Called Men Or Sons Of Adam By Keeping Torah

Midrash Mishlei 8:2

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Come and see how great is the wisdom of Solomon, king of Israel, concerning which he cried out and said: "Unto you, O men (ishim), I call, and my voice is to the sons of man (benei adam)" (Prov. 8:4). If he calls them "men," why "sons of man"? Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta said: If you have merited and upheld the Torah, you are called "men," like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who upheld the Torah; but if not, you are called "sons of man," like Adam, the first man, who did not uphold the Torah and was driven out of the Garden of Eden. Another interpretation: "Unto you, O men, I call" — if you have merited and upheld the Torah, you are called "men" like the ministering angels; but if not, "sons of man." What is written after it? "O ye simple, understand prudence" (Prov. 8:5).

Themes

TorahAdam EvePatriarchs

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