שמות רבה מ״זShemot Rabbah 47

Parashah 47 of 52 in Shemot Rabbah — 9 sections

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Section 1א׳

כְּתָב לְךָ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (הושע ח, יב): אֶכְתָּב לוֹ רֻבֵּי תּוֹרָתִי כְּמוֹ זָר נֶחְשָׁבוּ, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁנִּגְלָה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּסִינַי לִתֵּן תּוֹרָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, אֲמָרָהּ לְמשֶׁה עַל הַסֵּדֶר מִקְרָא וּמִשְׁנָה תַּלְמוּד וְאַגָּדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כ, א): וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹהִים אֵת כָּל הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, אֲפִלּוּ מַה שֶּׁהַתַּלְמִיד שׁוֹאֵל לָרַב אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. מֵאַחַר שֶׁלְּמָדָהּ מִפִּי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר לוֹ לַמְּדָהּ לְיִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֶכְתֹּב אוֹתָהּ לָהֶם, אָמַר לוֹ אֵינִי מְבַקֵּשׁ לִתְּנָהּ לָהֶם בִּכְתָב, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁגָּלוּי לְפָנַי שֶׁעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים עֲתִידִים לִשְׁלֹט בָּהֶם וְלִטֹּל אוֹתָהּ מֵהֶם וְיִהְיוּ בְּזוּיִים בְּעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, אֶלָּא הַמִּקְרָא אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָהֶם בְּמִכְתָּב, וְהַמִּשְׁנָה וְהַתַּלְמוּד וְהָאַגָּדָה אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָהֶם עַל פֶּה, שֶׁאִם יָבוֹאוּ עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים וְיִשְׁתַּעְבְּדוּ בָּהֶם יִהְיוּ מֻבְדָּלִים מֵהֶם. אָמַר לַנָּבִיא אִם אֶכְתָּב לוֹ רֻבֵּי תּוֹרָתִי כְּמוֹ זָר נֶחְשָׁבוּ, וּמָה אֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה לָהֶם, נוֹתֵן אֶת הַמִּקְרָא בִּכְתָב, וְהַמִּשְׁנָה וְהַתַּלְמוּד וְהָאַגָּדָה בְּעַל פֶּה. כְּתָב זֶה הַמִּקְרָא, (שמות לד, כז): כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה זוֹ הַמִּשְׁנָה וְהַתַּלְמוּד, שֶׁהֵם מַבְדִּילִים בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לְבֵין הָעוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים.

“The Lord said to Moses: Write for yourself these matters, as according to these matters I established a covenant with you and with Israel” (Exodus 34:27). “Write for yourself these matters,” that is what is written: “I write for him the many teachings of My Torah, but they are regarded as foreign” (Hosea 8:12). When the Holy One blessed be He revealed Himself at Sinai to give the Torah to Israel, He said it to Moses in order: Bible, Mishna, Talmud, and aggada, as it is stated: “The Lord spoke all these matters” (Exodus 20:1); even what a student asks his teacher, the Holy One blessed be He said to him at that time. After [Moses] learned it from the mouth of the Holy One blessed be He, He said to him: ‘Teach it to Israel.’ He said to Him: ‘Master of the universe, I will write it for them.’ He said to him: ‘I do not wish to give it to them in writing, because it is revealed before Me that idolaters are destined to rule over them, and take it from them, and they will be despised among the idolaters. Rather, I will give them the Bible in writing, and I will give them the Mishna, Talmud, and agadda orally, so if the idolaters come to them and subjugate them, they will be distinct from them.’ He said to the prophet: If I write for them the many teachings of My Torah, they will be regarded as foreign. What will I do for them? I will give them the Bible in writing, and the Mishna, Talmud, and agadda orally [al peh]. “Write,” this is the Bible; “as according to [al pi] these matters” (Exodus 34:27), these are the Mishna and the Talmud, which distinguish Israel from the idolaters.

Section 2ב׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּתָב לְךָ, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה הַלּוּחוֹת הָרִאשׁוֹנוֹת אֲנִי כָּתַבְתִּי אוֹתָם, כְּדִכְתִיב (דברים ט, י): כְּתֻבִים בְּאֶצְבַּע אֱלֹהִים, אֲבָל הַשְּׁנִיִּים כְּתֹב אַתָּה, וּלְוַאי אֶתֵּן בּוֹ יָדִי. מָשָׁל לְמֶלֶךְ שֶׁנָּשָׂא אֶת הָאִשָּׁה וְכָתַב לָהּ גָּמִיסְקוֹס מִשֶּׁלּוֹ, לְאַחַר יָּמִים קִלְקְלָה וּטְרָדָהּ מִבֵּיתוֹ, בָּא שׁוֹשְׁבִינָהּ וְרִצָּה אוֹתָהּ לַמֶּלֶךְ, אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לַשּׁוֹשְׁבִין, הֲרֵי נִתְרַצֵּיתִי לָהּ, אֶלָּא עֲשֵׂה לָהּ גָּמִיסְקוֹס וּלְוַאי אֶתֵּן בּוֹ יָדִי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דברים י, ב): וְאֶכְתֹּב עַל הַלֻּחֹת.

Another matter, “write for yourself,” the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘I wrote the first tablets, as it is written: “Written with the finger of God” (Deuteronomy 9:10). But the second [tablets], you write and hopefully I will give a hand.’ This is analogous to a king who married a woman and wrote her a marriage document of his own. Sometime later she sinned and he expelled her from his house. Her attendant came and reconciled her with the king. The king said to the attendant: ‘I have reconciled with her. Prepare a marriage document for her and hopefully I will give a hand.’ That is what is written: “I will inscribe on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets” (Deuteronomy 10:2).

Section 3ג׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, כְּתָב לְךָ, בִּזְכוּתְךָ אֲנִי נוֹתֵן לָהֶם אֶת הַתּוֹרָה. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן חֲלַפְתָּא הוּא שֶׁמּשֶׁה אוֹמֵר לָהֶן לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (דברים ב, ד): וַיִּכְתֹּב עַל הַלֻּחֹת כַּמִכְתָּב הָרִאשׁוֹן וַיִּתְּנֵם ה' אֵלָי, לִי נְתָנָם וַאֲנִי נָהַגְתִּי עִמָּכֶם עַיִן טוֹבָה וְנָתַתִּי אוֹתָהּ לָכֶם, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כְּתָב לְךָ, בִּזְכוּתְךָ. אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, כָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁכָּתוּב דָּבָר, דְּבָרִים, הַדְּבָרִים, אָלוֹת וְתוֹכָחוֹת הֵם. רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר: כְּתָב לְךָ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה שֶׁבְּעַל פֶּה, כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית, וְאִם הֵמַּרְתָּ אוֹתָהּ וְעָשִׂיתָ אוֹתָהּ מַה שֶּׁבְּעַל פֶּה בִּכְתָב וּמַה שֶּׁבִּכְתָב בְּעַל פֶּה, אֵינְךָ מְקַבֵּל שָׂכָר, לָמָּה, שֶׁכָּךְ נְתַתִּיהָ תּוֹרָה בִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה בְּעַל פֶּה. וְרַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן אוֹמֵר: כְּתָב לְךָ וגו' כִּי עַל פִּי וגו', תּוֹרָה בִּכְתָב וְתוֹרָה בְּעַל פֶּה. כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית, עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּהֵא קוֹרֵא בָהֶם כָּךְ, אֲבָל אִם הֵמַּרְתָּ אוֹתָם הֱוֵי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁאַתָּה מְבַטֵּל הַבְּרִית, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כְּתָב לְךָ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, וְכֵן משֶׁה אוֹמֵר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל (דברים ד, ט): רַק הִשָּׁמֶר לְךָ וּשְׁמֹר נַפְשְׁךָ מְאֹד פֶּן תִּשְׁכַּח אֶת הַדְּבָרִים, מַהוּ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים, אֵלּוּ דְּבָרִים שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹאֶה אוֹתָן שֶׁהֵם כְּתוּבִים בִּכְתָב, (דברים ד, ט): וּפֶן יָסוּרוּ מִלְּבָבְךָ, אֵלּוּ הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לְךָ עַל פֶּה, לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: כְּתָב לְךָ אֶת הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי תּוֹרָתִי שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם לֹא הָיִיתִי מַכִּיר אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא הָיִיתִי מַבִּיט בָּכֶם מִשְּׁאָר עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, לְפִיכָךְ כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית וְאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי, אָמַר לָהֶם הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְשֶׁעָבַר הֱיִיתֶם נִקְרָאִים כִּשְׁאָר אֻמּוֹת, כְּמוֹ (דברי הימים א א, ט): סַבְתָּא וְרַעְמָא וְסַבְתְּכָא, וּמִשֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם תּוֹרָתִי כָּרַתִּי בְּרִית עִמָּכֶם וְעִלִּיתִי אֶתְכֶם. וְלֹא יִשְׂרָאֵל בִּלְבָד, אֶלָּא אַף אַתָּה מַלְכָּם, לֹא גִּדַּלְתִּיךָ בָּעוֹלָם אֶלָּא בִּזְכוּת הַתּוֹרָה, וּמַה גִּדְּלוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר רַבִּי יִרְמְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר רַב יִצְחָק כָּל הַכָּבוֹד שֶׁרָאָה משֶׁה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה אֵינוֹ אֶלָּא מִן הַפֵּרוֹת, אֲבָל הַקֶּרֶן, קַיֶּמֶת לוֹ לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא.

Another matter, “write for yourself,” on the basis of your merit I am giving them the Torah. Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta said: That it what Moses said to Israel: “He inscribed on the tablets, like the first inscription…and the Lord gave them to me” (Deuteronomy 10:4). He gave them to me, and I conducted myself generously with you and gave it to you. That is why it is stated: “Write for yourself” – it was on the basis of your merit. “As according to these matters [hadevarim],” everywhere that davar, devarim, hadevarim is written, they are curses and rebukes. Rabbi Yoḥanan and Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Shimon, Rabbi Yoḥanan said: “Write for yourself these matters, as according to [al pi] these matters” – the written Torah and the Oral Torah – “I established a covenant with you.” If you exchange it and you render what is oral written and what is written oral, you will not receive reward. Why? Because that is the way I gave it, as a written Torah and an oral Torah. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Shimon says: “Write for yourself…as according to…” the written Torah and the oral Torah, “I established a covenant with you,” so that you read them so, but if you exchange them, know that you are voiding the covenant. That is why it is stated: “Write for yourself these matters.” Likewise, Moses says to Israel: “Only beware, and protect yourself greatly, lest you forget the matters [that your eyes saw]” (Deuteronomy 4:9). What are “the matters”? These are the matters that you see, as they are in writing. “Lest they move from your heart” (Deuteronomy 4:9), these are the matters that I gave you orally. That is why it is stated: “Write for yourself these matters, as according to these matters,” as, were it not for the Torah that you received, I would not have distinguished you and I would not have looked upon you more than other nations. That is why “I established a covenant with you and with Israel.” Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘In the past, you were called like the rest of the nations, like: “Savta, Rama, and Savtekha” (I Chronicles 1:9). But when you received My Torah, I established a covenant with you and elevated you. Not only Israel, but you, too, their king, I elevated you in the world only due to the merit of the Torah.’ How did the Holy One blessed be He elevate him? Rabbi Yirmeya said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: All the honor that Moses experienced in this world was only the profits, but the principal endures for him for the World to Come.

Section 4ד׳

דָּבָר אַחֵר, כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה, שֶׁתְּהֵא יָגֵעַ בָּהֶם בְּפִיךָ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (דברים ל, יד): בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשׂתוֹ, וּמַהוּ כָּרַתִּי אִתְּךָ בְּרִית וְאֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁאִלּוּלֵי שֶׁקִּבַּלְתֶּם תּוֹרָתִי הָיִיתִי מַחֲזִיר הָעוֹלָם לְתֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה לג, כה): אִם לֹא בְרִיתִי יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה וגו', לָמָּה, שֶׁבַּתּוֹרָה בָּרָאתִי שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי ג, יט): ה' בְּחָכְמָה יָסַד אָרֶץ, (משלי ג, כ): בְּדַעְתּוֹ תְּהוֹמוֹת נִבְקָעוּ, אִם בִּטַּלְתָּ הַבְּרִית אַתְּ גּוֹרֵם לִי לְהַחֲזִיר אֶת הָעֶלְיוֹנִים וְהַתַּחְתּוֹנִים לְתֹהוּ וָבֹהוּ, לְפִיכָךְ כִּי עַל פִּי הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה.

Another matter, “As according to [al pi] these matters,” that you must toil in them with your mouth [befikha]. Likewise it says: “In your mouth and in your heart to perform it” (Deuteronomy 30:14). What is “I established a covenant with you and with Israel”? Had you not accepted My Torah, I would have restored the world to emptiness and disorder, as it is stated: “If not for My covenant day and night, [I would not have set the statutes of heaven and earth]” (Jeremiah 33:25). Why? Because it was with the Torah that I created heaven and earth, as it is stated: “The Lord founded the earth with wisdom” (Proverbs 3:19), “with His knowledge the depths were breached” (Proverbs 3:20). If you void the covenant, you cause Me to restore the upper and lower worlds to emptiness and disorder. Therefore, “as according to these matters.”

Section 5ה׳

וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', וְכִי אֶפְשָׁר לוֹ לְאָדָם לִהְיוֹת אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם בְּלֹא מַאֲכָל וּבְלֹא מִשְׁתֶּה, רַבִּי תַּנְחוּמָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר בֶּן רַבִּי אָבִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי מֵאִיר אוֹמֵר, הַמָּשָׁל אוֹמֵר אֲזַלְתְּ לְקַרְתָּא הַלֵּךְ בְּנִימוּסֶיהָ, לְמַעְלָה שֶׁאֵין אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה עָלָה משֶׁה וְנִדְמָה לָהֶם, לְמַטָּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ אֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה יָרְדוּ מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת וְאָכְלוּ וְשָׁתוּ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח, ח): וְהוּא עֹמֵד עֲלֵיהֶם תַּחַת הָעֵץ וַיֹּאכֵלוּ, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן נִרְאִין כְּאוֹכְלִין, רִאשׁוֹן רִאשׁוֹן מִסְתַּלֵּק. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שֶׁהָיָה עוֹלֶה מִטְבֶרְיָא לְצִפּוֹרִי, הָיָה רַבִּי חִיָּא תַּלְמִידוֹ אֶצְלוֹ, וְהָיָה רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן רוֹאֶה כֶּרֶם, אָמַר לְרַבִּי חִיָּא, אֵין אַתָּה רוֹאֶה כֶּרֶם זֶה שֶׁהָיָה שֶׁלִּי וּמָכַרְתִּי אוֹתוֹ בְּכָךְ וְכָךְ, אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה בָּכָה רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא וְאָמַר לוֹ, לֹא הִנַּחְתָּ לְעֵת זִקְנוּתְךָ כְּלוּם, אָמַר לוֹ וְכִי קַלָּה הִיא בְּעֵינֶיךָ שֶׁמָּכַרְתִּי דָּבָר שֶׁנִּבְרָא בְּשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, וְקָנִיתִי דָּבָר שֶׁנִּתַּן לְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם, עוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ וּמְלוֹאוֹ נִבְרָא בְּשִׁשָּׁה יָמִים, אֲבָל הַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לְאַרְבָּעִים יוֹם. לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, אֲבָל מִלַּחְמָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה אָכַל, וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה, אֲבָל מֵימֶיהָ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה שָׁתָה, וְהָיָה לָמֵד תּוֹרָה בַּיּוֹם, וּפוֹשֵׁט אוֹתָהּ בֵּינוֹ לְבֵין עַצְמוֹ בַּלַּיְלָה, וְלָמָּה הָיָה עוֹשֶׂה כָּךְ, אֶלָּא לְלַמֵּד אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁיְהוּ יְגֵעִים בַּתּוֹרָה בַּיּוֹם וּבַלָּיְלָה. רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ הָיָה אוֹמֵר לְתַלְמִידָיו בּוֹאוּ וְלִמְּדוּ תוֹרָה דְּשָׁחֲרִין וּדְקָרִין בַּלַּיְלָה. וְרַבִּי יוֹחָנָן הָיָה אוֹמֵר לְתַלְמִידָיו בּוֹאוּ וְלִמְדוּ תוֹרָה דְּאִימְטִין. אֶלָּא אַף עַל פִּי כֵן מוֹדֶה הָיָה רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן שֶׁאֵין רִנָּה שֶׁל תּוֹרָה אֶלָּא בַּלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איכה ב, יט): קוּמִי רֹנִי בַלַּיְלָה, וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר (משלי לא, טו): וַתָּקָם בְּעוֹד לַיְלָה. רַבָּנִין אָמְרֵי בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה' אַרְבָּעִים יוֹם וְאַרְבָּעִים לָיְלָה, לְכָךְ הִתְקִינוּ חֲכָמִים שֶׁיְהוּ הַמַּשְׁנִין יוֹשְׁבִין בַּבֹּקֶר וּבָעֶרֶב, לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר (יהושע א, ח): לֹא יָמוּשׁ סֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה וגו'. דָּבָר אַחֵר, וַיְהִי שָׁם עִם ה', לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל וּמַיִם לֹא שָׁתָה בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, אֲבָל לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא הוּא אוֹכֵל מִלַּחְמָהּ שֶׁל תּוֹרָה וְהוּא שׁוֹתֶה מֵימֶיהָ, לְפִיכָךְ לֶחֶם לֹא אָכַל, אֶלָּא מֵאַיִן הָיָה אוֹכֵל, מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה הָיָה נִזּוֹן, וְאַל תִּתְמַהּ הַחַיּוֹת שֶׁנּוֹשְׂאוֹת אֶת הַכִּסֵּא מִזִּיו הַשְּׁכִינָה הֵן נִזּוֹנוֹת.

“He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water. He wrote upon the tablets the words of the covenant, the ten precepts” (Exodus 34:28). “He was there with the Lord.” Is it possible for a person to be forty days without food and without drink? Rabbi Tanḥuma says in the name of Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Avin in the name of Rabbi Meir: The proverb says: You went to the city, follow its conventions. Above, where there is no eating and drinking, Moses ascended and was like them. Below, where there is eating and drinking, the ministering angels descended and ate and drank, as it is stated: “He stood over them beneath the tree and they ate” (Genesis 18:8). Rabbi Yoḥanan said: They appeared as though they were eating, and each morsel disappeared. Another matter, “he was there with the Lord,” there was an incident involving Rabbi Yoḥanan who was ascending from Tiberias to Tzippori. His student, Rabbi Ḥiya, was with him. Rabbi Yoḥanan saw a vineyard. He said to Rabbi Ḥiya: ‘Do you not see that vineyard that was mine and I sold it for such and such a sum?’ At that moment Rabbi Ḥiya bar Abba wept and said to him: ‘Did you not leave anything for your old age?’ He said to him: ‘Is it insignificant in your eyes that I sold an item that was created in six days and I acquired an item that was given in forty days? The world and all that it holds was created in six days, but the Torah was given in forty days.’ “He did not eat bread,” but he partook of the bread of Torah. “He did not drink water,” but he drank the water of Torah. He would study Torah by day and would interpret it himself at night. Why did he do so? It was to teach Israel that they should toil in Torah by day and by night. Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish would say to his students: ‘Come and study Torah in the daytime and it will become clear at night.’ Rabbi Yoḥanan would say to his students: Come and study Torah for it is daytime. Nevertheless, Rabbi Yoḥanan would concede that the song of Torah is only at night, as it is stated: “Arise, sing at night” (Lamentations 2:19), and likewise it says: “She arises while it is still night” (Proverbs 31:15). The Rabbis say: During the day and at night, as it is stated: “He was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights.” That is why the Sages instituted that the teachers of Mishna would have sessions in the morning and in the evening, to realize what is stated: “This book of the Torah shall not depart [from your mouth, and you shall ponder it day and night]” (Joshua 1:8). Another matter, “he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did not eat bread, and he did not drink water” in this world, but in the world to come he will partake of the bread of Torah and drink its water. That is why “He did not eat bread.” What, then, did he eat? He was sustained by the aura of the Divine Presence. Do not wonder, as the heavenly beasts that bear the Throne are sustained by the aura of the Divine Presence.

…and 4 more sections in this chapter.

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Shemot Rabbah — Midrash Rabbah, TE edition, via Sefaria

English: The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022 — CC BY