Midrash su Isaia 40:17

And Joseph was brought down into Egypt (Gen. 39:1). May it please our master to teach us whether one may recite the Havdalah prayer at the expiration of the Sabbath with a light used by an idolater? Thus did our masters teach us: It is forbidden to recite the Havdalah prayer with a light used by an idolater. Why? Because it (the light) does not rest from its work.⁶It remains a light used for idolatry. B. Berakhot 53b. Furthermore, if you did recite the Havdalah prayer with a light used by an idolater, you would be treating the idolater as though he deserved to be highly regarded, and Scripture states: All the nations are as nothing before Him (Isa. 40:17).

Another matter, “your belly is a pile of wheat,” but would one of pine cones not be fairer than one of wheat? But it is possible for the world to exist without pine cones, but it is not possible for the world to exist without wheat. Rabbi Idi said: Just as this wheat kernel is cleft, so Israel’s circumcision is cleft.³¹This is a reference to peria, the process in which the membrane under the foreskin is split and pulled back (Maharzu). Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥananya said: Just as wheat absorbs, so too Israel absorbs the property of the nations of the world. That is what is written: “You shall devour all the peoples…” (Deuteronomy 7:16), and it is written: “You will consume the wealth of the nations and in their glory you will revel” (Isaiah 61:6). Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish said: Just as with wheat, its waste is measured with it, so too Israel, “from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water” (Deuteronomy 29:10).
Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Just as these wheat kernels, when they go out for sowing go out by measure, and when they enter from the grain pile they enter by measure, so too Israel, when they descended to Egypt they descended by number, as it is stated: “With seventy people, your ancestors descended to Egypt” (Deuteronomy 10:22), and when they ascended, they ascended by number, as it is stated: “some six hundred thousand men on foot” (Exodus 12:37). Rabbi Ḥonya said regarding the statement of Rabbi Yitzḥak: Just as the landowner does not monitor boxes of manure, and not boxes of hay, and not boxes of straw, and not chaff; why? Because they are considered worthless; so too, the Holy One blessed be He does not monitor the nations of the world, why, because they are considered worthless, as it is stated: “All the nations are like nothing before Him…” (Isaiah 40:17). Whom does He monitor? Israel, as it is stated: “When you take a census of the children of Israel…” (Exodus 30:12), “take a census of the entire congregation of Israel” (Numbers 1:2).
Rabbi Neḥemya [said] in the name of Rabbi Avun: The nations of the world have no planting, have no sowing, and have no root, and the three of them are in one verse: “It is as though they were not planted, as though they were not sown, as though their trunk had not taken root in the earth” (Isaiah 40:24). However, Israel has planting, as it is stated: “I will plant them in this land” (Jeremiah 32:41), and it is written “I will plant them upon their land” (Amos 9:15). They have sowing, as it is stated: “I will sow her for Me in the land” (Hosea 2:25). They have root, as it is stated: “It is coming that Jacob will take root” (Isaiah 27:6).
To what is this matter comparable? Hay, chaff, and straw were deliberating with each other. This one said: The land was sown for my sake, and that one said: The field was sown for my sake. The wheat said to them: Wait until the [time for] threshing arrives and we will know for whose sake the field was sown. The time of the threshing arrived, and when they entered the threshing floor, the field owner emerged to winnow it. The chaff went with the wind, he took the hay and cast it to the ground, he took the straw and burned it, and he took the wheat and made it into a pile. People would pass and everyone who saw it would kiss it, just as it says: “Kiss the grain” (Psalms 2:12). So too the nations of the world; these say: We are the true Israel, and the world was created for our sake, and those say: We are the true Israel and the world was created for our sake. Israel said to them: Wait until the day the Holy One blessed be He will arrive and we will know for whose sake the world was created. That is what is written: “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven [and all the wicked people and all the evildoers will be like straw; and that coming day will burn them]” (Malachi 3:19), and it is written: “You will winnow them and the wind will carry them” (Isaiah 41:16). However, it is stated in Israel’s regard: “But you will rejoice in the Lord, you will be glorified in the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 41:16).

(Numb. 1:1-2) “Then the Lord spoke unto Moses in the Sinai desert […, ‘Take a census of the whole congregation of the Children of Israel…’].” This text is related (to Cant. 7:3), “Your navel is a round bowl; let not mixed wine be lacking; your belly is a heap of wheat fenced in with lilies.” [And that verse] is speaking about the Sanhedrin¹⁸Gk.: Synedrion. of Israel, which was situated in the chamber of hewn stone and is compared with a navel.¹⁹Numb. R. 1:4; see PR 10:2; above, Exod. 9:1 and the notes there; also below, Deut. 1:3; and perhaps Exod. R. 39:1. And why is it compared with a navel? It is that just as the navel is situated in the middle of the body, so the Sanhedrin of Israel was situated in the middle of the Temple. (Ibid., cont.) “Let not mixed wine be lacking.” What is the meaning of “let not mixed wine be lacking?” That there was never one less than a third of them [present]: “Let not mixed wine be lacking” – whoever mixes it properly mixes a third of a cup of wine with two parts water. Thus the Sanhedrin would sit from [the time of] the morning sacrifice until the afternoon sacrifice. But did not one of them go out for his [bodily] needs? So what did they do when one wanted to leave? He would count. If twenty three were present, he would leave; if not, he would not leave. Why? Because it is written (ibid.), “let not mixed wine be lacking.” Thus there was never less than a third of them [present]. It is therefore written, “let not mixed wine be lacking.” (Ibid., cont.) “Your belly is a heap of wheat.” Why is it compared to wheat?²⁰See PR 10:3. Just as this wheat enters the granary with a count and leaves with a count, so too, here the Holy One, blessed be He, said that they should be numbered all the time. It is therefore stated (ibid.), “your belly is a heap of wheat.” The stubble and the straw, however, are not numbered and not measured. Thus the peoples of the world are compared with stubble and straw, as stated (in Ps. 35:5), “They shall be like chaff before the wind.” And so it says (in Obad. 1:18), “and the house of Esau shall be straw.” Why? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, has no pleasure from them, as stated (in Is. 40:17), “All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are considered by Him as less than nothing and void.” But in the case of Israel, the Holy One, blessed be He, does have pleasure from them. They read the shema', pray, and bless the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, every day and at all times on every single thing; therefore, they are numbered all the time. For that reason they were compared with the wheat, as stated (in Cant. 7:3), “your belly is a heap of wheat.”

Another interpretation (of Numb. 1:1-2): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT […: TAKE A CENSUS OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL….] This text is related (to Cant. 7:3 [2]): YOUR NAVEL IS A ROUND BOWL. LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT FENCED IN WITH LILIES. <The verse> is speaking about the Sanhedrin²⁸Gk.: Synedrion. of Israel, which was situated in the Chamber of Hewn Stone and is compared with a navel.²⁹Tanh., Numb. 1:4; Numb. R. 1:4; see PR 10:2; above, Exod. 9:1 and the notes there; also below, Deut. 1:3; and perhaps Exod. R. 39:1. And why is it compared with a navel? It is simply that just as the navel is situated in the middle of the body, so the Sanhedrin of Israel was situated in the middle of the Temple. (Ibid., cont.:) LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. What is the meaning of LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING? That there was never one less than a third of them <present>. LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. Whoever mixes it properly mixes a third of a cup of wine with two parts water. Thus the Sanhedrin would sit from <the time of> the morning sacrifice until the sacrifice at twilight. But did not one of them turn away for the needs of nature? So what did they do when one wanted to leave? He would count. If twenty three were present, he would leave; if not, he would not leave. Why? Because it is written (ibid.): LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. Thus there was never less than a third of them <present>. It is therefore written: LET NOT MIXED WINE BE LACKING. (Ibid., cont.:) YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. Israel has been compared with a heap of wheat.³⁰See PR 10:3. Just as this wheat enters the granary with a count (minyan) and leaves with a count, so the Holy One said that Israel should be numbered (nimnin) all the time. It is therefore stated (ibid.): YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. The stubble and the straw, however, are not numbered. Instead they are measured.³¹Buber’s Spanish MS (described on p. 150 on his “Mavo”) plus the parallel texts read: “Nor are they measured.” Thus the peoples of the world are compared with stubble and straw, as stated (in Ps. 35:5): THEY SHALL BE LIKE CHAFF BEFORE THE WIND WITH THE ANGEL OF THE LORD OVERTHROWING THEM. And so it says (in Obad. 18): AND THE HOUSE OF ESAU SHALL BE STRAW. And why? Because they have³²The parallel texts read: “Because the Holy One has….” no pleasure from them, as stated (in Is. 40:17): ALL THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING BEFORE HIM; THEY ARE CONSIDERED BY HIM AS LESS THAN NOTHING AND VOID. But in the case of Israel, the Holy One does have pleasure from them. They read the Shema', pray, and bless the name of the Holy One every day; therefore, they are numbered all the time. For that reason they were compared with the wheat, as stated (in Cant. 7:3) YOUR BELLY IS A HEAP OF WHEAT. For that reason (in Numb. 1:1-2): THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES IN THE SINAI DESERT…: TAKE A CENSUS OF THE WHOLE CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL….

Another interpretation: "Number all the first-born males..." (Numbers 3:40) This is what is written (Song of Songs 6:8-9): "There are threescore queens ... My dove, my undefiled, is but one ..." Compare in parable to a person who had a sales-bundle of glass stones and would bring them them to the market, but would not notice their number, since he would not bring them out by number. He would go in to put them away and would not put them away by number, since he would not care about them, as they were glass. But he had one sales-bundle of precious pearls, and he would take it and bring it out by number and put it away by number. Similarly, so to speak, the Holy One Blessed be He said to the nations of the world, "I have not assigned a number. Why? Because they are not important to me at all. As it says (Isaiah 40:17), 'All the nations are as nothing before Him.' But you are My children, as it says, (Isaiah 46:3), 'that are borne [by Me] from the birth ...' Therefore, I count you all the time." Therefore, it is said "Number all the first-born males." That is: "There are threescore queens ... My dove, my undefiled, is but one ..." - these are Israel.

There was a Min who said to R. Abina: "It is written (II Sam. 7, 23) And who is like Thy people, like Israel, the only nation on the earth? Why do you pride yourself over it? Are you not mingled among other nations, of whom it reads (Is. 40, 17) All the nations are as naught before Him?" And he answered: "A prophet of your own nation has testified concerning us (Ib. b), for it is written (Num. 23, 9) And among the nations it shall not be reckoned." R. Elazar raised the following contradictions: "It is written (Ps. 145, 9) The Lord is good to all, and it is also written (Lam. 3, 25) The Lord is good unto those that hope in Him. This question may be likened to one who possesses a fruit garden. When he waters it, he waters all of the trees, and when he covers up the roots, he does so only to the best of them."

[Another interpretation of (Lev. 22:27): A BULL OR A SHEEP < OR A GOAT >. This text is related (to Is. 41:24): BEHOLD (hen), YOU ARE NOTHING (me'ayin), AND YOUR WORK IS NOUGHT. AN ABOMINATION SHALL HE CHOOSE AMONG YOU.⁶⁴Tanh., Lev. 8:11; Lev. R. 27:7; PRK 9:6. That (hen) is a Greek word. Hen < in Greek > means "one." You are the one for me [as compared to nothing (me'ayin),] < i.e., > as compared to (min) the nations of the world, who are called "nothing ('ayin),"⁶⁵Since min is commonly abbreviated to me, me’ayin is understood to mean “as compared to nothing” (literally: “than nothing.”) [as it is written} (in Is. 40:17): ALL THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING ('ayin) BEFORE HIM. (Is. 41:24, cont.:) AND YOUR WORK IS NOUGHT. R. Levi said: All the good works and consolations which the Holy One is going to bring about with Israel are only {in the name of} [as reward for] a single shout which they shouted on Sinai, when they said (according to Exod. 24:7): ALL THAT THE LORD HAS SPOKEN WE WILL CARRY OUT AND OBEY. (Is. 41:24, cont.:) AN ABOMINATION SHALL HE CHOOSE AMONG YOU. That is the abomination which you made as a molten calf. Of that very abomination, bring me sacrifice, and I will choose you. (Lev. 22:27): A BULL OR A SHEEP OR A GOAT.

Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” This text is related (to Cant. 6:8-9), “There are sixty queens, eighty concubines, and maidens without number; [but only] One is My dove, My perfect one….” [The matter] is comparable to a certain merchant,¹⁰²Gk.: pragmateutes (“business representative”). who had glass beads,¹⁰³Numb. R. 4:2. which he would bring to market; but he paid no attention to their number (minyan), because he had brought them out without counting (minyan) [them]. So when he came in to put them away, he put them away without counting. Because they were [made] of glass, he did not pay attention to them. However, he had a certain string¹⁰⁴Lat.: linea. of fine pearls;¹⁰⁵Gk. margelis. and this he would take and bring out with a count, then put away with a count. Similarly, as it were, the Holy One, blessed be He, said [in regard] to the nations of the world, “I have not given them a count, because none of them is important to me, as stated (in Is. 40:17), ‘All the nations are as nothing before Him; they are considered by Him as less than nothing and void.’ But as for you, you are My children, [as stated (in Is. 46:3)], ‘the ones who have been borne by Me from birth, carried from the womb.’ I therefore count you on every occasion.” It is therefore stated (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” Ergo (in Cant. 6:8-9), “There are sixty queens […]; [but only] One is My dove, My perfect one….” This is Israel. Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “Because of the love for Israel I have altered the [natural] order of the world.¹⁰⁶Numb. R. 4:5. How? I had written in My Torah that an ass should be redeemed with a lamb, as stated (in Exod. 34:20), “But the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a lamb (seh) ….” But I did not do so. Instead I redeemed a lamb (seh) with an ass. The Egyptians are likened to an ass, where it is stated (in Ezek. 23:20), “whose flesh is like the flesh of asses”; and Israel is called a lamb (seh), where it is stated (in Jer. 50:17), “Israel is a scattered flock (seh).” Then I slew the first-born of the Egyptians and sanctified the first-born of Israel, as stated (in Numb. 3:13), “For every first-born belongs to Me on the day that I smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt,” I sanctified them for Myself. He therefore said to him (in Numb. 3:40), “enroll every first-born male among the Children of Israel.”

Another interpretation (of Numb. 3:40:) ENROLL EVERY FIRST-BORN MALE. This text is related (to Cant. 6:8-9): THERE ARE SIXTY QUEENS, EIGHTY CONCUBINES, AND MAIDENS WITHOUT NUMBER; <BUT ONLY> ONE IS MY DOVE, MY PERFECT ONE…. <The matter> is comparable to a certain merchant,¹²⁴Gk.: pragmateutes (“business representative”). who had glass beads,¹²⁵Tanh., 1:20; Numb. R. 4:2. which he would bring to market; but he paid no attention to their number (minyan), because he had brought them out without counting (minyan) <them>. So when he came in to put them away, he put them away without counting. Because they were <made> of glass, he did not pay attention to them. However, he had a certain string¹²⁶Lat.: linea. of fine pearls;¹²⁷Gk. margelis. and this he would take and bring out with a count, then put away with a count. Similarly, as it were, the Holy One said <in regard> to the nations of the world: I have not given them a count, because none of them is important to me, as stated (in Is. 40:17): ALL THE NATIONS ARE AS NOTHING BEFORE HIM; THEY ARE CONSIDERED BY HIM AS LESS THAN NOTHING AND VOID. But as for you, you are my children, as stated (in Is. 46:3): THE ONES WHO HAVE BEEN BORNE BY ME FROM BIRTH, CARRIED FROM THE WOMB. I therefore count you on every occasion. It is therefore stated (in Numb. 3:40): ENROLL EVERY FIRST-BORN MALE. Ergo (in Cant. 6:8-9): THERE ARE SIXTY QUEENS […, AND MAIDENS WITHOUT NUMBER]; <BUT ONLY> ONE IS MY DOVE, MY PERFECT ONE…. This is Israel.

all embrace and kiss it, especially so if it is a male.