Midrash su Numeri 23:8

R. Jochanan said: "Samson judged Israel like the Heavenly Father did, as it is said (Gen. 49, 16) Dan shall judge his people like one, etc." R. Jochanan said further: "Samson was called by the name of the Holy One, praised be He, as it is said (Ps. 84, 12) For a (Shemesh) sun and shield is the Lord God." According to this version, then, his name must not be erased? We must therefore say that it is similar to the name of the Holy One, praised be He. Just as the Holy One, praised be He, protected the whole world so did Samson protect Israel in his generation. R. Jochanan said further: "Bilam was lame on one of his legs, as it is said (Num. 23, 8) And he went Shefi; Samson was lame on both of his legs, as it is said (Gen. 49, 17) Shefifon — on the path.

R. Jochanan in the name of R. Jose said: "Whence do we learn that we must not attempt to appease a man at the moment of his excitement? It is written (Ex. 33, 14.) My presence shall walk before you, and I will give thee rest, i.e., the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Moses. "Wait for me until my excitement shall subside and I shall then give thee rest.' " Is wrath [to be ascribed] to the Holy One — praised be He? Yea! As it is taught; And a God who is angry every day (Ps. 7, 12). And how long does His anger last? For a moment. And how long lasts a moment? One fifty-eight thousand eight hundred and eighty-eighth part of an hour; and this is meant by the word Regga (moment); and no creature is able to determine that exact moment [when the anger arises] except Bilam the wicked, for it is written (Num. 24, 16.) And knoweth the knowledge of the most High. How is it possible? If he did not know even the temperament of his animal, how could he acquire a knowledge of the Most High? We must therefore say that he knew how to determine the exact hour in which the Holy One, praised be He! is angry. And this is meant by the prophet who said to Israel (Micha 6, 5.) O my people, do but remember what Balak the king of Moab resolved in order to know the gracious benefits of the Lord. What is meant by The gracious benefits of the Lord. R. Elazar said: "Thus said the Holy One, praised be He! unto Israel. 'Do but remember how many gracious benefits I bestowed unto ye, that I kept myself back from becoming angry during all the days of Bilam, the wicked; for my anger might have inflicted a great misfortune upon them [in that generation].' And this is meant by Bilam when he said. (Num. 23, 8.) How shall I denounce, whom God hath not denounced? And how shall I defy, when the Lord hath not defied?" And how long endureth His anger? A Regga (moment). How long does a Regga last? R. Abin and according to some R. Abina said: "A Regga lasts as long as it takes to utter it." And whence do we learn that God is angry? It is said (Ps. 30, 6.) For His anger is momentary, (but) life rests upon his favor. And if you wish I say from this (Is. 26, 20.) Hide thyself but for about a moment, until anger passeth away. And when is He angry? Abaye said: "During the first three hours of the day, when the crest of the cock becomes white and he stands on one leg." But the cock stands like that all the time? At all times it has red stripes [in the white crest], but in that particular hour there are no red stripes whatsoever. A certain heretic was in the neighborhood of R. Joshua b. Levi, and annoyed him exceedingly, questioning him about various passages. One day R. Joshua b. Levi took a cock, tied it to his bed and watched it, thinking that as soon as he would notice the sign, he would curse the heretic. But before the time came, sleep overtook him. So he said: "I learn from this [incident] that it is not proper to do such a thing: And he is beneficent in all His work, it is written (Ps. 145, 17.) and it is also written (Pr. 17, 26.) Punishment, even to the just, is not good." It was taught in the name of R. Meier: "At the time when the sun rises and all the heathen Kings of the East and West, with their crowns upon their heads, prostrate themselves before the sun, there-upon the Holy One, praised he He! immediately becomes angry."

R. Elazar said: "Any man who possesses the power of flattery causes wrath to be brought upon the world, as it is said (Job. 36, 13) But the hypocrites in heart lay up *** (Page 250) ger. Not only this but even his prayers will not be accepted, as it is said (Ib.) They cry not for help when He chastiseth them." R. Elazar said further: "Every man who possesses the power of flattery, will be cursed even by the embryos, as it is said (Prov. 24, 24) He that sayeth unto the wicked: 'thou art righteous,' people shall curse him, nations shall execrate him, and the word Kob means curse, as it is said (Num. 23, 8) How shall I denounce (Akob) whom God has not denounced, and the word nations (l'umim) refers to embryos, as it is said (Gen. 25, 23) And one people [Ul'om] shall be stronger than the other people, [referring to the embryos of Jacob and Isaac]." R. Elazar said further: "Every man who possesses the habit of flattery will fall in Gehenna, as it is said (Is. 5, 20) Woe unto those who say of the evil, it is good, and of the good it is evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. What is written later? Therefore as the tongue of five devoureth the stubble, and as the chaff is consumed in the flames; so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust." R. Elazar said further: "Whoever flatters the wicked will at the end fall into his hand; and if he does not fall into his hand he will fall into the hand of his son: and if he does not fall into the hand of his son he will fall into the hand of his grandson, as it is said (Jer. 28, 5) Then Jeremiah the Prophet, said unto the Prophet Hanminh… . Amen, may the Lord do so: May the Lord fulfill thy words, etc. And after this, (Fol. 42) it is written (Ib. 37, 13) But as he was in the gate of Benjamin, there was a captain of the guardsmen whose name was Yeriyah, the son of Shelemyah, the son of Channniah; and he took hold of the prophet, Jeremiah, etc., and again it is written. And Yeriyah seized Jeremiah and brought him to the princes." R. Elazar said further: "Every congregation where hypocrisy pevails will in the end be exiled; as it is written (Job. 15, 34) For the assembly of hypocrites shall be desolate [Galmud], and again it is written (Is. 49, 21) Thou shah say in thy heart: 'Who has begotten me these, seeing I have been bereaved of my children, and am solitary Galmuda], an exile and wandering to and fro? Behold, I was left entirely alone; these, where were they?' "