욥기 23:8의 미드라쉬

Another interpretation (of Gen. 2:4): THESE ARE THE GENERATIONS OF THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH WHEN THEY WERE CREATED. This text is related (to Job 25:2): DOMINION AND AWE ARE WITH HIM. Thus Job had said (in 23:3): OH THAT I KNEW WHERE I MIGHT FIND HIM [THAT I MIGHT COME TO HIS ABODE]. R. Abba bar Kahana said: If he is in a temple above, I will come to his abode; and if he is in a temple below, I will come to his abode. Now HIS ABODE (rt.: KWN) is nothing but a temple, as stated (in Ezra 3:3): AND THEY SHALL SET THE ALTAR UPON ITS BASE (rt.: KWN). Ergo he says: This < abode > is a temple. (Job 23:4:) LET ME LAY MY CASE (mishpat) BEFORE HIM. His friends said to him: Do you not know that he is called the God of justice (mishpat)? It is so stated (in Is. 30:18): FOR THE LORD IS A GOD OF JUSTICE (mishpat). (Job 23:4, cont.:) AND FILL MY MOUTH WITH PROTESTS. He said to him: If that man's mouth would close, (according to vs. 5) I WOULD KNOW {WHAT} WORDS HE WOULD ANSWER ME [AND UNDERSTAND WHAT HE WOULD-SAY TO ME]. Oh that he would answer me point for point as to whether I have sinned or not sinned. (Job 23:8:) SEE, I GO EAST, AND HE IS NOT THERE; AND WEST, BUT I DO NOT PERCEIVE HIM. R. Johanan said: You learn from here that the Divine Presence is in the west. I went south and north without finding him (cf. vs. 9). Why? (Job 23:10:) BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE WAY I TAKE. WHEN HE HAS TRIED ME, I SHALL COME FORTH LIKE GOLD. His friends said to him: Job, how long will you pester with words? Are we not telling you that you cannot go out to meet him and speak insolently with him? They said to him: Can you speak insolently with Michael?