욥기 28:9의 미드라쉬

(Gen. 19:1:) IN THE EVENING. What is the meaning of IN THE EVENING? That the Sodomites were dark like the night.⁵⁷See below, 4:21. Another interpretation: IN THE EVENING (ba'erev). The evening of Sodom had arrived.⁵⁸The midrash understands ba‘erev (“in the evening”) as two words, ‘erev (“evening”) and ba (“has come”). See Gen. R. 50:3. (Ibid., cont.:) AND LOT WAS SITTING AT THE GATE OF SODOM, as he had learned from the practice of Abraham. What is written here (in Gen. 18:2) about Abraham? WHEN HE SAW THEM HE RAN < FROM > THE DOOR OF HIS TENT TO MEET THEM < AND BOWED DOWN TO THE EARTH >. Solomon has said in (Prov. 22:6): TRAIN A CHILD IN THE WAY HE SHOULD GO. Because Lot had grown up in Abraham's house, he had acquired < Abraham's > moral standards. < Thus > (in Gen. 19:1, cont.): AND HE BOWED DOWN WITH HIS FACE TO THE GROUND. Just as Abraham had done, he brought them into his house. What is written (in vss. 4-5)? BEFORE THEY LAY DOWN … AND THEY CALLED UNTO LOT … < BRING THEM OUT UNTO US THAT WE MAY KNOW THEM >. The angels began to be astonished, saying: The matter has reached us! Now < there is > much on the subject < that is being passed over > merely in order not to bother you. What did they finally do? One of them rescued Lot, and one of them destroyed Sodom.⁵⁹See Gen. R. 50:2. Now perhaps you will say: He destroyed it with one of his hands. No, < it was > merely with one finger, which is one of five on the hand. Thus it is stated (in Job 28:9): HE PUT OUT HIS HAND BAHALLAMISH.⁶⁰The midrash has interpreted bahallamish (“against the hard rock”) as bahamishi (“with the fifth”). In the world to come the Holy One will heal it (i.e., Sodom);⁶¹So below, 4:22; Exod R. 15:21. and Israel will divide it up, as stated (in Ps. 60:8ff. [6ff.]): I WILL DISTRIBUTE SHECHEM < AND MEASURE OUT THE VALLEY OF SUCCOTH>….⁶²So below, 4:22. Cf. PRK 29(suppl. 2):3. According to Gen. R. 42:5, the valley of Succoth is identified with the valley of Siddim at the Dead Sea (Gen. 14:3).

(Gen. 19:5:) AND THEY CALLED UNTO LOT < AND SAID TO HIM: WHERE ARE THE MEN > … THAT WE MAY KNOW THEM.⁸⁷Cf. Gen. R. 50:5-8. < They did so > because they desired to rape them. R. Hiyya bar Abba said: From here you learn that they were lecherous. He said to them (in vs. 8): LOOK HERE, I HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN ANYONE. < The verse > teaches that he wanted to bring them into the midst of his house, but that his wife would not let him. What did he do? He brought them to his own part of the house.⁸⁸Literally: “To midst of his own rafter.” (Gen. 19:11:) SO THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND THE DOOR.⁸⁹I.e., the door to the women’s quarters. When < the angels > saw that the < Sodomites > deserved destruction, they also rescued Lot. What is written there (in Gen. 19:23-25)? THE SUN HAD RISEN UPON THE EARTH … THEN THE LORD RAINED DOWN UPON SODOM < … > AND HE DESTROYED THOSE CITIES. Perhaps you will say: He destroyed it with his five fingers.⁹⁰See above, 4:15. R. Ayyevu said: < It was > with one of his fingers < that > he destroyed the cities of Sodom, as stated (in Job 28:9): HE PUT OUT HIS HAND BAHALLAMISH.⁹¹The midrash has interpreted bahallamish (“against the hard rock”) as bahamishi (“with the fifth”). In the world to come, when the Holy One heals Israel, he will heal her, as stated (in Hos. 2:17 [15]): I WILL GIVE < ISRAEL > HER VINEYARDS FROM THERE. HER VINEYARDS: These are the prophets. (Ibid.:) THE VALLEY OF ACHOR (rt.: 'KR) IS WITH A DOOR OF HOPE. < This means >: A valley which I afflicted (rt.: 'KR) with my wrath IS WITH A DOOR OF HOPE. At that time they will voice a song, as stated (in ibid., cont.): AND SHE WILL RESPOND (rt.: 'NH) FROM THERE AS IN THE DAYS OF HER YOUTH; and one does not use RESPOND (rt.: 'NH) except in reference to song. Thus one finds stated (in Ps. 147:7): SING (rt.: 'NH) TO THE LORD WITH THANKSGIVING.