Midrash Tanchuma, Mishpatim 5

21:1). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: He declareth His word unto Jacob … He hath not dealt so with any nation (Ps. 147:19–20). Aquila the convert, Hadrian’s nephew, desired to be converted to Judaism, but he feared his uncle’s wrath.3Aquila was credited with translating the Bible into Greek (see Gittin 56b). He was said to have been the son of Titus’ sister. Hadrian, who reigned from 117 to 138 C.E., promulgated a decree banning circumcision. He told his uncle: “I want to engage in business.” “If you need to do so,” his uncle replied, “silver or gold is available to you.” Aquila responded: “I want to go into business in other lands in order to become acquainted with other people and need only your advice on how to do so.” He responded: “Whatever merchandise you trade in that you find low in price because it is ignored, deal in it, for it will ultimately rise in price and you will profit from it.” Then he went to Israel and studied the Torah.

Sometime later R. Eliezer and R. Joshua met him and noticed that his countenance had changed. They said to each other: “Aquila must be studying the Torah.” When he drew near them, he asked numerous questions which they answered. Later he returned to his uncle, Hadrian, who asked him: “Why has your countenance changed? I am inclined to think that your business was unsuccessful or that some person oppressed you.” (He answered) “That is not so. You are my relative, and no man would dare oppress me.” Hadrian continued asking him: “But why has your countenance changed?” “I have studied the Torah,” he replied, “and I was also circumcised.” “Who advised you to do that?” he asked. “You did,” he answered. “When did I do that?” “When I told you I desired to engage in business, you said: ‘Whatever merchandise you find low, that is worthless, and lying on the ground because it is ignored, do business in it, for it will finally rise in value.’ I have traveled among the nations and have found nothing so low and so cast down as Israel, and it is destined to rise, as Isaiah said: Thus saith the Lord, the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One, to him who is despised of men, to him who is abhorred of nations, to a servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise; princes, and they shall prostrate themselves; because of the Lord that is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who hath chosen thee” (Isa. 40:9). His advisor said to him: “Are these the ones about whom you spoke—will a king arise before them in the future, as it is said: Kings shall see and arise?” Hadrian struck him (the advisor) upon his cheek and shouted: “Now go dress that wound. If they saw just one legionary they would be unable to rise up against him, yet you dare say of them: Kings shall see and arise before them.”

His advisor responded: “Then if that is so, why bother with him now that he is converted? Have him put to death.” Whereupon, he answered: “Even while my nephew Aquila was in his mother’s womb, he was destined to be converted.” What did Hadrian’s advisor do then? He went to the roof, threw himself off, and perished. The Holy Spirit then cried out: So perish all thine enemies, O Lord (Judg. 5:31).

Then Hadrian said to Aquila: “My advisor is dead; now tell me why you did such a thing?” “Because I wanted to study the Torah,” he replied. “Could you not have studied the Torah while uncircumcised?” he inquired. And Aquila answered: “Though you pay a salary to your military governor, he must provide his own provisions, and similarly a man can never fully understand the Torah if he remains uncircumcised, as it is said: He declareth his word to Jacob (Ps. 147:19). That is, to one who like Jacob is circumcised, but not to people who are uncircumcised.”

His statutes refers to the Torah, and His ordinances to the law. There He made for them a statute and an ordinance (Exod. 15:25). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: I gave them the Torah, now you give them the ordinances. And the Holy One, blessed be He, said to them: If you desire to survive in this world, keep the ordinances, for they alone can cause the world to endure, as it is said: Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them (ibid. 21:1).

The generation of the flood was obliterated from the world because it transgressed the ordinances. R. Eleazar the son of Pedat said: It is written about them: Twixt morning and evening they are shattered; they perish forever without any regarding it (Job 4:20). Therefore it says: Now these are the ordinances which thou shalt set before them (Exod. 21:1). Another explanation. Because the generation of the flood did not perform the ordinances, it is written about them: My spirit shall not abide in man forever (Gen. 6:3).

R. Eliezer said: If there is an earthly law there is no necessity for a heavenly law, but where there is no earthly law a heavenly law is required. How is this explained? If earthly beings impose a law, no law is enacted On High. Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Keep the ordinances so that ye will not compel Me to enact heavenly ordinances, as it is said: Now these are the ordinances.

The Holy One, blessed be He, said: Whatever I do, I do according to the rule of justice, but should I violate the rule of justice even once the world would not endure. Isaiah said: Fury is not in Me; would that I were as the brass and thorns and flame! I would with one step burn it all together (Isa. 27:4). (This verse indicates that) if I took a single step in violation of justice, I would with one step burn it completely, and the whole world would be consumed forthwith. Why does Scripture say Or else take hold of My strength (ibid., v. 5)? Because whatever My hand seizes with strength, My hand also seizes with justice, as it is said: If I sharpen my glittering sword, My hand takes hold with justice (Deut. 32:41). Yea, let him make peace for me (Isa. 27:5). That is, let him make peace between Me and the law (by fulfilling the law): Let him make peace for Me (ibid.).

If I whet My glittering sword. If I should depart from the law, a single flash of lightning would go forth to destroy the world. What do I do? My hand takes hold in judgment (Deut. 33:41). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: I have been called Lord of Judgment, yet when I was about to smite Esau I refrained from doing so until he was rewarded for the minor commandments he had performed before Me in this world.

R. Phinehas the priest, the son of Hama, said in the name of R. Hilkiah: Observe that it is written: And it shall come to pass on that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations (Zech. 12:19). Israel said: Master of the Universe, who is able to restrain you that you should say: I will seek to destroy all the nations! He answered: I shall seek something to their credit, and if I am unable to find it, only then will I destroy all the nations.

R. Levi said in the name of R. Simeon the son of Lakish: Observe that Scripture states: I beheld till thrones were placed, and one that was ancient of days did sit; his raiment was as white snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool (Dan. 7:9). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: When shall I take revenge upon the peoples of the world? Will it be immediately after they have performed some minor precept before Me? No! It will be at the time Till thrones were placed. That is, when the vineyards have ripened and the grapes are ready to be turned into wine. Then shall I tread upon it and you shall sing to Me. In that day sing ye of her: A vineyard of foaming wine (Isa. 27:2).

R. Yudan said in the name of Aibu: It is written: I have trodden the wine press alone, and of the peoples there was no man with Me (Isa. 63:3). Does the Holy One, blessed be He, require their assistance that He should say: There was no man with Me? The Holy One, blessed be He, implied by this verse that: When I examine their record and find nothing to their credit then, I tread them in My anger, and trample them in My fury (ibid.). Then I shall redeem you, and never again shall you be oppressed, as it is said: And though I have afflicted thee, I will afflict thee no more (Neh. 1:12).

Original Sources