Midras Mazmur 78:33: Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Aggadat Bereshit & Midrash Tehillim

[(Gen. 24:1:) NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD.] Come and see: From Adam even to Abraham there are twenty generation, but there is no < mention of > old age written about < any of > them except about him.¹⁷BM 87a; Sanh. 107b; Gen. R. 59:6; 65:9; below, 6:7; PRE 52. They sired children and grandchildren, but one did not recognize which was the son and which was the father. Also the children were striking the fathers without knowing it, as stated (in Ps. 78:33): SO HE ENDED THEIR DAYS IN FUTILITY AND THEIR YEARS IN TERROR, because they were all alike until Abraham came along. Then the Holy One gave him this < gray > crown which is an ornament for when one becomes old. And when did it come over him? When he practiced righteousness, since it is stated (in Prov. 16:31): GRAY HAIR IS A CROWN OF GLORY. And how do you find it? (Ibid., cont.:) IT IS FOUND BY WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. To whom does this < verse > refer? To Abraham, concerning whom it is written (in Gen. 18:19): FOR I HAVE CHOSEN HIM SO THAT HE MAY CHARGE < HIS CHILDREN AND HIS HOUSEHOLD AFTER HIM TO KEEP THE WAY OF THE LORD, TO PRACTICE RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE >…. The Holy One said to him: By your life, you are worthy of an old age. It is therefore stated (in Gen. 24:1): NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD. Now David also received this crown, as stated (in I Kings 1:1): NOW KING DAVID WAS OLD. Why? Because he had acted according to Abraham's standard, as stated (in II Sam. 8:15): AND DAVID PRACTICED JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS TOWARD ALL HIS PEOPLE. It is therefore stated (in Prov. 16:31): GRAY HAIR IS A CROWN OF GLORY.

[2] Another explanation: And Abraham was old, advanced in age, and the Lord had blessed Abraham with everything (Genesis 24:1). "Grey hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life" (Proverbs 20:29). From Adam to Abraham, twenty generations passed, and there is no mention of any of them being old except for the father, son, and grandson, who all stood together for four generations. Nobody knew who was the oldest among them, and they resembled one another. The son did not honor the father because they did not know who was older, as it is written: "Their days are quickly gone, and they pass away" (Psalms 78:33). But when Abraham stood up, God honored him with this crown. This is like a king who had a beloved servant. He said to him, "I will give you gold and silver, and you have slaves and maids. But I will take the crown from my head and give it to you." Similarly, Abraham was beloved by God, as it is said, "Abraham, my friend" (Isaiah 41:8). God said to him, "What can I give you? You already have gold and silver," as it is written, "And Abraham was very wealthy" (Genesis 13:2). But God said, "Look at what is written about me: 'the hair of his head was pure wool' (Daniel 7:9). I will make you an ornate crown, as it is written, 'Grey hair is a crown of glory; it is gained by living a godly life' (Proverbs 16:31). And where will you find it? You will find it on the path of righteousness" (Proverbs 16:31).

"They completed their days in vanity, and their years in haste. Rabbi and Rabbi Nathan. Rabbi says they died on the Ninth of Av. Rabbi Nathan says they were collected throughout the year, as it says 'in haste.' If they kill us and search us out and we repent, even if they kill us, we have hope in Him. Return and search out His ways, plead with Him and implore Him. They flatter Him with their mouths, but their heart is not with Him, yet He is merciful and forgives sin."