כִּ֣י מִמִּזְרַח־שֶׁ֜מֶשׁ וְעַד־מְבוֹא֗וֹ גָּד֤וֹל שְׁמִי֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם וּבְכָל־מָק֗וֹם מֻקְטָ֥ר מֻגָּ֛שׁ לִשְׁמִ֖י וּמִנְחָ֣ה טְהוֹרָ֑ה כִּֽי־גָד֤וֹל שְׁמִי֙ בַּגּוֹיִ֔ם אָמַ֖ר יְהוָ֥ה צְבָאֽוֹת׃
Sapagkat mula sa sikatan ng araw hanggang sa lubugan nito ay dakila ang Aking Pangalan sa mga bansa; at sa bawat dako ay may insenso at handog na iniaalay sa Aking Pangalan, at isang malinis na handog; sapagkat dakila ang Aking Pangalan sa mga bansa, sabi ng Walang-Hanggan ng mga Hukbo.
Midrash Tanchuma
(Deut. 7:12:) “And it shall come to pass if you heed [these statutes].” What is written above the matter (in Deut. 7:7)? “It is not because you are the most numerous of all the peoples [that the Lord desired you and chose you. Rather you are the least of all the peoples].” It is not because you are the most numerous of all the nations,” and it was not because you fulfilled more commandments than they; for the nations do more commandments that they were not commanded than you, and they magnify My name more than you. Thus it is stated (in Mal. 1:11-12), “For from the rising of the sun until its setting My name is great among the nations, [and in every place incense is offered to My name, even a pure oblation; for My name is great among the nations]…. But you desecrate it when you say the table of the Lord is defiled, and its special food is treated with scorn [like ordinary] food.” (Deut. 7:7:) “Rather you were the least of all the peoples.” Rather, because you diminish yourselves for Me, therefore I love you.’ And so it says (in Mal. 1:2-3), “’I have loved you,’ says the Lord …. ‘But I have hated Esau….’” It also says (in Hos. 14:5), “I will heal their veering and love them voluntarily….” My soul has volunteered to love them, even though they were not worthy; and so it says (in Deut. 7:8), “Because the Lord loves you […].” It is written (in Is. 2:2), “And it shall come to pass that in the latter days the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains….” This text is related (to Job 8:7), “Though your beginning was trifling (rt.: ts'r), [your end shall greatly flourish].” [This verse is here] to teach you that everyone who is troubled (rt.: ts'r) from his beginning will have it well at his end. You have no one who was more troubled (rt.: ts'r) than Abraham, who was cast into a fiery furnace and went into exile from his ancestral home. Moreover, sixteen kings pursued him. He also stood the test of ten trials and buried Sarah. Yet in the end he had rest, as stated (Gen. 24:1), “Now Abraham was old, advanced in years, and the Lord blessed [Abraham in all things].” So too was Isaac troubled (rt.: ts'r) in his youth, for the Philistines were jealous of him, [as stated] (in Gen. 26:16), “And Abimelech said unto Isaac, ‘Go away from us, [for you have become have become too powerful for us].’” But in the end they begged him [for mercy], as stated (in vs. 27-28), “And Isaac said unto them, ‘Why have you come unto me…?’ And they said, ‘We have clearly seen….’” Jacob also was troubled (rt.: ts'r) in his youth, as stated (in Ps. 129:1), “’They have harassed me greatly from my youth,’ let Israel now say.” While he was in his mother’s belly, Esau sought to kill him, as stated (in Gen. 25:22), “But the children struggled [within her].” [Moreover,] when he received the blessings (according to Gen. 27:41), “Then Esau hated Jacob …, and Esau said in his heart, ‘Let the days of mourning for my father come, [and I will kill my brother Jacob]’.” So he fled to Laban and was troubled (rt.: ts'r) over his daughters, and after that Laban sought to kill him, as stated (in Deut. 26:5), “An Aramean would have destroyed my ancestor.”9This is required sense by the midrash. A more usual translation would read: A WANDERING ARAMEAN WAS MY ANCESTOR. He went away from him and encountered Esau, as stated (in Gen. 33:1), “Now Jacob raised his eyes and saw Esau coming….” There came upon him the trouble over Dinah, the trouble over Rachel and the trouble over Joseph. But in the end he had rest, [as stated] (in Gen. 47:12), “And Joseph sustained his father [and his brothers]….” Ergo (in Job 8:7), “Though your beginning was trifling (rt.: ts'r), your end shall greatly flourish.” Another interpretation (of Is. 2:2), “the mountain of the house of the Lord shall be established as the highest of the mountains… and Mount Tabor shall become very tall.” A parable: To what is the matter comparable? To the palace10Palterin. Gk.: praitorion; Lat. praetorium. children of a king. They went down from the city and killed lions, tigers, and bears in the forest. Then they brought them and hung them opposite the city gate, so that all the people in the city were amazed from those lions. The Holy One, blessed be he, did so with Sisera. [When] Sisera came against Israel on Mount Tabor; (according to Jud. 5:20), “The stars fought from the heavens; from their courses they fought with Sisera.”11Cf. Pes. 118b, according to which the stars descended and heated the iron implements in Sisera’s army. All began to be amazed, for there had never been an event like this, when the stars came down from the heavens to make war with flesh and blood. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “In this world the stars have fought on your behalf, but in the world to come (according to Zech. 14:3-4), ‘Then the Lord will come forth and fight with those nations [as when He fights in the day of battle]. And His feet shall stand in that day [upon the Mount of Olives]….’ And [so on through] all that section (of Zechariah).” Then everyone will see and point Him out with the finger, as stated (in Is. 25:9), “In that day they shall say, ‘See, this is our God; [we waited for Him, and He delivered us. This is the Lord; we waited for Him. Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation].’”
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Deut. 7:12:) AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS IF YOU HEED <THESE STATUTES>. What is written above on the matter (in Deut. 7:7)? IT WAS NOT BECAUSE YOU WERE THE MOST NUMEROUS OF ALL THE PEOPLES, <THAT THE LORD DESIRED YOU AND CHOSE YOU. RATHER YOU WERE THE LEAST OF ALL THE PEOPLES>. The Holy One said to Israel: It was not because you were the most numerous of all the nations, and it was not because you fulfilled more commandments than they, for they magnify my name more than you.12Tanh., Deut. 3:3. Thus it is stated (in Mal. 1:11–12): FOR FROM THE RISING OF THE SUN UNTIL ITS SETTING MY NAME IS GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, <AND IN EVERY PLACE INCENSE IS OFFERED TO MY NAME, EVEN A PURE OBLATION; FOR MY NAME IS GREAT AMONG THE NATIONS, SAYS THE LORD OF HOSTS>. BUT YOU DESECRATE IT WHEN YOU SAY THE TABLE OF THE LORD IS DEFILED, AND ITS SPECIAL FOOD IS TREATED WITH SCORN <LIKE ORDINARY> FOOD. (Deut. 7:7–8): RATHER YOU WERE THE LEAST OF ALL THE PEOPLES. IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE LORD'S LOVE FOR YOU. Because you diminish yourselves for me, I therefore love you, and so it says (in Mal. 1:2–3): I HAVE LOVED YOU, SAYS THE LORD …; BUT I HAVE HATED ESAU…. It also says (in Hos. 14:5 [4]): I WILL HEAL THEIR APOSTASY [AND LOVE THEM VOLUNTARILY]. What is the meaning of AND LOVE THEM VOLUNTARILY? My soul has volunteered to love them, even though they were not worthy; and so it says (in Deut. 7:8): BECAUSE THE LORD LOVES YOU….
Vayikra Rabbah
Regarding the matter itself,9The midrash sometimes uses this expression when introducing an exposition that appears elsewhere. The following appears also in Tanḥuma (Warsaw), Lekh Lekha, 10 (Etz Yosef). Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: The burnt offering [ha’ola] comes only for rumination of the heart.10Burnt offerings atone for sinful thoughts. Rabbi Levi said: It is a categorical verse: “What arises [ha’ola] in your thoughts will not be that which you say: [We will be like the nations…to serve wood and stone]” (Ezekiel 20:32).
From whom do you derive this? From the sons of Job. Initially, “his sons would go and make a feast [in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. It was when the cycle of their days of feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and have blasphemed God in their hearts]” (Job 1:4–5). Rabbi Meir says: As it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast.11These feasts were held as an expression of family unity and affinity. Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: They went to attend to them, as they had betrothed women for them.12The feasts were celebrations to mark the event of a son of Job betrothing a wife, and the other sons would attend in order to celebrate the occasion. That is what is written: “It was when the cycle of the days of their feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them [vaykadeshem]” (Job 1:5). According to the opinion of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya, who said that they betrothed [kideshu] women for them, they attended to them and went.13The children of Job would participate in the celebration and then go on their way. These feasts were not regular occurrences. According to the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said as it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast, it is as it says: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves [hitkadeshu] [tomorrow and you will eat meat]” (Numbers 11:18).14The feasts were not in celebration of a special and unusual occasion but rather were more regular occurrences.
“He would rise early in the morning and offer [burnt offerings corresponding to the number of them all]” (Job 1:5). Rabbi Yudan bar Ḥilfai raised a dilemma: [Corresponding to] the number of days, the number of sons and daughters, or the number of offerings in the Torah?15This question remains unresolved. When it says: “For Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and blasphemed,” that indicates that the burnt offering comes only for [sinful] rumination of the heart.
Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa: In order that Israel would not say: ‘In the past we would sacrifice offerings and engage in their study; now that there are no offerings, must we engage in their study?’ the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you engage in their study, I consider it for you as though you are sacrificing them.’ Rabbi Huna said two: All of the exiles will be ingathered only by virtue of Mishna. What is the source? “Even as they pay tribute [yitnu]16Yitnu is expounded to mean matnitin or Mishna. Thus, the verse implies that the exiles will be gathered back to the Land of Israel because of the study of Mishna. to the nations, now I will gather them” (Hosea 8:10). Rabbi Huna said another: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among the nations and in every place offerings are presented to My name, [and pure meal offerings]” (Malachi 1:11). Are there pure meal offerings, handfuls, and burning in Babylon?17The process of the meal offering included a priest taking a handful of the offering and burning it on the altar. Rather, what is this? This is Mishna. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you are engaging in the study of Mishna, it is as though you are sacrificing an offering.’
Shmuel said: “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, [make known to them the form of the House]” (Ezekiel 43:11). Was there a form of the House at that point?18The house referred to is the Temple, which was in ruins at the time of that prophecy. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Since you are engaged in it, it is as though you are building it.’ Rabbi Asi said: Why does one begin [teaching] children from the book of Leviticus and one does not begin with Genesis? It is because the children are pure and the offerings are pure, let the pure come and engage in the pure.
From whom do you derive this? From the sons of Job. Initially, “his sons would go and make a feast [in the house of each one on his day, and they would send and invite their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. It was when the cycle of their days of feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all, for Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and have blasphemed God in their hearts]” (Job 1:4–5). Rabbi Meir says: As it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast.11These feasts were held as an expression of family unity and affinity. Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya said: They went to attend to them, as they had betrothed women for them.12The feasts were celebrations to mark the event of a son of Job betrothing a wife, and the other sons would attend in order to celebrate the occasion. That is what is written: “It was when the cycle of the days of their feasting was completed that Job would send and sanctify them [vaykadeshem]” (Job 1:5). According to the opinion of Rabbi Tanḥum ben Rabbi Ḥiyya, who said that they betrothed [kideshu] women for them, they attended to them and went.13The children of Job would participate in the celebration and then go on their way. These feasts were not regular occurrences. According to the opinion of Rabbi Meir, who said as it is the way of the sons of kings to call their brothers and sisters to join them in a feast, it is as it says: “To the people say: Prepare yourselves [hitkadeshu] [tomorrow and you will eat meat]” (Numbers 11:18).14The feasts were not in celebration of a special and unusual occasion but rather were more regular occurrences.
“He would rise early in the morning and offer [burnt offerings corresponding to the number of them all]” (Job 1:5). Rabbi Yudan bar Ḥilfai raised a dilemma: [Corresponding to] the number of days, the number of sons and daughters, or the number of offerings in the Torah?15This question remains unresolved. When it says: “For Job would say: Perhaps my sons have sinned and blasphemed,” that indicates that the burnt offering comes only for [sinful] rumination of the heart.
Rabbi Aḥa in the name of Rabbi Ḥanina bar Pappa: In order that Israel would not say: ‘In the past we would sacrifice offerings and engage in their study; now that there are no offerings, must we engage in their study?’ the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you engage in their study, I consider it for you as though you are sacrificing them.’ Rabbi Huna said two: All of the exiles will be ingathered only by virtue of Mishna. What is the source? “Even as they pay tribute [yitnu]16Yitnu is expounded to mean matnitin or Mishna. Thus, the verse implies that the exiles will be gathered back to the Land of Israel because of the study of Mishna. to the nations, now I will gather them” (Hosea 8:10). Rabbi Huna said another: “For from the rising of the sun to its setting, My name is great among the nations and in every place offerings are presented to My name, [and pure meal offerings]” (Malachi 1:11). Are there pure meal offerings, handfuls, and burning in Babylon?17The process of the meal offering included a priest taking a handful of the offering and burning it on the altar. Rather, what is this? This is Mishna. The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since you are engaging in the study of Mishna, it is as though you are sacrificing an offering.’
Shmuel said: “And if they are ashamed of all that they have done, [make known to them the form of the House]” (Ezekiel 43:11). Was there a form of the House at that point?18The house referred to is the Temple, which was in ruins at the time of that prophecy. Rather, the Holy One blessed be He said: Since you are engaged in it, it is as though you are building it.’ Rabbi Asi said: Why does one begin [teaching] children from the book of Leviticus and one does not begin with Genesis? It is because the children are pure and the offerings are pure, let the pure come and engage in the pure.