Why the Convert Is More Beloved Than Israel at Sinai

(Gen. 14:1:) "Now it came to pass in the days of Amraphel." Let our master teach us: A convert who converts on the eve of Passover, how does he eat his Passover offering? Thus our Rabbis taught: The House of Shammai say, he immerses and eats his Passover offering in the evening; but the House of Hillel say, one who separates from the foreskin is like one who separates from the grave. Resh Lakish said: The convert who converts is more beloved than Israel at their standing on Mount Sinai. Why? Because, had they not seen the thunders and the lightnings, and the mountains quaking, and the sound of the shofars, they would not have accepted the Torah. But this one, who saw none of them, came and surrendered himself to the Holy One, blessed be He, and took upon himself the kingdom of Heaven. Have you one more beloved than this? It happened that Onkelos the convert asked a certain elder, and said to him: How greatly did the Holy One, blessed be He, cherish the convert, when He said (Deut. 10:18), "and He loves the stranger, to give him bread and clothing"! Is this everything, bread and clothing? He said to him: But did not our father Jacob ask for only this, as it is said (Gen. 28:20), "and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear"? Our Rabbis said: The convert is beloved, for the Holy One, blessed be He, wrote concerning Himself (Jer. 14:8), "Why should You be like a stranger in the land?" The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Thus do I cherish the convert. And Abraham is the father of converts, and these wicked ones came to join in battle against him. Woe to them, for their end is to fall before him. From where? From what they read on the matter, "Now it came to pass in the days of Amraphel."