God Repays Even a Modest Turn of Phrase

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 86:7

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And she called his name Moab" (Genesis 19:37-38). Rabbi Chiya bar Abba said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: the Holy One, blessed be He, does not withhold the reward even for refined speech. For whereas the firstborn, who said "Moab" [meaning "from father"], openly naming the disgrace - the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "Do not provoke them to war" (Deuteronomy 2:9). War He forbade, but He did permit forced labor to be imposed upon them. But the younger daughter, who said "Ben-Ammi" ["son of my people," discreetly] - the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "and when you draw near opposite the children of Ammon, do not harass them and do not provoke them" (Deuteronomy 2:19), [meaning] that you may not even impose forced labor upon them.

Themes

SpeechReward And PunishmentNations

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