Why Knowledge Outweighs the Temple in Midrash Shmuel

Midrash Shmuel 5:9

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

"For the LORD is a God of knowledge" (1 Samuel 2:3). Rabbi said: I wonder how they cancelled "Who graciously grants knowledge" on the Sabbath, for if a person has no knowledge, how is he to pray? Rabbi Pinchas said: Great is knowledge, for it is placed in the middle between two mentions [of the Divine Name], "then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God" (Proverbs 2:5), and it says, "For the LORD is a God of knowledge." Rabbi Elazar said: Great is knowledge, for it is weighed against the Holy Temple, "the place for Your dwelling that You made, O LORD, the Sanctuary, O Lord, that Your hands established" (Exodus 15:17). And the Rabbis said: Anyone who has no knowledge in him, it is forbidden to have compassion on him. And what is the reason? "For it is a people of no understanding; therefore He who made it will not have compassion on it" (Isaiah 27:11).

Themes

PrayerTempleWisdomLoveDivine Names

Biblical References

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