Мидраш к Бамидбар 2:2

1) (Vayikra 24:10) ("And the son of an Israelite woman went out; and he was the son of an Egyptian man in the midst of the children of Israel. And they strove within the camp, the son of the Israelite woman and the Israelite man.") "And the son of an Israelite woman went out": Whence did he go out From the beth-din of Moses. For he came to pitch his tent in the midst of the camp of Dan — whereupon they said to him: "Who are you that you would pitch your tent in the midst of the camp of Dan?" He: "My mother was of the tribe of Dan." They: "Scripture states (Bamidbar 2:2) 'The Israelites shall encamp; each with his standard by signs according to their fathers' house shall the children of Israel encamp'" — at which he entered the beth-din of Moses, emerged unvindicated, arose, and blasphemed. "and he was the son of an Egyptian man": Even though there were not mamzerim ("bastards") at that time, he was regarded as a mamzer. "in the midst of the children of Israel": We are hereby taught that he became a proselyte. "And they strove within the camp": over the affair of the encampment. "the son of the Israelite woman and the Israelite man": his antagonist. (Vayikra 24:11) ("And the son of the Israelite woman blasphemed the Name and he cursed. And they brought him to Moses. And the name of his mother was Shlomith the daughter of Divri of the tribe of Dan.")

“He brought me to the wine house, and his banner over me is love” (Song of Songs 2:4).
“He brought me to the wine house,” Rabbi Meir and Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Meir says: The congregation of Israel said: ‘The evil inclination gained control over me like wine, and I said of the calf: “This is your god, Israel”’ (Exodus 32:4). When wine enters a person, it confuses him. Rabbi Yehuda said to him: Enough, Meir, one does not expound Song of Songs disparagingly, but rather, favorably, as Song of Songs was given only in praise of Israel. What, then, is “he brought me to the wine house”? The congregation of Israel said: The Holy One blessed be He brought me to a large wine cellar, this is Sinai. He gave me there banners of Torah, mitzvot, and good deeds, and I accepted them with great love.
Rabbi Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yitzḥak: The congregation of Israel said: The Holy One blessed be He brought me to a large wine cellar, this is Sinai. He gave me there the Torah, which is expounded with forty-nine approaches for purity and with forty-nine approaches for impurity, the numerical value of “his banner [vediglo].⁴⁷Vav is equivalent to 6, dalet to 4, gimmel to 3, lamed–to 30, and vav to 6, which together equal 49. I accepted it with great love, as it is stated: “And his banner over me is love.”
Rabbi Yona said: Two colleagues who engage in a matter of halakha, this one says the source of the halakha, and that one does not say the source of the halakha, the Holy One blessed be He says: “His banner [vediglo] over me is love.”⁴⁸Although he cannot provide a source for his ruling, and therefore his conclusion is inaccurate, his efforts in Torah study are nonetheless beloved in the eyes of God. The word diglo is interpreted as referring to his incomplete [dilugo] studies (Maharzu). Rabbi Aḥa said: An ignoramus who calls love hate, e.g. [instead of] “you shall love” [ve’ahavta], [he says] “you shall hate” [ve’ayavta], the Holy One blessed be He says: His mistake [dilugo] is beloved to Me. Rabbi Yisakhar said: A child who calls Moshe Masheh, Aharon Aharan, Efron Efran, the Holy One blessed be He says: His ridicule [liglugo]⁴⁹The letters lamed and dalet are both lingual letters so liglugo replaces dilugo. is beloved to Me. Rabbi Ḥunya said: In the past, if a person would point to the image [of a king] with his finger, he would be punished.⁵⁰It was considered a lack of respect to point at a picture or statue of the king. Now, a person places his hand on a mention of God’s name and he is not harmed. Moreover, the Holy One blessed be He says: His thumb [gudalo] over Me is love.
The Rabbis say: Even if a child skips the mention of God’s name several times he is not harmed. Moreover, the Holy One blessed be He says: His omission [dilugo] is beloved to Me. Rabbi Berekhya said: Even all the subterfuge [digulin] that Jacob employed regarding his father, just as it says: “And the hides of the goat kids, she placed on his hands” (Genesis 27:16), the Holy One blessed be He says: ‘I rest My Divine Presence over them.’ That is what is written: “You shall make sheets of goats’ hair” (Exodus 26:7). Moreover, the Holy One blessed be He said to him: “His banner [vediglo] over me is love,” his subterfuge [vedigulo] over me is love.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin [said] in the name of Rabbi Levi: The congregation of Israel said: ‘The Holy One blessed be He brought me to a large wine cellar, this is Sinai. There, I saw Mikhael and his banner, Gavriel and his banner, and my eyes saw heavenly rites and I loved them.’ At that time the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Since the desire of My children is for banners, they will encamp with banners.’ That is what is written: “Each at his banner according to the insignia” (Numbers 2:2).

… it is written there “Behold the heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You…” (Melachim I 8:27) and here it is written “…the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” (Shemot 40:35) R’ Yehoshua of Sachnin said in the name of R’ Levi ‘to what is this likened? To an open cave at the edge of the sea. When the sea storms the cave is filled, but the sea is not reduced. So too, even though it is written that ‘the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle’ the upper and lower worlds did not lose anything of the brilliance of the glory of the Holy One, just as it is written “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? says the Lord.” (Yirmiyahu 23:24) Therefore it is written here ‘And it was’. Just as the Divine Presence was here below at the beginning of the creation of the world but withdrew to above, now it returned to be below as it had been “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (Bamidbar 7:1) ... [Another explanation. “And it was that on the day that Moses finished erecting the Mishkan…” (Numbers 7:1)] R’ Simon said: at the time when the Holy One told Israel to erect the Tabernacle, He hinted that when the Tabernacle below is erected, the Tabernacle above is erected, as it says “And it was that on the day that Moses finished…” (ibid.) It does not say ‘erecting the Tabernacle’ but rather ‘erecting this (et) the Tabernacle.’ This refers to the Tabernacle above. The Holy One said: in this world, when the Tabernacle was erected, I commanded Aharon and his sons that they bless you. In the time to come I, in my glory, will bless you. So it is written “May the Lord bless you from Zion, He Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalms 134:3)

“Who is she who appears like dawn, fair like the moon, pure like the sun, formidable like banners?” (Song of Songs 6:10)
“Who is she who appears like dawn?” There was an incident in which Rabbi Ḥiyya and Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta were walking in the Arbel Valley in the early morning and they saw the light of dawn breaking. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said to Rabbi Shimon bar Ḥalafta: So will the redemption of Israel burst forth, as it is written: “Though I sit in darkness, the Lord is a light for me” (Micah 7:8). Initially it will come little by little, then it will sparkle, then it will increase, and then it will continuously spread. So too, initially, “In those days, Mordekhai was sitting at the king’s gate” (Esther 2:21), then, “Mordekhai emerged from before the king in royal garments” (Esther 8:15), and then: “For the Jews there was light and joy…” (Esther 8:16).
“Like dawn,” if so, just as the dawn has no shade, could it be, perhaps, that the same is true of Israel?³⁴Is it true that they have no protection? The verse states: “Fair like the moon.” If so, just as the light of the moon is not clear, perhaps the same is true of Israel? The verse states: “Pure like the sun,” that is what is written: “Let those who love Him be like the powerfully rising sun” (Judges 5:31). If so, just as the sun beats down, is the same, perhaps, true of Israel? The verse states: “Fair like the moon,” that is what is written: “How precious is Your kindness, God” (Psalms 36:8). If so, just as the moon is at times deficient and at times full, is the same, perhaps, true of Israel? The verse states: “Pure like the sun.” If so, just as the sun serves by day and does not serve by night, is the same, perhaps, true of Israel? The verse states: “Fair like the moon,” just as the moon serves by day and by night, as it is written in its regard: “To rule by day and by night” (Genesis 1:18), so too Israel, they are in this world and they are in the World to Come. If so, just as the sun and the moon do not induce fear, is the same, perhaps, true of Israel? The verse states: “Formidable like banners,” like the banners On High, like Mikhael and his banner, Gavriel and his banner. From where is it derived that they induce fear? As it is stated: “They had backs, and they were tall, and they were fearsome” (Ezekiel 1:18).
Rabbi Yehoshua said: It is like the fear of those below, e.g., dukes, governors, and generals. From where is it derived that they induce fear? It is as it is stated: “Fearsome, terrifying, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). Rabbi Yudan and Rabbi Huna, Rabbi Yudan in the name of Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili and Rabbi Huna in the name of Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i: “Like banners [kidgalim],” is not written here, but rather kanidgalot,³⁵ Degalim, in the masculine, would be perceived as an allusion to angels or leaders. Nidgalot, in the feminine, is an allusion to the exile [galut]. like the generation that was sliding toward exile. Which is this? This is the generation of Hezekiah, as it is stated: “A day of distress and rebuke” (Isaiah 37:3). From where is it derived that they induced fear? It is as it is stated: “He was thereafter exalted in the eyes of all the nations” (II Chronicles 32:23).
Rabbi Huna [said] in the name of Rabbi Elazar HaModa’i: “Like banners [kidgalim]” is not written here, but rather kanidgalot, like the generation that would slide toward exile, but would not be exiled. Which is this? This is the generation of the messianic king. That is what is written: “I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem for the war” (Zechariah 14:2). From where is it derived that [the messianic king] will induce fear? As it is stated: “He will strike the world with the rod of his mouth” (Isaiah 11:4). Rabbi Elazar in the name of Rabbi Yosei bar Yirmeya: At that time, Israel will be moving from journey to journey.
Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin says: The congregation of Israel said: ‘The Holy One blessed be He brought me to a wine cellar, this is Sinai; Mikhael and his banner and Gavriel and his banner were there.’ It said: ‘If only we could travel like the supernal array.’ At that time, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since My children desire to be like the banners, they shall encamp by banners,’ as it is stated: “Each at his banner with the insignias by their patrilineal houses, the children of Israel shall encamp” (Numbers 2:2).

(Numb. 2:2:) <THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL CAMP,> EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS FOR THEIR FATHERS' HOUSES…. This text is related (to Ps. 20:6 [5]): LET US SHOUT FOR JOY IN YOUR SALVATION, AND IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD LET US SET UP OUR STANDARDS…. Israel said: Lord God, we are shouting for joy IN YOUR SALVATION,⁶⁰Tanh., Numb. 1:10; Numb. 2:2. which you have brought about for us in your name. (Ibid.:) LET US SHOUT FOR JOY IN YOUR SALVATION. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 14:30): SO THE LORD SAVED WYWSh', voweled as (wayyosha') ISRAEL ON THAT DAY.⁶¹Above, Lev. 6:13, 18, and the notes there. The written text (ketiv) reads {WYSh'} SO <THE LORD> WAS SAVED (WYWSh, voweled as wayyiwwasha' in the passive). Israel, as it were, was redeemed; and like them God was redeemed. (Ps. 20:6 [5], cont.:) AND IN THE NAME OF OUR GOD LET US SET UP OUR STANDARDS, for God has inserted his name]⁶²The whole bracketed section which ends here began in section 3 and represents a missing page in Buber’s primary Oxford Ms. among our names⁶³E.g, the El (“God”) in “Israel.” and has appointed us standards, as stated (in Numb. 2:2): EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS. The Holy One cherished Israel with great love,⁶⁴Numb. R. 2:3. in that he appointed them standards like <those of> the ministering angels, so that they would be recognizable, the children of Reuben by themselves, the children of Simeon by themselves, <etc>; but where is it shown that he loved them? Where it is stated (in Cant. 2:4): [HE BROUGHT ME UNTO THE BANQUET HOUSE,] AND HIS STANDARD OVER ME IS LOVE. To what is the matter comparable? To a rich person who had a storehouse full of wine. He went in to inspect it and found it to be vinegar. <When> he went to leave the storehouse, he found there one cask of [good] wine. He said this cask is worth as much to me as the full storehouse. Similarly the Holy One has created seventy nations, but of them all he has found pleasure only in Israel, as stated (in Cant. 2:4): HE BROUGHT ME UNTO THE BANQUET HOUSE (literally: HOUSE OF WINE [YYN]). <Now> Y (yod) plus Y (yod), <which> equals twenty, plus N (nun), <which stands for> fifty, results in seventy; and of all those <seventy nations> he loved only Israel. It is so stated (ibid., cont.): AND HIS STANDARD OVER ME IS LOVE. It also says (in Cant. 6:8-9): THERE ARE SIXTY QUEENS…. ONE IS MY DOVE, MY PERFECT ONE.

(Lev. 24:10:) “Now there went out the son of an Israelite woman, [whose father was Egyptian].” From where did he go out? R. Hiyya bar Abba said, “He went out from the Parashah on genealogies.¹⁰⁶Lev. R. 32:3; Sifra to Lev. 14:10 (242: Emor, Parashah 14). When he came to pitch his tent in the camp of Dan, they rejected him. Now they said to him, ‘You have an Egyptian father, but it is written (in Numb. 2:2), ‘each with his standard, under the banners of their fathers' houses,’ and not ‘of their mothers' houses.’ Immediately (according to Lev. 24:11), he began to utter the name [of God] and curse it.” R. Levi said, “He was clearly a bastard.¹⁰⁷See Enoch Zundel’s ‘Ets Yosef commentary on Tanchuma here, as such a case is not included in the legal definition of a bastard (mamzer). How so? Taskmasters were from Egypt, and the officers were from Israel.¹⁰⁸Exod. R. 1:28; Lev. R. 32:4. The taskmaster was in charge of ten officers, and the officer was in charge of ten Israelites. [Thus,] it turned out that the taskmaster was in charge of a hundred and ten Israelites. On one occasion a taskmaster met an officer. He said to him, ‘Go gather your groups of ten.’ When he had gone, he entered his house and sullied Shelomith, the officer's wife. [When] her husband returned, he found him leaving his house. When [the taskmaster knew that her husband] noticed him, he beat him every day and said to him, ‘Toil properly, toil properly.’ The holy spirit was kindled in Moses. He raised his eyes to the sky. He said, ‘Was it not enough for this wicked man to rape his wife, but that he should return and beat him?’ Immediately (according to Exod. 2:12), ‘he smote the Egyptian and hid him in the sand.’” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “In this world you are delivered through sins into the hands of the nations of the world. However, in the world to come (according to Is. 49:23), ‘Kings shall be your guardians; their ladies, your wet nurses; they shall bow down before you, nose to the ground, and lick the dust of your feet; then you shall know that I am the Lord; those who trust Me shall not be ashamed.’”

(Lev. 24:10:) NOW THERE WENT OUT THE SON OF AN ISRAELITE WOMAN, < WHOSE FATHER WAS EGYPTIAN >. From where did he go out? R. Hiyya bar Abba said: he went out (i.e., became excluded from Israel) because of (literally: from) the parashah on genealogies.¹²¹Tanh., Lev. 8:24; Lev. R. 32:3; Sifra to Lev. 14:10 (242: Emor, parashah 14). When he came to pitch his tent in the camp of Dan, they rejected him. Now they said to him: You have an Egyptian father, but it is written (in Numb. 2:2): < THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL SHALL CAMP, > EACH WITH HIS STANDARD, UNDER THE BANNERS OF THEIR FATHERS' HOUSES, and not of their mothers' houses. [Immediately,] (according to Lev. 24:11) he began to utter the Name and curse it. R. Levi said: He was a bastard. How so? Taskmasters were from Egypt, and the officers were from Israel.¹²²Exod. R. 1:28; Lev. R. 32:4. The taskmaster was in charge of ten officers, and the officer < was in charge > of ten Israelites. < Thus, > it turned out that the taskmaster was in charge of a hundred {and ten} Israelites. On one occasion a taskmaster met an officer. He said to him: Go gather your groups of ten. When he had gone, he entered his house and seduced Shelomith, the officer's wife. < When > her husband returned, he found him leaving his house. When < the taskmaster > knew that < her husband > noticed him, he beat him every day. The Holy Spirit was kindled in Moses. He raised his eyes to the sky. He said: Was it not enough for this wicked man to rape his wife, but that he should return and beat him? Immediately (according to Exod. 2:12) HE SMOTE THE EGYPTIAN AND HID HIM IN THE SAND. The Holy One said: In this world you are delivered through sins into the hands of the nations of the world. However, in the world to come (according to Is. 49:23): KINGS SHALL BE YOUR GUARDIANS; THEIR LADIES, YOUR WET NURSES; [THEY SHALL BOW DOWN BEFORE YOU, NOSE TO THE GROUND, AND LICK THE DUST OF YOUR FEET. THEN YOU SHALL KNOW THAT I AM THE LORD. THOSE WHO TRUST ME SHALL NOT BE ASHAMED.]

... And the son of an Israelite woman came out — From where did he go out? [Surely not from the camp, since the text “and a fight broke out in the camp”] Rabbi Levi said, “He went out from his eternal life (עולמו; R. Levi connects ויצא with the last word of v. 8: the everlasting covenant, ברית עולם - ie, by his blasphemy he lost his eternal life). R. Berachya said: “he came out (יצא) (with an argument) from the above section. He said: it is written 'You shall take choice flour and bake of it twelve loaves [...every Shabbat] (Lev. 24:5-9)'. Surely it is the way of a king to eat warm bread every day; is it perhaps His way to eat bread that has been cold for nine days?! [technical explanation from the Tanchuma] Rabbi Chyia taught: “he came out (יצא) (with an argument) from the section regarding family connections. He had gone to pitch his tent in the camp of the tribe of Dan. They told him: "what [claim] do you have to pitch your tent in the camp of Dan?" He replied: "I am from one of the daughters of the tribe of Dan". They said to him: "It is written (Numbers 2:2) 'Every man [of the children of Israel shall encamp] by his own standard, that bears the signs of their father's house' - and not the mother's!" He went in to the judicial court of Moses to have the matter decided and came out (יצא) declared to be in the wrong. He then stood up and blasphemed.

...Just as a vine has large and small clusters and the large ones hang lower, so too the Jewish people: Whoever labors in Torah and is greater in Torah, seems lower than their fellow [due to their humility]...