사무엘상 2:8의 미드라쉬

(Furthermore,) the world endures because of those who guard the law, as Hannah stated: For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s (I Sam. 2:8). Who are the pillars of the earth? They are the guardians of the law, for whose sake alone the world was fashioned, as is said: He hath fashioned the world because of them (ibid.).

(Ps. 11, 3) For [if] the foundations be torn down, and what would the upright do? R. Juda and R. Eina differ. According to one it means: "If Ezekiah and his party would have been destroyed, how could [the promise of the Lord] be fulfilled?" And according to the other: "If the Temple would have been destroyed by Sancherib, [in accordance with the advice of Shebna], what would have become of the wonderful miracles of the Lord?" And according to Ulla this refers to the thoughts of that wicked (Shebna): "If they would not have been destroyed, what would have become of the righteous Hezekiah?" The interpretation of the one who explains that the passage for the foundation be torn down refers to Shebna's thoughts, is readily understood, as it is said (I Sam. 21, 13) And David laid up these words in his heart. The interpretation of the one who explains the word foundation to mean the Temple, is also evident, as we are taught in a Mishnah that a stone was placed in the Temple from the time of the first prophets, with the name Shethiha (foundation). But he who explains the passage to mean Hezekiah and his party, where is it to be found that the word foundation refers to the righteous? From the following passage (I Sam. 2, 8) For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He hath set the world upon them. [Pillars, are the righteous, on which He hath set, the foundation]. And if you wish I will say from the following (Is. 28, 29) Wonderful is He in counsel, and excellent in His wise deeds. R. Chanina said: Why is the Torah called Tushiya? Because the study of it weakens the strength of man. Others explain: Because it was given in silence because of Satan. Others, again, explain it that they are mere words, and yet the world is built upon them.

R. Chiya b. Abba, in the name of R. Jochanan, said: "A righteous man does not depart from the world, till another righteous man like him has been born, as it is said (Ecc. 1, 5) The sun rises, the sun goes down; i.e., before the sum of Eli had been extinguished, the sun of Samuel of Ramah already shone." Again said R. Chiya b. Abba, in the name of R. Jochanan: "The Holy One, praised be He! perceived that the righteous men were few, so He planted them in every generation, as it is said (I Sam. 2, 8) For the Lord's are the pillars of the earth, on which He hath set the world." Again said R. Chiya b. Abba, in the name of R. Jochanan: "Even through the merits of one righteous man, the world can exist, as it is said (Prov. 10, 25) The righteous is the foundation of the world." R. Chiya b. Abba said on his own authority: "We infer it from the following passage (I Sam. 2, 9) He ever guardeth the feet of His pious one." But the Khasidav (pious ones) are spoken of in the plural?" R. Nachman remarked: "It is nevertheless spelled in the singular." R. Chiya b. Abba said further, in the name of R. Jochanan: "When a man has lived the greater part of his life without having sinned, he will sin no more, for it is said (Ib.) He ever guardeth the feet [the end] of His pious ones." At the school of R. Shila it was said: "When a man has had occasion to commit a sin once and twice, and he escapes committing it, he will be guarded thereafter from sinning, as it is said (Ib.) He ever guardeth the feet of His pious ones."

“For when the foundations were destroyed…” Rav Yehudah and Rav Eina, one said ‘if Hezekiah and his supporters had been destroyed then what would the Righteous have accomplished?’ and one said ‘if the Temple were destroyed, then what would the Righteous have accomplished?’ Ulah said ‘if the thoughts of that wicked man were not thwarted, then what would the righteous have accomplished? The verse makes sense according to the one who says it refers to the thoughts of the wicked one, that is why it says “for the foundations were destroyed.” So too according to the one who says it refers to the Holy Temple, as it is taught, there was a stone there from the time of the first prophets, and it was called shetiyah. But according to the one who says it refers to Hezekiah and his supporters, where do we find that righteous people are called foundation? It is written “For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's, and He placed the world upon them.” (Shmuel I 2:8) Or one can demonstrate it from here “He gave marvelous counsel, made great wisdom.” (Isaiah 28:29) Rebbe Yochanan said, why is it (the Torah) called wisdom (toshia)? Because it wears out (mateshet) one’s strength.