Midrash su Gioele 4:20

And the Lord went before them by day (Exod. 13:21). Has it not already been said: Do not I fill heaven and earth? (Jer. 23:25), and also: The earth is full of His glory (Isa. 6:3)? Why, then, does Scripture say: And the Lord went before them? In order to reveal to the nations of the world the extent of His love for Israel, so that they would pay homage to them. However, not only did they not pay homage to them, but they slaughtered them most cruelly. Because of that it says: I will gather all the nations, and will bring them down to the valley of Jehoshaphat; and I will enter into judgment with them there for My people and for My heritage Israel, whom they scattered among the nations (Joel 4:2). It does not say “Because they committed idolatry” or “committed sexual crimes” or (were guilty) “of shedding blood,” but rather: For My people and for My heritage Israel whom they have scattered among the nations. And it says also: Egypt shall be a desolation, and Edom shall be a desolate wilderness (ibid., v. 19), while at that very time Judah shall be inhabited forever, and Jerusalem from generation to generation. And I will hold as innocent their blood that I have not held as innocent (ibid., v. 20). When will that be? When the Lord dwelleth in Zion (ibid.).

Another interpretation (of Gen. 44:18): PRAY, MY LORD. (Vs. 19:) MY LORD ASKED. It is also stated (in vs. 20): UNTO MY LORD. (Vs. 33:) AND NOW PLEASE LET YOUR SERVANT REMAIN < AS A SLAVE TO MY LORD INSTEAD OF THE LAD >….²⁸The point of all these citations is to demonstrate that Judah has now humbled himself. The Holy One said to him: Behold, you have now let go of your former power, and spoken supplications. By your life, in spite of what I said (in Hos. 12:3 [2]): THE LORD HAS A LAWSUIT WITH JUDAH, I will instead be gracious and have compassion on you. It is so stated (in Is. 57:16): FOR I WILL NOT CARRY ON A LAWSUIT FOREVER. And the EVER (in FOREVER) is nothing but a reference to Judah, since it is stated (in Joel 4:20 [3:20]): BUT JUDAH SHALL BE INHABITED FOREVER.²⁹Since the FOR in FOREVER can mean AGAINST, Is. 57:16 is therefore understood to mean: FOR I WILL NOT CARRY ON A LAWSUIT AGAINST JUDAH.