Midrasz do Rodzaju 29:2
וַיַּ֞רְא וְהִנֵּ֧ה בְאֵ֣ר בַּשָּׂדֶ֗ה וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֞ם שְׁלֹשָׁ֤ה עֶדְרֵי־צֹאן֙ רֹבְצִ֣ים עָלֶ֔יהָ כִּ֚י מִן־הַבְּאֵ֣ר הַהִ֔וא יַשְׁק֖וּ הָעֲדָרִ֑ים וְהָאֶ֥בֶן גְּדֹלָ֖ה עַל־פִּ֥י הַבְּאֵֽר׃
I spojrzał, a oto studnia na polu, a tam trzy stada owiec rozłożone przy niej, bo ze studni tej zwykle pojono stada; a kamień był ogromny nad otworem studni.
Esther Rabbah
“Haman saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and prostrating himself to him and Haman was filled with wrath” (Esther 3:5).
“Haman saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and prostrating himself to him” – Rabbi Aivu said: “May their eyes,” of the wicked, “grow dim so they cannot see” (Psalms 69:24). Because the sight of the eyes of the wicked takes them down to Gehenna; that is what is written: “The children of the great saw the daughters of man”5The children of the great sinned in doing so. See the following verses. (Genesis 6:2); “Ham, father of Canaan, saw [the nakedness of his father] (Genesis 9:22); “Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were objectionable [in the eyes of Isaac his father]”6Esau had previously married two women from Canaan. (Genesis 28:8); “Balak son of Tzippor saw [all that Israel had done to the Emorites]”7He subsequently hired Bilam to curse them. (Numbers 22:2); “Bilam saw that it was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord to bless Israel,”8Despite his efforts to curse them. (Numbers 24:1); “Haman saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and prostrating himself to him.”
However, the sight of the eyes of the righteous brings light, as the sight of the eyes of the righteous elevates them to the highest heights; that is what is written: “He [Abraham] lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, three men” (Genesis 18:2); “He [Abraham] saw, and behold, a ram” (Genesis 22:13); “He [Jacob] saw, and behold, a well in the field” (Genesis 29:2); “He [Moses] saw, and behold, a bush” (Exodus 3:2); “Pinḥas saw”9He saw the Israelites sinning with the daughters of Midyan and arose to put a stop to it. (Numbers 25:7). Therefore, they are happy with the sight of their eyes, as it is stated: “The upright see this and rejoice” (Psalms 107:42).
“Haman saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and prostrating himself to him” – Rabbi Aivu said: “May their eyes,” of the wicked, “grow dim so they cannot see” (Psalms 69:24). Because the sight of the eyes of the wicked takes them down to Gehenna; that is what is written: “The children of the great saw the daughters of man”5The children of the great sinned in doing so. See the following verses. (Genesis 6:2); “Ham, father of Canaan, saw [the nakedness of his father] (Genesis 9:22); “Esau saw that the daughters of Canaan were objectionable [in the eyes of Isaac his father]”6Esau had previously married two women from Canaan. (Genesis 28:8); “Balak son of Tzippor saw [all that Israel had done to the Emorites]”7He subsequently hired Bilam to curse them. (Numbers 22:2); “Bilam saw that it was pleasing in the eyes of the Lord to bless Israel,”8Despite his efforts to curse them. (Numbers 24:1); “Haman saw that Mordekhai was not bowing and prostrating himself to him.”
However, the sight of the eyes of the righteous brings light, as the sight of the eyes of the righteous elevates them to the highest heights; that is what is written: “He [Abraham] lifted his eyes and saw, and behold, three men” (Genesis 18:2); “He [Abraham] saw, and behold, a ram” (Genesis 22:13); “He [Jacob] saw, and behold, a well in the field” (Genesis 29:2); “He [Moses] saw, and behold, a bush” (Exodus 3:2); “Pinḥas saw”9He saw the Israelites sinning with the daughters of Midyan and arose to put a stop to it. (Numbers 25:7). Therefore, they are happy with the sight of their eyes, as it is stated: “The upright see this and rejoice” (Psalms 107:42).
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Midrash Tanchuma
And he dwelt in the land of Midian; and he sat down by a well. In so doing, he repeated what his ancestors had done previously. There were three who met their mates at a well: Isaac, Jacob, and Moses. Isaac, as it is written: And Isaac came from the way of Beer-lahai-roi (Gen. 24:62). Jacob, as it is written: And he looked up, and behold, a well in the field (ibid. 29:2). Moses, as it is written: And he sat down by a well.
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Bereishit Rabbah
“And he looked, and behold! a well in the field…” (Genesis 29:2) R. Chama bar Chaninah opened it with six lines (six interpretations): “And he looked, and behold! a well in the field…” (Genesis 29:2) This refers to the well. “…and behold! three flocks of sheep…” (ibid.) This refers to Moses, Aaron and Miriam. “…because from that well they would water the flocks…” (ibid.) Because from there each and every one would draw water for his tribe and for his family. “…and a huge rock…” (ibid.) R. Chanina said: This is to say that there was like the mouthful of a small sieve in it. “And all the flocks would gather there and they would roll…” (Genesis 29:3) At the time of the encampments. “…and then they would return the rock onto the mouth of the well, to its place.” (ibid.) At the time of the journeys it would return to its great strength. Another explanation. “And he looked, and behold! a well in the field…” (Genesis 29:2) This refers to Zion. “…and behold! three flocks of sheep…” (ibid.) This refers to the three pilgrimage festivals. “…because from that well they would water the flocks…” (ibid.) Because from there they would draw the holy spirit. “…and a huge rock…” (ibid.) This refers to the celebration of the water drawing (simchat bet hashoevah). (R. Hoshaya said: why did they call it the celebration of the water drawing? Because from there they would draw the holy spirit.) “And all the flocks would gather there…” (Genesis 29:3) They would come all the way from Mevo Chamat to the stream of Egypt. “…and they would roll the rock off the mouth of the well and water the sheep…” (ibid.) Because from there they would draw the holy spirit. “…and then they would return the rock onto the mouth of the well, to its place.” (ibid) Left to rest for the next pilgrimage festival...
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