Cleaving to the Shekhinah Through Abraham Job and Joseph

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Matot 1:2

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

That you should be like these three who were called God-fearers: Abraham, Job, and Joseph. Abraham, as it is written, "For now I know that you fear God" (Genesis 22:12). And concerning Job it is written, "blameless and upright, one who feared God and turned away from evil" (Job 1:1). And concerning Joseph it is written, "I fear God" (Genesis 42:18). Hence, "The LORD your God you shall fear" (Deuteronomy 10:20). [Him you shall serve]: if you direct yourself to the Torah and to the doing of the commandments, and you have no other labor. For this reason it is said, "and Him you shall serve, and to Him you shall hold fast." But can a person hold fast to the Shekhinah? Has it not already been said, "For the LORD your God is a consuming fire" (Deuteronomy 4:24)? Rather, anyone who marries off his daughter to a Torah scholar who reads Scripture and recites Mishnah, and who conducts business on his behalf, and lets him benefit from his property—of him it is said, "and to Him you shall hold fast."

Themes

ShekhinahJobAbrahamJosephBible

Biblical References

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