Midrasz do Habakuka 2:4

R. Nechemiah says: If one takes upon himself a single mitzvah in (true) faith, he is worthy of having the Holy Spirit repose upon him. And thus do we find with Moses, David, and Devorah that (in the fulness of their faith) they chanted song and the Holy Spirit reposed upon them. And thus do you find that Israel were redeemed from Egypt only in reward for their faith, viz. (Exodus 4:31) "And the people believed, etc." And thus is it written (Psalms 31:24) "The L rd guards the faithful." The faithfulness of the fathers is brought to remembrance, viz. (Exodus 17:12) "And Aaron and Chur supported his (Moses') hands, and his hands were (lifted in) faithfulness until the sun set." And it is written (Psalms 108:20) "This is the gate to the L rd. Tzaddikim (faithful in prayer) will enter through it." What is written of the "believers"? (Isaiah 26:2) "Open the gates and let there enter a nation that is (a) tzaddik, a keeper of faith" — this gate is to be entered by all believers. (Psalms 92:2-5) "It is good to praise the L rd and so sing to Your exalted name. To proclaim in the morning Your lovingkindness, and Your faithfulness in the nights. With a ten-stringed harp, with voice and lyre together. For You have gladdened me by Your deeds, O L rd. At the work of Your hands I will sing." What made him worthy of this joy? The belief held by our fathers in this world, which is all "night." Thus, "to proclaim in the world (to come) Your lovingkindness and Your faithfulness in the 'nights'" (i.e., this world). And thus with Yehoshafat (II Chronicles 20:20) "And they rose early in the morning and they went to the desert of Tekoa. And as they went forth Yehoshafat arose and said: 'Hear me, Judah and dwellers of Jerusalem: Believe in the L rd your G d and you will rest assured. Believe in His prophets and you will succeed.'" And it is written (Jeremiah 5:3) "O L rd, are Your eyes not (looking) for belief?" (Habakkuk 2:4) "And the tzaddik in his belief shall live", and (Eichah 3:23) "They (Your mercies) are renewed every morning — Great is Your faithfulness." And thus do you find that the exiles are gathered in, only in reward for faith, as it is written (Song of Songs 4:8) "With Me, from Levanon, My bride; With Me from Levanon shall you come (out of exile). You shall look (upon the redemption) merosh amanah" (homiletically: "in the merit of emunah [belief]). (Hoshea 2:22) "And I will betroth you to Me forever … and I will betroth you to Me with emunah."

[Another interpretation (of Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE.] The Holy One said to them: I am not bothering with <any> other people except you. What is written (in Hab. 2:4)? LO, HIS INNER SOUL IS ARROGANT, NOT UPRIGHT; BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS. LO, <HIS INNER SOUL> IS ARROGANT. This refers to Nebuchadnezzar. How? The Holy One had made him king over all the world but he was unhappy with his lot. (Ibid.:) HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. Then he looked at himself and felt ashamed;¹⁷Cf. PRK 13:8, according to which Nebuchadnezzar was a dwarf. Similarly Tanh., Exod. 7:4, which finds a clue to his smallness in his name. but he said: I am king. Thus it says: HIS INNER SOUL IS <…> NOT UPRIGHT. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE BY HIS FAITHFULNESS (rt.: 'MN). In the world to come the Holy One will judge the children of Adam, each and every one along with the children of his handiwork (rt.: 'MN); BUT THE RIGHTEOUS PERSON SHALL LIVE with fidelity (rt.: 'MN). The Holy One said to them: Each and every one {is from} [lives off] his handiwork (rt.: 'MN). Now I have redeemed you from Egypt, but you are not setting aside for me a priestly share. (Exod. 25:2): AND LET THEM TAKE FOR ME A PRIESTLY SHARE….

R. Simlai lectured: "Six hundred and thirteen commands were spoken to Moses; three hundred and sixty-five of them negatives, corresponding to the number of days in the year counting according to the solar system, and two hundred and forty-eight positives, corresponding to the members of a human body." Said R. Hamnuna: "Where is the passage to prove this? (Deut. 33, 4) The Torah which Moses commanded us. The numerical value of the word Torah amounts to six hundred and eleven. (Fol. 24) I am; and, Thou shalt have no [of the first two commandments], we heard from the Almighty Himself. David, however, came and reduced their number to eleven, as it is written (Ps. 15, 2-5) A Psalm of David, Lord, we shall sojourn in Thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell upon Thy holy mountain? He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh truth in his heart, etc., i.e., He that walketh uprightly, refers to Abraham, concernnig whom such an expression is written (Gen. 17, 1) Walk before Me, and be upright. Worketh righteously, refers to a man like Aba Chelkia.' And speaketh the truth refers to man like Rabbi Saphra. Nor doeth evil to his fellows, i.e., who takes care not to compete with his neighbor's business. That hath no slander upon his tongue, refers to our father Jacob, concerning whom it is written (Gen. 27, 12) My father peradventure will feel me. Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbor, refers to one who befriends his relatives. In whose eyes a vile person is despised, refers to Hezekiah, King of Judea, who caused his father's bones to be carried on a bed of ropes. But he honoreth them that fear the Lord, refers to Jehoshaphath, King of Judea, who upon seeing a scholar, would rise from his throne, kiss him, and call him, my father, my master, my teacher, my master, my master. But that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not; this refers to R. Jochanan, who said: 'If one says I will fast until I will come home.' He that putteth not out his money on interest, i.e., not even from an idolater. Nor taketh no bribe, refers to men like R. Ismael b. Jose. He that doeth these things shall never be moved. When R. Gamaliel would come to this passage, he used to weep, saying: "Only one who performed all these shall not be moved, but [if he performs merely] one of them, he might be moved;" whereupon R. Akiba said to him: "According to your opinion then how would you explain the passage (Lev. 18, 24) Defile not ye yourselves in all of those things. Do you mean to say that only if in all of these things, but not one?" You must therefore say that it means to any of these things. The same could also be explained. Isaiah then came and reduced them (the six hundred and thirteen commands) to six as it is said (33, 15) He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes; that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from looking on evil. He that walketh righteously, refers to Abraham, of whom it is written (Gen. 18, 19) For I have known him, to do righteousness and justice, etc. Speaketh uprightly, refers to him who does not anger his colleague in public. And he despiseth the gain of oppressions, refers to R. Ismael b. Elisha. That shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, refers to R. Ishmael b. Jose. That stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, refers to R. Elazar b. Simon. And shutteth his eyes from looking on evil, as R. Chiya b. Aba explained this to refer to one "who does not look upon women washing near the bank of the river." When Michah [the prophet] came he reduced them to three (6, 8) It hath been told thee, o man, what is good; and what the Lord doth require of thee: (only) to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. To do justly, refers to the law; love mercy, refers to loving kindness; and walk humbly, providing for the marriage of poor maidens and the burial of the dead. Is this not an a fortiori conclusion! If concerning matters which are not to be performed in secrecy, the Torah says to walk humbly, how much more so should this be applied to matters which are accustomed to be done in secrecy! Isaiah finally reduced them to two, as it is said (56, 1) Thus saith the Lord, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness. Amos then came and reduced them to one, as it is said (Amos 5, 4) For thus saith the Lord unto the house of Israel: Seek ye Me, and live. R. Nachman b. Isaac raised the following objection: Perhaps he means by Seek ye Me, to perform the entire Torah? We must therefore say that it was Habakkuk [the prophet] who came and reduced them to one (2, 4) But the righteous shall live by his faith.