Who Has Given to Me First That I Should Repay

Pesikta DeRav Kahana 9:2

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Tanhuma opened: "Who has given to Me first, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine" (Job 41:3). Rabbi Tanhuma interpreted the verse concerning a bachelor who dwells in a city and pays the wages of teachers of Scripture and of Mishnah. The Holy One, blessed be He, says: It is upon Me to repay him his recompense and to give him a male son. Rabbi Jeremiah son of Rabbi Eleazar said: In time to come a heavenly voice will burst forth upon the mountaintops and say: Whoever has acted with God, let him come and take his reward. This is what is written, "at the appointed time it shall be said to Jacob and to Israel, what has God wrought" (Numbers 23:23) — whoever has acted with God, let him come and take his reward. And the Holy Spirit says: "Who has given to Me first, that I should repay him?" Who praised before Me before I gave him breath? Who circumcised before Me before I gave him a male son? Who made fringes for Me before I gave him a garment? Who made a mezuzah for Me before I gave him a house? Who made a parapet for Me before I gave him a roof? Who made a sukkah for Me before I gave him a courtyard? Who set aside for Me the corner of the field before I gave him a field? Who set aside for Me heave-offering and tithes before I gave him a threshing floor? Who set aside for Me an offering before I gave him an animal? "An ox, or a sheep, or a goat" (Leviticus 22:27).

Themes

CommandmentsProvidenceSacrifice

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