מדרש אויף משלי 8:17

Halakha: A person of Israel who did not pray the morning prayer, the additional prayer, or the afternoon prayer, as many times he was too occupied to pray, because he was relieving himself, or he was walking on the way and forgot to pray – until what hour is it permitted for him to pray and fulfill his obligation? How must he act? So taught the Sages: The morning prayer is until noon. the afternoon prayer is until the evening.
the evening prayer has no fixed time, but the additional prayer is all day. Rabbi Elazar said: If one forgot and did not pray the additional prayer, and comes to pray the afternoon prayer, he prays the afternoon prayer and then the additional prayer. Why? It is because everything is recited at its time. The evening prayer has no fixed time, until dawn. Why?¹Why is it important to know until when one can pray? It is as it is written: “I love those who love me, and those who seek me will find me” (Proverbs 8:17). And anyone who prays and focuses his heart in prayer, it is a positive indicator that his prayer was accepted, as it is stated: “Lord, You hear the desire of the humble” (Psalms 10:17).
Great is prayer before the Holy One blessed be He. Rabbi Elazar said: Is your wish to know the power of prayer? If it does not accomplish all of it, it accomplishes half of it. Cain stood against his brother Abel and killed him. An edict was issued: “Restless and itinerant you shall be on the earth” (Genesis 4:12). Immediately, he stood and confessed before the Holy One blessed be He, as it is stated: “My iniquity is too great to bear” (Genesis 4:13). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, You bear the entire world, but you cannot bear me? You wrote: “Bearing iniquity and overlooking transgression” (Micah 7:18) – pardon my iniquity, which is great.’ Immediately, he found mercy before the Holy One blessed be He, and the “itinerant” half of the edict was withheld from him, as so it is written: “He resided in the land of Nod” (Genesis 4:16). From here you learn that prayer is great before the Holy One blessed be He. Likewise Hezekiah, when the prophet said to him: “Instruct your household, as you are dying” (Isaiah 38:1). Immediately, “Hezekiah turned his face to the wall [and he prayed to the Lord]” (Isaiah 38:2). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: “I have heard your prayer… behold, I am adding fifteen years to your days” (Isaiah 38:5), as it is written: “He grants the wishes of those who fear Him, and He hears their cry and saves them” (Psalms 145:19).

“A man or woman...” – that is what is written: “The Lord loves the righteous. [The Lord protects proselytes]” (Psalms 146:8–9). This is what the Holy One blessed be He said: “I love those who love Me” (Proverbs 8:17); likewise He says: “For I will honor those who honor Me” (I Samuel 2:30) – they love Me, and I too love them. Why does the Holy One blessed be He love the righteous? It is because it is not an inheritance and it is not familial. You find that the priests are a patrilineal house; the Levites are a patrilineal house, as it is stated: “The house of Aaron, bless the Lord; the house of Levi, bless the Lord” (Psalms 135:19–20). If a person seeks to become a priest, he cannot; to be a Levite, he cannot. Why? It is because his father was neither a priest nor a Levite. However, if a person seeks to become righteous, even if he is a gentile, he can, as it is not a patrilineal house. That is why it says: “Those who fear the Lord, bless the Lord” (Psalms 135:20). “The house of those who fear the Lord” is not stated, but rather: “Those who fear the Lord.” They are not a patrilineal house, but of their own initiative they volunteered and loved the Holy One blessed be He. That is why the Holy One blessed be He loves them. That is why it is stated: “The Lord loves the righteous…”
The Holy One blessed be He loves the proselytes very much. To what is the matter comparable? It is to a king who had a flock, and it would go out to the field, and in the evening it would enter. So it was every day. One time, a certain gazelle entered with the flock. It went to the goats and was grazing with them. The flock entered the pen; it entered with them. They went out to graze; it went out with them. They said to the king: ‘This gazelle is accompanying the flock and is grazing with them. Each and every day, it goes out with them and enters with them.’ The king loved it. When it would go out to the field, he would command that it be given good pasture as it would want. ‘No person shall strike it; be careful with it.’ When it would enter with the flock, as well, he would say, ‘give it to drink.’ He loved it very much. They said to him: ‘My master, how many goats, you have, how many sheep you have, how many kids you have, and you do not admonish us; but regarding this gazelle you admonish us each and every day?’ The king told them, ‘The flock, whether it wants to or not, it is accustomed to graze in the field all day, and in the evening to come and sleep in the pen. The gazelles sleep in the wilderness; they are not accustomed to enter settlements inhabited by people. Shall we not appreciate one that forsook the great and broad wilderness, the habitat of all the beasts, and came and settled in the courtyard?’
So, do we not need to appreciate the proselyte, who forsook his family and his patrilineal house and forsook his nation and all the nations of the world, and came to be with us? That is why He increases their protection, as He cautioned Israel to restrain themselves and not harm them. As it says: “You shall love the proselyte” (Deuteronomy 10:19); “You shall not mistreat a proselyte, [and you shall not oppress him]” (Exodus 22:20). Just as the Torah obligated one who robbed from another [to give] a monetary payment and an offering of a ram of atonement, it also obligated one who robbed a proselyte to pay him his money and to bring a ram offering, as it is written: “Speak to the children of Israel: A man or woman,” and this portion speaks of one who robs a proselyte. As it is written: “The Lord protects proselytes” (Psalms 146:9). He increased their protection so they would not return to their evil ways.
Proselytes are beloved, as the verse everywhere likens them to Israel, as it is stated: “But it is you, Israel, My servant, Jacob, [whom I have chosen, descendants of Abraham,⁶“Descendants of Abraham” is interpreted here as referring to proselytes. who loved me]” (Isaiah 41:8). Love is stated regarding Israel, as it is stated: “I have loved you, said the Lord” (Malachi 1:2), and love is stated regarding proselytes, as it is stated: “And loves the proselyte, to give him food and garment” (Deuteronomy 10:18). Israel are called slaves, as it is stated: “For to Me the children of Israel are slaves” (Leviticus 25:55); proselytes are called slaves, as it is stated: “[I am the Lord your God, who took you out of the land of Egypt] from being slaves to them” (Leviticus 26:13).⁷Israel were strangers [gerim] in Egypt, and just as God chose them, He chooses the proselytes [gerim]. Acceptance is stated regarding Israel, as it is stated: “It shall be on his forehead always, for acceptance [for them before the Lord]” (Exodus 28:38), and acceptance is stated regarding proselytes, as it is stated: “Their burnt-offerings and their peace-offerings shall be for acceptance on My altar…” (Isaiah 56:7). Service is stated regarding Israel, as it is stated: “And you will be called priests of the Lord; [it will be said of you: Servants of our God]” (Isaiah 61:6); and service is stated regarding proselytes, as it is stated: “Also the aliens who accompany [the Lord to serve Him]” (Isaiah 56:6). Protection is stated regarding Israel, as it is stated: “The Lord is your protector” (Psalms 121:5), and protection is stated regarding proselytes, as it is stated: “The Lord protects proselytes” (Psalms 146:9).
Likewise you find regarding the four groups that stand before the Omnipresent. It is stated: “This one will say: I am the Lord’s…” (Isaiah 44:5). “This one will say: I am the Lord’s” – he is totally devoted to the Omnipresent, and he is untainted by sin. “That one will call himself by the name of Jacob” (Isaiah 44:5) – these are the righteous proselytes. “This one will write with his hand: To the Lord” (Isaiah 44:5) – these are the penitents. “And will call himself by the name of Israel” (Isaiah 44:5) – these are those who fear Heaven. We have learned that the proselytes are like Israel. That is why this portion, “A man or woman…,” is stated.

“This month shall be for you the first of months; it shall be the first month of the year for you” (Exodus 12:2).
Another interpretation: “This month shall be for you” – that is what is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn [shaḥar], [beautiful as the moon, pure as the sun, fearsome as banners of a host?]” (Song of Songs 6:10). There are four terms of praise of Israel here, corresponding to the four exiles. For during the four exiles that Israel experienced, they did not deny the Holy One blessed be He. In the Babylonian exile, from where [can this be seen]? It is as it is stated: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?” Nebuchadnezzar prostrated himself to the sun, as it is stated: “How have you fallen from the heavens, glowing morning [shaḥar] star” (Isaiah 14:12).¹⁸“Morning star” refers to Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel¹⁹Daniel lived during the Babylonian exile. would rise early [shoḥer] and pray to the Omnipresent, as it is stated: “And windows were open for him in his upper chamber facing Jerusalem” (Daniel 6:11), evening, morning, and noon. Why would he rise early and pray? It was so the Holy One blessed be He would have mercy upon Israel. In his regard, Solomon said: “He who seeks [shoḥer] good seeks favor” (Proverbs 11:27). God was present for them in their time of distress, as it is stated: “I love those who love me…” (Proverbs 8:17).
Likewise, we find, when Daniel was cast into the lions’ den, he was not harmed, as it is stated; “God sent His angel and closed the lions’ mouths, and they did not harm me” (Daniel 6:23). Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were cast into the fiery furnace and were not harmed, as it is stated: “The hair of their heads was not singed [. . .] and the odor of fire did not cover them” (Daniel 3:27). Rather, they illuminated the world like the dawn, which illuminates the world. Therefore, “who appears like the dawn.” They caused the idolaters to acknowledge the Holy One blessed be He and to praise Him, as Nebuchadnezzar said when Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya emerged from the furnace: “Blessed is the God of Shadrakh, Meshakh, and Aved Nego” (Daniel 3:28),²⁰These are the Babylonian names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. “the servants of the exalted God” (Daniel 3:26). Likewise, Darius said after Daniel fell into the lions’ den “to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, who is the living God” (Daniel 6:27); therefore, it is written: “Who is she who appears like the dawn?”
“Beautiful as the moon” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in the Median [Persian] exile; you find during the night that if the moon is not seen in the sky, there is darkness in the world, and a person is unable to walk, even in the city. When the moon is seen in the sky, everyone is glad, and they walk on the road. So, during the days of Aḥashverosh, when they decreed against the Jews to “destroy, to kill, and to eliminate” (Esther 3:13), and Esther came and illuminated for Israel, as it is stated: “The Jews had light and gladness, [and joy and honor]” (Esther 8:16); that is why it is written: “Beautiful as the moon,” about the Median exile. If your wish is to know why Esther was likened to the moon: Just as the moon is reborn after thirty days, so too, Esther said: “But I have not been summoned to the king these thirty days” (Esther 4:11); that is why “beautiful as the moon” is in the Median exile.
“Pure as the sun” (Song of Songs 6:10) – during the Greek kingdom. Sandrios eim Ulios:²¹This phrase is in corrupted Greek, and two interpretations of it have been given. (1) The Sanhedrin against the sun, i.e., the Jewish Sanhedrin stands in opposition to the Greeks, represented by the sun (Mirkin); and (2) Alexander, son of Helios, i.e., Alexander the original Macedonian emperor, is the son of the god of the sun, Helios (Jastrow). The sun [ḥama] is its name, and the sun is called a strong man [gibor], as it is stated: “Rejoices as a strong man [gibor] to run its course” (Psalms 19:6).²²The verse is referring to the movement of the sun on its course. During the summer, who can withstand the sun; everyone flees from it, as it is stated: “And nothing hides from its heat [meḥamato]” (Psalms 19:7). So, with regard to the Greek kingdom, everyone fled from it, and Matitya the priest and his sons were steadfast in their faith in the Holy One blessed be He, and the troops of Greece fled from before them and were all killed. So, the Holy One blessed be He said to them: “Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears; the weak will say: I am mighty [gibor]” (Joel 4:10). And it says: “So may all Your enemies perish, Lord…” (Judges 5:31), to fulfill what is stated: “Pure as the sun.”
“Fearsome as banners” (Song of Songs 6:10) – in [reference to the hegemony of] Edom [Rome]; why is it [Israel] called fearsome? It is because it remains steadfast in a kingdom that inspires fear, as it is stated: “And behold a fourth beast, dreadful and fearsome, and strong” (Daniel 7:7). What is “fearsome as banners?” You find that there are twelve constellations in the sky. Just as the heavens cannot endure without the twelve constellations, so, the world cannot endure without the twelve tribes, as it is stated: “If [these] statutes depart [from before Me, says the Lord, then the descendants of Israel will also cease from being a nation before Me forever]” (Jeremiah 31:35).
“Fearsome as banners” – banners are nothing other than armies, as it is stated: “The banner of the camp…and their host and their numbered” (Numbers 2:3–4). Likewise, the banners of the heavens are the angels, and the banners of the earth are Israel. The hosts of the heavens are angels, as it is stated: “And the entire host of the heavens standing…” (II Chronicles 18:18). The hosts of the earth are Israel, as it is stated: “All the hosts of the Lord emerged from the land of Egypt” (Exodus 12:41). The Master of them both is the Holy One blessed be He. Just as everyone fears the Holy One blessed be He and the angels, so too, the idolaters fear Israel, as it is stated: “And all the peoples of the land will see that the name of the Lord [is called upon you, and they will fear you]” (Deuteronomy 28:10). This is why it is stated: “Fearsome as banners,” because the Holy One blessed be He likened Israel to the angels.
Regarding angels it is stated: “Seraphim were standing above Him” (Isaiah 6:2), and regarding Israel it is stated: “You are standing today” (Deuteronomy 29:9). The angels say each day: “Holy, holy, holy [is the Lord of hosts]” (Isaiah 6:3), and Israel says: The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.²³At the beginning of the Amida prayer. Both the angels and Israel praise God with a threefold prayer. Angels are called fire, as it is written: “The flaming fire His servants” (Psalms 104:4), and Israel likewise, as it is written: “The house of Jacob will be fire” (Obadiah 1:18). Angels are renewed every morning, and praise the Holy One blessed be He and then return to the river of fire from which they emerged; and the Holy One blessed be He again renews them and restores them as they had been initially, as it is stated: “They are new every morning” (Lamentations 3:23). So, [the people of] Israel sink into iniquities due to the evil inclination that is in their bodies, and they repent. Each year, God forgives their iniquities and renews their hearts to fear Him, as it is stated: “I will give you a new heart” (Ezekiel 36:26). That is why it is written: “Fearsome as banners.”