Midrasz do Przysłów 29:11
כָּל־ר֭וּחוֹ יוֹצִ֣יא כְסִ֑יל וְ֝חָכָ֗ם בְּאָח֥וֹר יְשַׁבְּחֶֽנָּה׃
Cały gniew swój wyrzuca głupiec; ale mędrzec umie go powolnością uciszyć.
Esther Rabbah
The fool vents all his spirit, and the wise will soothe it, restraining it” (Proverbs 29:11). “The fool vents all his spirit” – this is Aḥashverosh; “and the wise will soothe it, keeping it back” – this is the Holy One, blessed be He, who soothes Aḥashverosh. That is what you said: “Who stills the raging seas, the raging waves, and the tumult of the peoples” (Psalms 65:8).
“With his display of the wealth of his glorious kingdom, and the honor of his splendid majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days” (Esther 1:4).
“Of the wealth of his glorious kingdom” – the school of Rabbi Yannai and Ḥizkiyya both said that he [Aḥashverosh] would open [his treasury] and display six treasures each day.1The verse lists six words that relate to Aḥashverosh’s wealth: Osher, kevod, malkhuto, yekar, tiferet, gedulato. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: He showed them various types of expenditures. Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon said: He showed them the feast of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Levi said: He showed them the vestments of the High Priest. Here it is stated: “His splendid [tiferet] majesty” and there it is stated: “You shall make holy vestments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for splendor [tiferet]” (Exodus 28:2). Just as tiferet stated there refers to the vestments of the High Priest, so does tiferet stated here refer to the vestments of the High Priest.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: The raven flaunts both what is its own and what is not its own. From where did that wicked one become wealthy? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Nebuchadnezzar, may he be crushed and obliterated, gathered all the riches of the world, and he was possessive of his riches. When he was dying, he said: Shall I leave all these riches to Evil [Merodakh, his son]? He immediately decreed that great bronze ships be built; he filled them with riches, dug and buried them adjacent to the Euphrates, and diverted the Euphrates over them. On the day that Cyrus arose and decreed that the Temple will be built, the Holy One blessed be He exposed them; that is what is written: “So said the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I held to subdue nations before him…and gates will not be shut” (Isaiah 45:1), and it is written thereafter: “I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…” (Isaiah 45:3).
“With his display of the wealth of his glorious kingdom, and the honor of his splendid majesty for many days, one hundred and eighty days” (Esther 1:4).
“Of the wealth of his glorious kingdom” – the school of Rabbi Yannai and Ḥizkiyya both said that he [Aḥashverosh] would open [his treasury] and display six treasures each day.1The verse lists six words that relate to Aḥashverosh’s wealth: Osher, kevod, malkhuto, yekar, tiferet, gedulato. Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: He showed them various types of expenditures. Rabbi Yuda son of Rabbi Simon said: He showed them the feast of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Levi said: He showed them the vestments of the High Priest. Here it is stated: “His splendid [tiferet] majesty” and there it is stated: “You shall make holy vestments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for splendor [tiferet]” (Exodus 28:2). Just as tiferet stated there refers to the vestments of the High Priest, so does tiferet stated here refer to the vestments of the High Priest.
Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Ḥelbo: The raven flaunts both what is its own and what is not its own. From where did that wicked one become wealthy? Rabbi Tanḥuma said: Nebuchadnezzar, may he be crushed and obliterated, gathered all the riches of the world, and he was possessive of his riches. When he was dying, he said: Shall I leave all these riches to Evil [Merodakh, his son]? He immediately decreed that great bronze ships be built; he filled them with riches, dug and buried them adjacent to the Euphrates, and diverted the Euphrates over them. On the day that Cyrus arose and decreed that the Temple will be built, the Holy One blessed be He exposed them; that is what is written: “So said the Lord to His anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I held to subdue nations before him…and gates will not be shut” (Isaiah 45:1), and it is written thereafter: “I will give you treasures of darkness and hidden riches of secret places…” (Isaiah 45:3).
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Shemot Rabbah
7. "And each man cast his staff." Yohani and Mamreh [two Egyptian sorcerers] said to Moses: 'You have brought grain to Aphri'im [A city will plenty of grain].' [Moses] responded to them: 'To a city of vegetables, take vegetables' [i.e. to impress people, bring what they appreciate]. "And the staff of Aaron of swallowed their [the sorcerers'] staffs." There it is written: "A fool vents, a wise man calms it down." (Proverbs 29:11). The fool releases all his words at once when he comes to quarrel with his friend, and the wise man, at the end, comes to remove it. Another interpretation: "A fool vents, a wise man calms it down." This is the case by Ahaseurus who stood up and negated the work of the Temple. Therefore his kingdom could only fill half the world. What is written about him? "When he showed off the great wealth of his kingdom etc." The Sages of Blessed Memory says that six treasures would [Ahaseurus] show [his party's guests] each day and none of them was like any of the others. And afterwards he would send [presents] to all the important people of the kingdom. And Rabbi Hiyya son of Abba says that he would show them types of...Another interpretation
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Midrash Tanchuma
When Pharaoh shall speak unto you (Exod. 7:9). Scripture says elsewhere: A fool spendeth all his spirit; but a wise man stilleth it within him (Prov. 29:11). That is, the fool says everything he has to say at one time, while quarreling with his neighbor, and the wise man eventually is able to refute him. A fool spendeth all his spirit refers to the wicked Pharaoh, while a wise man stilleth it within him alludes to Moses and Aaron, as it is written: But Aaron’s rod swallowed up their rods (Exod. 7:12). Show a wonder for you; then thou shalt say unto Aaron, etc. (Exod. 7:9). Aaron will perform all the miracles while you stand by like a prince who instructs the elders and they do it. Hence the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses at the bush: He shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him in God’s stead (ibid. 4:16).
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
Another interpretation (of Exod. 7:9): WHEN PHARAOH SPEAKS UNTO YOU, <SAYING PRODUCE YOUR MIRACLE, YOU SHALL SAY UNTO AARON: TAKE YOUR ROD AND CAST IT DOWN BEFORE PHARAOH. IT SHALL BECOME A SERPENT. > This text is related (to Prov. 29:11): A FOOL VENTS HIS WHOLE SPIRIT; BUT A WISE PERSON STILLS HIM IN THE END.73Such a translation is required by the midrashic interpretation. Cf. the new JPSA version: BUT A WISE MAN CALMS IT DOWN. Whenever someone who is a fool or stupid comes to quarrel with his companion, he vents everything he has; but when that one is wise, in the end he causes him to cease.74Tanh., Exod. 2:12; Exod. R. 9:7. Another interpretation (of Prov. 29:11): A FOOL VENTS HIS WHOLE SPIRIT. Who is this? This is Pharaoh. When Moses and Aaron went to him, the Holy One said to them: Before you go to him, I am telling you what he is going to do <to you> and ask you. (Exod. 7:9:) WHEN PHARAOH SPEAKS UNTO YOU, simply be careful. (Ibid., cont.:) YOU SHALL SAY UNTO AARON: TAKE YOUR ROD <AND CAST IT DOWN BEFORE PHARAOH>. When they went to Pharaoh, he said (ibid., cont): PRODUCE YOUR MIRACLE. Immediately (in vs. 10): AARON CAST DOWN HIS ROD. Then Pharaoh laughed at them. He said to them: Moses and Aaron, what are you thinking? That you have come to mock me? But I am not afraid of these things. All Egypt is full of magicians. There are people who carry straw to Afarayim, fine gold to Rekem (i.e., coals to Newcastle).75Exod. R. 9:6; cf. Men. 85a; Gen. R. 86:5.
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Midrash Tanchuma Buber
(Exod. 7:11, cont.:) AND THE EGYPTIAN MAGICIANS ALSO DID <SO WITH THEIR RODS>. The Egyptian magicians came AND (in vs. 12) EACH CAST DOWN HIS ROD, just as Aaron had done; (ibid., cont.) AND THEY BECAME SERPENTS. What is written (in vs. 12, cont.)? BUT AARON'S ROD SWALLOWED THEIR RODS. Ergo (in Prov. 29:11): A FOOL VENTS HIS WHOLE SPIRIT. This is Pharaoh. (Ibid., cont.:) BUT A WISE PERSON STILLS HIM IN THE END. This refers to Moses and Aaron of whom it is written (in Exod. 7:12): BUT AARON'S ROD SWALLOWED THEIR RODS.
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Bereishit Rabbah
R. Yehoshua of Sakhnin in the name of R. Levi, "They would interpret it, but their voices would not enter his ears. 'The seven good cows are seven daughters that you will beget, and the seven bad cows are seven daughters that you will bury.' Likewise they said, 'The seven good sheaves are seven kingdoms that you will conquer, and the seven bad sheaves are seven ministers that will rebel against you'"... Another interpretation: "And he sent and called" - to inform you that each and every nation that stands in the world is granted five wise men to serve it. Moreover, the Holy One, blessed be He, gives it three things: wisdom , understanding and strength. As so did the evil Sannacherib say (Isaiah 10:13), "By the might of my hand have I done this, etc." But when the Holy One, blessed be He, judges the world, He takes them away from it, as it is stated (Obadiah 1:8-9), "I will make the wise vanish from Edom, understanding from Esau’s mount.Your warriors shall lose heart, O Teman." And why so much? So that Joseph will come at the end and attain greatness. The Holy One, blessed be He, said, "If Joseph comes first and interprets the dream, this [will not earn] him praise. The magicians will be able to say to him, 'If you had asked us, we would have already interpreted it for you [the same way].'" Rather, [Joseph] waited for them until they tired him out and extracted his spirit. And afterwards Joseph came and brought it back [to him]. About this did Solomon say (Proverbs 29:11), "The fool extracts his entire spirit" - these are the wise men of Egypt; "but the wise man lowers it back" - this is Joseph, as it is stated (Genesis 41:39), "there is no one wise and understanding like you."
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