여호수아 24:2의 미드라쉬

"and warred with Israel in Refidim": R. Chaninah said: I asked this of R. Elazar in the Great College. How is "Refidim" to be understood? He answered: as is (i.e., as a place name). R. Chanina said further: I asked R. Elazar: Why are the first-born of asses (especially) to be redeemed, and not those of horses or of camels? It was an exigency of the time, for at that time they had only asses, there being no Israelite who did not bring up with him ninety asses laden with silver and gold. Others say: "Refidim" is acronymic for "rifyon yadayim" ("weakness of hands"). Because the hands of Israel had weakened in Torah study, the foe came upon them, this transpiring only because of "weakness of hands" in Torah study, viz. (II Chronicles 12:1) "And it was, when the kingship of Rechavam was firmly established, and he grew strong that he abandoned the Torah of the L rd, he and all of Israel with him." What was the punishment for this? (Ibid. 2) "Shishak the king of Egypt came up against Jerusalem … (9) "and he took the treasures of the house of the L rd" (and he returned them to Egypt). And this (i.e., the treasures, etc.) was one of the three things that "returned to their place": the exile of Judah, viz. (Joshua 24:2) "Beyond the river (Euphrates, i.e., in Bavel) did your forefathers dwell," and (Ezra 5:12) "He (Nevuchadnezzar) destroyed this house (the Temple) and exiled the people to Bavel;" the writ of Heaven, (i.e., when Moses broke the tablets, the letters returned to Heaven), viz. (Mishlei 23:5) "If you turn your eyes from it (Torah) it is gone … and flies to Heaven"; the wealth of Egypt (as above).