Samuel Wraps Himself in Israel's Garment at Mizpah

Midrash Shmuel 13:1

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"And they gathered to Mizpah, and drew water, and poured it out before the Lord, and fasted on that day, and said there: We have sinned against the Lord" (1 Samuel 7:6). Rabbi Simon said: Is not Shiloh the same as Mizpah, and is not Mizpah the same as Shiloh? Rather, like a kind of threshold that goes out from within the territory of Judah into the territory of Benjamin, and upon it the Temple was built. "And they drew water" — but did they draw water? Rather, this teaches that they drew words of Torah like water. "And they poured it out before the Lord" — but did they pour out before the Lord? Rather, this teaches that they poured out their heart in repentance like water. "And they said there: We have sinned against the Lord." Rabbi Huna and Rabbi Yirmeyah in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak: Samuel wrapped himself in the garment of Israel. He said before Him: Master of the worlds, do You demand of a person anything other than that he say before You "I have sinned"? And Israel say before You "We have sinned," and yet You do not pardon them! "And they said there: We have sinned against the Lord."

Themes

RepentanceSinTorahTribesHumor

Biblical References

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