Midrash su Proverbi 11:24

Another interpretation (of I Sam. 2:9): HE SHALL PROTECT THE FEET OF HIS SAINTS. When Jacob set out from his father's house, he set out with only his staff, as stated (in Gen. 32:11 [10]): FOR WITH < ONLY > MY STAFF DID I CROSS THIS JORDAN. The Holy One said to Isaac: Did your father, Abraham, do this to you? Did he not give you everything that he had? It is so stated (in Gen. 25:5): BUT ABRAHAM GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD TO ISAAC. < There is > also this (in Gen. 24:2): SO ABRAHAM SAID UNTO THE SENIOR SERVANT OF HIS HOUSE, THE ONE WHO RULED OVER ALL THAT HE HAD. R. Samuel bar Isaac said: What is the meaning of THE ONE WHO RULED? When he had made him a ruler over all that he had, he said: Even if you < must > give away everything that belongs to me, take a wife for my son from there. (Gen. 24:10:) THEN THE SERVANT TOOK TEN CAMELS FROM THE CAMELS OF HIS MASTER, AND WENT WITH ALL HIS MASTER'S GOODS IN HIS HAND. This refers to a diatheke⁸The Greek words means “covenant.” {gift certificate} which he carried in his hand.⁹See Gen. R. 59:11 and some versions of PRE 16. Both use the word diatheke in this context. Cf. Gen. R. 61:6. (Ergo, in Gen. 25:5:) BUT ABRAHAM GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD TO ISAAC. The servant began distributing earrings to one woman, necklaces¹⁰Lat.: catellae. to another, and rings to still another. This is what the text means (in Prov. 11:24): THERE IS ONE WHO DISPENSES LIBERALLY AND STILL INCREASES. The Holy One has blessed him. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 25:11): AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THE DEATH OF ABRAHAM THAT GOD BLESSED HIS SON ISAAC. But Isaac did not do so for Jacob. Instead he had him set out empty-handed. The Holy One said (in Prov. 11:24, cont.): ANOTHER HOLDS BACK FROM WHAT IS RIGHT, YET THE RESULT IS WANT. And what happened to him (Isaac)? The Divine Presence departed from him. So you find him (the Holy One) speaking with him only when he died. Come and see what Esau the Wicked did to Jacob. He saw him empty-handed and did not show him mercy. Instead he said: See, I am ahead of him, and he cannot pass me on the way. So I will kill him there. And where is it shown? Where the prophet said so (in Amos 1:11): < THUS SAYS THE LORD: FOR THREE TRANSGRESSIONS OF EDOM AND FOR FOUR I WILL NOT RESCIND IT (the punishment) > BECAUSE HE PURSUED HIS BROTHER WITH THE SWORD. Jacob knew < about it > and raised his eyes to the Holy One. Now he had performed miracles with him (Jacob); so he put {his staff for him in his hand} [his staff into the Jordan]. Then the Jordan divided for him, and he crossed. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 32:11 [10]): FOR WITH MY STAFF DID I CROSS THIS JORDAN. So Esau was waiting on the way, but Jacob did not pass on the way. When Esau perceived that Jacob had fled and crossed the Jordan, what did he do? He pursued him and found him in a cave, a place like the bath that is in Tiberias.¹¹Cf. Gen. R. 75:5. Jacob had said: There is no bread and no food at hand. I shall go in and get warm in the bath. Esau the Wicked came and had the bath surrounded the so that he would die in it. The Holy One said to him: < Since > you are the most wicked man in the world, are you to be paired¹²The verb is related to the Greek noun zeugos (“yoke of beasts”). against him? Immediately the Holy One said to Jacob: What are you afraid of? See, I am with you. Jacob said to him: Sovereign of the World, inasmuch as I am trusting you and you are making me a promise, I will have trust [and set out. (Gen. 28:10:) AND JACOB SET OUT FROM BEERSHEBA].

(Fol. 63a) It was taught that Hillel the Elder said: "When people imbibe (learning), diffuse it; when they reject (learning), gather it in. If thou see that the Torah is beloved by the generation, then, diffuse it [teach it even though there are others that teach them]; for it is said (Pr. 11, 24.) There is a man that scattereth gifts and yet his wealth is increased, but if thou see that the Torah is not beloved by the generation, then gather it in (do not teach it); for it is said (Ps. 119, 126.) It is time to act for the Lord; they have broken thy law." R. Kapara once preached: "If a thing is cheap, be quick and buy it [for it will surely rise]. Where there is no man (leader) try to be a man yourself." Abaye said: "We infer from these words that in any gathering where there are enough men one should not try to make himself prominent." Surely! This is more than plain! He needs it in the case of the stranger who comes and finds a man only his equal [the stranger should not try to do anything without the consent of the native]. R. Kapara expounded: "Which small section contains the essential parts of the Torah? In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy path (Pr. 3, 6)." Raba said: "Even in matters of iniquity." R. Kapara preached: "A man should always teach his son an occupation which is clean and easy." What is that? R. Chisda said, "Needle work."