Midrash su Proverbi 28:22

(Lev. 25:14:) “When you sell property to your kinsman.” This text is related (to Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth, [and he does not know that loss will come to him].” This verse speaks about many people. “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth.” This was Cain. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “You moved quickly to inherit the world. By your life, you shall have a loss [in the matter].” Ergo (in Prov. 28:22), “and he does not know that loss will come to him.” And what happened to him? That he wandered about the world, as stated (in Gen. 4:12), “you shall become a ceaseless wanderer on the earth.” Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth”: This was Ephron the Hittite.¹See Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:5; and the parallels listed there; and Tanh. (Buber), Deut. 4:4. When Abraham's wife Sarah died, Abraham went to Ephron for him to sell him the cave. Ephron said to him, “Give me its price.” He said to him (in Gen. 23:15), “What is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between you and me?” Abraham began piling up the silver for Ephron, as stated (in Gen. 23:16), “So Abraham heeded Ephron, and Abraham weighed out […].” Ben Ma'ma said, “Although R. Hanina has said, ‘All the shekels in the Torah are sela'im,’ these [shekels] are an exception, since they are centenaria.²The word is Latin. One centenarium was worth 100,000 sesterces. According to a fourth-century inscription of northern Africa, a centenarium was a hundred pieces (e.g., of gold). See A. Souter, A Glossary of Later Latin to 600 A.D. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1957). [So it was] four hundred centenaria [that] Abraham piled up before Ephron.” When Ephron saw the silver, he moved quickly and hastily, as stated (in Gen. 23:6), “bury your dead in the choicest of our tombs.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “You have moved quickly after money. By your life, you shall have a loss in the matter.” And what was his loss? R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said, “Every [mention of] Ephron which is written here [in Scripture], before he took the silver from Abraham, is written plene as 'prwn (i.e., with the vowel o represented by the Hebrew consonant w); but this [usage] (in Gen. 23:16) is deficient (hsr), ‘and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron ('prn). It is written with the w missing (hsr).” Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth”: This is the one who lends at interest, because he is anxious to become wealthy. He lends in order to receive interest from the borrower and becomes wealthy from the interest. But a curse is given through his riches, as stated (ibid., cont.), “and he does not know that loss will come to him.” Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person moves quickly after wealth”: This represents those who engage in business in the sabbatical year, in that they move quickly to become rich. They do not observe the sabbatical year, and think they will become rich. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to them, “By your life, you shall have a loss in the matter.” Since he did not observe the sabbatical year, the curse began entering into his money, and he sells [all that he had]. What is written above the matter (in Lev. 25:2), “the land shall observe a Sabbath for the Lord.” And after that it is written (in vs. 14), “When you sell property.” R. Eleazar Haqappar said, “It is written (in Cant. 5:15), ‘His legs are pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold.’ This column has a capital above and a pedestal³Gk.: basis. below.”⁴See Lev. R. 25:8. R. Samuel ben Guriah said, “You have no section in the Torah which does not have a capital above and a pedestal below.⁵The parallel in Lev. R. 25:8 explains that each section can be expounded with reference to what precedes and follows it. What is written above of the matter (in Lev. 25:1-2)? ‘Then the Lord spoke unto Moses on Mount Sinai, saying, “Speak unto the Children of Israel [….] ‘the land shall observe [a Sabbath for the Lord].’”’ Then after that [comes] the section on the jubilee (in vs. 8), ‘And you shall count seven [Sabbaths of years].’ If one has not observed the sabbatical year and the jubilee, or [even] one of them, in the end, I will make it that he will sell his land, [as stated] (in vs. 14), ‘When you sell property to your kinsman.’⁶T’Arakh. 5:9; below, 9:8. [If] he repents, [all] is well; but if not, he will end up selling his field, as stated (in vs. 25), ‘When your relative becomes poor and sells some of his property.’ [If] he repents, that is preferable; but if not, he will end up selling his house, as stated (in vs. 29), ‘And when someone sells a dwelling house.’ [If] he repents, that is preferable; but if not, he will end up going around [begging] at doorways, as stated (in vs. 35), ‘And when your relative becomes poor [… you shall maintain him as a foreigner and sojourner and let him live near you].’ [If] he repents, that is preferable; but if not, he will end up being sold to you, as stated (in vs. 39), ‘And when your relative becomes poor] near you and is sold to you.’ [If] he repents, that is preferable; but if not, he will end up being sold to the gentiles, as stated (in vs. 47), ‘And when a foreigner and a sojourner near you becomes wealthy, [while your relative near him becomes poor and is sold to a sojourning foreigner near you….].’ Now it is not merely the individual himself [at issue here], but that person and all Israel; for so you find in the days of Jeremiah, because they profaned the sabbatical year, they were sold to the gentiles, as stated (in II Chron. 36:17-18), ‘So He brought up the king of the Chaldeans upon them [….] And all the vessels of the house of God […] and the treasures of the house of the Lord […].’ Behold the case of [all] Israel.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “See how they will be sold to the gentiles because they profaned the sabbatical year.” He said to him, “Master of the world, did You not say this (in Lev. 25:35), ‘And when your relative becomes poor, and his strength fails near you, [you shall maintain him as a foreigner and sojourner and let him live near you]?’ Fulfill what You said to them and called them, ‘My relatives (ah) and friends,’ as stated (in Ps. 122:8), ‘For the sake of My relatives (ah) and friends’: (Lev. 25:35:) ‘And when your relative becomes poor, and his strength fails near you,’ [i.e.,] when their strength fails before Nebuchadnezzar, the Divine Presence, as it were, will be with them. It is so stated (in Is. 43:14), ‘for your sake I have sent to Babylon.’ (Lev. 25:35, cont.:) ‘You shall maintain (literally, hold on to) him.’ Hold them (i.e., Israel), lest they perish. But how? (Lev. 25:35, cont.:) ‘As a foreigner and sojourner and let him live near you.’ Although they became foreigners and sojourners in Babylon, if You do not give them grace, they will perish, [so just] ‘let him live near You.’” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, “Because of their sins I have sold My house to the Chaldeans.” It is so stated (in Lev. 25:29), “And when someone sells a dwelling house.” This is the house of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated (in Ps. 132:13), “For the Lord has chosen Zion; he has desired it for His dwelling.” And what happened [to it]? (II Kings 25:9 = Jer. 52:13:) And he burned the house of the Lord [...].” (Lev. 25:29, cont.:) “A walled city.” This is the city of the Holy One, blessed be He, as stated] (in II Chron. 36:19), “and they broke down the wall of Jerusalem […].” That is what the Holy One, blessed be He, says (in Lev. 25:47), “And when a foreigner and a sojourner [near you] becomes wealthy.” This wealthy foreigner is Nebuchadnezzar, and this sojourner is the Median Empire. (Ibid., cont.:) “And is sold to a sojourning foreigner.” This [sojourning foreigner] is the Greek Empire. (Ibid., cont.:) “Or to a foreigner's family.” This is the Edomite Empire (i.e., Rome). Moses said to the Holy One, blessed be He, “Master of the world, why were they sold to these empires?” He said to him, “Because they profaned the sabbatical year.” It is so stated (in II Chron. 36:20–21), “Then he carried off unto Babylon those left from the sword,” and the end of the Scripture is “[until the land made up] its Sabbaths; as long as it lay desolate, it observed Sabbath, to fulfill seventy years.” Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses at the end of all of these sections, “Is it your wish that they do not go into exile? [Then] warn them concerning the sabbatical years and the jubilees.” That is what He has said at the end of all the sections (in Lev. 26:2), “You shall observe My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary. I am the Lord.” What is the meaning of “I am the Lord?” I am the one who is going to give you a good reward, if you observe them; but if not, I am going to exact retribution from them through the Empires. Therefore, say to them to be careful about the sabbatical year. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 25:2), “the land shall observe a Sabbath for the Lord,” so that they do not attain [the punishments in] those sections written below (in Lev. 26:14-45). (Lev. 25:14:) “When you sell property to your kinsman or buy from your neighbor's hand, do not deceive.” [Thus] you shall not deceive one another. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “For I also sold the whole world to Abraham and did not deceive him. He [then went back and sold it to Me,” as stated (Genesis 14:19), “the Buyer⁷Qoneh. A more traditional rendering of this word here would be MAKER. of heaven and earth.” When? When Abraham observed the commandments of the Holy One, blessed be He. Before the Torah was given to Israel, our father Abraham kept it [and observed all the commandments that are in the Torah]. R. Samuel bar Nahman said in the name of R. Alexandra, “Abraham even observed the [rabbinic precept of] eruvim of cooked foods.”⁸See Tanh. (Buber), Gen. 3:1, and the notes there. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 26:5), “Because ('qb 'shr) Abraham heeded [My voice and kept My charge: My commandments, My statutes, and My Torahs].” What is the meaning of 'qb?⁹Gen. R. 95:3; Cant. R. 5:16:1; PR 21:12; cf. Ned. 32a. R. Simeon ben Laqish said, “At the age of three years Abraham recognized the Holy One, blessed be He.”¹⁰So also Numb. R. 18:21. According to other traditions Abraham recognized his creator at the age of forty-eight (Gen. R. 30:8; 46:2; Cant. R. 5:16:1), at the age of fifty (PR 21:12), or at the age of one (Gen. R. 95:3). How is this shown? 'Qb is a number. (I.e., 'ayin) is seventy, q (i.e., qof) is one hundred, [and] b (i.e., bet) is two, for a total of one hundred seventy-two. Now (according to Gen. 25:7) Abraham lived one hundred seventy-five [years]. Deduct from them. [The result is] three, when he was little. Ergo, at the age of three years Abraham recognized the Holy One, blessed be He. When the Holy One, blessed be He, saw how Abraham loved the commandments, He began buying heavenly and earthly [places] for him, as stated (in Gen. 14:19), “Blessed be Abram of God most high, Buyer of heaven and earth.” So also it says (Gen. 13:15), “For all the land (or earth) which you see, to you I will give it.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said, “All the world is wholly Mine; and I bought it for Abraham, because he has observed My commandments. But you, through your sins, have caused him to be [like] an alien who rents a house from its owners, for so Jeremiah has said (in Jer. 14:8), ‘why are you like a foreigner in the land […]?’ When you sinned before Me, I sold you, as stated (in Ps. 44:13), ‘You shall sell Your people for no money […].’ For that reason, if someone has to sell a house, a field, or [some] article, you shall not deceive one another.” It is therefore written (in Lev. 25:14), “shall not deceive his brother.” (Lev. 25:15-18:) “According to the years after the jubilee […]. According to the multitude of years, you shall increase […]. A man shall not deceive his brother […]. So you shall carry out my statutes and judgements.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “Just as I sold my people and returned again to reinstate them, as stated (Jer. 3:14), ‘”Turn back, faithless children,” says the Lord; “for I am a master to you.”’ It is also written (in Is. 52:3), ‘For thus says the Lord, “You were sold for free, and you shall be redeemed for no money.”’ So too you should not sell the land absolutely, as stated (in Lev. 25:23), ‘[it] shall not be sold permanently.’ The Land [of Israel] is dear to me because I have made it holier than all the [other] lands in the world.” You yourself know, when the Land of Israel was distributed to the tribes, it did not pass from tribe to tribe. Rather [it was distributed] to each tribe separately. You yourself know. Look at how many lawsuits the daughters of Zelophehad brought, so that their inheritance would not pass from one tribe to another. Moreover the Holy One, blessed be He, conceded to their words, as stated (in Numb. 27:7), “The daughters of Zelophehad speak what is right.” (Numb. 36:9:) “Thus no inheritance shall be transferred from one tribe to another.” Therefore, if a redeemer is found for it, fine; but if not, whoever buys it acquires it until the jubilee. Then on the jubilee he releases it. Thus it is stated (in Lev. 25:41), “Then he shall depart from you, he and his children with him and he shall return to his family.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Israel, “When the year of the redemption draws near, I will redeem you, as stated (in Is. 63:4), ‘For a day of vengeance was in My heart, but there came My year of redemption.’”

(Lev. 25:1:) THEN THE LORD SPOKE UNTO MOSES ON MOUNT SINAI, SAYING. This text is related (to Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH, [AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM]. This verse speaks about a lot of Adam's children: {about Cain, about Ephron, and about one who lends at interest}.¹Tanh., Lev. 9:1. [AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH. This was Cain, since he killed his brother so that he would inherit the world for himself. Ergo (in Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH.] The Holy One said: You moved quickly to become rich and inherit the world. By your life, you shall have a loss in the matter. Ergo (in Prov. 28:22): AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM. And what happened to him? That he wandered about the world, as stated (in Gen. 4:12): YOU SHALL BECOME A CEASELESS WANDERER ON THE EARTH. Ergo (in Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH: This is Cain.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH. This was Ephron the Hittite.²See above, Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:5; and the parallels listed there; below, Tanh. (Buber), Deut. 4:4. When Abraham's wife Sarah died, Abraham went to Ephron for him to sell him the cave. Ephron said to him: Give me its price. He said to him (in Gen. 23:15): WHAT IS A PIECE OF LAND WORTH FOUR HUNDRED SHEKELS OF SILVER BETWEEN YOU AND ME? SO BURY YOUR DEAD. Abraham began piling up the silver for Ephron, as stated (in Gen. 23:16): SO ABRAHAM HEEDED EPHRON, AND ABRAHAM WEIGHED OUT THE SILVER FOR EPHRON…. Ben Ma'ma said: Although R. Hanina has said: All the shekels in the Torah are sela'im, these < shekels > are an exception, since they are centenaria.³The word is Latin. One centenarium was worth 100,000 sesterces. According to a fourth-century inscription of northern Africa, a centenarium was a hundred pieces (e.g., of gold). See A. Souter, A Glossary of Later Latin to 600 A.D. (Oxford: Clarendon, 1957). s.v. < It was > four hundred centenaria < that > Abraham piled up before Ephron. When Ephron saw the silver, he moved quickly and was persuaded, as stated (in Gen. 23:6): BURY YOUR DEAD IN THE CHOICEST OF OUR TOMBS. The Holy One said to him: You have moved quickly after money. (Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH. By your life, you shall have a loss in the matter. (Prov. 28:22, cont.): AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY (HSR) WILL COME TO HIM. And what was his loss (rt.: HSR)? R. Judah bar Shallum the Levite said: Every EPHRON which is written here < in Scripture >, before he took the silver from Abraham, is written plene as 'PRWN (i.e., with the vowel O represented by the Hebrew consonant W); but this < usage > (in Gen. 23:6) is deficient (HSR): AND ABRAHAM WEIGHED OUT THE SILVER FOR EPHRON ('PRN). It is written with the W missing (HSR).

Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH. This is the one who lends at interest, because he is anxious to become wealthy. He lends in order to receive interest from the borrower and becomes wealthy from the interest. But a curse is given through his riches, AND (ibid., cont.) HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 28:22): [< AN EVIL-EYED PERSON > MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH…. ] This represents those who engage in business in the Sabbatical Year, in that they move quickly to become rich. They do not observe the Sabbatical Year but are intent on becoming rich. The Holy One said to them: You have moved quickly to become rich from the Sabbatical Year. By your life, you shall have a loss in the matter. But he only acted when he did not observe the Sabbatical Year. The curse began entering into his money, and he sold all that he had. What is written elsewhere on the matter (in Lev. 25:2): THE LAND SHALL OBSERVE A SABBATH FOR THE LORD. And after that it is written (in vs. 14): AND WHEN YOU MAKE A SALE.

(Deut. 14:22:) YOU SHALL SURELY TITHE. This text is related (to Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON (i.e., a miser) MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH; AND HE DOES NOT KNOW <THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM>. R. Hanina interpreted the Scripture verse with reference to Ephron (of Gen. 23),⁷Above, Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:5; Lev. 9:1; Tanh, Deut. 4:10; Gen. R. 58:7; Exod. R. 31:17; PRK 10:1; see also BM 87a. Cf. above, Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:13, which identifies the man with Cain. for Rabbi Hanina said: All the shekels mentioned in the Torah are sela's, those in the Prophets are litrai,⁸The Greek word means “pounds.” and those in the Writings are centenarii,⁹The Latin word denotes weights of a hundred pounds. except for the shekels of Ephron, which are not centenarii.¹⁰For this valuation of the shekel, see yQid. 1:3 (59d), 5 (60c); Bekh. 50a; PR 1:4. This is what is written (in Gen. 23:9): LET HIM GIVE IT TO ME AT THE FULL PRICE. Because he brought the evil eye (of greed) for Abraham's wealth, the written text lacks the letter waw.

(Exod. 22:24 [25]:) IF YOU LEND MONEY TO MY PEOPLE, <TO THE POOR PERSON WITH YOU, YOU SHALL NOT ACT TOWARD HIM AS A CREDITOR >…. This text is related (to Prov. 28:22): AN EVIL-EYED PERSON, whoever is quick to plunder the money of his comrade, MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH, AND HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY (heser) WILL COME TO HIM, that a lack (heseron) will come upon him. This man was Ephron the Hittite.²³Below, Tanh. (Buber), Lev. 9:1; Deut. 4:4; Gen. R. 58:7; Exod. R. 31:17; PRK 10:1; cf. Tanh., Exod. 6:13, which identifies the man with Cain. When Abraham said (in Gen. 23:4–6): GIVE ME A BURIAL SITE AMONG YOU…, AND THE HITTITES ANSWERED…: HEAR US, MY LORD, Ephron said to him: But which place do you want? He said to him: I want a place in your field. He said to him (in vs. 15): <WHAT IS> A PIECE OF LAND WORTH FOUR HUNDRED SHEKELS OF SILVER <BETWEEN YOU AND ME>? Immediately (in vs. 16): SO ABRAHAM HEEDED EPHRON, AND ABRAHAM WEIGHED OUT THE MONEY FOR EPHRON ({'PRWN} ['PRN]). The vav (= W) is lacking (haser) <from his name> because he lusted to take Abraham's money. He did not know (from Prov. 28:22b) THAT POVERTY (heser) WILL COME TO HIM. Ergo (in Prov. 28:22a): <AN EVIL-EYED PERSON > MOVES QUICKLY AFTER WEALTH.

Rabbi Ammi interpreted the verse (Prov. 28:22) with reference to one who borrows a cow. Since he was too miserly to rent two cows, he borrowed one and rented one. AND (according to Prov. 28:22) HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM, that it is written (in Exod. 22:13 [14]): <WHEN SOMEONE BORROWS AN ANIMAL FROM HIS NEIGHBOR AND IT IS INJURED OR DIES, {IF} ITS OWNER IS NOT WITH IT, HE SHALL SURELY PAY.

Whoever lends at interest lusts for money; (according to Prov. 28:22:) HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM. The Holy One is angry with him and causes him to perish from the world. What is written above on the matter (in Exod. 22:23 [24])? MY WRATH WILL BURN…. When? (Vs. 24 [25]:) IF YOU LEND TO MY PEOPLE. This text is related (to Prov. 28:8): THE ONE WHO AUGMENTS HIS WEALTH BY INTEREST. How? <When> Israel wanted to borrow from him [and a foreigner wanted to borrow from him], he said: It is better for me to lend to a foreigner from whom I shall get usury. So he made him a loan. It is about him that Solomon cries out (in Prov. 28:8): THE ONE WHO AUGMENTS HIS WEALTH [BY INTEREST AND USURY AMASSES IT FOR ONE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE POOR]. Who is being GENEROUS TO THE POOR? This is Esau. But is Esau GENEROUS TO THE POOR? It is simply that, when the empire becomes jealous of him, it takes his money and with it provides for the needs of the many, <i.e.> paved roads²⁴Lat.: stratae. and public buildings.²⁵Gk.: demosia. Ergo (in Prov. 28:8): <HE> AMASSES IT FOR ONE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE POOR.

Rabbi Isaac interpreted the verse (Prov. 28:22) with reference to the one who lends to an Israelite at interest and is too miserly to lend it without interest. (Prov. 8:22) HE DOES NOT KNOW THAT POVERTY WILL COME TO HIM, that it is written (in Prov. 28:8): THE ONE WHO AUGMENTS HIS WEALTH BY INTEREST AND USURY AMASSES IT FOR ONE WHO IS GENEROUS TO THE POOR. Who is the one that is generous to the poor? This is Esau the Wicked. Is Esau the Wicked generous to the poor? Rather does he not oppress the poor? He is like those procurators¹³Gk.: epitropoi. who go out to the villages and plunder tenants. Then they go back to the capital and say: Gather the poor, because we want to perform a good work for them. [The <Aramaic> adage] says: <She> commits adultery for apples, and distributes to the sick, {which means <in Hebrew>: The harlot buys apples and distributes to the sick}.¹⁴Cf. Exod. R. 31:17 (end); Lev. R. 3:1.

Rabbi Levi interpreted the verse (i.e., Prov. 28:22) with reference to the person who does not take out his tithes properly. To this end Rabbi Levi told a story about someone who did take out his tithes properly. Now he had a certain field that produced a thousand measures every year. So he took a hundred measures from it for his tithes. From the remainder he and the children of his household sustained¹⁵Rt.: PRNS. Gk. pronoein (“provide for”). themselves. At the time of his death, he summoned his son. He said to him: My son, give your attention to this field. It yields such and such <a number of> measures, and I take out such and such a tithe. From it I have sustained myself all my days. When that son planted it the first year, it produced a thousand measures, and he took out a hundred measures from it a for the tithe. For the second year, an evil eye (i.e., of greed) entered within him. So he subtracted ten <measures from the tithe>, but <the field> subtracted one hundred <measures from its yield>. Similarly also [on the third, fourth, and fifth <years>, until it was reduced to its tithes. When kinfolk and friends saw <what was happening>, they put on white (i.e., festive) <tunics> and wrapped themselves in white <mantles>. <When> they came to him, he said to them: Why have you come? To rejoice over the very one who is afflicted? They said: Heaven forbid! We have only come to rejoice with you. In the past you were the owner of the house, and the Holy One was the priest; but now the Holy One has become the owner of the house, and you are the priest. For that reason Moses warned Israel (in Deut. 14:22): YOU SHALL SURELY TITHE.

(Deut. 14:22:) “You shall surely tithe.” This text is related (to Prov. 28:22), “An evil-eyed person (i.e., a miser) moves quickly after wealth; [and he does not know that loss will come to him].” R. Hanina interpreted the verse with reference to Ephron (of Gen. 23).⁴Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:5; Lev. 9:1; Gen. R. 58:7; Exod. R. 31:17; PRK 10:1; see also BM 87a. Cf. above, Tanh. (Buber), Exod. 6:13, which identifies the man with Cain. For R. Hanina said, “All the shekels mentioned in the Torah are sela, those in the prophets are litrai,⁵The Greek word means “pounds.” and those in the writings are centenarii,⁶The Latin word denotes weights of a hundred pounds. except for the shekels of Ephron, which are not centenarii.⁷For this valuation of the shekel, see yQid. 1:3 (59d), 5 (60c); Bekh. 50a; PR 1:4. This is what is written (in Gen. 23:9), ‘let him give it to me at the full price.’” Because he brought the evil eye (of greed) into Abraham's wealth, the written text lacks the letter waw. This is what is written (in Gen. 23:15), “My lord, listen to me, what is a piece of land worth four hundred shekels of silver between you and me?” He said to him, “If you want to give me four hundred centenarii of silver from the goods of your house, you can give it to me.” Because he brought in an evil eye (i.e., of greed) into Abraham's wealth, [his name] is lacking the letter waw, where it is stated (in Gen. 23:16), “So Abraham heeded Ephron, and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron. It is the second Ephron that is written deficient. R. [Ammi] interpreted the verse (Prov. 28:22) with reference to one who borrows a cow. Since he was too miserly to rent two cows, he borrowed one and rented one. And (according to Prov. 28:22) “he does not know that loss will come to him”; that it is written (in Exod. 22:13), “[When someone borrows an animal from his neighbor and it is injured or dies,] and its owner is not with it, he shall surely pay.” R. Isaac interpreted the verse (Prov. 28:22) with reference to the one who lends to an Israelite at interest and is too miserly to lend it without interest, and (Prov. 8:22) “he does not know that loss will come to him”; that it is written (in Prov. 28:8), “The one who augments his wealth by interest and usury amasses it for one who is generous to the poor.” Who is the one that is generous to the poor? This is Esau the wicked. Is Esau the wicked generous to the poor? Rather does he not oppress the poor? He is like those procurators who go out to the villages and plunder tenants. Then they go back to the capital and say, “Gather the poor, because we want to perform a good act for them.” The [Aramaic] adage says, “[She commits adultery] for apples, and distributes [them] to the sick.” R. Levi interpreted the verse (i.e., Prov. 28:22) with reference to the person who does not take out his tithes properly. To this end R. Levi told a story about someone who did take out his tithes properly: Now he had a certain field that produced a thousand measures every year. So he took a hundred measures from it for his tithes; and from the remainder he and the children of his household sustained themselves all of his days. At the time of his death, he summoned his son. He said to him, “My son, give your attention to this field. It yields such and such [a number of] measures, and I take out such and such a tithe. From it I have sustained myself and my household all my days.” When that son planted it the first year, it produced a thousand measures, and he took out a hundred measures from it for the tithe. For the second year, an evil eye (i.e., of greed) entered within him. So he subtracted ten [measures from the tithe], but [the field] subtracted one hundred [measures from its yield]. Similarly also [on the third, fourth, and fifth [years], until it was reduced to its tithes. When kinfolk and friends saw [what was happening], they put on white (i.e., festive) [tunics] and wrapped themselves in white [mantles]. [When] they came to him, he said to them, “Why have you come? To rejoice over the very one who has been excommunicated [by the Heavens]?” They said to him, “God forbid! We have only come to rejoice with you. In the past you were the owner of the house, and the Holy One, blessed be He, was the priest; but now the Holy One, blessed be He, has become the owner of the house, and you are the priest.” For that reason Moses warned Israel (in Deut. 14:22), “You shall surely tithe.”

If thou lend money to any of my people (Exod. 22:24). Scripture says elsewhere in reference to this verse: He that hath an evil eye hasteneth after riches, and he knoweth not that want shall come upon him (Prov. 28:22). He that hath an evil eye refers to Cain, who sought to possess the entire world. When was that? When Cain and Abel were (alone) in the world. What was written concerning them? And it came to pass, when they were in the field (Gen. 4:8), that He killed Abel because of the dispute over the field.

And he knoweth not that want shall come upon him (Prov. 28:22). What came upon him? A fugitive and a wanderer shalt thou be in the earth (Gen. 4:12). Wherever he went, the Holy One, blessed be He, brought evil spirits upon him. They beat him and pursued him until they drove him from the world. Thus Solomon proclaimed: If a man beget a hundred children and live many years … but his soul have not enough of good, and moreover he have no burial (Eccles. 6:3). Similarly, whoever lends money to his friend on interest will ultimately require help from mankind, as it is said: And he knoweth not that want shall come upon him (Prov. 28:22).