Isaías 33:18 Midrash: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Aggadat Bereshit

Samuel found R. Juda standing leaning against the entrance of a door and weeping. He said to him: "Keen scholar, why weepest thou?" He replied: "Is it a small matter that is written concerning the Rabbis (Is. 33, 18) Where is He who wrote down? Where is He that weighed? where is he that counted the towers? "Where is he that counted?" this means scholars who counted all the letters that are in the Books of the Law. Where is he that weighed? Referring to those who weighed the light and the heavy things which are in the Law. Where is he that counted the towers? Referring to those who taught three hundred doctrines concerning the law of a tower which flies in the air." And R. Ami said: "Three hundred questions were treated by Doeg and Ahithophel concerning the law of a tower which flies in the air." And we are taught, however, in a Mishnah: "Three kings and four private persons have no share in the world to come, and we — what will there be for us?" Samuel said: "Keen scholar there it was because they bore impurity in their hearts (i.e., heathen sensuality)."

(Ib. b) R. Isaac said again: "What is the meaning of the passage (Isa. 33, 18) Where is he who wrote down; where is he that weighed; where is he that counted the towers? i.e., where is he who counted the letters of the Torah? Where is he who weighs the lenient and rigorous things mentioned therein? Where is he who counted three hundred decided Halachas [about Levitical cleanliness] concerning a turret flying in the air?" R. Ami said: "Four hundred questions had Doeg and Achitophel raised concerning turrets flying in the air, and not one of them could be decided." "Is it then a great thing to ask questions?" remarked Raba. "In the years of R. Juda all their studies were confined to the Section of Damages, etc. We must therefore say that the Holy One, praised be He! desires a [pure] heart of one [but not his mouth], as it is written (I Sam. 16, 7) But the Lord looketh on the heart."

Chapter 36: Writings [1] song of ascents. I lift my eyes to the mountains, etc. (Psalms 121:1). "Until the day breathes and the shadows flee" (Song of Songs 2:17). Since Israel is subjected to kingdoms, they say "Master of the Universe, until when will the nations rule over us?" as it is written, "How long will I harbor counsel within my soul, agony in my heart all day?" (Psalms 13:3) And the Holy One, blessed be He, says to them, "Until the dawn breaks forth," as it is said, "Until the day breathes and the shadows flee" (Song of Songs 2:17). The shadows refer to the kingdoms, as it is said, "Woe to us, for the day is turning, for the shadows of evening lengthen" (Jeremiah 6:4), and so too, Moses says, "Remove the veil from their faces" (Numbers 14:9). At that hour, Israel sits in peace and says, "Your heart will meditate on fear" (Isaiah 33:18). This fear is the kingdom of Babylon, and "four living creatures of terror and strength" (Daniel 7:7) are its measure. "Where is the scribe, where are the weighers" (Isaiah 33:18), where are the tax collectors who would weigh out their taxes? The Holy One, blessed be He, says to them, "Do not fear, you will not see a fierce people" (Isaiah 33:19). And the shades will flee, missing two things, and returning two things, as it says, "And the redeemed of the Lord will return and come to Zion with singing, and everlasting joy will be upon their heads" (Isaiah 51:11). Here are two things. "And sorrow and sighing will flee away" (Isaiah 35:10), here are two more things. Therefore it says, "Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away" (Song of Songs 4:6). In the merit of whom? In the merit of he who said, "I will go to the mountain of myrrh" (Song of Songs 4:6), this is Abraham. Just as myrrh is the head of spices, so too Abraham is the head of the righteous. "And to the hill of frankincense" (Song of Songs 4:6), this is Isaac, who was bound on the altar like frankincense, as it says, "And he laid him on the altar" (Genesis 22:9). [God] said to him, "Do not lay your hand on the boy" (Genesis 22:12). Isaac began to cry out, "I lift up my eyes to the mountains" (Psalms 121:1), but he did not do anything, except that "he saw, and behold a ram" (Genesis 22:13). At that moment he said, "My help comes from the Lord" (Psalms 121:2).