Midrash sobre Provérbios 28:23

(Deut. 1:1:) THESE ARE THE WORDS THAT MOSES SPOKE. This text is related (to Prov. 28:23): THE ONE WHO REBUKES A PERSON WILL IN THE END FIND MORE FAVOR THAN THE ONE WITH A FLATTERING TONGUE. THE ONE WHO REBUKES A PERSON is Moses, since he rebuked Israel.⁷Deut. R. 1:2. (Ibid., cont.:) WILL IN THE END FIND MORE FAVOR <also refers to Moses>, since he found favor and good insight in the eyes of God and humanity. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 34:9): PLEASE, IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, O LORD. (Prov. 28:23:) THE ONE WITH A FLATTERING TONGUE refers to Balaam, since he said to Israel (in Numb. 24:5): HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE YOUR TENTS, O JACOB; YOUR TABERNACLES, O ISRAEL. To what were they comparable? To a king's son, who had two guardians.⁸Gk.: paidagogoi. One loved him and the other hated him. The one who loved him warned him and said: My son, watch yourself, lest you make a transgression, since your father is judge; and if he hears that you have committed a transgression, even though he is your father, he will not show partiality to you. But the one who hated him said to him: Why are you depressed? Your father is king! Do as you desire. Be afraid of no mortal, for your father will not be upset with you. Similarly the son is Israel. The two guardians are Moses and Balaam. Moses loved them and said to them (in Deut. 11:16–17): TAKE HEED LEST YOUR HEART BE DECEIVED …; FOR THE ANGER OF THE LORD WILL BE KINDLED AGAINST YOU. Why? Because he is judge, as stated (in Deut. 4:39): SO KNOW THIS DAY AND TAKE TO HEART THAT THE LORD IS GOD. Balaam, however, said: Do not be afraid. You are his children. Do whatever you want, for he will not be upset with you. To all the nations he does whatever he decrees over them. Why? (Numb. 23:19:) GOD IS NOT A HUMAN, THAT HE SHOULD SPEAK FALSEHOOD. But in your case he said (ibid., cont.): HAS HE GIVEN HIS WORD WITHOUT ACTING <ON IT>? AND HAS HE SPOKEN <SOMETHING> WITHOUT FULFILLING IT? On this point Solomon cries out and says (in Prov. 27:6): THE WOUNDS OF A LOVED ONE ARE FOUND TO BE TRUSTWORTHY. This refers to Moses. (Ibid., cont.): AND THE KISSES OF AN ENEMY ARE PROFUSE. This refers to Balaam. (Deut. 1:1:) THESE ARE THE WORDS.

R. Samuel the son of Nahmani said that R. Jonathan stated: Whoever rebukes his companion for religious reasons earns a share of divine grace, as it is said: He that rebuketh a man shall in the end find more favor (Prov. 28:23). And furthermore a thread of divine favors will be drawn about him, as is said: He shall find favor. Scripture says: Mine ordinance shall ye do (Lev. 18:4). These are ordinances which, if they were not enumerated in the Torah, ought to have been. Scripture is speaking here of idolatry and blasphemy. My statutes shall ye keep, to walk therein (ibid.). These are the commandments against which the evil inclination contends, and against which the peoples of the earth rebel. These are: the wearing of garments made of wool and linen,¹²The law of shatnez; see Lev. 19:19. This commandment and all the following ones are disregarded as irrational by non-Jews. the eating of pig,¹³See Lev. 11:7. the spittle of a childless sister-in-law,¹⁴After one has refused to marry his brother’s widow under the law of levirate marriage; see Deut. 25:5–10. mixing seeds,¹⁵Deut. 22:9–11. stoning an ox for killing a human being,¹⁶Exod. 21:29. the heifer whose neck was broken,¹⁷Lev. 14:1–21. the bird sacrifice brought by a leper,¹⁷ a firstling of an ass,¹⁸Exod. 13:13. meat prepared in milk,¹⁹Exod. 23:9. and the goat that has been sent away (the scapegoat).²⁰Lev. 16:1–34. Azazel, the area where the scapegoat would perish. You might maintain that these are unimportant prohibitions. Hence Scripture says: I am the Lord: I have decreed them, and you art not permitted to repudiate them.