Provérbios 20:8 Midrash: Midrash Tanchuma, Aggadat Bereshit & Midrash Tehillim

(Lev. 19:2:) “Speak unto the [whole congregation] of the Children of Israel, and say unto them, ‘You shall be holy.’” This text is related (to Is. 5:16), “The Lord of hosts has been exalted through justice, and the holy God has been sanctified through holiness.” When did the Holy One, blessed be He, become exalted in His world? When he brought about judgment and justice among the peoples of the world. It is so stated (in Is. 3:13), “The Lord stands up to plead a cause, and rises to judge peoples.” It also says (in Dan. 7:9), “I looked until thrones were set in place [or thrown down] (remiw).”¹The Aramaic word can mean both WERE SET IN PLACE and WERE THROWN DOWN. The former meaning better fits the biblical context; but one of the midrashic interpretations given here requires the latter meaning. What is the meaning of “thrones” (in the plural)? Were there a lot of thrones, when [there is] that which is written (in Is. 6:1), “I saw the Lord seated upon a throne (in the singular)?” What is the meaning of “thrones?” R. Jose the Galilean and R. Aqiva differed.²Hag. 14a. One said, “Thrones denotes the throne plus its footstool; and the other said, “These are thrones that belong to the nations of the world, since the Holy One, blessed be He, is going to throw them down, as stated (in Hag. 2:22), ‘Then I will throw down the throne of kingdoms, [and destroy the kingdoms of the gentiles].’” You know [for yourself] that this is so. "Thrones were set up," is not written here (in Dan. 7:9), but “thrones were thrown down.” Thus it is written (in Exod. 15:1 or 21), “the horse and his rider he has thrown (rt.: rmh) into the sea.” Our masters say, “What is the meaning of thrones? In the age to come the Holy One, blessed be He, will sit down, and the angels will place thrones for the great ones of Israel for them to sit down, so that the Holy One, blessed be He, will be sitting with them like the president of the court (av bet din). Then they shall judge the peoples of the world, as stated (in Is. 3:14), ‘The Lord will come in judgment along with the elders of His people and their princes.’³Exod. R. 5:12. ‘Against the elders of His people’ is not written here, but ‘along with the elders [of His people].’ [Scripture] is teaching that the Holy One, blessed be He, will sit along with the elders and princes of Israel to judge the nations of the world.” And which [thrones] are they? These are the thrones of the house of David and the elders of Israel, as stated (in Ps. 122:5), “There stood the thrones of judgment, thrones of the House of David.” R. Pinhas said in the name of R. Hilqiyah the Southerner (i.e., from Judah), [who said] in the name of R. Reuben, “If you say, ‘When thrones stand there for judgment,’ [that] they are thrones of the House of David; then what is [the meaning of (Dan. 7:9), ‘and the Ancient of days (God) took His seat?’ That He sits among them like the president of the court, and with them He judges the nations. It is therefore written (ibid.), ‘until thrones were set in place.’” What is the meaning of (ibid., cont.), “and the hair of his head was like clean wool?” When the Holy One, blessed be He, cleanses Himself from the worshippers of idolatry; He gives them compensation for the easy commandments which they have observed in this world. [He does so] in order to judge them and convict them in the world to come, so that they will have no excuse and have no merit found for them. Thus it is stated (in Is. 14:32), “And what will he answer the angels of⁴Mal’akhe. In the biblical context, the word should be rendered as “messengers of,” but the midrash interprets the passage eschatologically. a [given] nation? That the Lord has established Zion, and in it there shall the afflicted of His people take refuge.” Then He immediately renders the judgment against them. At that time the Holy One, blessed be He, becomes exalted in his world, as stated (in Is. 5:16), “The Lord of hosts is exalted in judgment.” What is the meaning of (ibid.), “and the holy God is sanctified in justice (tsedekah, which also means charity)?” That He is sanctified in His world in justice, because He advocates for the defense concerning Israel, as stated (in Is. 63:1), “it is I who speaks in justice (tsedekah), mighty to save.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “In the future, I will be sanctified in you, as stated (in Is. 29:23), ‘For when [Jacob] sees his children in his midst, the work of My hands, they shall sanctify My name.’” And so it says (in Is. 49:3), “Israel in whom I will be glorified.” So you are sanctified in Me, and I am sanctified in you, as stated (in Lev. 11:44; cf. 19:2), “so you shall sanctify yourselves and be holy.”

[2] Another thing: "And King David was old." As it is written: "The king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes." (Proverbs 20:8) Come and see: When the wicked prosper in the world, evil comes upon the world. But when the righteous prosper in the world, everyone rejoices. When King David was reigning, everyone would say, "Long live the king!" The word "vehamelech" (and the king) is a word of joy. The phrase "Melech David" (King David) contains two words, "Melech" (king) and "David." When King Zedekiah was reigning, everyone would say, "And Zedekiah reigned" (Jeremiah 37:1). Concerning them, it is written, "Then you shall again discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." (Malachi 3:18)

Psalm of David: "Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my plea," etc. Solomon said (Proverbs 20:8-9), "A king who sits on the throne of justice scatters all evil with his eyes. Who can say, 'I have cleansed my heart,' etc.?" Who can stand on the day of judgment and say, "I am pure, free of sin?" No one can stand, as it is written (Malachi 3:2), "And who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears?" Similarly, Jeremiah said (Jeremiah 30:6), "Ask now and see, can a male give birth? Why then do I see every man with his hands on his loins like a woman in labor? And why have all faces turned pale?" No one on that day will have a pleasant face, as all faces will turn pale. Even Abraham over Ishmael, Isaac over Esau, and the Lord over Israel on their behalf, as it is said (Malachi 3:2), "And all faces will turn pale." David said to the Lord, "I beg of You, answer me and do justice with me on that day." Therefore it says, "Lord, hear my prayer," etc. And if You do not do justice with me, who can stand? Similarly, Job said (Job 14:13), "Oh that You would hide me in Sheol, that You would conceal me until Your wrath be past." The Lord replied to him, "Until judgment has passed, until anger has passed." (Job 14:13-14) "Until You put an end to me, until You call me and I will answer You." David also said (Psalm 143:2), "Do not enter into judgment with Your servant," etc. David said before the Lord, "At the judgment, You bring me, but there is a servant who comes to judgment with his master. And thus it is written (Psalm 119:94), "I am Yours, save me," etc. Why does everything belong to You, O Lord, and everything that belongs to him belongs to his Master? And so it is said (Psalm 39:13), "Turn Your gaze away from me, that I may recover," etc. (Psalm 102:11) "Take Your hand away from me and let me be, etc." (Psalm 10:14) "You have seen, for You behold mischief and spite." (Psalm 12) "You have done life and kindness, etc. And for all of these, you establish me for judgment. Why (Psalm 14:1) is man born of a woman? (Psalm 2) Like a flower, he comes forth, etc. (Psalm 3) Yet for all this, you have opened your eyes, etc. For your sake, do not bring your servant to judgment, etc. Therefore, it is said (Proverbs 20:9), "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, etc.' No one can vindicate themselves in judgment. Why (Kings I 8:46), "For there is no man who does not sin before you." And likewise it says (Ecclesiastes 7:20), "For there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins." (Job 15:15) "Even the heavens are not pure in your sight." (Psalm 25:5) "And even the stars are not pure in your sight." Therefore, it is said that no living being can be justified before you. What is "every living being?" Every living being cannot be justified before you, but the dead are vindicated. However, the living beings on high cannot be vindicated before you on the Day of Judgment. Therefore, it is said that no living being can be justified before you. ...