Midrash su Isaia 55:10
כִּ֡י כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵרֵד֩ הַגֶּ֨שֶׁם וְהַשֶּׁ֜לֶג מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֗יִם וְשָׁ֙מָּה֙ לֹ֣א יָשׁ֔וּב כִּ֚י אִם־הִרְוָ֣ה אֶת־הָאָ֔רֶץ וְהוֹלִידָ֖הּ וְהִצְמִיחָ֑הּ וְנָ֤תַן זֶ֙רַע֙ לַזֹּרֵ֔עַ וְלֶ֖חֶם לָאֹכֵֽל׃
Poiché come la pioggia scende e la neve dal cielo, e non ritorna da nessuna parte, tranne che innaffia la terra, e fa sì che produca e germogli, e dia seme al seminatore e pane al mangiatore;
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
The clouds draw water from the depths, as it is said, "He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth" (Ps. 135:7), and in every place where the King commands them, there they cause rain (to fall), and forthwith the earth becomes fruitful and yields produce like a widow who becomes pregnant through debauchery. But when the Holy One, blessed be He, desires to bless the produce of the earth, and to give provision to the creatures, He opens the good treasuries in heaven and sends rain upon the earth, namely, the fructifying rain, and forthwith the earth becomes fruitful like a bride who conceives from her first husband and produces offspring of blessing, as it is said, "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasury the heaven" (Deut. 28:12).
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Kohelet Rabbah
“Everything goes to one place; everything was from the dust, and everything returns to the dust” (Ecclesiastes 3:20).
“Everything goes to one place…” – Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer says: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He created in the heavens, their origins are from the heavens, and everything that the Holy One blessed be He created on the earth, their origins are from the earth. What is the reason [for Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion]? [It is based on the verses:] “Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights, praise Him all his angels” (Psalms 148:1–2) until: “Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures and all depths, fire and hail, snow and vapor” (Psalms 148:7–8), until the end of the psalm. Rabbi Yehoshua says: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He created in the heavens and on the earth, their origins are from the heavens. Snow, even though it is written in its regard: “For He said to the snow, be on earth” (Job 37:6), its origins are only from the heavens, as it is stated: “Because, just as the rain and the snow fall from the heavens…” (Isaiah 55:10).
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: Everything that is in the heavens and on the earth, their origins are from the earth. Rain, even though it is written in its regard: “Because, just as the rain and the snow fall from the heavens…” – its origins are only from the earth. What is the reason? “A mist ascended from the earth [and watered the whole surface of the ground]” (Genesis 2:6). Rabbi Yudan cites it from here: “Everything goes to one place; [everything was from the dust].” Rabbi Naḥman said: Even the orb of the sun was created only from the earth, as it is stated: “Who says to the sun [ḥeres]85Ḥeres, the term used in this verse for sun, typically means earthenware. not to shine…” (Job 9:7).
“Everything goes to one place…” – Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua, Rabbi Eliezer says: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He created in the heavens, their origins are from the heavens, and everything that the Holy One blessed be He created on the earth, their origins are from the earth. What is the reason [for Rabbi Eliezer’s opinion]? [It is based on the verses:] “Praise the Lord from the heavens, praise Him in the heights, praise Him all his angels” (Psalms 148:1–2) until: “Praise the Lord from the earth, sea creatures and all depths, fire and hail, snow and vapor” (Psalms 148:7–8), until the end of the psalm. Rabbi Yehoshua says: Everything that the Holy One blessed be He created in the heavens and on the earth, their origins are from the heavens. Snow, even though it is written in its regard: “For He said to the snow, be on earth” (Job 37:6), its origins are only from the heavens, as it is stated: “Because, just as the rain and the snow fall from the heavens…” (Isaiah 55:10).
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Yosef said: Everything that is in the heavens and on the earth, their origins are from the earth. Rain, even though it is written in its regard: “Because, just as the rain and the snow fall from the heavens…” – its origins are only from the earth. What is the reason? “A mist ascended from the earth [and watered the whole surface of the ground]” (Genesis 2:6). Rabbi Yudan cites it from here: “Everything goes to one place; [everything was from the dust].” Rabbi Naḥman said: Even the orb of the sun was created only from the earth, as it is stated: “Who says to the sun [ḥeres]85Ḥeres, the term used in this verse for sun, typically means earthenware. not to shine…” (Job 9:7).
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Sifrei Devarim
Or, because it does drink irrigation water, but not snow-water, it is, therefore, written "From the rain of the heavens you will drink water." Let "water" not be written (i.e., it is superfluous). Why is it written? (To indicate) even snow-water. And thus is it written (Isaiah 55:10) "For as the rain and the snow descend from the heavens … and soaks the earth and makes it bring forth vegetation, etc.", and (Job 37:6) "For to the snow He says 'Descend to the earth, etc.'"
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