g) Scripture states: “Not like these is the portion of Jacob” (Jeremiah 10:16). (Proof for “f”) : Now the basic premise, as we have demonstrated is that God’s choice began with Jacob, not Abraham. Two texts prove it. We would therefore expect, on formal grounds, a question (step d.) addressed to the original assumption showing that the proof-texts are not conclusive

doi:10.4324/9780203056202-45

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g) Scripture states: “Not like these is the portion of Jacob” (Jeremiah 10:16). (Proof for “f”)

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ABSTRACT

When the total midrashic literature is considered, however, even this remote possibility would have to be rejected. Ps. 135:4 is one of the most frequently cited verses in rabbinic literature used to prove that God chose Israel.2 6 The Sifre itself in commenting on the verse “ . . . And the Lord, your God has chosen you . . . ” (Deut. 14:2, Pisqa 97 , p. 158) , finds no better text to strengthen and make even more explicit God’s choice of Israel, than our Psalm text. 2 7 In order to justify the interpretation that the new question confronting the Rabbi is, “ D i d God choose or did Israel choose,” we would have to assume that this section of our passage deals with a new subject and that i t is independent of the first part of the Midrash. We would have to assert, in addition, that contrary to the overwhelming rab binic tradition, our author finds an ambiguity in the Psalm text ( 1 3 5 : 4 ) . We would then still be faced with the unique phenomenon that both alternatives are affirmed (God chooses and Israel chooses), in violation of the form of every other similar argument.