Midrasz do Liczb 2:31
כָּל־הַפְּקֻדִים֙ לְמַ֣חֲנֵה דָ֔ן מְאַ֣ת אֶ֗לֶף וְשִׁבְעָ֧ה וַחֲמִשִּׁ֛ים אֶ֖לֶף וְשֵׁ֣שׁ מֵא֑וֹת לָאַחֲרֹנָ֥ה יִסְע֖וּ לְדִגְלֵיהֶֽם׃ (פ)
Wszystkich spisowych z obozu Dana: sto pięćdziesiąt siedm tysięcy sześćset; - a ci na ostatku wyruszą, przy chorągwiach swoich".
Kohelet Rabbah
“There is no memory of the former ones; and also of the latter ones, who will be, there will be no memory of them, among those who will be last” (Ecclesiastes 1:11).
“There is no memory of the former ones.” Rabbi Aḥa said: “There is no memory of the former ones” – this is the generation of the flood, “and also of the latter ones” – these are the Sodomites. Of whom is it said: “Among those who will be last”? These are Israel, as it is stated: “Last they will travel by their banners” (Numbers 2:31). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Shekafa: “There is no memory of the former ones” – these are the Egyptians, “and also of the latter ones” – these are the Amalekites. About whom is it stated that they should expunge the memory of Amalek? Israel, as it is stated: “Expunge the memory of Amalek” (Deuteronomy 25:19).
Numerous miracles were performed on Israel’s behalf when they departed from Egypt, and before Israel departed from Egypt. In their regard it says: “There is no memory of the former ones; and also of the latter ones, who will be.” To what do I provide commemoration? To the miracles of the World to Come, as it is written: “They will no longer say: As the Lord lives, who took the children of Israel up from the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 23:7), but, “rather, as the Lord lives, who took up and who brought the descendants of the house of Israel…from all the lands…” (Jeremiah 23:8).
Numerous prophets arose in Israel and their names were not mentioned. But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will come and bring them with Him. That is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5). Rabbi Zeira said: Numerous pious men and Torah personalities were worthy of being mentioned, like Yehuda bar Rabbi Ḥizkiya. In their regard it is stated: “And also of the latter ones.” But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to appoint for Him a group of righteous people of His own, and He will seat them near Him in a great assembly, as it is stated: “The moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, [for the Lord of hosts has reigned on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem], and before his elders, glory” (Isaiah 24:23). Before his angels, before his legions, or before his priests is not stated, but rather: “Before his elders, glory.” Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to sit as though inside a circle, with the righteous sitting before Him, as that which is written regarding Yehoshafat, as it is stated: “The king of Israel and Yehoshafat king of Judah…were sitting on a threshing floor” (II Chronicles 18:9). Were they sitting on a threshing floor? Rather, as it is taught: The Sanhedrin was arranged in half of a round threshing floor so each of them could see the other (Sanhedrin 36b). Solomon said: ‘I saw Him sitting among them.’ That is what is written: “Her husband is known in the gates, as he sits among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).93The husband in this image is God and He makes Himself known to them with them sitting in a semi-circle before Him, so each of them can see Him.
Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, Ula Beira’a, Rabbi Beivai, and Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina say: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to make Himself the head of the dance of the righteous in the future, as it is stated: “Pay attention to its ramparts [leḥeila]” (Psalms 48:14). Laḥula is written, as they will be dancing [ḥalin] before Him like young women and pointing at Him with a finger, and saying: “For this is God, our God for ever and ever, He will guide us beyond death [al mut]” (Psalms 48:15). Almut, with quickness, almut, like those young women, as it is stated: “Young women [alamot] playing timbrels” (Psalms 68:26). Almut,94A reference to the words al mut at the end of Psalms 48:15. Aquila interpreted: A world without death. [Alternatively,] He will guide us in two worlds [olamot], in this world and in the World to Come.
“There is no memory of the former ones.” Rabbi Aḥa said: “There is no memory of the former ones” – this is the generation of the flood, “and also of the latter ones” – these are the Sodomites. Of whom is it said: “Among those who will be last”? These are Israel, as it is stated: “Last they will travel by their banners” (Numbers 2:31). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Shimon Shekafa: “There is no memory of the former ones” – these are the Egyptians, “and also of the latter ones” – these are the Amalekites. About whom is it stated that they should expunge the memory of Amalek? Israel, as it is stated: “Expunge the memory of Amalek” (Deuteronomy 25:19).
Numerous miracles were performed on Israel’s behalf when they departed from Egypt, and before Israel departed from Egypt. In their regard it says: “There is no memory of the former ones; and also of the latter ones, who will be.” To what do I provide commemoration? To the miracles of the World to Come, as it is written: “They will no longer say: As the Lord lives, who took the children of Israel up from the land of Egypt” (Jeremiah 23:7), but, “rather, as the Lord lives, who took up and who brought the descendants of the house of Israel…from all the lands…” (Jeremiah 23:8).
Numerous prophets arose in Israel and their names were not mentioned. But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He will come and bring them with Him. That is what is written: “The Lord my God will come, all the holy ones with You” (Zechariah 14:5). Rabbi Zeira said: Numerous pious men and Torah personalities were worthy of being mentioned, like Yehuda bar Rabbi Ḥizkiya. In their regard it is stated: “And also of the latter ones.” But in the future, the Holy One blessed be He is destined to appoint for Him a group of righteous people of His own, and He will seat them near Him in a great assembly, as it is stated: “The moon will be confounded and the sun ashamed, [for the Lord of hosts has reigned on Mount Zion and in Jerusalem], and before his elders, glory” (Isaiah 24:23). Before his angels, before his legions, or before his priests is not stated, but rather: “Before his elders, glory.” Rabbi Avin said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to sit as though inside a circle, with the righteous sitting before Him, as that which is written regarding Yehoshafat, as it is stated: “The king of Israel and Yehoshafat king of Judah…were sitting on a threshing floor” (II Chronicles 18:9). Were they sitting on a threshing floor? Rather, as it is taught: The Sanhedrin was arranged in half of a round threshing floor so each of them could see the other (Sanhedrin 36b). Solomon said: ‘I saw Him sitting among them.’ That is what is written: “Her husband is known in the gates, as he sits among the elders of the land” (Proverbs 31:23).93The husband in this image is God and He makes Himself known to them with them sitting in a semi-circle before Him, so each of them can see Him.
Rabbi Berekhya, Rabbi Ḥelbo, Ula Beira’a, Rabbi Beivai, and Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina say: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to make Himself the head of the dance of the righteous in the future, as it is stated: “Pay attention to its ramparts [leḥeila]” (Psalms 48:14). Laḥula is written, as they will be dancing [ḥalin] before Him like young women and pointing at Him with a finger, and saying: “For this is God, our God for ever and ever, He will guide us beyond death [al mut]” (Psalms 48:15). Almut, with quickness, almut, like those young women, as it is stated: “Young women [alamot] playing timbrels” (Psalms 68:26). Almut,94A reference to the words al mut at the end of Psalms 48:15. Aquila interpreted: A world without death. [Alternatively,] He will guide us in two worlds [olamot], in this world and in the World to Come.
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