וַיַּ֜עַל וַיִּשְׁכַּ֣ב עַל־הַיֶּ֗לֶד וַיָּשֶׂם֩ פִּ֨יו עַל־פִּ֜יו וְעֵינָ֤יו עַל־עֵינָיו֙ וְכַפָּ֣יו עַל־כפו [כַּפָּ֔יו] וַיִּגְהַ֖ר עָלָ֑יו וַיָּ֖חָם בְּשַׂ֥ר הַיָּֽלֶד׃
I wstąpił na łoże i położył się na dziecięciu i przyłożył usta swoje do ust jego, a oczy swoje do oczu jego, i pochylił się nad niem tak, że rozgrzało się ciało dziecięcia.
Midrash Tanchuma
Precious oil is possessed by men of wealth, but a good name may be attained by poor and rich alike. A good name adheres to the living and the dead, while precious oil exists for the living alone. The scent of precious oil may travel from the sleeping chamber to the anteroom, but a good name travels from one end of the earth to the other. When precious oil falls upon a corpse, it become putrid, as it is said: Dead flies make the oil of a perfumer fetid and putrid (Eccles. 10:1), but when a good name is possessed by a deceased person, it does not deteriorate, as is said: And he went up, and lay upon the child, and put his mouth upon his mouth, and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and he stretched himself out upon him; and the flesh of the child waxed warm (II Kings 4:34). Another explanation. When precious oil falls into water it floats away, but a good name does not float away, as is said: And the Lord spoke unto the fish, and it vomited out Jonah upon the dry land (Jonah 2:11). Another explanation. When precious oil falls into a fire, it is consumed, but when a good name falls into fire, it is not consumed, as is said: Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego came forth out of the midst of the fire (Dan. 3:26).
Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer
Now as for Gehazi, the matter was laughable in his eyes, and to every man whom he met || he said: Dost thou believe that this staff will bring the dead to life? Therefore he did not succeed until (Elisha) went on foot and put his face upon the face (of the child), and his eyes upon his eyes, and his hands upon his hands, and he began to pray before the Holy One, blessed be He: Sovereign of all the worlds ! Just as Thou didst perform miracles by the hand of Elijah, my master, and brought the dead to life, likewise let this child live; and He was entreated of him, as it is said, "Then he returned, and walked in the house once to and fro; and went up, and stretched himself upon him" (2 Kings 4:35); "and the child sneezed seven times" (ibid.).
Shemot Rabbah
“Moses said to the children of Israel: See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel, son of Uri, son of Ḥur, of the tribe of Judah. He filled him with the spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship” (Exodus 35:30–31).
“[Moses] assembled [the entire congregation of the children of Israel and said to them” (Exodus 35:1). “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel” – that is what is written: “A good name is better than fragrant oil, [and the day of death than the day of one’s birth]” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). How far does fragrant oil waft? It is from the inner chamber to the central hall. But a good name travels from one end of the world to the other, as it is stated: “David’s name spread to all the lands” (I Chronicles 14:17). Fragrant oil falls on a corpse and putrefies, as it is stated: “Flies of death putrefy and froth perfumed oil” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). A good name rests on a corpse, and does not putrefy, as it is stated: “He went up and lay on the child” (II Kings 4:34).1Elisha’s good name prevailed, and the dead boy was brought back to life. “And the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) – the day of a person’s death is greater than the day of his birth. Why? Because on the day he is born a person does not know his actions, but when he dies, he informs the people of his actions.2His good reputation informs all those who hear of him as to the nature of his actions. That is, “the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to two ships that set sail on the Great Sea, one departing from the port and one entering the port. Everyone was rejoicing over the one that was departing but not over the one that was entering. There was one clever person there. He said: ‘I see it just the opposite here. There is no reason for everyone to rejoice over the one that is departing from the port, as they do not know what conditions it will have to withstand, what seas it will encounter, what winds it will encounter. But everyone should rejoice over the one that is entering the port, because they know that it returned safely and emerged safely from the sea. So too, when a person is born, one reckons for him the time to death;3People keep track of how old they are, which is merely an indication of how much of their life has already gone by. when he dies, one reckons for him the time that he lived.4His life and achievements are celebrated (Rabbi David Luria). Alternatively, time that goes by brings him closer to resurrection (Matnot Kehuna). In his regard Solomon said: “And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
“A good name is better than fragrant oil” – the names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were better than the anointing oil with which Nadav and Avihu were anointed. Why? These entered to sacrifice, and they emerged burnt; and those entered a fiery furnace and emerged safely. That is, “a good name is better than fragrant oil.”
“[Moses] assembled [the entire congregation of the children of Israel and said to them” (Exodus 35:1). “See, the Lord has called by name Betzalel” – that is what is written: “A good name is better than fragrant oil, [and the day of death than the day of one’s birth]” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). How far does fragrant oil waft? It is from the inner chamber to the central hall. But a good name travels from one end of the world to the other, as it is stated: “David’s name spread to all the lands” (I Chronicles 14:17). Fragrant oil falls on a corpse and putrefies, as it is stated: “Flies of death putrefy and froth perfumed oil” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). A good name rests on a corpse, and does not putrefy, as it is stated: “He went up and lay on the child” (II Kings 4:34).1Elisha’s good name prevailed, and the dead boy was brought back to life. “And the day of death than the day of one’s birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1) – the day of a person’s death is greater than the day of his birth. Why? Because on the day he is born a person does not know his actions, but when he dies, he informs the people of his actions.2His good reputation informs all those who hear of him as to the nature of his actions. That is, “the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
Rabbi Levi said: This is analogous to two ships that set sail on the Great Sea, one departing from the port and one entering the port. Everyone was rejoicing over the one that was departing but not over the one that was entering. There was one clever person there. He said: ‘I see it just the opposite here. There is no reason for everyone to rejoice over the one that is departing from the port, as they do not know what conditions it will have to withstand, what seas it will encounter, what winds it will encounter. But everyone should rejoice over the one that is entering the port, because they know that it returned safely and emerged safely from the sea. So too, when a person is born, one reckons for him the time to death;3People keep track of how old they are, which is merely an indication of how much of their life has already gone by. when he dies, one reckons for him the time that he lived.4His life and achievements are celebrated (Rabbi David Luria). Alternatively, time that goes by brings him closer to resurrection (Matnot Kehuna). In his regard Solomon said: “And the day of death than the day of one’s birth.”
“A good name is better than fragrant oil” – the names of Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya were better than the anointing oil with which Nadav and Avihu were anointed. Why? These entered to sacrifice, and they emerged burnt; and those entered a fiery furnace and emerged safely. That is, “a good name is better than fragrant oil.”