나훔 1:12의 미드라쉬

R. Avira expounded, sometimes in the name of R. Ami and at other times in the name of R. Assi: "What does the passage (Naoh. 1, 12) Thu.'i hath said the Lord, though they he complete and ever so many, nevertheless shall they he cut down and it shall he over, mean? This means if a man perceives that his earnings are scarce he should spend part of it for charity, so much more should one do so when his earnings are plentiful." What does, Nevertheless shall they be cut down and it shall be over, mean? In the academy of R. Ishmael it was explained: Whoever takes off from his wealth for charity, shall be delivered from the judgment of Gehenna. This might be compared unto two sheep which passed over a water, one whose wool was shorn and one whose was not. The one whose wool was shorn passed over the stream, but the one of which the wool was not shorn did not pass the stream. (Ib., ib., ib.) And if even I have afflicted thee. Mar Zutra said: "Even a poor man receiving his support from charity, should give charity." (Ib., ib., ib.) I will afflict thee no more; as R. Joseph was taught: This means that if a poor man gives charity, he will thence not experience any poverty.

R. Eleazar said: If there is judgement (din) below there is no judgement above; if there is no judgement above, there is judgement below.¹⁹Tanh., Exod. 6:5, cont.; M. Ps. 72:3; Gen. R. 26:6; Deut. R. 5:5; see also Gen. R. 35:3; 65:9. How so? If those below carry out a judgement, there is no judgement above? For this reason the Holy One said: Observe justice (mishpat) below so that you will not cause me to carry out justice (mishpat) above.²⁰See I Corinthians 11:32. Ergo (in Exod. 21:1): AND THESE ARE THE ORDINANCES (mishpatim). The Holy One said to them: Whatever I do, I do with justice (din). Thus, had I desired to transgress against justice (din) one time, the world would have been unable to survive. Isaiah has said (in Is. 27:4): THERE IS NO ANGER IN ME. [WOULD THAT HE WOULD GIVE ME THORNS AND THISTLES. I WOULD STEP FORTH AGAINST THEM IN BATTLE. I WOULD SET THEM ON FIRE ALL TOGETHER.] Had I walked one step and disregarded judgment (din), I WOULD SET THEM ON FIRE ALL TOGETHER, <i.e.> the world would have burned immediately. (Is. 27:5:) OR LET HIM TAKE HOLD OF MY PROTECTION, when my hand is seized in justice (din), [as stated (in Deut. 32:41):] MY HAND LAYS HOLD ON JUSTICE (mishpat). (Is. 27:5, cont.:) AND LET HIM MAKE PEACE FOR ME, <i.e.> LET HIM MAKE PEACE between me and the judgement (mishpat). (Deut. 32:41:) IF I SHARPEN (rt.: SNN) MY FLASHING SWORD, <i.e.> if I should change (rt.: SNH) the measure of judgement (din), a single flash of lightning would go forth to destroy the world. What should I do? (Deut. 32:41, cont.:) MY HAND LAYS HOLD ON JUSTICE (mishpat). The Holy One said: I am called the Lord of Justice (mishpat, rt.: ShPT), and I want to stretch out (rt.: PShT) my hand against Esau. Still I am unable <to do so> until I pay him a reward for a small favor which he did for me in this world. R. Pinhas bar Hama the Priest said:²¹Esther R. 1:6. Look at what is written (in Zech. 12:9): SO IT WILL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY {SAYS THE LORD} THAT I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS. Israel says to him: Sovereign of the World, then who will stay your hand, since you are saying: I SEEK? The Holy One said: It is simply that, when I SEEK their merit and do not find it, then I WILL SEEK TO DESTROY ALL THE NATIONS. R. Levi said: What is written (in Dan. 7:9)? I LOOKED UNTIL THRONES WERE THROWN DOWN.²²Remaw. The word can mean “were set in place,” and this meaning better fits the biblical context. The context of the midrash, however, requires the translation, WERE THROWN DOWN. The Holy One said: When I acquit some of the nations of the world <for> a few simple commandments which they have carried out in my presence, <it is> during that < limited > time, UNTIL THRONES WERE THROWN DOWN. <It is those > thrones belonging to the nations of the world that the Holy One is going to overturn, as stated (in Hag. 2:22): THEN I WILL OVERTURN THE THRONES OF {THE}KINGDOMS [AND DESTROY THE MIGHT OF THE KINGDOMS] OF THE NATIONS. At that time I will <also> redeem you so that you shall be enslaved no more, as stated (in Nahum 1:12): THOUGH I HAVE AFFLICTED YOU, I WILL AFFLICT YOU NO MORE.

R. Yudan said in the name of Aibu: It is written: I have trodden the wine press alone, and of the peoples there was no man with Me (Isa. 63:3). Does the Holy One, blessed be He, require their assistance that He should say: There was no man with Me? The Holy One, blessed be He, implied by this verse that: When I examine their record and find nothing to their credit then, I tread them in My anger, and trample them in My fury (ibid.). Then I shall redeem you, and never again shall you be oppressed, as it is said: And though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more (Neh. 1:12).