Мидраш к Мишлей 8:6

R. Jochanan said: "What is meant by the passage (Ps. 68, 12.) The Lord gave (happy) tidings; they were published by the messengers, a numerous host? This is to mean that every single utterance which went forth from the mouth of the Almighty was heralded into seventy languages." It was taught, in the academy of R. Ishmael: "Like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces (Jer. 23, 29), i.e., just as the hammer strikes the stone into multitudes of pieces, so was every utterance which proceeded from the mouth of the Holy One, praised be He! heralded into seventy languages." R. Chananel b. Papa said: "What is meant by the passage (Pr. 8, 6.) Hear! For of noble things will I speak. Why are the words of the Torah compared unto a nobleman? Just as a nobleman has it in his power to dispose of one's death or life, so also have the words of the Torah that power." That is also meant by Raba, who said: "To those who study the Torah in the right way, it will prove to be an elixir of life, but to those who study it in the left (wrong) way it will prove to be a deadly poison." The word Negidim (nobleman) may also be explained in another way, that every single utterance which came forth from the mouth of the Holy One, praised be He! was provided with two crownlets." R. Joshua b. Levi said: "What is meant by the passage (Songs 1, 13.) My uncle is as a bundle of myrrh that resteth on my bosom, unto me, i.e., the Congregation of Israel said before the Holy One, praised be He! 'Sovereign of the universe, although my uncle (God) distresseth and embittereth me, still He resteth on my bosom. A kopher-cluster is my uncle unto me in the (Keremyards) of En-gedi, i.e., He, who possesseth everything in the world, will forgive me for the sin of the kid (golden calf) which I piled (stored up) for me (for future punishment)." What evidence is there that the word Kerem means piling? Mar Zutra, the son of R. Nachman, said: "For we are taught (in a Mishnah), 'The big board upon which the laundryman piles (Shekormin) all the clothes (to press them).'"R. Joshua b. Levi said further: "What is meant by the passage (Ib. 5, 13.) His cheeks are as a bed of spices, i.e., every utterance that came forth from the mouth of the Holy One, praised be He! filled the entire globe with an aromatic odor of spices. Since the world was filled with aromatic odor of spices arising from the first utterance, where could the aromatic odor of spices arising from the second utterance go? The Holy One, praised be He! sent forth the wind of His store-houses which wafted away the aromatic odors, one by one, as it is written (Ib. ib. ib.) His lips like lilies, dropping with fluid myrrh. Do not read Shoshanim (lilies) but read it Sheshonim (who were teaching)." R. Joshua b. Levi further said: "Every single utterance that came forth from the mouth of the Holy One, praised be He! caused the failing of the soul (death) of Israel, as it is said (Ib. ib. 6.) My soul failed me when He was speaking. And since their souls failed them on the first utterance, how then could they hear the second utterance? The Lord sent down the dew, with which He is destined to revive the dead in the future, and revived them, as it is written (Ps. 68, 10.) Rain of beneficence didst Thou pour down, O God, whereby Thou didst truly strengthen thine inheritance when it was weary." R. Joshua b. Levi said also: "At every single utterance which came forth from the mouth of the Holy One, praised be He! Israel receded twelve miles, but they were gently conducted back by the ministering angels; for it is said, The angels of hosts kept gently moving. Do not read Yidodun (they moved) but Yedadun (were kept moving)."