Another thing is what the scripture says (Proverbs 12:1): "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge." There are four who were punished. One was punished and kicked. This was Job, who was punished and kicked.
Likewise, it says (Job 10:2): "Let me know why You contend with me. Is it right for You to oppress me?" I know that You have the power, and You do as You please. (Job 34:30) "That the godless man should not reign, that there be no one to ensnare the people." This was punished and kicked.
The second was punished and played with. This was Abraham, as it says (Genesis 17:17) "Then Abraham fell upon his face and laughed, and said in his heart, 'Shall a child be born to a man who is one hundred years old? And shall Sarah, who is ninety years old, bear a child?'" And why was Abraham similar to a king who swore to hit his son and said to him, "My son, I have sworn to hit you"?
The son replied, "The power is in your hand." He hit him and thought that his son would say "Enough," but once he hit him, the father said, "Enough, I have hit him." Similarly, (Genesis 17:1) "When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram and said to him, 'I am El Shaddai; walk before Me and be blameless.'" I have hit him enough.
The third was punished and asked his beloved not to hit him. This was Hezekiah, as it says (Isaiah 38:2) "Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, and said..." Rabbi Nathan said: He was also punished and kicked, as it says (Isaiah 14:31) "Wail, O gate! Cry, O city!
Melt away, O Philistia, all of you! For smoke comes out of the north, and there is no straggler in his ranks." This tells us that his blows were as severe as those of Job. In Job it is written (Job 19:20) "My bones cling to my skin and to my flesh, and I have escaped by the skin of my teeth."
And in Hezekiah, it is written (Isaiah 38:13) "I composed my soul as a weaned child. Like a weaned child on its mother's lap, so is my soul within me." This tells us that even the skin of his teeth was taken away. The fourth said, "Why is the strap hanging?
Direct me with it." This was David, as it says to David, "Judge me, O LORD." And likewise, Solomon says (Proverbs 12:1) "Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge." And David also says (Psalm 94:12) "Blessed is the man whom You discipline, O LORD."