“The Lord your God hath multiplied you, and behold ye are this day as the stars of heaven for multitude” (Deut. i. 10).  Why did He bless them with stars?  As there are degrees above degrees among these stars, so likewise are there degrees above degrees among Israel.  Again, as these stars are without limit, without number, and of great power from one end of the world to the other, so likewise is Israel. (Cf. 1 Cor. xv. 41.)

Midrash Rabbah Devarim.

“Flee, my beloved” (A.V. “make haste,” Cant. viii. 14).  When Israel eat and drink, and bless and praise the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­He hearkeneth to their voice and is reconciled; but when the Gentiles eat and drink and blaspheme and provoke the Holy One—­blessed be He!—­He has a mind to destroy His world, until the Law enters and pleads in defense, “Lord of the universe! before Thou regardest those that blaspheme, look and behold Thy people Israel, who bless, and praise, and extol Thy great Name, with the Law, and with songs and with praises!” And the Holy Spirit shouts “Flee, my beloved! flee from the Gentiles, and hold fast to Israel!”

Midrash Rabbah Shir-Hashirim.

Rabbon Gamaliel called on Chilpa, the son of Caroyna, when the latter asked the Rabbi to pray on his behalf; and he prayed, “The Lord grant thee according to thine own heart” (Ps. xx. 4).  Rabbi H——­, son of Rabbi Isaac, said, “It was not so; he prayed thus, ’The Lord fulfill all thy petitions’; for a man often thinks in his heart to steal or commit some other transgression, and therefore ’The Lord grant thee according to thine own heart,’ is a prayer not to be offered on behalf of every man.”  But the answer was, “His heart was perfect before his Creator, and therefore he did so pray on his behalf.”

Midrash Shochar Tov, 20.

Thou wilt find that whithersoever the righteous go a blessing goes with them.  Isaac went down to Gerar, and a blessing followed him.  “Then Isaac sowed,” etc. (Gen. xxvi. 12).  Jacob went down to Laban (Gen. xxx. 27), and Laban said, “I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.”  Joseph went down to Potiphar, and “the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake” (Gen. xxxix. 5).  Thus also thou wilt find it was with the ark which came down to the house of Obed-edom, etc. (2 Sam. vi. 11).  Our forefathers came into the land and a blessing followed at their heels, as it is said (Deut. vi. 11), “And houses full of good things,” etc.

Yalkut Ekev.

“And the Lord put a word in Balaam’s mouth” (Num. xxiii. 5).  An angel took up his seat in Balaam’s throat, so that when he wished to bless, the angel permitted him, but when he desired to curse, the angel tickled his throat and stopped him.  “Word” in this place means simply an angel; as it is said (Ps. cvii. 20), “He sent His word and healed them.”  Rabbi Yochanan says, “There was an iron nail in his throat which permitted him when he wished to bless, but rasped his throat and prevented him when about to curse.”  “Word” in this place means only an iron nail; for it is said (Num. xxxi. 23), “Every thing (or word, for the original has both meanings) that may abide the fire.”