Midrash su Isaia 10:13

(Lev. 14:2:) “This shall be the law of the leper.” Let our master instruct us: For how many things does leprosy come? Thus have our masters taught: The affliction comes [upon one] for eleven things:²³Cf. Numb. R. 7:5; Lev. 17:3; ‘Arakh. 16a. (1) For idolatry, (2) for desecration of the name [of God], (3) for unchastity, (4) for theft, (5) for slander, (6) for false witness, (7) upon²⁴In this passage “for” and “upon” translate the same Hebrew word (‘al). the judge who perverts justice, (8) for swearing in vain, (9) upon one who enters a domain which is not his, (10) upon one who thinks false thoughts, and (11) upon one who instigates quarrels among brothers. And some also say, “for the evil eye (i.e., for being miserly).” How is it shown [that leprosy comes] for idolatry? In that, when they made the calf, they were afflicted with leprosy. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 32:25), “Now Moses saw that the people were riotous (parua')”; and it is written concerning the leper (in Lev. 13:45), “his head shall be unkempt (parua').” And how is it shown [that leprosy comes] for cursing the name? From Goliath, of whom it is stated that he said in (I Sam. 17:8), “Choose a man ('ish) for yourselves.” Now man ('ish) can only be the Holy One, blessed be He, since it is stated (in Exod. 15:3), “The Lord is a man ('ish) of war.” It is also written (in I Sam. 17:46) “This day [the Lord] will deliver (rt.: sgr) you.” Now deliverance can only imply leprosy, since it is stated (in Lev. 13:5), “the priest shall isolate (rt.: sgr) him.” And how is it shown for unchastity? Where it is written (in Is. 3:[16-]17), “[Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with extended neck and roving eyes…]. Therefore the Lord will smite with sores (sph) the scalps [of the daughters of Zion].”²⁵Vs. 17 differs here from the Masoretic Text by replacing the divine name with Adonay (LORD). Now sores (sph) can only be leprosy, as stated (in Lev. 14:56), “For a swelling and for a sore (rt.: sph) and for a bright spot.” How is it shown for theft? Where it is stated (in Zech. 5:4), “I have sent it (i.e., the curse of the flying scroll in vs. 1) forth, says the Lord of hosts; and it shall come unto the house of the thief.” Hence, for theft. How is it shown for swearing falsely? Where it is stated (in Zech. 5:4, cont.), “and unto the house of the one who swears falsely in My name; and it shall lodge within his house; and it shall consume it, [even] with its timbers and stones.” What is a thing which consumes timbers and stones? Rabbi says, “This is leprosy, since it is written (concerning a house infested with leprosy (in Lev. 14:45), ‘And he shall break down the house with its timbers and stones.’” And how is it shown for slander? From Miriam [of whom] it is written (in Numb. 12:10), “so when Aaron turned unto Miriam, there she was, stricken with leprosy.” It is written (in Lev. 14:1), “This shall be the law of the leper (hametsora'),” [i.e.] the one who puts forth evil (hamotsi ra'). And how is it shown for those who bear false witness? Where Israel testified falsely and said (in Exod. 32:4), “These are your gods, O Israel,” they were struck with leprosy, as stated, “Instruct the Israelites to remove from the camp….” It also states (Exodus 32:25), “Now Moses saw that the people were riotous (parua').”²⁶Cf. above in this section, where parua‘ in this verse is related to Lev. 13:45, according to which the leper’s HEAD SHALL BE UNKEMPT (parua‘). And [how is it shown] for the judge who perverts justice? Where it is stated (of unjust judges in Is. 5:24), “And it shall be that as a tongue of fire consumes straw, and as chaff sinks down in a flame, their root shall be like the rot, and their blossom shall rise up like the dust; for they have rejected the law of the Lord of hosts.” Their blossom (prh) can only refer to leprosy, since it is stated (in Lev. 13:12), “If the leprosy should blossom out widely (rt.: prh).” And how is it shown for one who enters a domain which is not his? From Uzziah, who entered the domain of the priesthood. It is so stated (of him in II Chron. 26:19), “then leprosy appeared on his forehead.” And how is it shown for one who instigates quarrels among brothers? From Pharaoh, as stated (in Gen. 12:17), “Then the Lord afflicted Pharaoh,” because he had taken Sarah from Abraham. And [how is it shown] for the evil eye (i.e., for being miserly)? R. Isaac said, “When someone's eye is too evil (i.e., when someone is too miserly) to lend out his possessions. When someone comes and says to him, ‘Lend me your scythe, lend me your ax, or any object,’ he says to him, ‘Cursed is the one who has a scythe, cursed is the one has an axe’ (meaning, ‘I do not have one’). What does the Holy One, blessed be He, do?²⁷Cf. Yoma 11b. He afflicts [his house] with leprosy. When he comes to the priest and says to him, ‘Something like a plague has appeared in the house belonging to me,’ he commands (according to Lev. 14:45), ‘Let him break down the house with its timbers and stones.’ Then everybody will see his implements, when they lug them and bring them outside. So they publicize²⁸Mepharsemin, from PRSM, a verb related to the Greek, parresiazesthai (“to speak freely”). his implements, and they all say, ‘Did he not say, “I do not have a scythe; I do not have an ax?” See, he does have such and such an object, but he did not want to lend it.’ So his eye is evil (i.e., he is miserly), to lend.” (Leviticus 14:37:) “And [the priest] says, ‘[The walls are] deeply colored (shkarurot).’” Do not read it [such], but rather read it as he brought down curses (shaka arurot). As he said, “Cursed,” and he brought down his house. And everyone saw his curses, as stated (in Job 20:28), “The produce of his house shall depart, poured out in the day of His wrath.” [Moreover,] there are also some who say, [leprosy] also [comes] for haughtiness. How is it shown? From Naaman, as stated (in II Kings 5:1), “Now Naaman, the commander of the army of the king of Aram […] a valiant warrior, was a leper,” because he was haughty. [Leprosy] also [comes] upon the one who says something against his colleague that is not true about him. Thus you find it so in the case of Moses our master, when he said (in Exod. 4:1), “But [surely] they shall not believe me.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “They are believers [and] children of believers”: [Believers] (in Exod. 4:31), “And the people believed”; the children of believers, as stated (in Gen. 15:6), “And he (Abram) believed in the Lord.” However, it is necessary [for you] to be afflicted, since the one who suspects the innocent is afflicted in his body. It is so stated (in Exod. 4:6), “Then [the Lord…] said, ‘Please put your hand in your bosom’; so he put his hand in his bosom, and when he withdrew it, behold, it was leprous as snow.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “Look at the difference between you and the peoples of the world. When they sin, I afflict them first in their bodies and after that in their houses, as stated (in Gen. 12:17), ‘Then the Lord afflicted Pharaoh with great plagues,’ and afterwards, ‘and his house.’ But if you sin, I afflict your houses first.” Where is it shown? From what they read on the matter (in Lev. 14:34), “and I put a plague of leprosy in a house of the land you possess.” (Lev. 14:34:) “And I put a plague of leprosy in a house of the land you possess.” How has the land sinned, that it should be afflicted? It is simply that the land is afflicted for human sin, as stated (in Ps. 107:[32-]34), “[He turns….] A fruitful land into a salt marsh because of the evil [of those who dwell in it].” Why? Because of the evil [of the people]. And so does it state (Isaiah 26:9), “with Your judgements upon the earth, so will those that dwell in the inhabitation learn justice.” Why do punishments come upon the world? For the creatures, so that they would look, consider, and say, “Whoever sins is afflicted, and whoever does not sin is not afflicted.” So why are the trees, the stones and the walls afflicted? So that their owners will look [at them] and repent. And so you find that when Israel sinned, the Holy One, blessed be He, intended to exile them at once before the [other] nations. But He said, “If I exile them at the start, they will become a shame and a disgrace to all the nations.” What did he do? He brought Sennacherib the wicked upon all the [other] nations and exiled them. Thus it is stated (in Is. 10:14), “My hand (the hand of Sennacherib) has found the wealth of the peoples like a nest.” It is also written (in vs. 13), “and I (Sennacherib) have removed the borders of peoples.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “When Israel sees that I have exiled the nations of the world, they will repent and fear My judgment.” It is so stated (in Zeph. 3:6), “I have rooted out the nations; their corner towers are desolate.” And after it is written (in vs. 7), “I said, ‘Surely you will fear Me, they will learn rebuke!’” When they did not repent, they immediately went into exile. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, warns them and [first] afflicts their houses, so that they will repent. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 14:34), “and I put a plague of leprosy in a house of the land you possess.” For him to repent is preferable; but if not, he is afflicted in his body, as stated (in Lev. 15:2), “When any man has a discharge issuing from his flesh….” Hence, the stones are struck first. For him to repent is preferable; but if not, his clothes are afflicted, as stated (in Lev. 13:47), “When the plague of leprosy is in a garment.” Then if he does not repent, he is afflicted in his body. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 13:40), “When someone's head becomes hairless [so that he is bald, he is clean]”; but still with a balding of the head there is a substantial doubt whether he is unclean or clean. For him to repent is preferable, but if not, he is afflicted with boils, as stated (in Lev. 13:18), “And when one has boils on the skin of his flesh and is healed.”²⁹The verses that follow explain that the boils may then become leprous. Boils is [worse] than balding of the head. For him to repent is preferable, but if not, he is afflicted with five scourges: swelling, sore, bright spot, scab, and plague spot. And why all this? Because he did not repent.³⁰Numb. R. 14:4. Scripture has said (in Prov. 19:29), “Judgments are ready for scoffers; and stripes for the back of fools.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Before I created the human, I prepared all these for him.” [The situation] is comparable to an evil slave who was about to be sold. When his master went to buy him, he knew that he was a bad salve. [So] he took along chains and whips so that if he rebelled, he might subdue him with them. When he did rebel, he brought out the chains and chained him. He brought out the whips and beat him. The slave said to him, “Did you not know that I was a bad slave? Why did you buy me?” He said to him, “Because I knew that you are difficult, I prepared chains and whips for you, so that if you rebelled, I might subdue you with them.” So too the Holy One, blessed be He [and] blessed be His name forever, before He created the human one, He prepared afflictions for him, because (according to Gen. 8:21) He knows that³¹Heb.: Ki. Although in the biblical context the word must mean “for,” or its equivalent, the midrash understands the word with the alternate meaning of “that.” “the instinct of one's heart is evil from his youth.” He therefore prepared all these for him, so that if he rebelled, He would subdue him, as stated (in Prov. 19:29), “Judgments are ready for scoffers; and stripes (mahalumot) for the back of fools.” What are mahalumot? Mahah lamoot (strike to death). Warn him first; it is preferable if he repents. But if not, strike his body. How is it shown? From that which we read about the matter (in Lev. 14:34), “and I put a plague of leprosy in a house of the land you possess.”

(Fol. 27b) We are taught that R. Eliezer says: "He who prays behind his teacher, he who greets his teacher [without calling him Rabbi], he who opposes his teacher's school [by organizing a separate academy], and who makes statements [in his teacher's name] that he did not hear from his teacher, causes the departure of the Shechinah from Israel." Our Rabbis taught: That once a disciple appeared before R. Joshua and said to him: "Rabbi, is the evening service optional or obligatory?" "Optional," answered R. Joshua. He then came before Rabban Gamaliel and asked the same question: "Is the evening service optional or obligatory?" "Obligatory," was Rabban Gamaliel's answer. "Behold! R. Joshua said to me it is optional!" the disciple remarked. Whereupon Rabban Gamaliel replied, "Wait until the shield bearers (great scholars) enter the house of learning." As soon as the shield bearers entered the house of learning, the inquirer arose and asked, "Is the evening service optional or obligatory?" "Obligatory," responded Rabban Gamaliel. "Is there any one here differing with me on this subject?" inquired Rabban Gamaliel of the scholars. "No," came the answer from R. Joshua. "Behold," interrupted Rabban Gamaliel, "it is said in your name that the service is only optional. Arise Joshua! And let the witness testify against thee!" R. Joshua stood up and said: "Were I alive and he (the witness) dead, I would have been able to deny it, but now, when I am alive and he is alive, how can one living being deny another living being?" So Rabban Gamaliel continued his lecture while R. Josliua remained standing, until all the people moved in excitement and said to Chutzephith the Meturgeman, "Stop!" and he stopped. "How long," said they, "shall we permit R. Joshua to be afflicted and reproached? Last New Year Rabban Gamaliel afflicted and reproached him. In Bechoroth, in the incident of R. Zadok, Rabban Gamaliel annoyed him and now again he reproached and afflicted him; shall we allow such annoyance to be continued? Let us take steps to deprive him of his dignity (of being the Exilareh). But who shall be his successor? Shall we put up R. Joshua? He is his chief opponent [and it would cause him too much aggravation]. Shall we put up R. Akiba? He has no ancestral merits, and may be disposed to Heavenly punishment [through prayers]. Let us therefore choose R. Elazar b. Azaria for he is wise, rich, and the tenth descendant of Ezra. He is wise, and therefore will be able to answer when questioned; he is rich and therefore, if ordered to attend the Emperor's court [of Rome], he will be as well able to do so as Rabban Gamaliel; he is the tenth descendant of Ezra and has therefore ancestral merits, and he (Rabban Gamaliel) will not be able to afflict upon him Heavenly punishment." So they came [to R. Elazar b. Azarlia] and said to him: "Is the master willing to become the head of the Academy?" (Fol. 28a.) R. Elazar replied: "I'll go and consult my household." He went and consulted his wife. "Perhaps," said she to him, "they will also depose thee [and you will be disgraced]." "There is a maxim," replied he. "'Use thy precious bowl while thou hast it. even if it be broken the next day.'" "But," said she, "thou hast not any gray hair [and they will not respect thee]." At that time he was but eighteen years of age; thereupon miraculously eighteen of his locks suddenly turned gray. And this R. Elazar b. Azaria meant when he said: "Behold! I am as a man of seventy years of age" but not aged seventy. We are taught that on that day the porter was removed from the door [of the academy], and admission was granted to all students, for, during the administration of Rabban Gamaliel, the announcement was made: "Every scholar whose interior is not like his exterior (who is not pious), shall not enter the academy." On that day many benches were added in the academy. R. Jochanan said: "There is a difference of opinion between Abba Joseph b. Dustoi and the Rabbis; according to one, four hundred benches were added and according to the other, seven hundred benches [were added]." When Rabban Gamaliel noticed the tremendous increase he became discouraged and said to himself, "God forbid, I have perhaps prevented so many from studying the Torah." In a dream was shown to him "white earthen pitchers filled with ashes." But this was shown to him only in order to calm him. We are taught: "On that day the treatise of Edioth was studied in the academy and wherever we find 'On that day,' it means the day on which R. Elazar b. Azaria became the head of the academy. There was no Halacha previously undecided in the academy which was not decided that day. Even Rabban Gamaliel himself, although deposed, did not refrain from attending the academy, as is shown from what we are taught (in a Mishnah): 'On that day Juda the Ammouite, a proselyte, appeared in the academy and asked: 'May I enter the congregation [to marry a Jewess]?' Rabban Gamaliel said unto him: 'Thou art not at liberty to do so,' but R. Joshua said, 'Thou art at liberty to do so.' Rabban Gamaliel then said to R. Joshua, 'Behold it is said (Deu. 23, 4.) An Ammonite ' or Moabite shall not enter the congregation of the Lord!" To this R. Joshua retorted and said, 'Are then these nations still in their native places? Did not Senacherib, the king of Assyria, transplant the nations? As it is said (Is. 10, 13.) I have removed the bounds of the people, and their laid-up treasures have I plundered, etc., therefore, not knowing, we go according to the majority [and the majority are not Ammonites].' 'But,' replied Rabban Gamaliel, 'behold, it is said (Jer. 49, 6.) And afterwards I will bring again the captivity of the children of Ammon, so they must have already returned.' To which R. Joshua rejoined: "Behold it is also said (Amos 9, 14.) And I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel, and these have not returned as yet.' Thereupon the proselyte was immediately permitted to enter the congregation." Then Rabban Gamaliel said to himself: "Since it is so [that R. Joshua's decision was carried], I shall now go and effect a reconciliation with R. Joshua." He thereupon went. When he reached R. Joshua's house, he noticed that the walls of the house were black. "From the appearance of the walls of thy house," said Rabban Gamaliel, "it is evident that you are a smith." R. Joshua replied: "Woe unto the age whose leader thou art! for thou knowest not of the cares with which the scholars are occupied and whence they derive their livelihood!" "I have reproached thee, forgive me," Rabban Gamaliel pleaded, but R. Joshua ignored him. "Do it," he again pleaded, "for the sake of the honor of my father's house." R. Joshua then accepted his apology. "Now," they said, "who will go and inform the Rabbis?" [that they had become reconciled.] "I shall go," said a certain laundryman who was there. So R. Joshua sent the following message [through him]: "He who wore the vestment, shall be dressed with it again, and he who has not worn the vestment shall say to him who wore it: 'Take ofT thy priestly cloth, and I shall put it on.'" As soon as R. Akiba was informed of the situation, he said to the Rabbis: "Let all gates [leading to the academy] be closed so that none of Rabban Gamaliel's subordinates shall come and afflict the Rabbis" [in a spirit of revenge for their stand against Rabban Gamaliel]. Meantime R. Joshua said to himself: "It will be much better that I myself shall go and inform them." Accordingly he went and [upon reaching the academy] rapped at the door saying: "Let him sprinkle who is a sprinkler, the son of a sprinkler (a scholar, the son of a scholar); he who is neither himself a sprinkler, nor the son of a sprinkler shall say to him who is a sprinkler and the son of a sprinkler Thy water is plain cave water and thy ashes are plain ashes of a burned cane."

Rabbi José said: When Sennacherib came to the land (of Israel), all the nations who were in the regions round about the land of Israel saw the camp of Sennacherib, and feared greatly, and every man fled from his place, as it is said, "I have removed the bounds of the peoples, and have robbed their treasures" (Isa. 10:13). They went into the wilderness, and intermixed with the children of Ishmael, and all of them were (composed of) ten peoples, as it is said, "The tents of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagarenes; Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia, with the inhabitants of Tyre; Assyria also is joined with them" (Ps. 83:6, 7, 8). All of them are destined to fall by the hand of the Son of David, as it is said, "O my God, make them like the whirling dust" (Ps. 83:13). "As the fire that burneth the forest, and as the flame that setteth the mountains on fire" (Ps. 83:14). "So pursue them with thy tempest, and terrify them with thy storm" (Ps. 83:15).

R. Yehoshua of Sakhnin in the name of R. Levi, "They would interpret it, but their voices would not enter his ears. 'The seven good cows are seven daughters that you will beget, and the seven bad cows are seven daughters that you will bury.' Likewise they said, 'The seven good sheaves are seven kingdoms that you will conquer, and the seven bad sheaves are seven ministers that will rebel against you'"... Another interpretation: "And he sent and called" - to inform you that each and every nation that stands in the world is granted five wise men to serve it. Moreover, the Holy One, blessed be He, gives it three things: wisdom , understanding and strength. As so did the evil Sannacherib say (Isaiah 10:13), "By the might of my hand have I done this, etc." But when the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world, He takes them away from it, as it is stated (Obadiah 1:8-9), "I will make the wise vanish from Edom, understanding from Esau’s mount.Your warriors shall lose heart, O Teman." And why so much? So that Joseph will come at the end and attain greatness. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "If Joseph comes first and interprets the dream, this [will not earn] him praise. The magicians will be able to say to him, 'If you had asked us, we would have already interpreted it for you [the same way].'" Rather, [Joseph] waited for them until they tired him out and extracted his spirit. And afterwards Joseph came and brought it back [to him]. About this did Solomon say (Proverbs 29:11), "The fool extracts his entire spirit" - these are the wise men of Egypt; "but the wise man lowers it back" - this is Joseph, as it is stated (Genesis 41:39), "there is no one wise and understanding like you."