Les Proverbes 24:4 Midrash : Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition) & Shemot Rabbah

R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "He who withholds from imparting an Halacha to a disciple is considered as if he would rob him of the inheritance of his ancestors, for it is said (Deut. 33, 4) The law which Moses commanded us is the inheritance of the congregation of Israel. Hence the law is considered as an inheritance to all Israel since the creation of the world." R. Chana b. Bizna, in the name of R. Simon the Pious said: "He who withholds (or denies) the explanation of an Halacha to a disciple, even the embryos in the entrails of their mothers, curse him, as it is said (Prov. 11, 26) Him that withholdeth corn, (Fol. 92) (l'om) the people will (ye'kabuhu) denounce, and the word l'am refers to embryos, as it is said (Num. 23, 8) How shall I denounce (Kabo) whom God … , and Bar means the Torah, as it is said (Ps. 2) And if one do teach." What will be his reward for such? Raba, in the name of R. Shesheth, said: "He will be rewarded with the blessing with which Joseph was blessed, as it is said (Pr. 11, 26) But blessing will be heaped upon the head of the one (Mashbir) that selleth it, and Mashbir refers to Joseph; as it is said (Gen. 48, 6) And Joseph, he was the governor over the land, he it was that sold corn to all the people." R. Shesheth said again: "He who teaches the Torah in this world will be rewarded by teaching it in the world to come, as it is said (Prov. 11, 25) He that refresheth [others] will do the same in the future." Mar Zutra said: "Whence do we infer the resurrection from the Torah? It is said (Deut. 33, 6) May Reuben live, and not die, i.e., he may live in this world, and not die in the world to come." Rabina says: From the following (Dan. 12, 2) And many of those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to disgrace and everlasting abhorrence. And R. Ashi said: From (Ib. ib. 13) But thou, go [thy way] toward the end; and thou shalt rest, and arise for thy lot at the end of the days. R. Elazar said: "A leader of a congregation, who leads them humbly, will be rewarded by leading the same in the world to come, as it is said (Is. 49, 10) For he that hath mercy on them will lead them, and by springs of water will he guide them." R. Elazar said again: "Wisdom is of great importance, as it was placed between two divine names (I Sam. 2, 3) For a God of knowledge is the Lord." Another thing said R. Elazar: "Every man who possesses wisdom may consider himself as if the Temple were built in his days, as both wisdom and temple are placed between two divine names." R. Elazar said further: "He who possesses no knowledge does not merit that one should have mercy upon him, as it is said (Is. 27, 11) For it is not a people of understanding; therefore he that made it will not have compassion upon it, and he that formed them will not be gracious unto them." R. Elazar said also: "He who feeds one who does not possess any knowledge, will suffer as a reward for it, as it is said (Ob. 1, 7) They that eat thy bread have struck thee secretly a wound, there is no understanding in them." R. Elazar said again: "A man that has no knowledge will finally be exiled, as it reads (Is. 5, 13) Therefore are my people led into exile, for want of knowledge."

From where [did he merit] all this distinction? From the tribe of Judah.¹¹This is implied by the phrase, “Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Judah.” From where did he merit all this wisdom? It was due to the merit of Miriam, as it is stated: “He established houses for them” (Exodus 1:21).¹²This is stated in reference to God’s reward to the Israelite midwives in Egypt, who refused to implement Pharaoh’s decree to kill the baby boys. The midrash asserts that these midwives were Yokheved and Miriam (see Shemot Rabba 1:13). What were those houses? They were a house of priesthood and a house of royalty. Yokheved took priesthood and kingdom; Aaron was High Priest, and Moses was king, as it is stated: “He became king in Yeshurun” (Deuteronomy 33:5). Miriam took wisdom, as she produced Betzalel, from whom David, who became king, emerged,¹³Thus, she was awarded wisdom and royalty. as it is stated: “[Caleb took for himself Efrat], and she bore him Ḥur” (I Chronicles 2:19), and it is written: “David son of [that] nobleman [ish efrati]” (I Samuel 17:12), as he descended from Miriam, who was called Efrat.¹⁴See Shemot Rabba 1:17, where the midrash asserts that Miriam was also called Efrat.
With these three things the world was created, as it is stated: “The Lord founded the earth with wisdom, established the heavens with understanding. With His knowledge the depths were breached” (Proverbs 3:19–20). And with these three things the Tabernacle was crafted, as it is stated: “I filled him with the spirit of God; with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge” (Exodus 31:3). And with these three things the Temple was constructed, as it is stated: “He was the son of a widow from the tribe of Naphtali…he was filled with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge” (I Kings 7:14). Likewise, when the Holy One blessed be He will rise to construct it in the future, it will be constructed with these three things, as it is stated: “With wisdom a house is built, and with understanding it is established” (Proverbs 24:3), and it is written: “With knowledge, chambers are filled” (Proverbs 24:4).
Another matter: “I filled him […with wisdom]” (Exodus 31:3) – from where was all this wisdom? It was from the Holy One blessed be He, “the spirit of God.” Likewise you find regarding Joshua, who descended from Joseph; what is written in his regard? “Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom” (Deuteronomy 34:9). Likewise you find regarding Otniel ben Kenaz, who descended from Judah; what is written in his regard? “The spirit of the Lord was upon him” (Judges 3:10). All the miracles that were performed on their behalf were due to the blessing with which Moses blessed the tribes, as it is stated: “And this for Judah, and he said” (Deuteronomy 33:7); when they encounter distress, “You will be a help against his adversaries” (Deuteronomy 33:7). Another matter: “Hear, Lord, the voice of Judah” (Deuteronomy 33:7) – as the Holy One blessed be He endowed him with a Divine Spirit for prominence, with which he would prevail.
Rabbi Ḥanina said: That is what is written: “Indeed, it is a spirit in man” (Job 32:8). All the understanding that was in Betzalel was from the Almighty; that is, “I filled him with the spirit of God; [with wisdom, with understanding, and with knowledge]” (Exodus 31:3). “With wisdom” – as he was wise in Torah; “with understanding” – as he had understanding of halakha; “with knowledge” – as he was filled with knowledge of the Talmud. The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘In this world, My spirit endows you with wisdom, but in the future, My spirit will give you life,’ as it is stated: “I will place My spirit in you, and you will live” (Ezekiel 37:14).