Midrash su Giobbe 21:14

"When a person incurs guilt accidentally by [transgressing one among] all of the commandments of YHVH": This is that of which the Bible says: "And indeed I have witnessed under the sun the place of judgment..." (Ecclesiastes 3:16). Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Joshua [in conversation]...

The Nephilim were on the earth in those days…. these were the mighty men that were of old, the men of renown (Gen. 6:4). This verse informs us that the Nephilim would gaze upon the sun and the moon and perform feats of magic through them, as it is said of them: These are of them that rebel against the light (Job 24:13). The word these in both verses indicates that the Nephilim were the mighty men and were cruel and rebellious and performed acts of magic. Yet they said unto God: Depart from us, for we desire not knowledge of Thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we should serve Him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him? (Job 21:14–15).

Trials. Abraham said to the Holy One, blessed be He: Master of the Universe, if You had made the generation of the flood feel secure, they would not have angered You or rebelled against You by saying: Depart from us (Job 21:14). Thereupon, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: I shall begin with you (to try men). And He tried him through his son (who was to be offered as a sacrifice), as it is written: And the child grew, and was weaned, etc. (Gen. 21:8).

(Numb. 29:35:) “On the eighth day [you shall have] a solemn assembly.” This text is related (to Is. 26:16), “You have added to the nation O Lord, You have added to the nation and been honored; You have pushed away all the ends of the earth." The Community of Israel said in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, You added [years of] tranquility to the generation of the flood, did they maybe ever offer a single ram or a single bull in front of You? It is not enough that they did not offer, but they even (in Job 21:14) ‘said, “Go away from us.”’ You added [years of] tranquility to the generation of the [Tower of Babel]. Did any of them maybe honor You? It is not enough that they did not honor You, but they said (in Gen. 11:4), ‘Let us build for ourselves a city.’ And so too with the Sodomites, and so too with Pharaoh, and so too with Sennacherib and so too with Nebuchadnezzar. Did they maybe ever offer a single bull? It is not enough that they did not offer [anything] in front of You, but they even angered You. And to whom is it fitting for You to add tranquility and glory? To Israel, as stated (in Is. 26:16), ‘You have added to the nation.’” And a nation is only referring to Israel, as stated (in I Chron. 17:21), “And who is like Your people Israel, a unique nation on earth.” The community of Israel said in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, “You should add festivals for us, and we shall offer sacrifices in front of You as is fitting.” (Is. 26:16, cont.:) “You have been honored,” “You have given us new moons, and we sacrifice in front of You [then], as is stated (in Numb. 28:11), ‘And on new moons.’ You have given us Passover, we have sacrificed to You; You have given us Pentecost, we have sacrificed to You; You have given us the New Year, we have sacrificed to You; You have given us the Day of Atonement, we have sacrificed to You. And so too on the Festival [of Tabernacles]. We have not ignored the sacrifices for even one festival.” The Community of Israel said, “You should add festivals for us, and we shall offer sacrifices in front of You and honor You.” (Is. 26:16, cont.:) “You have added to the nation and been honored.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “By your lives, I will not take away holidays [from you], but I will add festivals for you to rejoice in them, as stated (in Numb. 29:35), ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly.’” (Numb. 29:35:) “On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly.” This text is related (to Ps. 109:4), “In return for my love they denounce me, but I am a prayer.” You find that on the Festival (of Tabernacles) Israel would offer seventy bulls for the seventy nations.⁴¹Numb. R. 21:24; M. Pss. 109:4; PRK 28:9. Israel said in front of the Holy One, blessed be He, “See, we are offering seventy bulls for the seventy nations. Therefore, they should love us. It is not enough that they do not love us, but they also hate us, as stated (in Ps. 109:4), ‘In return for my love they denounce me.’” Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “For seven days of the festival you have offered sacrifices to Me for the nations of the world. Now, however, you are to offer [sacrifices] for yourselves, as (according to Numb. 29:35-36), ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly…. Then you shall offer a whole burnt offering, a fire offering, a sweet smell to the Lord: one bull, one ram.’” [The situation] is comparable to a king who made a seven-day banquet and invited all the people of the province for the seven days of the feast. When the seven days of the feast had passed, he said to his friend, “We have already fulfilled our obligation to all the people of the province. Let us, you and me, make do with whatever you find, a pound⁴²Gk.: litra. of meat, fish, or greens.” Similarly did the Holy One, blessed be He, say to Israel, “All the sacrifices which you offered during the seven days of the feast you sacrificed for the nations of the world. However (according to Numb. 29:35), ‘On the eighth day you shall have a solemn assembly.’ We shall make do, you and I, with whatever you find (as in Numb. 29:36), ‘One bull, one ram.’”

[Another interpretation (of Gen. 8:16): GO FORTH FROM THE ARK.] This text is related (to Prov. 12:13): IN THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LIPS LIES A SNARE FOR THE {WICKED} [EVIL], BUT A RIGHTEOUS ONE WENT FORTH FROM TROUBLE.⁴⁹Cf. Gen. R. 34:3. IN THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LIPS LIES A SNARE FOR THE WICKED. These are the generation of the flood who had sinned through their mouths, as stated (in Job 21:14-15): [YET THEY SAID TO GOD, GET AWAY FROM US]…. WHAT IS THE ALMIGHTY THAT WE SHOULD SERVE HIM? Ergo (in Prov. 12:13): IN THE TRANSGRESSION OF THE LIPS LIES A SNARE FOR THE WICKED. It is also written (in Gen. 7:23): AND HE BLOTTED OUT EVERY LIVING CREATURE…. (Prov. 12:13:) BUT A RIGHTEOUS ONE WENT FORTH FROM TROUBLE. This one is Noah, of whom it is stated (in Gen. 6:9): NOAH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN, PERFECT. It is therefore stated (in Gen. 8:16): GO FORTH FROM THE ARK.

Nevertheless the generation of the flood said to God: Depart from us (Job 21:14). Because they had failed to learn anything at all from the experience of the generation of Enoch, as a result their memory was ultimately obliterated from the earth.

When others beheld their actions, they stripped off their clothing and went about naked, as it is said: So that they go about naked, without clothing (ibid., v. 10), and have no covering in the cold (ibid., v. 7). They did so because these wicked men had shouted at God: Depart from us … what is the Almighty that we should serve Him? (Job 21:14–15).

(Sammael) riding on the serpent came to her, and she conceived; afterwards Adam came to her, and she conceived Abel, as it is said, "And Adam knew Eve his wife" (Gen. 4:1). What is the meaning of "knew"? (He knew) that she had conceived. And she saw his likeness that it was not of the earthly beings, but of the heavenly beings, and she prophesied || and said: "I have gotten a man with the Lord" (ibid.).

Rabbi Simeon said: From Seth arose and were descended all the generations of the righteous. From Cain arose and were descended all the generations of the wicked, who rebel and sin, who rebelled against their Rock, and they said: We do not need the drops of Thy rain, neither to walk in Thy ways, as it is said, "Yet they said unto God, Depart from us" (Job 21:14).

Another interpretation (of Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED. Rabbi <Judah the Prince> says: Every place where it is stated: SO IT CAME TO PASS (wayehi), [<is referring to> something new; but R. Simeon b. Johay says: Every place where it says: SO IT CAME TO PASS (wayehi)] <is referring to something which existed, has ceased <to exist> for a long time, and has returned to be as it was.¹⁰⁸Tanh., Numb. 2:16; Numb. R. 12:6; PR 5:7. This text is related (to Cant. 5:1): WHEN I COME TO MY GARDEN. When the Holy One created the world, he longed to have an abode below just as he had on high.¹⁰⁹Cf. PR 5:5; PRK 1:1; Numb. R. 13:2. Having called Adam, he commanded and said to him (in Gen. 2:16–17): YOU MAY FREELY EAT OF ANY TREE IN THE GARDEN; BUT AS FOR THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL, YOU MAY NOT EAT OF IT. Then he transgressed against his commandment.¹¹⁰Tanh., Exod. 11:6. The Holy One said this to him: This is what I longed for: Just as I have a dwelling on high, I would likewise have one below. Now when I have given you one command, you have not kept it. Immediately the Holy One removed his Divine Presence <up> to the firmament. Where is it shown? Where it is stated (in Gen. 3:8): THEN THEY HEARD THE VOICE OF THE LORD GOD MOVING ABOUT IN THE GARDEN AT THE BREEZE TIME OF DAY. [Now when they transgressed his commandment, he had <only> removed his Divine Presence to the first firmament.] <When> Cain arose and killed Abel, he immediately removed his Divine presence from the first firmament to the second firmament. <When> the generation of Enosh arose and became servers of idols, as stated (in Gen. 4:26): THEN THERE WAS PROFANATION IN CALLING <OTHER GODS> BY THE NAME OF THE LORD, he removed his presence from the second to the third <firmament>. The generation of the flood arose, and it is written of them (in Job 21:14): YET THEY SAID TO GOD: LEAVE US ALONE. Immediately he removed his Divine Presence from the third firmament to the fourth. When the generation of the dispersion <of the nations> arose, they said: He has no right to choose the upper regions for himself and give us the lower regions. What did they say (in Gen. 11:4)? COME, LET US BUILD OURSELVES A CITY. But what did the Holy One do to them (according to vs. 8)? SO THE LORD DISPERSED THEM OUT OF THERE. He arose and removed his Divine Presence from the fourth firmament to the fifth. When the Sodomites arose, what is written of them (in Gen. 13:13)? NOW THE PEOPLE OF SODOM WERE EVIL AND SINFUL [AGAINST THE LORD, EXCEEDINGLY SO]. They were EVIL to each other, SINFUL in sexual matters, AGAINST THE LORD in idolatry, and EXCEEDINGLY SO in bloodshed.¹¹¹Above, Gen. 4:8. Immediately the Holy One removed his Divine Presence from the fifth firmament to the sixth. The Philistines arose and provoked the Holy One; <so> he immediately removed his Divine Presence from the sixth firmament to the seventh. The Holy One said: I created seven firmaments, and up to now there are wicked ones <still> arising. What did the Holy One do? He folded away all the generations of the wicked and raised up our father Abraham. When our father Abraham arose and performed good works, the Holy One immediately descended from the seventh firmament to the sixth. <When> Isaac arose and stretched out his neck upon the altar, he descended from the sixth firmament to the fifth. <When> Jacob arose, he descended from the fifth to the fourth. <When> Levi arose, whose works were comely, he descended from the fourth to the third. <When> Kohath (the son of Levi and Grandfather of Moses) arose, he descended from the third <firmament> to the second. <When> Amram arose, he brought him down from the second to the first firmament. <When> Moses arose, he brought down the Divine Presence <to earth>. When? When the Tabernacle was set up. The Holy One said (in Cant. 5:1): WHEN I COME TO MY GARDEN for something for which I was longing. And this is (the context of Numb. 7:1): SO IT CAME TO PASS ON THE DAY THAT MOSES HAD FINISHED. Hence R. Simeon ben Johay said: SO IT CAME TO PASS (wayehi) can only be something which existed, has ceased <to exist> for a long time, and has returned <to be> as it was.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 27:22): IF YOU POUND THE FOOL IN A MORTAR. R. Nehemiah the son of R. Samuel bar Nahman said: To what are they comparable? To a full bottle when locusts climb up on it. The first < climbed up > and fell. [The second < climbed up > and fell. The third < climbed up > and fell.] But the second did not learn from the first {nor the second from the third} [nor the third from the second]. So are the wicked. The first arises, grows powerful, and falls; but the second does not learn from the first. Thus the generation of Enosh arose and cried out to idols, as stated (in Gen. 4:26): THEN THERE WAS PROFANATION IN CALLING < OTHER GODS > BY THE NAME OF THE LORD.⁹⁶The verse is consistently understood in this sense throughout rabbinic literature. What did the Holy One do? He called for the sea and flooded them, as stated (in Amos 5:8, 9:6): THE ONE WHO CALLS FOR THE WATERS OF THE SEA AND POURS THEM OUT UPON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.⁹⁷Mekhilta de Rabbi Ishmael, Bahodesh 6; Gen. R. 23:7; see ySheq. 6:2 (50a). The generation of the flood arose and provoked the Holy One to anger, as stated (in Job 21:14): YET THEY SAID TO GOD: LEAVE US ALONE. So they perished from the world and did not learn from the generation of Enosh. [The generation of the dispersion arose and did not learn from the former generations.] Ergo (in Prov. 27:22): IF YOU POUND THE FOOL IN A MORTAR WITH A PESTLE, ALONG WITH THE GRAIN. This is the generation of the dispersion, in that they were bringing forth words of blasphemy against the Unique One of the world, as stated (in Gen. 11:1): NOW THE WHOLE EARTH HAD ONE LANGUAGE AND THE SAME WORDS. R. Berekhyah the Priest said: What is the meaning of ONE LANGUAGE (SPH)? That they were one family (rt.: ShPH). Another interpretation: ONE LANGUAGE (SPH), in that they poured out (rt.: ShPH) retribution for the world. [AND THE SAME WORDS, which they uttered against the Unique One of the world.]

How did the generation of the flood sin? Job 21:14:) THEY SAID TO GOD: LEAVE US ALONE, [FOR WE WANT NO KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR WAYS]. They said: We do not desire knowledge of Torah. (Ibid., vs. 15:) WHAT IS THE ALMIGHTY THAT WE SHOULD SERVE HIM? Why should we pray to him?

What did the people of the flood and the people of the dispersion generation resemble? A king who had two children. One said [to him]: I can stand neither you nor your troubles; and the second said to him: < It's > either you or I!¹⁰⁹Gen. R. 38:6. So the people of the flood generation {said} (in Job 21:14): [YET THEY SAID] TO GOD: LEAVE US ALONE…. The generation of {the flood} [the dispersion] said: < It's either > he or we. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 11:4): COME, LET US BUILD OURSELVES A CITY. They said: He has no right to choose the upper regions for himself and to assign us the lower regions. Come and let us exchange, so that we take the upper regions and he takes the lower regions.

(Gen. 6:4, cont.:) THESE WERE THE MIGHTY MEN THAT WERE OF OLD, THE MEN WITH A NAME, < i.e., > men whose names have been specified above (in Gen. 4:18): Mehujael, since the Holy One (i.e., El) blotted (mihah) their names from the world; Methushael (ibid.), since God (El) drove him out (nethasho). THE MEN WITH A NAME,¹¹³Tanh. Gen. 1:12. because they were obstinate and rebellious against the Holy One. Thus it is stated (in Job 21:14): YET THEY SAY TO GOD: DEPART FROM US…. R. Isaac said: Why were they rebellious? Because they would sow one year and it would produce a harvest for forty years. R. Samuel bar Ammi said: Why were they rebellious? Because they were seeing children and children's children; yet they < themselves > were not dying. The Holy One said: From now on (according to Gen. 8:22) WHILE THERE ARE DAYS ON EARTH, < THERE SHALL BE NO CESSATION OF > SOWING AND HARVEST; i.e., they were begetting and burying. (Ibid., cont.:) COLD AND HEAT; i.e., < while > afflictions had not come upon them, from now on they would be afflicted by fire and snow. There is a story about a certain student of R. Aqiva¹¹⁴Tanh., Gen. 1:13; yMSh 4 at the end (55c); see Lam. R. 1:1 (16). who was told in a dream: You are dying in < the month of > Adar, and you shall not see Nisan. That which you have sown you shall not reap. He came to R. Aqiva. He said to him: You will die in glory (addirut), you shall not come to the hands of temptation (nissayon), and that which you have begotten you shall not bury. The Holy One said: In this world, because the evil drive exists, afflictions < also > exist among the children of Adam; but in the world to come I am rooting them out from you. It is so stated (in Ezek. 36:26): I WILL REMOVE THE HEART OF STONE FROM YOUR FLESH. I am also reviving your {ancestors} [wings]; for thus has Isaiah stated (in Is. 40:31): BUT THEY THAT WAIT FOR THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; [THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES].