מדרש על דניאל 2:20

Another interpretation (of Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT…. This text is related (to Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE, THE ELDERS WHO UNDERSTAND JUDGMENT. Not everyone who is engaged in the Torah becomes wise, but (according to Job 32:8) SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. Who stated this verse? Elihu stated it. When? In the hour that Job's friends were rebuking him and he was answering them. When Job had dismissed them, Elihu saw that they were unable to answer him, as stated (in Job 32:5): BUT WHEN ELIHU SAW THAT THERE WAS NO ANSWER…. At that time he said to them (in vs. 9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE, nor does everyone who is engaged in the Torah become wise; but (according to Job 32:8) SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. < There is no wisdom > unless the Holy One has put a spirit within him for him to be habitual in his study, as stated (in Job 32:8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. A matron²³Lat.: matrona. queried R. Jose ben Halafta.²⁴Eccl.R. 1:7:5. She said to him: Is it not true that all the glory of the Holy One consists in his giving wisdom to the wise? It is so stated (in Dan. 2:20-21): < LET THE NAME OF THE LORD BE BLESSED FOR EVER AND EVER, FOR WISDOM AND MIGHT ARE HIS >…. HE GIVES WISDOM TO THE WISE. Should it not rather have said: "He gives wisdom to the foolish"? He said to her: Do you have jewels?²⁵Gk.: kosmion (“ornament” in Patristic Greek). She said to him: Yes. He said to her: If someone comes to borrow your jewels, would you lend them to him? She said to him: If he were someone hikanos²⁶The Greek word means “sufficient” or “competent.” {i.e., someone wise}, I would lend him my jewels. He said to her. You would only lend your jewels to someone hikanos; should the Holy One give wisdom to the foolish? < Daniel > therefore said (in Dan. 2:21): HE GIVES WISDOM TO THE WISE. Elihu said: < The Holy One > does not give to everyone who asks. Ergo (in Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE. [But (in vs. 8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON.