아모스 2:6의 미드라쉬

Another interpretation (of Gen. 6:9): THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF NOAH; NOAH WAS A RIGHTEOUS MAN.¹⁸Cf. Tanh. Gen. 2:5. Why is he given the name RIGHTEOUS? Inasmuch as he fed the creatures of the Holy One, he became like his Creator. Thus it is stated (in Ps. 11:7): FOR THE LORD IS RIGHTEOUS; HE LOVES RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. So also Joseph. Inasmuch as he fed the creatures for seven years, he was called righteous, as stated (in Amos 2:6): BECAUSE THEY SELL A RIGHTEOUS < ONE > (i.e., Joseph) FOR SILVER. {Thus, because he fed the creatures for seven years, he was therefore called righteous.}

These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man … Noah walked with God (Gen. 6:9). Why is Noah’s name repeated three times in this single verse? Because he was one of the three men privileged to experience three changes that occurred in the world. The three were Noah, Daniel, and Job. Noah saw the world inhabited, he witnessed its destruction, and finally he beheld it reinhabited. Daniel saw the first Temple intact, he beheld its destruction, and then he witnessed the erection of the second Temple. Job saw his household established, he beheld its destruction, and he finally witnessed its reestablishment. Noah was a righteous man. Noah was called righteous because he fed the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He. Two men were called righteous because they fed the creatures of the Holy One, blessed be He. They were Noah and Joseph. It is written concerning Joseph: Because they sell the righteous for silver (Amos 2:6), and of Joseph it is also said: And Joseph fed (Gen. 47:12).

We are taught in a Baraitha: R. Jose b. R. Juda said: "When a man sins the first time he is pardoned; the second time, he is pardoned; the third time, he is pardoned, as it is said (Amos 2, 6): Thus hath said the Lord: 'For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, will I not turn away their punishment.' And it is said (Job 33, 29) Lo, all those things doth God two or three times with man." What need for the second passage? From the first we might think that only a congregation is referred to, but not an individual. Come, listen: Lo, all these things doth God two or three times with man.

(Leading) to the way of evil, there are four doors, and at each door seven angels are standing—four without, and three within. The (angels) without are merciful, and those within are cruel. When a man comes to enter, the merciful angels go to meet him and say to him: What hast thou to do with the fire yonder? What hast thou to do with those glowing coals? Listen to us and repent. If he hearken to them and repent, behold it is well, and if not, he says to them: Amongst them (yonder) let my life (be). || They say to him: Thou hast entered the first door; do not enter the second door. When he comes to enter the second door, the merciful angels go to meet him and say to him: What benefit is it to thee to be erased from the Torah of thy God? Would it not be better to be inscribed in the Torah of thy God? Hearken unto us and repent. If he listen to them and repent, it is well; and if not, he says to them: With them yonder let my life (be). They say to him: Behold thou hast entered the second door, do not enter the third door. When he is about to enter the third door the merciful angels go to meet him and say to him: What benefit is to thee that they (i.e. the good angels) should flee from thee and call thee "Unclean"? Would it not be better that they should call thee "Pure One" and not "Unclean"? Hearken to us and repent. If he hearken unto them, behold, it is well; and if not, he says unto them: With them (yonder) let my life (be). They say to him: Behold thou hast entered the third door; do not enter the fourth door! When he is about to enter the fourth door the merciful angels go to meet him and say to him: Behold, thou hast entered these doors, and thou hast not hearkened nor returned. Thus far the Holy One, blessed be He, receives || the penitent; thus far the Holy One, blessed be He, pardons and forgives, and every day He says: Return, ye children of man, as it is said: "Thou turnest man to contrition" (Ps. 90:8).

(The brethren) sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and each one of them took two pieces of silver (apiece) to purchase shoes for their feet, as it is said, "Thus saith the Lord,… Because they have sold the righteous for silver, and the needy for a pair of shoes" (Amos 2:6). They said: Let us swear among ourselves that no one of us shall declare the matter to our father Jacob. Judah said to them: Reuben is not here, and the ban cannot be valid through nine (adults). What did they do? They associated the Omnipresent with them and proclaimed the ban.