Midrash su Geremia 7:16

R. Ami said: "Rains are withheld solely on account of the sin of robbery; as it is said (Job 36, 32) He covereth His hands with the lightning. His hands, refers to the robbery; as it is said (Jonah 3, 8) And from the violence which is in their hands; and light, refers to rain; as it is said (Job 37, 11) He spreadeth abroad the cloud of His lightning. What is its remedy? Increasing prayer; as it is said (Ib. 36, 32) And giveth it a charge B'mafgiah; and Mafgia refers to prayer; as it is said (Jer. 7, 16) Therefore pray not thou for this people, etc., neither Tifga, (shall thou make intercession to Me)."

R. Simlai lectured: "Why was Moses our teacher, so anxious to enter the land of Israel? Was it because he was so anxious to enjoy of its fruit or did he want to enjoy its bountifulness? Surely we must say that Moses said thus to himself: 'There are many commandments in which Israel was instructed, but which can not be fulfilled until they enter the land of Israel. I wish therefore to enter the land so that they may be fulfilled through me.' The Holy One, praised be He, thereupon said to him: 'Is then not the reason of thy rewards that thou shalt receive? If so I shall consider it as though you were fulfilling it, as it is said (Is. 53, 12) Therefore will I divide him. [a portion] with the many and with the strong shall he divide the spoil; because he poured out his soul unto death and with transgressors was he numbered; which he bore the sin of many and for the transgressors he let evil befall him; i.e., therefore will I divide him a portion with the many, I shall give him a full portion. Perhaps one will say a portion like the latter generation and not like the former [Abraham, Isaac and Jacob]? The passage therefore reads and with the strong shall he divide the spoils; i.e., like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, who were mighty in the possession of the Torah and Commandments; because he poured out his soul unto death, for he surrendered himself to death to account of them, as it is said (Ex. 33, 32) Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sins; but if not, blot me out, I pray Thee, from Thy book which Thou hast written; and with transgressors was he numbered, he was numbered to share the faith among those who died in the wilderness; while he bore the sin of many, he offered prayers for the transgressors of Israel so that they should return through repentance; for the word Pogiah (bore) refers to nothing but prayers, as it is said (Jer. 7, 16) But thou pray not thou in behalf of this people, nor lift up in their behalf of prayer nor make intermission [tiphgah] to Me.

1. "And I besought the Lord" (Deuteronomy 3:23). Halacha: A Jew who stands and prays [the Amidah prayer], may he pray out loud? The sages teach: (Talmud Berachot 31a) "Someone who stands and prays [the Amidah prayer] should hear his own voice [but others should not]. Chanah already explained: (I Samuel 1:13) "And Chanah spoke to herself..." One might think one can pray the three [Amidah prayers throughout the day] as a single [prayer]? Daniel already taught: (Daniel 6:11) "And three times a day he would kneel on his knees, and he would pray and bow before his God." One might think that one should pray at every moment one fancies? David already explained: (Psalms 55:18) "Evening, morning and afternoon I speak and moan, and He hearkened to my voice."