Кохелет 4:10 Мидраш: Midrash Tehillim

"Do not ruin (or destroy) David, the conqueror. As it is written (Ecclesiastes 4:9), 'Two are better than one.' They are better off as two, rather than one who goes alone. If one falls, the other can help him up. (Ecclesiastes 4:10) And if someone attacks one, the other can defend him. And if a person does evil to them, they can resist him. And if they are three, it is even better, as it says (Ecclesiastes 4:12), 'A threefold cord is not quickly broken.' Another thing is that two righteous people are better than one righteous person or one wicked person. The merit of two righteous people is not comparable to the merit of one righteous person. They will receive good reward. If calamity befalls the family, the merit of both of them stands and cancels it, as it says (Jeremiah 3:14), 'I will take one from a city and two from a family.' Because of two from the same family, that family prospers. And if there were three righteous people, even if it is a righteous son of a righteous son of a righteous person, their merit will never cease." As it says (Kohelet 4:12), "And the threefold cord." They said before Rabbi Zeira, "But wasn't so-and-so a righteous man, son of a righteous man, son of a righteous man, and [yet he lived] in a generation of wicked people?" He said to them, "He will not be quickly uprooted, even if he falls [he will rise again], as was done with so-and-so." As it says (Isaiah 59:21), "My words which I have put in your mouth shall never depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your children, nor from the mouth of your children's children." Since he [the righteous person] is a son of Torah, and his son and his son's son [are also righteous], then Torah will never cease from them. As it says (Jeremiah 31:34), "Forevermore." What is it [referring to]? The Lord said, "I vouch for this matter." Another interpretation: "Two are better than one." [This refers to] two who study the Torah together and discuss [its teachings] among themselves. And if there are three [who study together], then it is even better. As it says (Kohelet 4:12), "And the threefold cord." Another interpretation: "Two are better than one." This refers to Michal, daughter of Saul, and Jonathan, who both loved David and saved him from Saul, her father. It is written about Michal (1 Samuel 18:28), "And Michal, Saul's daughter, loved him [David]." And about Jonathan it is written (1 Samuel 18:1), "And Jonathan loved [David] as his own soul." Michal saved [David] from the house [of Saul], and Jonathan from outside. "Two are better than one" [refers to them], and "the threefold cord" [refers to] the people of Israel, as it says (2 Samuel 19:40), "And all Israel and Judah loved David." To the conductor, do not destroy [a psalm].

"I have loved your Torah," as Solomon said (Proverbs 5:19), "A loving deer, a graceful doe: let her breasts satisfy you at all times; be exhilarated always with her love." The loving deer and graceful doe refer to the Torah, which everyone loves. The Lord said to Israel (Isaiah 1:4), "Why will you be stricken anymore? You will revolt more and more: the whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints." Likewise, it says (Ecclesiastes 9:9), "Enjoy life with the woman whom you love all the days of your fleeting life which He has given you under the sun; for this is your reward in life and in your toil in which you have labored under the sun." Therefore, David said, "I have loved," as it says (Psalm 119:97), "O how I love Your Torah! It is my meditation all the day." Whoever loves the Torah loves nothing but life, as it says (Proverbs 8:35), "For whoever finds me finds life and obtains favor from the Lord." David also said, "I have loved," as it says (Deuteronomy 6:5), "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might." And it is written (Deuteronomy 6:6), "And these words, which I command you this day, shall be upon your heart." Therefore, it is said, "I have loved your Torah," etc. "I go to bathe, and it is with me; I sleep, and it is with me." Just as I was commanded (Deuteronomy 17:19), "And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life," so it is with me. As it is written (Proverbs 6:22), "When you walk, it shall lead you; when you lie down, it shall keep you; and when you wake up, it shall talk with you." I did not make it a primary focus, for I did not make it a burden, but rather songs. And so it says (Psalm 119:54), "Your statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage." And not just songs, but also conversation, as it says (Psalm 119:97), "Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me." It stood by me against my enemies, as it says (Psalm 119:98), "From all my teachers I gained understanding, for Your testimonies are my meditation." It stood by Joseph in Pharaoh's house, as he said to his servants (Genesis 41:38), "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the spirit of God?" And it stood by Daniel in the court of Nebuchadnezzar. And so Moses says (Deuteronomy 4:6), "Keep and do them [the commandments] and so on." Therefore it is said, "From my enemies You have made me wise through Your commandments, for they are always with me" (Psalms 119:98). What do I care that I have not dealt with other books except for this [Torah]? Similarly, Solomon says (Ecclesiastes 12:12), "Of making many books there is no end," and he also says (Proverbs 25:16), "Have you found honey? Eat only what you need, that you not have it in excess and vomit it." The Torah is compared to a jar full of honey, and if one puts a quarter of it with water, a quarter of honey will come out of it. So too, if other matters enter your heart, words of Torah will emerge from it. Therefore it is said, "For they are always with me, from all my teachers I have gained understanding." What does it mean, "from all my teachers"? A person needs friends and disciples in Torah, so if he forgets something, he can ask his friends and they will remind him. Similarly, it says (Ecclesiastes 4:9), "Two are better than one, for they have good reward for their toil," and (Ecclesiastes 4:11), "Also, if two lie down together, they will be warm; but how can one be warm alone?" (Ecclesiastes 4:10), "For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow." Therefore it is said, "From all my teachers I have gained understanding." And who caused me to have discussions with the elders? As it is said (Job 12:12), "With the aged is wisdom, and in length of days understanding." What does it mean, "With the aged is wisdom"? You honored the elders, and did not take them out of Egypt until You said (Exodus 3:16), "Go and gather the elders of Israel," and You did not give the Torah until You said (Exodus 19:7), "And Moses called for the elders of the people, and set before them all these words which the LORD commanded him." And it says (Leviticus 19:32), "You shall rise before the gray-headed, and honor the face of the old man, and fear your God: I am the LORD." From the honor that you have given to the elders, I will keep Your precepts. Therefore it is said, "With the aged is wisdom." God said to him, "Until now you have not seen anything; yet you will see, as it is said (Isaiah 24:23), 'For the LORD of hosts will reign in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem, and before His elders shall be glory.'"