Today, we're diving into one such example, a passage from Vayikra Rabbah 18, which tackles a seemingly simple verse from Leviticus: "Any man, when he has a discharge from his flesh..." (Leviticus 15:2).
But hold on, because this isn't just about ritual purity! The Rabbis, in their ingenious way, connect this verse to another, seemingly unrelated one from (Habakkuk 1:7): "It is terrifying and awesome, from it will emerge its justice and its burden." Now, on the surface, Habakkuk is talking about the Chaldean nation. But here's the fascinating twist: the Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) sees this verse as a key that unlocks a series of profound insights into human nature and the consequences of our actions.
Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon, in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, starts us off with a bang. "Terrifying and awesome," he says, refers to Adam, the first human. According to Ginzberg's retelling in Legends of the Jews, when God created Adam, he was so immense that he filled the entire world – from east to west, as it says, "Back and front You shaped me" (Psalm 139:5). Even the space between heaven and earth! "You placed Your palm upon me" (Psalm 139:5). Talk about a powerful image! But what about "from it will emerge its justice and its burden?" Ah, that's Eve, who, as we all know, plays a central role in the story of the Garden of Eden. As (Genesis 3:12) tells us, Adam blames Eve for giving him the fruit, and that sin brought upon him the “justice and burden” – the punishment of death.
But the Midrash doesn't stop there. "Terrifying and awesome" is also Esau. Remember Rebecca dressing Jacob in Esau's clothes? The Rabbis say those weren't just any clothes! They were Adam's garments, passed down to Nimrod, and then acquired by Esau after he killed Nimrod. And since Nimrod was described as mighty (Genesis 10:9), Esau, wearing his clothes, must have been “terrifying and awesome” (Etz Yosef). And "from it will emerge its justice and its burden?" This time, it's Obadiah, the prophet who, according to Rabbi Yitzchak, was an Edomite convert who prophesied against Esau's descendants, declaring, "There will be no survivor for the house of Esau" (Obadiah 1:18).
The interpretations keep coming, each one a fascinating glimpse into biblical figures: Sennacherib, the Assyrian king, whose arrogance led to his downfall at the hands of his own sons. Hiram, King of Tyre, whose pride was his undoing. And then there's Nebuchadnezzar, the Babylonian king who famously lost his mind for seven years. The Midrash even throws in a juicy aggadic detail: Rabbi Simon says Hiram was married to Nebuchadnezzar’s mother, and Nebuchadnezzar killed him! Talk about family drama. The Midrash tells us that during those seven years that Nebuchadnezzar was off communing with the animals (Daniel 4:22), Evil Merodakh was crowned in his stead. But when Nebuchadnezzar returned, he imprisoned Evil Merodakh. According to the Midrash, Evil Merodakh didn't believe Nebuchadnezzar was really dead until they dragged the corpse before him! Rabbi Avina even adds that every enemy Nebuchadnezzar had came and stabbed his corpse!
But here's where it gets really interesting. The Midrash circles back to Israel. "Terrifying and awesome" can also refer to the Jewish people, as (Psalm 82:6) declares, "I had said: You are divine." But with great power comes great responsibility. "From it will emerge its justice and its burden," meaning that when Israel sins, they are afflicted with… well, discharges and leprosy, the very things Leviticus is talking about!
So, what's the takeaway here? It seems the Rabbis are using this verse to illustrate a profound truth: that every individual, every nation, every leader, is subject to the same universal laws of cause and effect. Our actions, whether good or bad, have consequences. Power, pride, and arrogance can lead to downfall, while humility, righteousness, and adherence to God's commandments can bring blessings. And ultimately, perhaps the most important lesson is that we are all connected, all part of a larger story, and that our choices ripple outwards, affecting not only ourselves but the entire world.
Another matter, “any man, when he has a discharge from his flesh,” this is what the verse said: “It is terrifying and awesome, from it will emerge its justice and its burden” (Habakkuk 1:7).14This verse refers to the Chaldean nation, but in Hebrew the pronouns can be read as either “it” or “he.” The midrash adopts the second reading, and applies the verse to various individuals. “It is terrifying and awesome,” this is Adam the first man. Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: When the Holy One blessed be He created Adam the first man, He created him such that he filled the whole world in its entirety. [He filled the world] from east to west, as it is stated: “Back and front You shaped me” (Psalms 139:5).15Front [kedem] is also a term used for east (see, e.g., Exodus 27:13). From north to south, as it is stated: “From one end of the heavens to the other end” (Deuteronomy 4:32). From where is it derived that [he filled] even the space of the world?16The space between heaven and earth. The verse states: “You placed Your palm upon me” (Psalms 139:5). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” this is Eve. That is what is written: “The man said: The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me [from the tree, and I ate]” (Genesis 3:12).17That sin brought upon him the “justice and burden” – the punishment of death. Another matter, “it is terrifying and awesome,” this is Esau. That is what is written: “Rebecca took the garments of Esau, her elder [hagadol] son” (Genesis 27:15).18According to the Sages, these garments had belonged to Adam, and then eventually belonged to Nimrod, and Esau killed Nimrod and took them (see Bereshit Rabba 65:16). Since Nimrod himself was described as having been mighty (see Genesis 10:9), Esau must have been “terrifying and awesome” (Etz Yosef). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” this is Obadiah. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Obadiah was an Edomite convert and he prophesied regarding Edom: “There will be no survivor for the house of Esau” (Obadiah 1:18). Another matter, “it is terrifying and awesome,” this is Sennacherib, as it is written: “Who among all the gods of these lands has delivered their land from my hand?” (Isaiah 36:20). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” these are his sons. “It was as he was prostrating himself in the temple of Nisrokh, his god, that Adramelekh and Saretzer, his sons, smote him with the sword” (II Kings 19:37). Another matter, “it is terrifying and awesome,” this is Hiram king of Tyre, as it is written: “Son of man, say to the prince of Tyre: So said the Lord God: Because your heart became haughty” (Ezekiel 28:2). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” this is Nebuchadnezzar. Rabbi Simon said: There is an aggadic tradition that Hiram was the husband of Nebuchadnezzar’s mother. [Nebuchadnezzar] rose against him and killed him. That is what is written: “I took out a fire from your midst; it devoured you” (Ezekiel 28:18). Another matter, “it is terrifying and awesome,” this is Nebuchadnezzar. “You said in your heart: I will ascend to the heavens” (Isaiah 14:13). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” this is Evil Merodakh. They said: For all those seven years that passed for Nebuchadnezzar,19Nebuchadnezzar spent seven years roaming as an animal in the forest; see Daniel 4:22. they took Evil Merodakh and crowned him in his stead. When he returned, he took him20Nebuchadnezzar took Evil Merodakh. and incarcerated him in prison. Anyone who entered prison in the days of [Nebuchadnezzar] would never emerge from there, as it is stated: “Who never released his prisoners homeward” (Isaiah 14:17). When [Nebuchadnezzar] died, they approached Evil Merodakh to crown him. He said to them: ‘I will not heed you. Initially, I heeded you, and he took me and incarcerated me in prison. Now, he will kill me.’ He did not believe them until they dragged [Nebuchadnezzar’s corpse] and cast him before him. That is what is written: “But you were cast from your grave” (Isaiah 14:19). Rabbi Avina said: Moreover, each and every enemy that he had would come and stab his [corpse] with the sword, to realize what was stated: “Clad in the garb of corpses, stabbed with a sword” (Isaiah 14:19). Another matter, “it is terrifying and awesome,” this is Israel, as it is written: “I had said: You are divine” (Psalms 82:6). “From it will emerge its justice and its burden,” they were afflicted with discharges and leprosy. Therefore, Moses cautions Israel and says to them: “Any man, when he has a discharge from his flesh.”
