Midras Ayub 32:8: Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shemot Rabbah & Aggadat Bereshit

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.

Another interpretation (of Job 32:9): IT IS NOT THE MANY WHO ARE WISE.] < The verse > speaks about Jacob. Jacob said to his children: It is not because you are many that you are wise, since you are ten and I am < only > one. Now I say to you: Go down to Egypt, but you do not want to go down. I have a vision in the Holy Spirit that there is grain there. Thus it is stated (in Job 32:8): SURELY IT IS THE SPIRIT IN A PERSON. I have seen that Joseph is there. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 42:1): THEN JACOB SAW THAT THERE WAS GRAIN IN EGYPT.

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).