Królów I 18:21 Midrasz: Ruth Rabbah, Aggadat Bereshit, Midrash Tehillim & Yalkut Shimoni

“It was during the days when the judges judged.” “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent in paying their respects to Joshua; that is what is written: “They buried him on the border of his inheritance…north of Mount Gaash” (Joshua 24:30). Rabbi Berekhya said: We reviewed the entire Bible and did not find a place named Gaash. What is Mount Gaash? It is because Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua. At that time, the Land of Israel was being divided [among the tribes], and its division [i.e., the land] was too beloved to them. Israel were engaged in their labor; this one was occupied in his field, this one was occupied in his vineyard, this one was occupied in his olives, and this one was occupied with his planks [for construction]. “A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15)⁶This is the conclusion of the verse: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep, and the deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:5). – Israel was negligent [nitgaashu] in doing kindness for Joshua, and the Holy One blessed be He sought to bring an earthquake upon the world, upon all its inhabitants, as you say: “The earth shook [vatigash] and quaked” (Psalms 18:8). “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they were deceitful to the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols. Therefore, the Holy One blessed be He starved them of the divine spirit, as it is stated: “The word of the Lord was rare in those days” (I Samuel 3:1).
Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – due to the fact that Israel was indolent about repenting during the days of Elijah, “casts into [tapil] a deep sleep” – prophecy proliferated. Proliferated? But you said tapil.⁷Tapil literally means ‘cause to fall’ or ‘cause to decline.’ It is as you say: The price of fruit has fallen.⁸Because the supply has increased, the price has declined. Rabbi Simon said: Like a person who says to another: ‘Here is a sack, here is a sela coin, arise and eat.’⁹In other words, prophecy was readily available, like buying produce. As Rabbi Derosa said: Six hundred thousand prophets arose for Israel during the days of Elijah; Rabbi Yaakov said: One million two hundred thousand. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Between Gevat and Antipatris¹⁰Gevat was at the southern border of Roman Judea and Antipatris at its northern border. This expression is a way of saying ‘throughout Judea.’ there were six hundred thousand towns, and there were no towns more corrupt that Beit El and Jericho; Jericho, because Joshua cursed it (see Joshua 6:26), and Beit El, because Yerovam’s calves were situated there (see I Kings 12:28–29). It is stated: “The disciples of the prophets who were in Beit El went out to Elisha” (II Kings 2:3). “Prophets” – prophets are no fewer than two.¹¹If in this corrupt city there were at least two prophets, presumably there were more elsewhere. Why were their prophecies not publicized? It is because they served no purpose for future generations. On this basis, say: Any prophecy that served no purpose for future generations was not publicized. But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will come and bring them with Him, and their prophecy will be publicized; that is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5).
“A deceitful soul will starve” (Proverbs 19:15) – because they would deceive the Holy One blessed be He: Some of them worshipped idols and some of them worshipped the Holy One blessed be He. This is what Elijah said to them: “How long will you waver between the two opinions” (I Kings 18:21)? “Will starve” – the Holy One blessed be He starved them during the days of Elijah, as it is stated: “By the life of the Lord [. . .] before whom I have stood [there will not be dew or rain during these years]” (I Kings 17:1). Another interpretation: “Indolence casts into a deep sleep” (Proverbs 19:15) – because Israel were indolent about repenting during the days of the judges, a deep sleep will be cast upon them. “A deceitful soul will starve” – because they deceived the Holy One blessed be He with some of them worshipping idols and some of them worshipping the Holy One blessed be He, the Holy One blessed be He starved them with a famine during the days of their judges.

[2] Another interpretation: "Like a thread of scarlet [are your lips]. This refers to the time when God said to the Israelites, "How long will you continue to celebrate Passover?" (I Kings 18:21). Your speech is also beautiful when God said, "The God who answers by fire is the true God" (1 Kings 18:24), and immediately all the people responded and said, "The matter is good" (1 Kings 18:24). Your speech is also beautiful when you declared to the Israelites, "The Lord is God, the Lord is God" (1 Kings 18:39), like the cluster of pomegranates. This refers to the generation that had little merit, yet they were beloved like the pomegranate, because of what they did when they gathered at Mount Carmel, as it is said, "And now, send and gather to me all of Israel at Mount Carmel" (1 Kings 18:19). Like the Tower of David is your neck. This refers to the altar that was built, as it is said, "And he repaired the altar of the Lord that had been torn down" (1 Kings 18:30), which was a source of healing for Israel. A thousand shields refer to the merit of the tribes, as it is said, "And Elijah took twelve stones, one for each tribe of the sons of Jacob" (1 Kings 18:31). All the rulers of the mighty refer to the merit of the patriarchs that was mentioned, and not because of Elijah himself. Rather, all the rulers of the mighty are dependent only on this Tower, and what is this Tower? It is Abraham, for all prayers are dependent on him. Moses said, "Remember Abraham" (Exodus 32:13), David said, "O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep forever this attitude and thought in the hearts of Your people" (1 Chronicles 29:18), and Elijah also said, "And Elijah approached and said, 'O Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel'" (1 Kings 18:36). Therefore, a thousand shields are dependent on him."

I hate branches. As it says in Proverbs 8:13, "The fear of the Lord is to hate evil." So the Lord hates those who hate the way of life and walk in the way of evil. David said to him, "Whatever you hate, I hate." Therefore it is said, "branches, etc." And what are branches? Anyone who departs from the ways of the Lord. And so it says in Ezekiel 31:6, "All the birds of the heavens made their nests in his boughs; under his branches all the beasts of the field gave birth to their young; and under his shadow lived all great nations." This means branches. And so Elijah said in 1 Kings 18:21, "How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him." I hate branches, that is, people who think they fear God because of their sufferings and not out of love, and also those who depart from the ways of God and follow the ways of men. David said, "I did not do them out of compulsion or fear, but out of love, as it says, 'I love your law.'" I hate what you hate and love what you love. Flesh and blood carry out His decree, and everyone does them, even though they do them out of fear. I, on the other hand, do them out of love for the Torah. And so it says, "What I love, etc." Because I love it, do not leave me, but be my hiding place and shield. Another verse says, "You are my shield and my savior, etc." This is what you said to Abraham in Genesis 15:1, "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, etc." And so it says in 2 Samuel 22:36, "You have given me the shield of your salvation." Not for myself, but for anyone who trusts in you. And so it says in the same chapter, "He is a shield for all who take refuge in him." Therefore it is said, "Be far from me, you evildoers, etc." This refers to Doeg and Ahithophel, who said to them, "Why do you push me away? Let me sit for a moment and study the Torah." And so it says to Saul in 1 Samuel 26:19, "Now let my lord listen to his servant's words, etc." I broke [the oath] that I would fulfill the Torah and live, and I will do the Torah without shame. Support me and save me, etc. Thus David said, "Support me so that I may have the strength to endure the suffering that You bring upon me, in order that You may save me." I went to study Chapter One [of the Torah], and I had no strength to support me. Support me and save me if I come to a commandment and cannot fulfill it. Thus it is said (Psalms 18:36), "You support me with Your right hand." From here you learn that the Holy One, blessed be He, saves Israel only because they occupy themselves with the Torah. Therefore it is said, "Support me and save me." "You have cleared away all who stray from Your statutes, etc." What is meant by "You have cleared away all who stray"? It refers to those who study the Torah but do not fulfill it, and you rejected them. Ahithophel came, learned the Torah but did not fulfill it, and you rejected him. Why were they compared to a storehouse full of straw? After a while, the owner of the storehouse came and plastered it with mud, and even though he plastered it with mud, the straw was still pouring out of the holes. So, too, these [people] came and learned all the details of the Torah, but their hearts were full of foolishness. Therefore it is said, "You have cleared away all who stray." "For their falsehood, You will destroy them." What is meant by "For their falsehood, You will destroy them"? When they came and learned the Torah with lies and deception, they learned it falsely. Therefore it is said, "For their falsehood, You will destroy them." "You have silenced all the wicked of the earth." What is meant by "You have silenced all the wicked"? This bundle of grapes, as long as it has grapes on it, is in the hands of man. After he eats the grapes, he makes raisins, and what is left he throws to the ground. So, too, these [people], all were bundled together, and they were all destroyed together. Therefore it is said, "You have silenced all the wicked." "My flesh trembles for fear of You." Fear of Gehenna. Thus it is said (Isaiah 33:14), "The sinners in Zion are afraid." God said to him, "You are afraid? Blessed are you!" As it is said (Proverbs 28:14), "Happy is the man who is always afraid."