לַמְנַצֵּ֗חַ לְדָ֫וִ֥ד אָ֘מַ֤ר נָבָ֣ל בְּ֭לִבּוֹ אֵ֣ין אֱלֹהִ֑ים הִֽשְׁחִ֗יתוּ הִֽתְעִ֥יבוּ עֲלִילָ֗ה אֵ֣ין עֹֽשֵׂה־טֽוֹב׃
Au chef des chantres; de David. L’insensé a dit en son cœur: "Il n’est point de Dieu!" On est corrompu, on commet des actes odieux, personne ne fait le bien.
Kohelet Rabbah
Rabbi Pinḥas said: Man is beloved by his name, but I would not know which of them. Solomon came and explained: “A good name is better than fine oil, and the day of death than the day of one's birth.”14It is his name at the end of his life, when he dies, that is most important. When a person is born, one counts to his death. When he dies, one counts his life. When he is born everyone is joyous; when he dies, everyone weeps. But that should not be so; rather, when a person is born no one should be joyous, as they do not know the challenges and actions that will confront him, and whether he will be righteous or wicked, good or bad. When he dies, they should rejoice that he passed away with a good name and departed from the world in peace. This is analogous to two ships at sail in the Mediterranean Sea; one was leaving the port and one was entering the port. Regarding the one leaving the port, everyone rejoiced, and regarding the one leaving the port, they did not rejoice. There was one clever person there. He said to them: ‘I see matters to the contrary. Regarding the one leaving the port, they should not rejoice with it, because they do not know what challenges will confront it, how many days it will be challenged, how many storms it will encounter. When it enters the port, everyone should rejoice that in entered in peace.’ Similarly, when a person dies, everyone should rejoice, and praise him that he passed away in peace from the world with a good name. That is what Solomon said: “And the day of death than the day of one's birth.”
You find that when the righteous are born no one is aware of it, and when they die, everyone is aware of it. When Miriam was born, no one was aware of it and when she died, the spring vanished, and everyone was aware. The spring publicized her death.15A spring of water miraculously accompanied Israel through the wilderness, on Miriam’s account. When she died, the spring disappeared and the people thirsted for water (Ta’anit 9a). When Aaron the High Priest was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, the clouds of glory vanished, and everyone was aware. The cloud publicized his death. When Moses our master was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, everyone was aware. The manna publicized his death. When Joshua was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, everyone was aware, as it is stated: “They buried him on the border [of his inheritance]…north of Mount Gaash” (Joshua 24:30). The Rabbis say: We reviewed the entire Bible and we did not find a place named Mount Gaash. Rather, what is Mount Gaash? [It is a reference to the fact that] because they were preoccupied [nitga’ashu]16They were involved in settling the land. and were negligent in performing acts of kindness to Joshua,17They did not express their respects for him when he died. the Holy One blessed be He sought to quake and spew [lehagish] lava upon them in order to destroy them. [They were preoccupied] because the Land of Israel had been distributed and its distribution was too dear to them; this one was involved in his field, that one was involved in his vineyard, this one was involved in his olive grove, that one was involved in his charcoal. They were all involved in their labor, and that is why the Holy One blessed be He sought to quake the world upon them. Therefore, everyone was aware of it, and his death was publicized.
When David was born, no one was aware of it, but when he died everyone was aware of it, as it is stated: “When Hadad heard in Egypt that David lay with his fathers, [and that Yoav, commander of the army, had died]” (I Kings 11:21). Rabbi Pinḥas said: Is laying not death?18Why does the verse use two different expressions for death with regard to David and Yoav? Rather, for David, who was king, [the term] lying is written;19This is a less direct and therefore more respectful term than the term death. for Yoav, who was commander of the army, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, who was anointed with the anointing oil, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, who was not anointed with the anointing oil, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, who died in his bed, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, who was killed, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, whose sons inherited his position, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, whose sons did not inherit his position, [the term] death is written. Therefore, everyone was aware of it when David died, as Solomon publicized his death.20By inheriting David’s position.
When Samuel was born, no one was aware of it, but when he died everyone was aware of it, as it is stated: “Samuel died and…all Israel eulogized him” (I Samuel 25:1). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The parable says: One who is bitten by a snake, a rope frightens him.21Since the people had almost been destroyed due to the insufficient honor they accorded Joshua upon his death, they were very careful to pay the proper respects when Samuel died (Matnot Kehuna). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: They gave him his due, as it is stated: “He went each and every year and circulated in Beit El, [Gilgal, and Mitzpa, and he judged Israel in all those places]” (I Samuel 7:16).22Since he made himself available to the people in so many different places, they all accorded him respect. One verse says: “Samuel died” (I Samuel 25:1), and one verse says: “Samuel had died” (I Samuel 28:3).23Whey does the book of Samuel report Samuel’s death in two separate locations? Rabbi Asi said: “Samuel had died,” certainly [informs of his] death. “Samuel died,” the matters are stated only with regard to Naval, as it is stated: “Samuel died…there was a man in Maon” (I Samuel 25:1–2).24In chapter 28, the book of Samuel reports the death of Samuel as its own event, and recounts the people’s eulogies for him. In chapter 25, the book mentions Samuel’s death in passing in order to provide context for the incident involving Naval, who threw a celebration at this time and was stingy toward David. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Everyone was mourning and clapping hands [in grief] over the death of the righteous one, and this wicked one [Naval] was making drinking parties. Rabbi Yehuda said: This is to teach you that anyone who repudiates acts of kindness, it is as though he repudiates the fundamental doctrine.25The reference is to the doctrine of belief in God. Naval refused to bestow kindness on David, and of him it is said: “The scoundrel [naval] says in his heart: There is no God” (Psalms 14:1) (Matnot Kehuna). But King David, may he rest in peace, what would he do? He would perform acts of kindness for everyone. He would say thus: Even a killer, or one who was killed, even a pursuer, or one who is pursued, I perform acts of kindness for him as I do for the righteous. That is what is written: “But I, in Your mercy I trust; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation, I will sing to the Lord, because He has been kind to me [gamal alai]” (Psalms 13:6).26Because I have accepted the responsibility of performing acts of kindness [ole gemilat ḥesed], I will merit to rejoice in God’s salvation (Matnot Kehuna).
You find that when the righteous are born no one is aware of it, and when they die, everyone is aware of it. When Miriam was born, no one was aware of it and when she died, the spring vanished, and everyone was aware. The spring publicized her death.15A spring of water miraculously accompanied Israel through the wilderness, on Miriam’s account. When she died, the spring disappeared and the people thirsted for water (Ta’anit 9a). When Aaron the High Priest was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, the clouds of glory vanished, and everyone was aware. The cloud publicized his death. When Moses our master was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, everyone was aware. The manna publicized his death. When Joshua was born, no one was aware of it, and when he died, everyone was aware, as it is stated: “They buried him on the border [of his inheritance]…north of Mount Gaash” (Joshua 24:30). The Rabbis say: We reviewed the entire Bible and we did not find a place named Mount Gaash. Rather, what is Mount Gaash? [It is a reference to the fact that] because they were preoccupied [nitga’ashu]16They were involved in settling the land. and were negligent in performing acts of kindness to Joshua,17They did not express their respects for him when he died. the Holy One blessed be He sought to quake and spew [lehagish] lava upon them in order to destroy them. [They were preoccupied] because the Land of Israel had been distributed and its distribution was too dear to them; this one was involved in his field, that one was involved in his vineyard, this one was involved in his olive grove, that one was involved in his charcoal. They were all involved in their labor, and that is why the Holy One blessed be He sought to quake the world upon them. Therefore, everyone was aware of it, and his death was publicized.
When David was born, no one was aware of it, but when he died everyone was aware of it, as it is stated: “When Hadad heard in Egypt that David lay with his fathers, [and that Yoav, commander of the army, had died]” (I Kings 11:21). Rabbi Pinḥas said: Is laying not death?18Why does the verse use two different expressions for death with regard to David and Yoav? Rather, for David, who was king, [the term] lying is written;19This is a less direct and therefore more respectful term than the term death. for Yoav, who was commander of the army, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, who was anointed with the anointing oil, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, who was not anointed with the anointing oil, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, who died in his bed, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, who was killed, [the term] death is written. Alternatively, is laying not death? Rather, for David, whose sons inherited his position, [the term] lying is written; for Yoav, whose sons did not inherit his position, [the term] death is written. Therefore, everyone was aware of it when David died, as Solomon publicized his death.20By inheriting David’s position.
When Samuel was born, no one was aware of it, but when he died everyone was aware of it, as it is stated: “Samuel died and…all Israel eulogized him” (I Samuel 25:1). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: The parable says: One who is bitten by a snake, a rope frightens him.21Since the people had almost been destroyed due to the insufficient honor they accorded Joshua upon his death, they were very careful to pay the proper respects when Samuel died (Matnot Kehuna). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: They gave him his due, as it is stated: “He went each and every year and circulated in Beit El, [Gilgal, and Mitzpa, and he judged Israel in all those places]” (I Samuel 7:16).22Since he made himself available to the people in so many different places, they all accorded him respect. One verse says: “Samuel died” (I Samuel 25:1), and one verse says: “Samuel had died” (I Samuel 28:3).23Whey does the book of Samuel report Samuel’s death in two separate locations? Rabbi Asi said: “Samuel had died,” certainly [informs of his] death. “Samuel died,” the matters are stated only with regard to Naval, as it is stated: “Samuel died…there was a man in Maon” (I Samuel 25:1–2).24In chapter 28, the book of Samuel reports the death of Samuel as its own event, and recounts the people’s eulogies for him. In chapter 25, the book mentions Samuel’s death in passing in order to provide context for the incident involving Naval, who threw a celebration at this time and was stingy toward David. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Everyone was mourning and clapping hands [in grief] over the death of the righteous one, and this wicked one [Naval] was making drinking parties. Rabbi Yehuda said: This is to teach you that anyone who repudiates acts of kindness, it is as though he repudiates the fundamental doctrine.25The reference is to the doctrine of belief in God. Naval refused to bestow kindness on David, and of him it is said: “The scoundrel [naval] says in his heart: There is no God” (Psalms 14:1) (Matnot Kehuna). But King David, may he rest in peace, what would he do? He would perform acts of kindness for everyone. He would say thus: Even a killer, or one who was killed, even a pursuer, or one who is pursued, I perform acts of kindness for him as I do for the righteous. That is what is written: “But I, in Your mercy I trust; my heart will rejoice in Your salvation, I will sing to the Lord, because He has been kind to me [gamal alai]” (Psalms 13:6).26Because I have accepted the responsibility of performing acts of kindness [ole gemilat ḥesed], I will merit to rejoice in God’s salvation (Matnot Kehuna).
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
(Deut. 28, 22) Thy sons and thy daughters shall be given unto another people. R. Chanan b. Raba said in the name of Rab: "This refers to the father's wife (stepmother." (Ib. 32, 21) I will provoke them to anger with a worthless nation. R. Chanan b. Raba said: "This refers to a bad wife who has a large Kethuba." R. Elazar said: "This refers to the Sadducees, and so also says the passage (Ps. 14, 1) The worthless fool saith in his heart, 'There is no God.' " In a Baraitha it was taught that the last passage refers to the inhabitants of Barbara and Mauretania, who walk nude in the streets, for none is more detested and abhorred before the Lord than he who walketh naked. R. Jochanan said: "The above passage refers to the Parsee." R. Jochanan was informed that the Parsee came to Babylon, [and entered the Jewish colonies.] He staggered [from fright.] and fell down, but when he was informed that they took a bribe [to annul a decree], he straightened himself and sat down comfortably. He was then informed: "They decreed against three things." "This was because of the following three transgressions," was his reply. "They decreed against meat because of the sin of not giving the priestly gifts; they decreed against bathing, because of the [neglect] of the religious Tebilah; they dug out the dead, because of the sin of rejoicing at their religious days, as it is said (I Sam. 12, 15) Then will the hand of the Lord be against you, as it was against your fathers. Whereupon Rabba b. Samuel said that it refers to the evil act of digging out the dead, for the master said: 'On account of the sins committed by the living, the dead are dug out of their graves.'"
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Gen. 27:1): AND HE SAID UNTO HIM (Esau): MY SON; AND HE SAID UNTO HIM: HERE I AM. Solomon proclaimed (in Prov. 26:23): SILVER DROSS LAID OVER EARTHENWARE ARE BURNING LIPS AND AN EVIL HEART. To what was Esau comparable? To a caldron31Gk.: miliarion; Lat.: miliarium. with an outside of gold inlaid with pearls but an inside of earthenware. [Thus did Esau say to his father: HERE I AM, while in his heart he was saying: When will he die?] Thus it is stated (in Gen. 27:41): AND ESAU SAID IN HIS HEART: LET THE DAYS OF MOURNING FOR MY FATHER COME, AND I WILL KILL MY BROTHER JACOB. Ergo (in Prov. 26:23): SILVER DROSS LAID OVER EARTHENWARE…. And so you find that the seed of [Esau], Haman, said in his heart (in Esth. 6:6): NOW HAMAN SAID IN HIS HEART. (Is. 14:13f.:) THE FOOL HAS SAID IN HIS HEART: < THERE IS NO GOD >. (Is. 14:13:) AND YOU SAID IN YOUR HEART: I WILL ASCEND TO THE HEAVENS…. < I WILL BE LIKE THE MOST HIGH >. (Ezek. 38:10:) IT SHALL COME TO PASS IN THAT DAY THAT THOUGHTS SHALL COME UPON YOUR HEART, < AND YOU WILL DEVISE AN EVIL DESIGN >. (Ps. 10:11:) HE HAS SAID IN HIS HEART: GOD HAS FORGOTTEN. (Is. 47:8:) AND NOW {PLEASE} HEAR [THIS], {YOU} ELEGANT WOMAN WHO DWELLS IN SECURITY, WHO SAYS IN HER HEART: [I AM, AND THERE IS NO ONE ELSE]. Ergo (in Prov. 26:25): FOR THERE ARE SEVEN ABOMINATIONS IN HIS HEART; and Solomon proclaimed (in Prov. 26:23): SILVER DROSS < LAID OVER EARTHENWARE ARE BURNING LIPS AND AN EVIL HEART >.