יְקָ֣רָה הִ֭יא מפניים [מִפְּנִינִ֑ים] וְכָל־חֲ֝פָצֶ֗יךָ לֹ֣א יִֽשְׁווּ־בָֽהּ׃
Hikmat lebih berharga daripada mutiara, dan segala sesuatu yang engkau dambakan tidak dapat menyamainya.
Midrash Tanchuma
What is more, there is a tradition to the effect that the object particle (et)8The et is a particle of the objective case and frequently, when employed in Scripture, has the meaning of “with,” thereby adding a new thought to the verse. The particle et gave rise to a method of biblical interpretation by implication. See B. Pesahim 22b, Jastrow. in the verse Thou shalt fear (et) the Lord thy God (Deut. 6:13) alludes to reverence for the scholars of the Torah as well as to fear of the Lord. This is so because there is no virtue comparable to the study of the Torah, as it is said: It is more precious than peninim (“innermost”) (Prov. 3:15); that is to say, it is more precious than the high priest who serves in the innermost part of the sanctuary.
Vayikra Rabbah
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man among you sacrifices an offering to the Lord, you shall bring your offering from the animals, from the herd or from the flock you shall bring your offering” (Leviticus 1:2).
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man among you brings an offering to the Lord” – that is what the verse says: “Is Ephraim a precious [yakir] son to Me?” (Jeremiah 31:20). Ten were called precious [yekarim], and they are: Torah, prophecy, understanding, knowledge, foolishness, wealth, the righteous, the death of the pious, kindness, and Israel. Torah, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “It is more precious [yekara] than pearls” (Proverbs 3:15). Prophecy, from where is it derived? “The word of the Lord was rare [yakar] in those days” (I Samuel 3:1). Understanding, from where is it derived? “A man of understanding is noble of [yekar] spirit” (Proverbs 17:27). Knowledge, from where is it derived? “Lips of knowledge are a precious [yakar] vessel” (Proverbs 20:15). Foolishness, from where is it derived? “A little foolishness outweighs [yakar] wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). Wealth, from where is it derived? “A diligent man has precious [yakar] wealth” (Proverbs 12:27). The righteous, from where is it derived? “How precious [yakeru] are Your friends to me, God” (Psalms 139:17). The death of the pious, from where is it derived? “Precious [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). Kindness, from where is it derived? “How precious is Your kindness, God” (Psalms 36:8). Israel, from where is it derived? “Is Ephraim a precious [yakir] son to Me?” (Jeremiah 31:20). Israel’s standing with Me is precious. The way of the world is that one thousand enter to study Bible, from whom one hundred emerge.1One hundred emerge proficient enough in the Bible to progress to the study of Mishna. One hundred enter to study Mishna, from whom ten emerge. Ten enter to study Talmud, from whom one emerges.2In Kohelet Rabba (8:28) the midrash clarifies that one emerges who is sufficiently knowledgeable to issue halakhic rulings. That is what is written: “One of one thousand I have found” (Ecclesiastes 7:28).3Israel is precious in that at least some of them, one in a thousand, emerge as true Torah scholars. Alternatively, just as among individuals only one in a thousand become outstanding scholars, so too Israel as a whole, on a national level, is unique in its spiritual standing.
Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Abraham. “But a woman among all these I did not find” (Ecclesiastes 7:28), this is Sarah.4Although Sarah was exceedingly righteous, her righteousness was not as perfect as that of Abraham. When informed that they would have a child, Abraham believed the prophecy but Sarah did not (see Genesis 18:10–15). Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Amram. “But a woman among all these I did not find,” this is Yokheved. Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Moses. “But a woman among all these I did not find,” these are the women of the generation of the wilderness. Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: The women of the generation of the wilderness were upright. When they heard that they were forbidden to their husbands, they immediately locked their doors.5When Moses introduced the laws of forbidden relations, and the laws of nidda, the men mourned, but the women accepted these laws and refrained from engaging in relations in these circumstances.
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Israel’s standing with Me is precious.’ Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Yitzḥak, Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Had Pharaoh requested the weight of each and every one of Israel in gems and pearls,6Had Pharoah requested great wealth in return for releasing the Israelites. would I not have given it to him? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Did He not take them for a price? Do hordes upon hordes of lice, hordes upon hordes of beasts not have a price?7God generally maintains the rules of nature and prefers not to bring open miracles, but for the sake of redeeming Israel He performed great miracles. This displays His love for Israel (Etz Yosef). That is, ‘Israel’s standing with Me is precious.’
“Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: When a man among you brings an offering to the Lord” – that is what the verse says: “Is Ephraim a precious [yakir] son to Me?” (Jeremiah 31:20). Ten were called precious [yekarim], and they are: Torah, prophecy, understanding, knowledge, foolishness, wealth, the righteous, the death of the pious, kindness, and Israel. Torah, from where is it derived? As it is stated: “It is more precious [yekara] than pearls” (Proverbs 3:15). Prophecy, from where is it derived? “The word of the Lord was rare [yakar] in those days” (I Samuel 3:1). Understanding, from where is it derived? “A man of understanding is noble of [yekar] spirit” (Proverbs 17:27). Knowledge, from where is it derived? “Lips of knowledge are a precious [yakar] vessel” (Proverbs 20:15). Foolishness, from where is it derived? “A little foolishness outweighs [yakar] wisdom and honor” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). Wealth, from where is it derived? “A diligent man has precious [yakar] wealth” (Proverbs 12:27). The righteous, from where is it derived? “How precious [yakeru] are Your friends to me, God” (Psalms 139:17). The death of the pious, from where is it derived? “Precious [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). Kindness, from where is it derived? “How precious is Your kindness, God” (Psalms 36:8). Israel, from where is it derived? “Is Ephraim a precious [yakir] son to Me?” (Jeremiah 31:20). Israel’s standing with Me is precious. The way of the world is that one thousand enter to study Bible, from whom one hundred emerge.1One hundred emerge proficient enough in the Bible to progress to the study of Mishna. One hundred enter to study Mishna, from whom ten emerge. Ten enter to study Talmud, from whom one emerges.2In Kohelet Rabba (8:28) the midrash clarifies that one emerges who is sufficiently knowledgeable to issue halakhic rulings. That is what is written: “One of one thousand I have found” (Ecclesiastes 7:28).3Israel is precious in that at least some of them, one in a thousand, emerge as true Torah scholars. Alternatively, just as among individuals only one in a thousand become outstanding scholars, so too Israel as a whole, on a national level, is unique in its spiritual standing.
Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Abraham. “But a woman among all these I did not find” (Ecclesiastes 7:28), this is Sarah.4Although Sarah was exceedingly righteous, her righteousness was not as perfect as that of Abraham. When informed that they would have a child, Abraham believed the prophecy but Sarah did not (see Genesis 18:10–15). Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Amram. “But a woman among all these I did not find,” this is Yokheved. Another matter, “one of one thousand I have found,” this is Moses. “But a woman among all these I did not find,” these are the women of the generation of the wilderness. Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] says: The women of the generation of the wilderness were upright. When they heard that they were forbidden to their husbands, they immediately locked their doors.5When Moses introduced the laws of forbidden relations, and the laws of nidda, the men mourned, but the women accepted these laws and refrained from engaging in relations in these circumstances.
The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Israel’s standing with Me is precious.’ Rabbi Abba bar Kahana and Rabbi Yitzḥak, Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: Had Pharaoh requested the weight of each and every one of Israel in gems and pearls,6Had Pharoah requested great wealth in return for releasing the Israelites. would I not have given it to him? Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Did He not take them for a price? Do hordes upon hordes of lice, hordes upon hordes of beasts not have a price?7God generally maintains the rules of nature and prefers not to bring open miracles, but for the sake of redeeming Israel He performed great miracles. This displays His love for Israel (Etz Yosef). That is, ‘Israel’s standing with Me is precious.’
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
A priest precedes a Levite, as it is said (I Chr. 23, 13) The sons of Amram: Aaron and Moses; and Aaron was separated that he should be sanctified as most holy. A levite precedes an Israelite, as it is said (Deut. 10, 8) At that time the Lord separated the tribe of Levi, etc. An Israelite precedes a bastard, for the former is of traceable genealogy, while the latter is of non-traceable genealogy. A bastard precedes a nathin, for the former was born of pure parents while the latter was born of impure parents. A nathin precedes a proselyte, for the former was brought up with us in sanctity (in Israel) while the latter was not brought up in sanctity. A proselyte precedes a freed-slave, for the latter has been placed in the category of the cursed, while the former was not placed in the category of the cursed. "The above arrangement applies only when all are equal in erudition." Whence is this inferred? Said R. Acha b. R. Chanina: "From (Pr. 3, 15) She is more precious than pearls; i.e., she is more precious than the High-priest, who enters the innermost chamber." We are taught in a Baraitha that R. Simon b. Johcai says: "It is but right that a freed-slave have the preference over a proselyte, for the former was brought up with us in sanctity, while the latter was not brought up with us in sanctity; however, as a slave has been placed in the category of the cursed, while a proselyte was not placed in the category of the cursed, therefore has the proselyte the preference. The disciples of R. Elazar b. Zadock questioned him: "Why are all more anxious to marry a female proselyte than a freed female slave?" "Because," replied he, "the slave is included in the category of the cursed, while a proselyte is excluded." Another reason may be given — because the proselyte is supposed to have kept herself in chastity, which, as a rule, is not the case with the slave.