Midrasch zu Schoftim 16:31
וַיֵּרְד֨וּ אֶחָ֜יו וְכָל־בֵּ֣ית אָבִיהוּ֮ וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ אֹתוֹ֒ וַֽיַּעֲל֣וּ ׀ וַיִּקְבְּר֣וּ אוֹת֗וֹ בֵּ֤ין צָרְעָה֙ וּבֵ֣ין אֶשְׁתָּאֹ֔ל בְּקֶ֖בֶר מָנ֣וֹחַ אָבִ֑יו וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עֶשְׂרִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃ (פ)
Es kamen dann seine Brüder und sein ganzes Vaterhaus und trugen ihn hinauf und begruben ihn zwischen Zorea und Estaol im Grabe seines Vaters Manoah. Er hatte Israel gerichtet zwanzig Jahre.
Kohelet Rabbah
“I said: Wisdom is better than courage, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised, and his words are not heeded” (Ecclesiastes 9:16).
“I said: Wisdom is better than courage, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Was the wisdom of Rabbi Akiva, who was poor, despised? Rather, this is an elder who sits and is impoverished regarding his words,105One who does not practice what he preaches. such as an elder who sits and teaches: “Do not give preference” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he gives [preference]; “do not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he takes [bribes]; do not lend with usury, but he lends [with usury]. Samson followed his eyes, “and he judged Israel for twenty years” (Judges 16:31).106Samson followed his eyes and married a Philistine woman, despite the fact that the Torah states: “Do not go about after your heart and after your eyes” (Numbers 15:39). Thus, although he judged Israel and exhorted them to follow the Torah, he himself did not practice what he preached. Gideon, as it is stated: “Gideon made it into an ephod [and he displayed it in his city, in Ofra. All Israel strayed after it there]” (Judges 8:27), and he judged Israel.107He preached against idol worship but his own action ultimately led Israel to engage in idol worship. That is, “poor” is only one who impoverishes his words.
“I said: Wisdom is better than courage, but the wisdom of the poor man is despised.” Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Was the wisdom of Rabbi Akiva, who was poor, despised? Rather, this is an elder who sits and is impoverished regarding his words,105One who does not practice what he preaches. such as an elder who sits and teaches: “Do not give preference” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he gives [preference]; “do not take a bribe” (Deuteronomy 16:19), but he takes [bribes]; do not lend with usury, but he lends [with usury]. Samson followed his eyes, “and he judged Israel for twenty years” (Judges 16:31).106Samson followed his eyes and married a Philistine woman, despite the fact that the Torah states: “Do not go about after your heart and after your eyes” (Numbers 15:39). Thus, although he judged Israel and exhorted them to follow the Torah, he himself did not practice what he preached. Gideon, as it is stated: “Gideon made it into an ephod [and he displayed it in his city, in Ofra. All Israel strayed after it there]” (Judges 8:27), and he judged Israel.107He preached against idol worship but his own action ultimately led Israel to engage in idol worship. That is, “poor” is only one who impoverishes his words.
Ask RabbiBookmarkShareCopy