הִ֭תְרַפִּיתָ בְּי֥וֹם צָרָ֗ה צַ֣ר כֹּחֶֽכָה׃
네가 만일 환난날에 낙담하면 네 힘의 미약함을 보임이니라
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Gen. 32:8 [7]): AND JACOB WAS < GREATLY > AFRAID. Our masters have said: His body became like wax.22See Gen. R. 44:3; 65:19. Moreover, the Holy Spirit cries out (in Prov. 24:10): IF YOU ARE INDOLENT IN THE DAY OF DISTRESS (TsRH), YOUR STRENGTH IS WANTING (TsR). At that time the Holy One said to him (in Is. 41:10): FEAR NOT, FOR I AM WITH YOU; BE NOT DISMAYED, FOR I AM YOUR GOD. I STRENGTHEN YOU, I HELP YOU…. I STRENGTHEN YOU through Michael; I HELP YOU through Gabriel. (Ibid., cont.:) AND I ALSO UPHOLD YOU THROUGH MY VICTORIOUS RIGHT HAND. (Gen. 28:15:) SEE, I AM WITH YOU. At that time (according to Gen. 32:8 [7]) HE DIVIDED THE PEOPLE WHO WERE WITH HIM. What did he do? He armed them within and clothed them with linen without. He prepared himself in three things: in prayer, with a gift,23Gk.: doron. and for war. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > with a gift? (In Gen. 32:22 [21]:) AND SO THE GIFT (MNHH) PASSED ON BEFORE HIM…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > for war? (In Gen. 32:9 [8]:) IF ESAU SHOULD COME < TO ONE CAMP (MHNH) AND DESTROY IT >…. Where is it shown < that he prepared himself > in prayer? (In Gen. 32:10 [9]:) THEN JACOB SAID: O GOD OF MY FATHER ABRAHAM, AND GOD OF MY FATHER ISAAC…. What is written after that (in vss. 11-12 [10-111])? I AM UNWORTHY OF ALL THE KINDNESSES AND ALL THE FIDELITY…. PLEASE DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF MY BROTHER, FROM THE HAND OF ESAU. The Holy One said to him: You have called to me. By your life, I will save you, according to what is stated (in Ps. 89:27 [26]): HE SHALL CRY TO ME, YOU ARE MY FATHER, MY GOD, AND THE ROCK OF MY SALVATION.
Ein Yaakov (Glick Edition)
We are taught that Rabbi says: "Never shall a man try to acquire too many friends within his house, for it is said (Pr. 18, 24.) A man's many companions are hurtful to him." We are taught that Rabbi says: "A man should avoid appointing a supervisor over his household for had not Potiphar appointed Joseph the supervisor over his household, the trouble [he had] would not have occurred." We are taught that Rabbi says: "Why has the section referring to the Nazarite been arranged close to the section of Sota? To tell us that if one sec a Sota in her corrupted state he shall obstain from wine." Hezekiah, the son of R. Parnach, said in the name of R. Jochanan: "Why has the section referring to the Sota been arranged close to the section of Terumah and tithes?" To tell us that whoever has Terumah and tithes and does not give them to the priest will finally be obliged [to go] to the Priest on account of his wife, as it is said (Num. 5, 10.) And every man's hallowed things shall be his, and immediately succeeding this is written If the wife of any man go saide; and after this is written: Then shall the man bring his wife, etc. And moreover poverty will at last overtake him and he will become a recipient of that same thing which he refused to give, as it is said And every man's hallowed things shall be his [i.e.. And every man's hallowed things, — if he gives it not to the priest, — shall he his own, — for his own necessities]." R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "If, on the other hand, he give [deliberately the tithes to the priest], he will become rich, as it is said (Ib.) Whatever any man giveth to the priest shall belong to him, i.e., he shall have much wealth." R. Huna b. Brachia in the name of R. Elazar Hakapar said: "To him who associates the Heavenly name in his troubles (praising the Lord even for misfortune), his means of support will be doubled, as it is said (Job 22, 25.) Yea, the Almighty shall be thy defence, and thou shall have plenty of silver." R. Samuel b. Nachmeini said: "His maintenance will come as quickly as a bird flies; for it is said (Ib.) And thou shalt have plenty of silver." R. Tubia said in the name of R. Joshiya: "He who is careless about the study of the Torah, will have no strength to withstand a day of adversity; as it is said (Pr. 24, 10.) If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength i small." R. Ami b. Mathun in the name of Samuel said: "Even [if he weaken himself] from one meritorious deed; for it is said If thou faint, i.e., from whatever the weakening; may be."
Shemot Rabbah
Another matter: “They shall take Me a gift” – that is what is written: “A name is preferable [nivḥar] to great wealth” (Proverbs 22:1). The name of Moses is preferable, as it is stated: “Were it not for Moses His chosen one [beḥiro]” (Psalms 106:23), and likewise it says: “I have known you by name” (Exodus 33:17) – to Koraḥ’s wealth, as it is stated: “Two hundred and fifty firepans” (Numbers 16:17).5The implication of the verse is that all two hundred fifty gold firepans were provided by Koraḥ himself, which is an indication of his great wealth (Maharzu). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Because you have wealth you are haughty? The name of Moses is preferable to all your wealth of silver and gold. That is, “and good grace to silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1).
Another matter: The name of Pinḥas is preferable to the wealth of Zimri, who was the prince of the tribe of Simeon. What did Zimri do? In his regard, Solomon said: “A wicked man is insolent” (Proverbs 21:29). “And the upright, he discerns his way” (Proverbs 21:29) – this is Pinḥas. In what way was Zimri insolent? It was, that when Kozbi came, he sought to take her. She said to him: ‘I will not submit to you, as my father commanded me that I should submit only to Moses.’ He said to her: ‘I am greater than Moses, as he is from the third tribe6Levi, Jacob’s third-born and I am from the second tribe.7Simeon, Jacob’s second-born Do you want to know that I am greater than Moses? I will take you in his presence,’ as it is stated: “And, behold, a man from the children of Israel came and brought the Midianite woman near to his brethren, before the eyes of Moses” (Numbers 25:6), as he was flinging words against [Moses]. He said to him: ‘Moses, is this one forbidden or permitted?’ He said to him: ‘She is forbidden to you.’ Zimri said to him: ‘Are you the one who is most faithful to the Torah, such that the Holy One blessed be He takes pride in you and says: “Not so My servant Moses; [in all My house he is faithful]” (Numbers 12:7)? If you say that this one is forbidden, then the wife that you took is forbidden to you. This one is Midianite and that one is Midianite. This one is the most prominent of her patrilineal family, and your wife is the daughter of a priest.’ That is, “before the eyes of Moses.” Solomon cries out: “A wicked man is insolent.” When they saw him8When the Israelite elders saw Zimri’s insolent attack on Moses. they were weeping, as it is stated: “And they were weeping” (Numbers 25:6). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, are you weeping? Where is your wisdom that you said something and you caused Koraḥ to be swallowed, and now you are weeping?’ The Divine Spirit calls out: “The stout-hearted ran rampant. They fell into a stupor” (Psalms 76:6). Moses said to Him: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).9Zimri’s attack is purely against the Lord. Therefore, human wisdom is irrelevant, and it is God who should punish Zimri (Yefe To’ar).
The Holy One blessed be He said: I know who is prepared for this matter. What is written thereafter? “A horse is ready for the day of battle, but salvation is for the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31). Rabbi Yosei said: Pinḥas himself expounded: If a horse that gives its life on a day of war, even if it dies, it gives its life for its owner, I, for the sanctity of the name of the Holy One blessed be He, all the more so. “Pinḥas son of Elazar saw” (Numbers 25:7) – he began saying to himself: What will I do? Two can prevail over one; can one, perhaps, prevail over two? While he was deliberating to himself, the plague was afflicting and the Holy One blessed be He was saying: “You faltered on a day of trouble” (Proverbs 24:10), “Deliver those taken to death” (Proverbs 24:11). “If you say: Behold, we did not know this” (Proverbs 24:12), I will attest in your regard, as it is stated: “Is He not the assessor of hearts, He understands” (Proverbs 24:12).10God said to Pinḥas: If you are concerned that people will suspect your motives, I will attest that your motives were pure (Rabbi David Luria).
Pinḥas entered, and he found that the Holy One blessed be He had secured them one to the other; they were intertwined one with the other, and they were unable to separate themselves. And he stabbed them in the place of their attachment, as it is stated: “He stabbed the two of them” (Numbers 25:8). When he exited, the tribe of Zimri entered. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He smote them all with the plague. When Pinḥas saw the plague, he was standing and praying, as it is stated: “Pinḥas stood and he prayed” (Psalms 106:30). Immediately the Holy One blessed be He summoned Moses and said to him: ‘Come and I will inform you who preserved the descendants of Abraham,’ as it is stated: “Pinḥas son of Elazar [the son of Aaron the priest has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel]” (Numbers 25:11). That is why it is stated: “A name is preferable to great wealth” (Proverbs 22:1).
Another matter: The name of Mordekhai is preferable to the wealth of Haman. Rabbi Yoshiya said: What did that wicked one do? He took out all the silver and gold that he had and he gave it to Aḥashverosh. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, “good grace [ḥen] is preferable to silver and gold”’ (Proverbs 22:1). The grace of Esther, as it is stated: “Esther found favor [ḥen]” (Esther 2:15), is preferable. When the wicked one came with the money, the king said to him: “The money is given to you” (Esther 3:11). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Is this how you are selling Mine for what is Mine?’ As it is stated: “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Leviticus 25:55), and it is written: “The silver and the gold are Mine” (Haggai 2:8). ‘As you live, what you said: “The money is given to you…,” so, “on that day, King Aḥashverosh gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther”’ (Esther 8:1).
Another matter: The name of Pinḥas is preferable to the wealth of Zimri, who was the prince of the tribe of Simeon. What did Zimri do? In his regard, Solomon said: “A wicked man is insolent” (Proverbs 21:29). “And the upright, he discerns his way” (Proverbs 21:29) – this is Pinḥas. In what way was Zimri insolent? It was, that when Kozbi came, he sought to take her. She said to him: ‘I will not submit to you, as my father commanded me that I should submit only to Moses.’ He said to her: ‘I am greater than Moses, as he is from the third tribe6Levi, Jacob’s third-born and I am from the second tribe.7Simeon, Jacob’s second-born Do you want to know that I am greater than Moses? I will take you in his presence,’ as it is stated: “And, behold, a man from the children of Israel came and brought the Midianite woman near to his brethren, before the eyes of Moses” (Numbers 25:6), as he was flinging words against [Moses]. He said to him: ‘Moses, is this one forbidden or permitted?’ He said to him: ‘She is forbidden to you.’ Zimri said to him: ‘Are you the one who is most faithful to the Torah, such that the Holy One blessed be He takes pride in you and says: “Not so My servant Moses; [in all My house he is faithful]” (Numbers 12:7)? If you say that this one is forbidden, then the wife that you took is forbidden to you. This one is Midianite and that one is Midianite. This one is the most prominent of her patrilineal family, and your wife is the daughter of a priest.’ That is, “before the eyes of Moses.” Solomon cries out: “A wicked man is insolent.” When they saw him8When the Israelite elders saw Zimri’s insolent attack on Moses. they were weeping, as it is stated: “And they were weeping” (Numbers 25:6). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, are you weeping? Where is your wisdom that you said something and you caused Koraḥ to be swallowed, and now you are weeping?’ The Divine Spirit calls out: “The stout-hearted ran rampant. They fell into a stupor” (Psalms 76:6). Moses said to Him: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).9Zimri’s attack is purely against the Lord. Therefore, human wisdom is irrelevant, and it is God who should punish Zimri (Yefe To’ar).
The Holy One blessed be He said: I know who is prepared for this matter. What is written thereafter? “A horse is ready for the day of battle, but salvation is for the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31). Rabbi Yosei said: Pinḥas himself expounded: If a horse that gives its life on a day of war, even if it dies, it gives its life for its owner, I, for the sanctity of the name of the Holy One blessed be He, all the more so. “Pinḥas son of Elazar saw” (Numbers 25:7) – he began saying to himself: What will I do? Two can prevail over one; can one, perhaps, prevail over two? While he was deliberating to himself, the plague was afflicting and the Holy One blessed be He was saying: “You faltered on a day of trouble” (Proverbs 24:10), “Deliver those taken to death” (Proverbs 24:11). “If you say: Behold, we did not know this” (Proverbs 24:12), I will attest in your regard, as it is stated: “Is He not the assessor of hearts, He understands” (Proverbs 24:12).10God said to Pinḥas: If you are concerned that people will suspect your motives, I will attest that your motives were pure (Rabbi David Luria).
Pinḥas entered, and he found that the Holy One blessed be He had secured them one to the other; they were intertwined one with the other, and they were unable to separate themselves. And he stabbed them in the place of their attachment, as it is stated: “He stabbed the two of them” (Numbers 25:8). When he exited, the tribe of Zimri entered. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He smote them all with the plague. When Pinḥas saw the plague, he was standing and praying, as it is stated: “Pinḥas stood and he prayed” (Psalms 106:30). Immediately the Holy One blessed be He summoned Moses and said to him: ‘Come and I will inform you who preserved the descendants of Abraham,’ as it is stated: “Pinḥas son of Elazar [the son of Aaron the priest has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel]” (Numbers 25:11). That is why it is stated: “A name is preferable to great wealth” (Proverbs 22:1).
Another matter: The name of Mordekhai is preferable to the wealth of Haman. Rabbi Yoshiya said: What did that wicked one do? He took out all the silver and gold that he had and he gave it to Aḥashverosh. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, “good grace [ḥen] is preferable to silver and gold”’ (Proverbs 22:1). The grace of Esther, as it is stated: “Esther found favor [ḥen]” (Esther 2:15), is preferable. When the wicked one came with the money, the king said to him: “The money is given to you” (Esther 3:11). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Is this how you are selling Mine for what is Mine?’ As it is stated: “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Leviticus 25:55), and it is written: “The silver and the gold are Mine” (Haggai 2:8). ‘As you live, what you said: “The money is given to you…,” so, “on that day, King Aḥashverosh gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther”’ (Esther 8:1).