Had Israel Not Sinned They Would Have Only Torah and Joshua

Rabbi Aha bar Hanina said: Had Israel not sinned, they would have been given only the Five Books of the Torah and the book of Joshua, because it sets forth the arrangement of the Land of Israel, as it is said, "For in much wisdom is much grief" (Ecclesiastes 1:18). It is written, "And he broke them beneath the mountain" (Exodus 32:19). Moses gazed at the tablets and saw that the writing had flown off from them, and he cast them from his hands; immediately he was struck dumb and could not answer a word. At that hour a decree was issued upon Israel that they would study Torah amid pain, amid servitude, amid wandering, amid confusion, amid distress, and amid lack of sustenance. And in return for that suffering with which they are afflicted, the Holy One, blessed be He, is destined to repay them their reward in the days of the Messiah, doubled and redoubled, as it is said, "The Lord GOD will come with strength, and His arm shall rule for Him; behold, His reward is with Him" (Isaiah 40:10). And it says, "Who has preceded Me, that I should repay him? Whatever is under the whole heaven is Mine" (Job 41:3): For My benefit the leg of my cow was broken, so that my wages might be paid in full.