מדרש אויף איוב 28:8

[Another interpretation (of Eccl. 2:2): OF LAUGHTER I SAID: IT IS MAD! How confused was the laughter, when Divine justice laughed over the people of Sodom!¹⁰See also TSot. 3:11. (Job 28:5–8:) AS FOR THE EARTH, OUT OF IT COMES FORTH BREAD; BUT UNDERNEATH IT IS CHANGED AS IF INTO FIRE. ITS STONES ARE THE PLACE OF SAPPHIRES…. NO BIRD OF PREY KNOWS A PATH < TO IT >…. PROUD BEASTS HAVE NOT TRODDEN IT…. When they said: Let us forget the traveler in our midst, as it is written (in Job 28:4): ONE BREAKS OPEN A SHAFT AWAY FROM WHERE PEOPLE DWELL; < IN PLACES > FORGOTTEN BY THE TRAVELER….; the Holy One said to them: (Eccl. 2:2): AND OF REJOICING, WHAT DOES THAT DO? By your life, I will make you forgotten by the world. This is what is written (in Gen. 19:24–25): THEN THE LORD RAINED DOWN UPON SODOM AND UPON GOMORRAH BRIMSTONE AND FIRE…; AND HE DESTROYED THOSE CITIES….]

(Fol 89a) R. Joshua b. Levi said further: "When Moses ascended before the Holy One, praised be He! Satan appeared before Him and said, 'Sovereign of the universe, where is Thy Torah?' 'I have given it to the earth,' answered He. So Satan went to the earth, saying to it, 'Where is the Torah?' 'God alone,' answered the earth, 'understandeth her way.' (Job 28, 8.) Satan then went to the sea and was told, 'She is not with me.' He went to the deep, and was told, 'She is not in me,' for it is said (Ib. ib. 14.) The deep saith, not in me is she, and the sea saith, she is not with me (Ib. ib. 24.) Destruction and death said 'We heard a rumor with our ears'. Satan then returned and said unto the Holy One, praised be He! 'Sovereign of the universe, I have searched throughout the earth for the Torah but could not find it.' Then said the Lord unto him, 'Go to the son of Amram (Moses).' Satan went unto Moses and said to him, 'Where is the Torah that the Holy One, praised be He! gave thee?' 'Who am I that the Holy One, should give me the Torah?' replied Moses in a surprised tone. The Lord then said unto Moses, "Moses, art thou a liar? 'Sovereign of the universe!' Moses pleaded before Him, 'such a reserved treasure which Thou hast and art delighted with every single day, shall I claim the credit [of obtaining it] for myself?' Whereupon the Holy One, praised be He! said unto Moses, 'Because thou hast belittled thyself, I will cause the Torah to be called in conjunction with your name,' as it is said (Malachi 3, 22.) Remember ye, the Torah of Moses my servant." Further said R. Joshua b. Levi: "At the time when Moses ascended to Heaven, he found that the Holy One, praised be He! was providing certain letters with crownlets. 'Moses, is there no peace in thy city?' said the Lord to him. 'Is it then proper that a servant shall greet his master?' Moses replied. 'You should have wished me well.' Immediately Moses said to Him And now I pray Thee, let the power of the Lords he great as Thou hast spoken (Num. 14, 17)."