Midrash su Proverbi 5:15

(Ibid.) "They stood up like a flask": Just as a bound flask neither emits nor admits, so, the spirits of the Egyptians were bound up within them, neither emitting nor admitting — while Israel ate and drank and rejoiced. Sweet water issued forth for them from salted water, viz. (Psalms 78:160) "and He brought forth nozlim from the rock," "nozlim" being living waters, as in (Song of Songs 4:15) "a garden spring, a well of living waters," and (Mishlei 5:15) "Drink water from your pit and nozlim from your well."

(Exodus 14:19) "And the angel of G d, who went before the camp of Israel, etc.": R. Yehudah says: This verse is rich in allusions. An analogy: A man was walking on the road leading his son before him when robbers came to snare him, whereupon he took him and placed him behind him, when a wolf came to snatch him, whereupon he took him and placed him in front — whereupon robbers came before him and wolves behind him — whereupon he took him and placed him on his shoulders — whereupon his son was scorched by the sun — whereupon his father spread his garment over him. He hungered and he fed him; he thirsted and he gave him to drink. Thus, the Holy One Blessed be He, viz. (Hoshea 11:3) "And I pampered Ephraim, taking them on My arms, and they did not know that I had healed them." His son was scorched by the sun, whereupon He spread his garment over him, viz. (Psalms 105:39) "He spread a cloud for a cover and fire to light up the night." "He hungered and He fed him," viz. (Exodus 16:4) "I shall rain down bread for you from heaven." He thirsted and he gave him water to drink, viz. (Psalms 78:11) "And He brought forth nozlim from a rock," "nozlim" being living waters, as in (Song of Songs 4:15) "a garden spring, a well of living waters, and nozlim, etc." and (Mishlei 5:15) "Drink waters from your pit and nozlim from your well." R. Nathan asked R. Shimon b. Yochai: In all places you find "the angel of the L rd ("yod-keh-vav-keh") — (Genesis 16:7) "and an angel of the L rd found her" — (Ibid. 9) "and the angel of the L rd said to her" — (Exodus 3:2) "and an angel of the L rd appeared to him" — And here it is written "and the angel of G d (Elokim) turned." (Why is this so?) He answered: "elohim" in all places is a judge. We are hereby apprised that Israel were being judged at that time — whether to be rescued or to be destroyed with the Egyptians (for themselves having succumbed to idolatry.)

R. Yehudah says: An exemplary Torah scholar is like a sponge, which soaks up everything. One second to him is like a cotton wad which soaks up only what he needs — one who says "What my teacher taught me is enough for me." R. Shimon b. Yochai says: It is written (Proverbs 5:15) "Drink water (i.e., Torah) from borecha": from him (a Torah sage [though not necessarily a great one]) who is with you in your city ("be'ircha," like "borecha"), and afterwards from afar. And thus is it written (Ibid. 31:14) "She ('the woman of valor') was like the merchant's ships, bringing her bread (Torah) from afar." R. Shimon b. Menassia says: Drink water from borecha," from the waters (i.e., Torah) of borecha ("your Creator"); and do not drink "sullied" waters, lest you be drawn after the words of the heretics. R. Akiva says: It is written: "Drink waters from your pit." A pit, in the beginning, is unable to supply a drop of water of its own, containing, as it does, only what is put into it. So, a Torah scholar, in the beginning, has learned and reviewed only what his teacher has taught him. (Ibid.) "and flowing waters from your well": Just as a well flows living waters from all of its sides, so, disciples come and learn from him (the "flowing" Torah scholar). And thus is it written (Ibid. 16) "Your fountains will spread abroad." Words of Torah are compared to water. Just as water is life for the world, so, words of Torah, as it is written (Ibid. 4:22) "For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all of his flesh." And just as water raises a man from his uncleanliness, so, words of Torah raise a man from uncleanliness to cleanliness, as it is written (Psalms 19:10) "The fear of the L-rd is pure." And just as water restores a man's soul, so, words of Torah restore a man's soul from the path of evil to that of good, viz. (Ibid. 8) "The Torah of the L-rd is whole, restoring the soul." And just as water is free for the world, so words of Torah are free for the world, viz. (Isaiah 55:1) "Ho! all who thirst, go to the waters!" — But perhaps, just as water has no value, so Torah has no value; it is, therefore, written (Proverbs 3:15) "It is more precious than pearls, and all of your desires cannot be compared to it."