Provérbios 8:35 Midrash: Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition), Devarim Rabbah & Midrash Tehillim

We are taught that R. Bannah says: "He who studies the Torah for its own sake makes his knowledge a medicine of life; as it is said (Proov. 3, 18) A tree of life is she to those that lay hold on her; and it is also said (Ib. 8) It will be healing to thy body; and further, it is said (Ib. 8, 35) For he who findeth me, findeth life; but, whoever studies the Torah, not for its own sake [but for his own benefits], his knowledge will become to him a deadly drug; for it is said: My doctrine shall drop (Yaaroph) as the rain, and this word [Yaaroph] is also used for death; as it is said (Deut. 21, 4) And they shall break there the neck (V'arphu) of the heifer in the valley."

For this shall every pious one pray unto Thee at the time when Thou mayest be found (Ps. 32, 6). R. Chanina said: "L-eth Metzo, (At the time when thou mayest be found) alludes [to the time when one is about to take a] wife, as it is written (Pr. 18, 22.) Whoso hath found a wife hath found happiness." In Palestine, when a man married he was asked Matzah (found), or Motzei (find). Matzah, as it is written (Pr. 18, 22.) Whoso hath found (Matza) a wife hath found happiness; Motzei, as it is written (Ecc. 7, 26.) And I find (Motzei) the woman more bitter than death. R. Nathan said: "L-eth Metzo, refers to the Torah, as it is written (Pr. 8, 35.) For he who findeth me (the Torah), findeth life." R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "L-eth Metzo, means [the time of] death, as it is written (Ps. 68, 21.)The escape from death." We have also a Baraitha to the same effect: There are nine hundred and three kinds of deaths in the world, as it is said (Ib.) The escape from death (Totzaoth). The numerical value of the word Totzaoth, amounts to nine hundred and three; the hardest of all deaths is croup, and the easiest of all is the divine kiss; croup is like a thorn in a ball of wool, which [if one tries to tear loose] lacerates backward (in the opposite direction of the knots); others say as the gushing water at the entrance of a canal [when the sluice bars are raised]; the kiss referred to is like the extraction of a hair from milk. R. Jochanan said: "L-eth Metzo, refers to the grave." R. Chanina said: "Where is the Biblical passage to prove it? (Job 3, 22.) Who would rejoice, even to exulting, who would he glad could they but find a grave." Rabba b. R. Shila said: "Thus it is that people say: 'Man ought to pray for peace even to the last clod of earth thrown on his grave.' " Mar Zutra said: "L-eth Metzo, refers to the necessity of living in a place where there are sanitary conditions." The sages of Palestine [upon hearing all the opinions in explaining the above passage] remarked that Mar Zutra's opinion is the best of all.

Regarding what the verse said: “Happy is the person who heeds me, [to persist at my gates daily, to protect the doorposts of my entrances]” (Proverbs 8:34), what is “happy is the person who heeds me”? The Holy One blessed be He said: Happy is the person whose Torah discourse is for My sake.⁶The verse is ordinarily read as referring to wisdom or Torah, but the midrash reads it as referring to God. What is, “to persist at my gates” (Proverbs 8:34)? The Holy One blessed be He said: If you go to pray inside the synagogue, do not stand near the outer entrance to pray there; rather, intend to enter an entrance within an entrance;⁷Meaning, if there are two doors with a small hall between them, do not stay in the small hall, enter through the second door to the large chamber. it is not written, “to persist at my gate,” but is written “at my gates” – two gates. Why is it so? It is because the Holy One blessed be He counts your strides and gives you reward.⁸You receive a reward for taking the extra steps to enter into the synagogue and not stay in the entranceway. What is “to protect the doorposts [mezuzot] of my entrances” (Proverbs 8:34)? Rabbi Yehuda bar Sima said: Is there a mezuza in synagogues?⁹It is stated in the Gemara (Yoma 11b) that according to the Sages, synagogues are exempt from the mitzva of mezuza. Rather, just as the mezuza does not move from the entrance, so too, you will not move from synagogues and study halls. The Holy One blessed be He said: If you do so, know that you will receive the Divine Presence. What is written thereafter? “For one who finds Me finds life” (Proverbs 8:35). The Holy One blessed be He said: Who is it who came to the synagogue and did not find My glory there? Rabbi Aivu said: Moreover, when you stand in the synagogue, the Holy One blessed be He stands over you. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “God stands in the assembly of the Almighty” (Psalms 82:1). The Holy One blessed be He said: It is not only that you receive the Divine Presence in the synagogue, but you emerge from there laden with blessings. From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “For one who finds Me finds life, and generates favor from the Lord” (Proverbs 8:35). That is, “it will be if you will heed…”