Lest Sin Cause It and Why No Miracle Came in the Days of Ezra

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 131:2

Rabbi Yaakov bar Idi posed a contradiction: it is written, "And behold, I am with you and will keep you" (Genesis 28:15), and it is written, "And Jacob was afraid." He said: perhaps sin would cause it. This is also taught in a baraita: "until Your people pass over, O LORD" (Exodus 15:16), this is the first entry; "until the people pass over whom You have acquired" (Exodus 15:16), this is the second entry. Say from now on that Israel were fit to have a miracle performed for them in the days of Ezra, just as was done for them in the days of Joshua, but that sin caused it to be otherwise.

Themes