Midrash sobre Proverbios 13:7

When the angels were about to depart (to go to Esau), what did Jacob tell the angels to say to him: I have an ox, and an ass (Gen. 32:6). Did he possess only a single ox and a single ass (as the text literally states)? From the size of the gift he sent him, we know that he had at least two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats (ibid., v. 15). He told them to say this because the righteous person is always modest about himself, while the wicked exaggerates his importance, as did Esau, when he said: I have many (ibid. 33:9). Scripture states regarding the righteous and the wicked; There is that pretendeth himself rich, yet hath nothing; there is that pretendeth himself poor, yet hath great wealth (Prov. 13:7).

(Fol. 85b) (II Sam. 14) And Joab sent to Tekoa, and fetched thence a wise woman. Why did he send to Tekoa? Said Jochanan: "Because they are accustomed to use olive oil, therefore could wisdom be found there." Our Rabbis were taught concerning the verse (Deut. 33, 24) And let him dip his foot in oil. This refers to the portion of Asher, which produces oil like a well. Once on a time, they relate, the Laodiceans sent an agent to Jerusalem with instructions to purchase a hundred myriads' worth of oil. He proceeded first to Tyre, and thence to Gush-Chalab, where he met with the oil merchant earthing up his olive trees, and asked him whether he could supply a hundred myriads' worth of oil. "Yes, wait till I have finished my work," was the reply. He waited until he finished his work. After he had finished his work he threw his vessels on his back, removed the stones and proceeded on his way. The agent thought to himself: "What! hath he really a hundred myriads' worth of oil to sell? Surely the Jews have meant to make game of me." However, the agent went to the house with the oil man, where a female slave brought hot water for him to wash his hands and feet, and a golden bowl of oil to dip them in afterward, thus fulfilling the verse (Deut. 33, 24) And let him dip his foot in oil. After they had eaten together, the merchant measured out to him the hundred myriads' worth of oil, and then asked if he would purchase more from him. "Yes," said the agent, "but I have no more money here with me." "Never mind," said the merchant; "buy it and I will go with thee to thy home for the money." Then he measured out eighteen myriads' worth more. It is said that he hired every horse, mule, camel, and ass he could find in all Israel to carry the oil, and that on nearing his city the people turned out to meet him and compliment him for the service he had done them. "Don't praise me," said the agent, "but him, my companion, to whom I owe eighteen myriads." This is to illustrate the passage (Pr. 13, 7) There is that maketh himself [appear to be] rich, yet hath nothing; there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.

"and he shall dip his foot in oil": For the land of Asher draws oil as a spring. It once happened that the men of Ludkia needed oil, and, they appointed an envoy, telling him "Buy us oil for one hundred ten thousands." He went to Tzor and said to them "I need oil for one hundred ten thousands. They said "Go to Gush Chalav (in the territory of Asher). Coming there, he said to them "I need oil for one hundred ten thousands." They said to him "Go to that man." Going there and not finding him, he was told "He is in the field." Going there and finding him leveling his ground under his olive trees, he said to him "I need oil for one hundred ten thousands." The other: "Wait until I finish with my trees." When he finished, he put his tools behind him and started clearing the ground of stones, whereupon the envoy thought "Can it be that this one has oil for one hundred ten thousands? These Jews must be making sport of me!" When he came to his house, his maidservant brought out a full basin of oil in which they washed their feet, in fulfilment of "and he shall dip his foot in oil." He placed bread before him, after which they ate and drank. After eating, he got up and measured out for him oil for one hundred ten thousands and asked him "Would you like more?" The envoy: "I don't have enough money." The farmer: "Take it and I'll come with you and take my money," saying which he measured out (more) oil for eighteen ten thousands. It was said: "That man did not leave over an ass or a camel in Eretz Yisrael that he did not hire" (to transport the oil). When the men of Ludkia heard, they came out three mils before him, praising him profusely. At this, he said "You should not be praising me, but this man, to whom everything belongs. What is more, I owe him eighteen ten thousands!" — this, in fulfillment of (Proverbs 13:7) "There is one who seems rich and has nothing, and one who seems poor, with great wealth!"