Midrash su Isaia 10:27
וְהָיָ֣ה ׀ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֗וּא יָס֤וּר סֻבֳּלוֹ֙ מֵעַ֣ל שִׁכְמֶ֔ךָ וְעֻלּ֖וֹ מֵעַ֣ל צַוָּארֶ֑ךָ וְחֻבַּ֥ל עֹ֖ל מִפְּנֵי־שָֽׁמֶן׃
E avverrà in quel giorno, che il suo fardello si allontanerà dalla tua spalla, e il suo giogo dal tuo collo, e il giogo sarà distrutto a causa della grassezza.
Shir HaShirim Rabbah
Another matter, “by the fragrance of your good oils,” Rabbi Aḥa [said] in the name of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya: There are two oils, the oil of priesthood and the oil of kingship.143The plural term oils in the verse refers to these two positions. Kings and High Priests were anointed with special oil during their inaugurations. The Rabbis say: There are two Torahs, the written Torah and the Oral Torah.
Rabbi Yudan said: “Your name is like poured oil [shemen],” oil improves on anyone who engages in the greatness [shamna] of the Torah. This is [consistent with another] opinion of Rabbi Yudan, who said: “The yoke will be broken due to the oil” (Isaiah 10:27). The yoke of Sennacheribwas broken due to Hezekiah and his associates, who were engaged in the greatness of Torah.
Another matter, “your name is like poured oil,” just as this oil is bitter at its outset and sweet at its culmination, so too, “your beginning may be small, but your end will soar very high” (Job 8:7). Just as this oil improves only by means of crushing, so too, Israel repents only by means of crushing. Just as this oil does not mix with other liquids, so too, Israel, does not intermingle with the nations of the world, as it is written: “You shall not marry them” (Deuteronomy 7:3). Just as this oil, a full cup does not cause a drip like other liquids, so too, matters of Torah do not dislodge matters of cynicism.144If a drop of oil falls into a full cup of a different liquid, since the oil floats to the top, it is the oil that overflows rather than the other liquid. Similarly, if one’s heart is full of cynicism and one hears words of Torah, the Torah will not penetrate (Midrash HaMevoar). Just as this oil, when you have a cupful of oil in your hand and a drop of water falls into it, a corresponding drop of oil is dislodged, so too, if a matter of Torah enters the heart a corresponding matter of cynicism is dislodged, and if a matter of cynicism enters the heart,145This is the case if one’s heart has some cynicism, but is not saturated with cynicism. a corresponding matter of Torah is dislodged. Just as this oil brings light to the world, so too, Israel is light for the world, as it is stated: “The nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). Just as this oil is superior to all liquids, so too, Israel is superior to all nations, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will place you supreme” (Deuteronomy 28:1). Just as oil does not produce a sound,146When poured from one vessel to another. so too, Israel does not produce a sound in this world.147They do not respond to those who antagonize them, but rather, accept in silence. But regarding the World to Come it is written: “You will be brought down and you will speak from the ground” (Isaiah 29:4).148This will culminate “with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, storm and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire” (Isaiah 29:6).
Rabbi Yudan said: “Your name is like poured oil [shemen],” oil improves on anyone who engages in the greatness [shamna] of the Torah. This is [consistent with another] opinion of Rabbi Yudan, who said: “The yoke will be broken due to the oil” (Isaiah 10:27). The yoke of Sennacheribwas broken due to Hezekiah and his associates, who were engaged in the greatness of Torah.
Another matter, “your name is like poured oil,” just as this oil is bitter at its outset and sweet at its culmination, so too, “your beginning may be small, but your end will soar very high” (Job 8:7). Just as this oil improves only by means of crushing, so too, Israel repents only by means of crushing. Just as this oil does not mix with other liquids, so too, Israel, does not intermingle with the nations of the world, as it is written: “You shall not marry them” (Deuteronomy 7:3). Just as this oil, a full cup does not cause a drip like other liquids, so too, matters of Torah do not dislodge matters of cynicism.144If a drop of oil falls into a full cup of a different liquid, since the oil floats to the top, it is the oil that overflows rather than the other liquid. Similarly, if one’s heart is full of cynicism and one hears words of Torah, the Torah will not penetrate (Midrash HaMevoar). Just as this oil, when you have a cupful of oil in your hand and a drop of water falls into it, a corresponding drop of oil is dislodged, so too, if a matter of Torah enters the heart a corresponding matter of cynicism is dislodged, and if a matter of cynicism enters the heart,145This is the case if one’s heart has some cynicism, but is not saturated with cynicism. a corresponding matter of Torah is dislodged. Just as this oil brings light to the world, so too, Israel is light for the world, as it is stated: “The nations will walk by your light” (Isaiah 60:3). Just as this oil is superior to all liquids, so too, Israel is superior to all nations, as it is stated: “The Lord your God will place you supreme” (Deuteronomy 28:1). Just as oil does not produce a sound,146When poured from one vessel to another. so too, Israel does not produce a sound in this world.147They do not respond to those who antagonize them, but rather, accept in silence. But regarding the World to Come it is written: “You will be brought down and you will speak from the ground” (Isaiah 29:4).148This will culminate “with thunder and with earthquake and great noise, storm and tempest and the flame of a consuming fire” (Isaiah 29:6).
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