Midrash su Gioele 3:1
וְהָיָ֣ה אַֽחֲרֵי־כֵ֗ן אֶשְׁפּ֤וֹךְ אֶת־רוּחִי֙ עַל־כָּל־בָּשָׂ֔ר וְנִבְּא֖וּ בְּנֵיכֶ֣ם וּבְנֽוֹתֵיכֶ֑ם זִקְנֵיכֶם֙ חֲלֹמ֣וֹת יַחֲלֹמ֔וּן בַּח֣וּרֵיכֶ֔ם חֶזְיֹנ֖וֹת יִרְאֽוּ׃
E dopo avverrà che spanderò il mio spirito su tutta la carne; E i tuoi figli e le tue figlie profetizzeranno, i tuoi vecchi sogneranno sogni, i tuoi giovani vedranno visioni;
Midrash Tanchuma
Then Daniel went to his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, his companions (ibid., v. 17). Why? So that they might pray with him, as it is said: That they might ask mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret; that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a vision if the night. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven (ibid., vv. 18–19). The Holy One, blessed be He, declared: “Prophecy is restricted in this world to certain chosen ones, but in the world-to-come the gift of prophecy will be possessed by all men,” as is said: And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out My spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and daughters shall prophesy; your old men shall dream dreams; your young men shall see visions (Joel 3:1).
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Eikhah Rabbah
“He drew His bow like an enemy; His right hand stood as an adversary, and he killed all delights of the eye. In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire” (Lamentations 2:4).
“He drew His bow like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard.86They did not sin in an extreme fashion and they were not punished in an extreme fashion (Etz Yosef). They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: “The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.”
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Pharaoh,87When the verse states that God drew His bow like an enemy, the enemy referenced is Pharaoh. as it is stated: “The enemy said” (Exodus 15:9). “His right hand stood as an adversary,” this is Haman, as it is stated: “A man who is an adversary and an enemy” (Esther 7:6).
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Esau, as it is written: “Because the enemy said against you” (Ezekiel 36:2).88This chapter in Ezekiel is a continuation of chapter 35, which is directed to Se’ir, which is identified with the offspring of Esau; see, e.g., Genesis 36:8. “And he killed all delights of the eye,” these are children who are as dear to their parents as their eyeball. The Rabbis say: These are the [members of the] Sanhedrin, who are as dear to Israel as the eyeball.
“In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire.” There are four instances of pouring that are for good and four instances of pouring that are for bad. Four instances of pouring that are for good, as it is stated: “Upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). “It will be, thereafter, that I will pour My spirit upon all flesh…. Also upon the slaves and upon the maidservants in those days I will pour My spirit” (Joel 3:1–2). “I will no longer conceal My face from them, as I have poured My spirit upon the house of Israel, the utterance of the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:29). And four instances of pouring that are for bad, as it is stated: “He poured His fiery wrath upon him” (Isaiah 42:25). In Ezekiel it is written: “As You pour Your fury upon Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:8). It is written: “The Lord vented His fury, He poured out His enflamed wrath” (Lamentations 4:11). And this: “He poured out His fury like fire.”
“He drew His bow like an enemy.” Rabbi Aivu said: They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, and the attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard.86They did not sin in an extreme fashion and they were not punished in an extreme fashion (Etz Yosef). They did not go to extremes vis-à-vis the attribute of justice, as it is stated: “The people were like complainers” (Numbers 11:1). “Complainers” is not written here, but rather, “like complainers.” “The princes of Judah were like those who move boundaries” (Hosea 5:10). “Those who move boundaries” is not written here, but rather, “like those who move boundaries.” “For like a wayward cow [Israel has strayed]” (Hosea 4:16), “For a wayward cow” is not written here, but rather, “like a wayward cow.” The attribute of justice, too, did not go to extremes in their regard. “He drew His bow like an enemy.” “An enemy” is not written here, but rather, “like an enemy.”
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Pharaoh,87When the verse states that God drew His bow like an enemy, the enemy referenced is Pharaoh. as it is stated: “The enemy said” (Exodus 15:9). “His right hand stood as an adversary,” this is Haman, as it is stated: “A man who is an adversary and an enemy” (Esther 7:6).
Another matter, “He drew His bow like an enemy.” This is Esau, as it is written: “Because the enemy said against you” (Ezekiel 36:2).88This chapter in Ezekiel is a continuation of chapter 35, which is directed to Se’ir, which is identified with the offspring of Esau; see, e.g., Genesis 36:8. “And he killed all delights of the eye,” these are children who are as dear to their parents as their eyeball. The Rabbis say: These are the [members of the] Sanhedrin, who are as dear to Israel as the eyeball.
“In the tent of the daughter of Zion, He poured out His fury like fire.” There are four instances of pouring that are for good and four instances of pouring that are for bad. Four instances of pouring that are for good, as it is stated: “Upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, I will pour a spirit of grace and supplication” (Zechariah 12:10). “It will be, thereafter, that I will pour My spirit upon all flesh…. Also upon the slaves and upon the maidservants in those days I will pour My spirit” (Joel 3:1–2). “I will no longer conceal My face from them, as I have poured My spirit upon the house of Israel, the utterance of the Lord God” (Ezekiel 39:29). And four instances of pouring that are for bad, as it is stated: “He poured His fiery wrath upon him” (Isaiah 42:25). In Ezekiel it is written: “As You pour Your fury upon Jerusalem” (Ezekiel 9:8). It is written: “The Lord vented His fury, He poured out His enflamed wrath” (Lamentations 4:11). And this: “He poured out His fury like fire.”
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Dan. 2:2, cont.:) TO TELL THE KING HIS DREAMS. SO THEY CAME AND STOOD BEFORE THE KING. They all came lest one of them have an advantage. He began to speak with them, as stated (in Dan. 2:3-4): AND THE KING SAID: I HAVE DREAMED A DREAM, AND MY SPIRIT IS DEEPLY TROUBLED TO KNOW THE DREAM. THEN THE CHALDEANS SPOKE TO THE KING IN ARAMAIC: O KING, LIVE FOR EVER! TELL YOUR SERVANTS THE DREAM, AND {ITS INTERPRETATION WILL BE DECLARED} [WE WILL DECLARE ITS INTERPRETATION].15Buber’s Oxford MS for this section has many differences from the MT of Daniel. Where such differences occur, Buber as usual has added the Masoretic Text in square brackets. Most of these variants, however, are not noted in the translation because they are only orthographic and do not affect the translation. Nebuchadnezzar said to them: I know the dream. If I tell it to you, you may tell me words of falsehood when you say: This is its interpretation. Instead, you tell the dream, and < then > I will know that you are telling me its < true > interpretation. Thus it is stated (in Dan. 2:6-7): {THEREFORE, TELL ME THE DREAM AND I WILL KNOW THAT YOU SHALL DECLARE ITS INTERPRETATION.} [BUT IF YOU DECLARE THE DREAM AND ITS INTERPRETATION], < THEN YOU SHALL RECEIVE GIFTS, PRESENTS, AND GREAT HONOR >…. THEY ANSWERED HIM A SECOND TIME AND SAID {TO THE KING}: LET THE KING TELL THE DREAM TO HIS SERVANTS, AND WE WILL DECLARE {ITS} [THE] INTERPRETATION. Nebuchadnezzar said to them: Just as I tell you to tell me, and you tell me to tell [you]; so you think that you will converse with me until noon and go away. (Dan. 2:9:) THAT, IF YOU DO NOT MAKE THE DREAM KNOWN TO ME, THERE IS BUT ONE VERDICT FOR YOU. I am putting forth one keleusis16The Greek word means “command.” {i.e., your decree} concerning you, that you shall be killed. (Dan. 2:9, cont.:) FOR YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TELL ME SOMETHING FALSE AND CORRUPT. You have come in to speak deceitful words before me UNTIL (according to Dan. 2:9, cont.) CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE. (Dan. 2:10-11:) THE CHALDEANS ANSWERED THE KING AND SAID: THERE IS NOT A PERSON ON THE EARTH WHO CAN DECLARE THE KING'S MATTER BECAUSE NO GREAT AND POWERFUL KING HAS ASKED A THING LIKE THIS OF ANY DIVINER, ENCHANTER, OR CHALDEAN. ALSO THE THING THAT THE KING IS ASKING IS DIFFICULT, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO WILL DECLARE IT BEFORE THE KING, EXCEPT THE GODS, WHOSE DWELLING IS NOT WITH HUMAN FLESH. While the Sanctuary was standing, when someone wanted an oracle, he would ask through Urim and Thummim. While the eternal God dwelt with human flesh, when someone wanted an oracle, he would speak to him. < The king said > : Go and ask him. They said: His < dwelling > (according to vs. 11, end) IS NOT WITH HUMAN FLESH. (Vs. 11, beginning:) ALSO THE THING THAT THE KING IS ASKING IS DIFFICULT (rt.: YQR). Prophecy is necessary, but nothing is so difficult (rt.: YQR) as prophecy, even as you say (in I Sam. 3:1): AND THE WORD OF THE LORD WAS RARE (YQR)…. (Vs. 11, cont.:) AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE WHO WILL DECLARE IT BEFORE THE KING. ELSE ('HRN) is < actually > Aaron ('HRN). They said to him: If you had had one of the children of the children of Aaron, he would have wrapped himself in Urim and Thummim and told you < the dream >. (Dan. 2:12:) WHEREUPON THE KING BECAME ANGRY AND VERY FURIOUS. He was filled with wrath over them. He said to them: And so the Sanctuary was beautiful; yet you gave me counsel to destroy it. Immediately (we read in vs. 12, cont.): AND HE SAID TO DESTROY ALL THE SAGES OF BABYLON. A command17Gk.: keleusis. went out to this effect, as stated (in vs. 13): THEN THE DECREE WENT OUT THAT THE SAGES WERE TO BE KILLED. ALSO DANIEL AND HIS FRIENDS WERE ABOUT (rt.: B'') TO BE KILLED. R. Jose b. R. Hanina said: < The text really means >: It was required (rt.: B'') for Daniel and his friends to be killed. Daniel began saying to Arioch (in vs. 15): WHY IS THE DECREE FROM THE KING SO URGENT? THEN ARIOCH INFORMED DANIEL OF THE MATTER. Daniel said to him: I will reveal the matter to him. THEN (in Dan. 2:25) ARIOCH HASTILY BROUGHT DANIEL IN BEFORE THE KING. Nebuchadnezzar said to him (in vs. 26): ARE YOU ABLE TO MAKE KNOWN TO ME THE DREAM WHICH I SAW AND ITS INTERPRETATION? Daniel answered him immediately and explained to him. But his son Belshazzar said to Daniel, (on a later occasion) when he came before him to explain to him what the hand had written (in Dan. 5:5)—At that time he said to him (in Dan. 5:13): ARE YOU DANIEL, THE ONE WHO COMES FROM THE CHILDREN OF THE CAPTIVITY OF JUDAH < WHOM MY FATHER THE KING BROUGHT FROM JUDAH >? R. Jose therefore explains that Nebuchadnezzar also had said this to him: ARE YOU DANIEL? Did he not recognize him when he said to him: ARE YOU DANIEL? It is simply that he said to him: Do you have power to tell me this thing? He said to him: Yes. He said to him: When? he said to him: Not < after > thirty days nor < after > twenty days. Just wait one night for me. (Dan. 2:17:) THEN DANIEL WENT TO HIS HOUSE AND MADE THE MATTER KNOWN TO HANANIAH, MISHAEL, AND AZARIAH, so that they would pray with him, as stated (in vs. 18): IN ORDER TO SEEK MERCY FROM BEFORE THE GOD < OF HEAVEN >…. (Vs. 19:) THEN THE MYSTERY WAS REVEALED TO DANIEL IN A NIGHT VISION. THEN DANIEL BLESSED THE GOD OF HEAVEN. In this world prophecy belongs to one in a thousand, but in the world to come prophecy will belong to everyone. It is so stated (in Joel 3:1 [2:28]): AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS AFTERWARD THAT I WILL POUR OUT MY SPIRIT UPON ALL FLESH SO THAT YOUR SONS AND YOUR DAUGHTERS SHALL PROPHESY….18See Acts 2:17.
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