the forest [ya’ar]; “Oregim,” as he was engaged [in preparing] the curtain.66Oregim means weavers. Alternatively, “Oregim,” they would raise halakhot before him, and he would weave them.67He would organize them coherently. Alternatively, these are the Sanhedrin, who would weave matters of Torah with him.
“To the house of Ashbea” (I Chronicles 4:21) – as the Holy One blessed be He took an oath [nishba] to him, as it is stated: “I took an oath to My chosen one” (Psalms 89:4). “And Yokim” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as He fulfilled [shekiyem] His oath to Him, as it is stated: “The Lord took an oath to David in truth, He will not renege on it” (Psalms 132:11). “And the people of Kozeva” (I Chronicles 4:22), Rabbi Azarya, Rabbi Yonatan, and Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Maryon, and some say, Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: The greater part of the Sanhedrin68The court that distinguishes between truth and lies [kazav]. was from the tribe of Judah. What is the reason? It is as it is stated: “His eyes will be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk” (Genesis 49:12).69This verse was stated by Jacob in his blessing to Judah. They would arrange the halakha with their teeth until they would express it with the clarity of milk.70They would constantly review their studies aloud until they understood them with absolute clarity. “Yoash” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as he despaired [nitya’ash] of life, “please let Your hand be against me” (I Chronicles 21:17). “And Saraf” (I Chronicles 4:22), as he mentioned the act of those who were burned [serufim], “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers” (I Chronicles 29:18).71Abraham was thrown into a fiery furnace due to his belief in God and opposition to idolatry (Bereishit Rabba 38:13); Isaac allowed himself to be bound to the altar, assuming he would be slaughtered and burned; and, according to the Zohar, Jacob also was willing to die for the sake of God (Matnot Kehuna). “Who had dominion over Moav” (I Chronicles 4:22), as he emerged from Ruth the Moavite. “And Yashuvi Laḥem” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as he came from Bethlehem [Beit Leḥem] in Judah.
“And the matters are ancient” (I Chronicles 4:22) – Rabbi Aivu said: This is [a reference to] David and Solomon, who participated in the construction of the Temple before the Holy One blessed be He.72God is also referred to as the Ancient One (Daniel 7:9). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: This is Benayahu ben Yehoyada, who exerted himself in participating with King Solomon in the construction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehuda said: This is Yehoyada the High Priest who, together with Yoash, tended to Temple upkeep. Rabbi Neḥemya says: This is Jeremiah and Ezekiel who prayed before the Holy One blessed be He not to destroy the Temple.
“They are the potters [yotzerim]” (I Chronicles 4:23) – these are Boaz and Ruth.73The creators [yotzerim] of the royal house of David. “And the dwellers among the plants” (I Chronicles 4:23) – this is Solomon, who was [young] like a sapling when he reigned. “And a fence” (I Chronicles 4:23) – these are the Sanhedrin, who would build fences with him [Solomon] in matters of Torah. “They dwelt there with the king in his service” (I Chronicles 4:23) – from here they said: Ruth the Moavite died only after she saw her descendant Solomon judging the case of the prostitutes;74I Kings 3:16–28. that is what is written: “He placed a throne for the king's mother” (I Kings 2:19) – this is Bathsheba; “and she sat on his right hand” (I Kings 2:19) – this is Ruth the Moavite.
“To the house of Ashbea” (I Chronicles 4:21) – as the Holy One blessed be He took an oath [nishba] to him, as it is stated: “I took an oath to My chosen one” (Psalms 89:4). “And Yokim” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as He fulfilled [shekiyem] His oath to Him, as it is stated: “The Lord took an oath to David in truth, He will not renege on it” (Psalms 132:11). “And the people of Kozeva” (I Chronicles 4:22), Rabbi Azarya, Rabbi Yonatan, and Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Maryon, and some say, Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina: The greater part of the Sanhedrin68The court that distinguishes between truth and lies [kazav]. was from the tribe of Judah. What is the reason? It is as it is stated: “His eyes will be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk” (Genesis 49:12).69This verse was stated by Jacob in his blessing to Judah. They would arrange the halakha with their teeth until they would express it with the clarity of milk.70They would constantly review their studies aloud until they understood them with absolute clarity. “Yoash” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as he despaired [nitya’ash] of life, “please let Your hand be against me” (I Chronicles 21:17). “And Saraf” (I Chronicles 4:22), as he mentioned the act of those who were burned [serufim], “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers” (I Chronicles 29:18).71Abraham was thrown into a fiery furnace due to his belief in God and opposition to idolatry (Bereishit Rabba 38:13); Isaac allowed himself to be bound to the altar, assuming he would be slaughtered and burned; and, according to the Zohar, Jacob also was willing to die for the sake of God (Matnot Kehuna). “Who had dominion over Moav” (I Chronicles 4:22), as he emerged from Ruth the Moavite. “And Yashuvi Laḥem” (I Chronicles 4:22) – as he came from Bethlehem [Beit Leḥem] in Judah.
“And the matters are ancient” (I Chronicles 4:22) – Rabbi Aivu said: This is [a reference to] David and Solomon, who participated in the construction of the Temple before the Holy One blessed be He.72God is also referred to as the Ancient One (Daniel 7:9). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: This is Benayahu ben Yehoyada, who exerted himself in participating with King Solomon in the construction of the Temple. Rabbi Yehuda said: This is Yehoyada the High Priest who, together with Yoash, tended to Temple upkeep. Rabbi Neḥemya says: This is Jeremiah and Ezekiel who prayed before the Holy One blessed be He not to destroy the Temple.
“They are the potters [yotzerim]” (I Chronicles 4:23) – these are Boaz and Ruth.73The creators [yotzerim] of the royal house of David. “And the dwellers among the plants” (I Chronicles 4:23) – this is Solomon, who was [young] like a sapling when he reigned. “And a fence” (I Chronicles 4:23) – these are the Sanhedrin, who would build fences with him [Solomon] in matters of Torah. “They dwelt there with the king in his service” (I Chronicles 4:23) – from here they said: Ruth the Moavite died only after she saw her descendant Solomon judging the case of the prostitutes;74I Kings 3:16–28. that is what is written: “He placed a throne for the king's mother” (I Kings 2:19) – this is Bathsheba; “and she sat on his right hand” (I Kings 2:19) – this is Ruth the Moavite.
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