מַרְבַדִּ֥ים עָֽשְׂתָה־לָּ֑הּ שֵׁ֖שׁ וְאַרְגָּמָ֣ן לְבוּשָֽׁהּ׃
Kobierce sporządza sobie; bisiorem i purpurą jej szata,
Midrash Tanchuma Buber
[(Gen. 24:1:) NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD.] This text is related (to Prov. 31:10): WHO CAN FIND A GALLANT WIFE?11Cf. Tanh., Gen. 4:4. About whom were the words spoken? < They were spoken about Sarah > since it is written above (in Gen. 23:2): AND ABRAHAM PROCEEDED TO MOURN FOR SARAH AND WEEP FOR HER, < i.e., > he began to weep and eulogize. So he said: When shall I be able to get < another wife > like you?12The midrash is interpreting Prov. 32:10ff. as Abraham’s eulogy over Sarah. (Prov. 31:10:) A GALLANT WIFE. This was Sarah, as stated (in Gen. 12:11): SEE HERE NOW, I KNOW THAT YOU ARE A BEAUTIFUL-LOOKING WOMAN. (Prov. 31:10, cont.:) HER VALUE WAS FAR BEYOND THAT OF RUBIES, in that you came from afar. Thus it is stated (in Is. 46:11): SUMMONING A BIRD OF PREY FROM THE EAST, MY CONFIDANT FROM A FAR COUNTRY. (Prov. 31:11:) HER HUSBAND'S HEART HAD CONFIDENCE IN HER: This was Sarah, as stated (in Gen. 12:13): [PLEASE SAY YOU ARE MY SISTER] SO THAT IT MAY BE WELL WITH ME BECAUSE OF YOU. (Prov. 31:11, cont.:) AND HE HAS NO LACK OF PROFIT. This refers to our father Abraham, of whom it is stated (in Gen. 13:2): NOW ABRAHAM WAS VERY RICH. (Prov. 31:12:) SHE DID GOOD FOR HIM AND NOT EVIL. This refers to Sarah, since it is stated (in Gen. 12:16): AND BECAUSE OF HER, IT WENT WELL WITH ABRAHAM. (Prov. 31:13:) SHE LOOKS FOR WOOL AND FLAX, < in choosing > between < flaxen > Ishmael and < the pure wool of > Isaac. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 21:9f.): THEN SARAH SAW THE SON OF HAGAR THE EGYPTIAN … AND SAID TO ABRAHAM: CAST OUT THIS SLAVE WOMAN < AND HER SON >…. (Prov. 31:14:) SHE WAS LIKE THE MERCHANT SHIPS, in that she was moving from place to place and from country to country. Like such a vessel which goes from place to place on the sea (according to Prov. 31:14, cont.): SHE BRINGS HER FOOD FROM AFAR. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 20:16): THEN HE SAID UNTO SARAH: SEE, I HAVE GIVEN YOUR BROTHER A THOUSAND SILVER PIECES. (Prov. 31:15:) SHE ALSO AROSE WHILE IT WAS STILL NIGHT AND GAVE FOOD TO HER HOUSEHOLD. When? (In Gen. 22:3:) SO ABRAHAM AROSE EARLY IN THE MORNING…. (Prov. 31:15, cont.:) AND GAVE FOOD TO HER HOUSEHOLD, EVEN A STATUTE13The usual translation here is PORTION, but STATUTE better fits the Tanhuma context. FOR HER YOUNG WOMEN. (Gen. 17:26:) ON THAT VERY DAY ABRAHAM WAS CIRCUMCISED…. Now STATUTE can only mean circumcision, as shown (in Ps. 105:10): AND HE ESTABLISHED IT (i.e., Abraham's covenant) FOR JACOB AS A STATUTE, FOR ISRAEL AS AN EVERLASTING COVENANT.14Of course, Abraham’s EVERLASTING COVENANT meant circumcision. (Prov. 31:16:) SHE SET HER MIND ON A FIELD AND BOUGHT IT. Thus, while she was alive, she had her mind on obtaining the cave of Machpelah AND BOUGHT IT, for here she is buried in it (cf. Gen. 23). (Prov. 31:16, cont.:) FROM THE FRUIT OF HER HANDS SHE PLANTED A VINEYARD, as stated (in Gen. 21:33): AND HE PLANTED A TAMARISK TREE. What is the meaning of AND HE PLANTED? < It is > as you say (in Gen. 9:20): AND HE PLANTED A VINEYARD. (Prov. 31:17:) SHE GIRDED HER LOINS WITH VIGOR, when Abraham said to her (in Gen. 18:6): HURRY UP WITH THREE SEAHS OF FINE MEAL…. (Prov. 31:18:) SHE PERCEIVED THAT HER MERCHANDISE WAS GOOD; AND (in Gen. 21:7) SHE SAID: WHO WOULD HAVE SAID TO ABRAHAM THAT SARAH WOULD SUCKLE CHILDREN? (Prov. 31:18, cont.:) HER LAMP WOULD NOT GO OUT AT NIGHT. When? (In Gen. 14:15:) THEN HE DEPLOYED < HIS FORCES > AGAINST THEM BY NIGHT.15The verse assumes that Sarah was waiting up for Abraham to return from battle. (Prov. 31:21:) SHE WOULD NOT BE AFRAID FOR HER HOUSEHOLD BECAUSE OF SNOW. When? When the Holy One showed him Gehinnom (with its snow), she foretold that none of her children would go down into its midst. Thus it is stated (in Gen. 15:17): THERE APPEARED A SMOKING OVEN AND A FLAMING TORCH. Why? Because they fulfilled two commandments, (as shown in Prov. 31:21, cont.): BECAUSE ALL HER HOUSEHOLD ARE CLOTHED TWOFOLD,16The traditional text vocalizes TWOFOLD to mean CRIMSON. i.e., with the Sabbath and with circumcision. (Prov. 31:22:) SHE MADE COVERINGS FOR HERSELF. When? When they said to him (in Gen. 18:9): WHERE IS YOUR WIFE SARAH? He said to her: You have received good news that you are to bear < children >, and from them will go forth high priests who will serve in the Tent of Meeting. (Prov. 31:22, cont.:) HER CLOTHING IS LINEN AND PURPLE, as stated (in Exod. 26:31): < AND YOU SHALL MAKE A VEIL OF > {LINEN} [BLUE] AND PURPLE…. (Prov. 31:23:) HER HUSBAND WAS KNOWN IN THE GATES. When Sarah died, old age sprang upon Abraham and he was called elderly. Now it is stated (in Gen. 23:6, after the report of Sarah's death): HEAR US, MY LORD, YOU ARE A PRINCE OF GOD IN OUR MIDST. Ergo, HER HUSBAND WAS KNOWN IN THE GATES; < and the verse continues > immediately: AS HE SAT AMONG THE ELDERS OF THE LAND. He had become old; therefore, it is stated (in Gen. 24:1): NOW ABRAHAM WAS OLD.
Shemot Rabbah
“They brought the Tabernacle” – that is what is written: “Might and grandeur are her garment, and she laughs at the final day” (Proverbs 31:25). What is “at the final day”? It is that all the reward of the righteous is prepared for them in the World to Come. That is, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving Rabbi Abahu who was departing from the world and saw all the good that was prepared for him in the World to Come. He began rejoicing and said: ‘All this is for Abahu? “But I said: For nothing I labored, I expended my strength for emptiness and futility; indeed, my portion is from the Lord and my accomplishment is from my God”’ (Isaiah 49:4).6He had thought that he was undeserving. That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
Another matter, when is the Torah favorable [mesaḥeket] for one who toils in it? On the final day, as it is stated: “She laughs [vatisḥak] at the final day.” Zavdi ben Levi, Rabbi Yosei ben Patros, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, each and every one of them recited a verse at the moment of their departure from the world. One of them recited: “Therefore, everyone who is pious to You should pray at the time of searching, so the torrent of mighty waters does not reach him” (Psalms 32:6). One recited: “How great is Your goodness that You have in store for those who fear You, which You have created for those taking refuge in You, to be bestowed before the people” (Psalms 31:20). And one recited: “For our heart rejoices in Him” (Psalms 33:21). That is [proof] that at the time of departure of the righteous, the Holy One blessed be He shows them the reward that they are given and causes them to rejoice.
Ben Azai said: “Weighty [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). When does the Holy One blessed be He inform the righteous of the honor [yekar] that is prepared for them? It is adjacent to their death, as it is stated: “The death of His pious ones.” At that moment they see and laugh. That is why, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving a certain disciple of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai who went out of the Land of Israel and returned wealthy. The disciples would see him and envy him, and they, too, sought, to go out of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Shimon knew and he took them to a certain valley near Meron. He prayed, saying: ‘Valley, valley, fill with gold dinars!’ It began flowing with gold dinars before them. He said to them: ‘If it is gold you seek, here is gold, take it for yourselves; however, know that anyone who takes now, it is his portion of the World to Come that he is taking, as the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come.’ That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
There was an incident involving Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta who arrived [home] on the day before Shabbat and he did not have a source of sustenance.7He did not have enough money to buy food for Shabbat. He exited the city and prayed before God and he was given a gem from the heavens. He gave it to a money changer and bought provisions for that Shabbat. His wife said: ‘From where are these [provisions]?’ He said: ‘From the sustenance provided by the Holy One blessed be He.’ She said to him: ‘If you do not tell me where they are from, I will not taste anything.’ He began relating to her, he said to her: ‘This is how I prayed before God, and it was given me from the heavens.’ She said to him: ‘I will not taste anything until you say to me that you will return it at the conclusion of Shabbat.’ He said to her: ‘Why?’ She said to him: ‘Would you like your table to be lacking and the table of your colleagues intact?’8Do you want to be lacking in the World to Come? Rabbi Shimon went and informed Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] of the incident. He said to him: ‘Tell her that if your table is lacking, I will complete it from my portion.’ He went and told it to her. She said to him: ‘Go with me to the one who taught you Torah.’ She said to him: ‘Rabbi, does a person see his counterpart in the World to Come? Does each and every righteous one not have a world to himself, as it is stated: “For the man goes to his eternal [olamo] home, and the mourners will circle in the streets” (Ecclesiastes 12:5)? Olamim is not written, but rather, olamo.’9The singular term is used rather than the plural, indicating that each righteous individual sees only his own eternal home and not multiple eternal homes. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could not refute the argument of Rabbi Shimon’s wife. When [Rabbi Shimon] heard that, he went to return it. Our Rabbis say, the latter miracle was greater than the former. When he extended his hand to return it, immediately, an angel descended and took it from him. Why? Because the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come, for the final day. That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
Another matter, “might and grandeur are her garment” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). “She laughs at the final day,” these are the cynics of Israel, who mocked him and said to one another: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ He did not act,10Moses did not respond to their mocking (Etz Yosef). but when God said to him to erect the Tabernacle, he began laughing at them, as it is stated: “She laughs at the final day.” He said to them: ‘Come, let us erect the Tabernacle.’ They began to carry it and come to him, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle.”
Another matter, when is the Torah favorable [mesaḥeket] for one who toils in it? On the final day, as it is stated: “She laughs [vatisḥak] at the final day.” Zavdi ben Levi, Rabbi Yosei ben Patros, and Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi, each and every one of them recited a verse at the moment of their departure from the world. One of them recited: “Therefore, everyone who is pious to You should pray at the time of searching, so the torrent of mighty waters does not reach him” (Psalms 32:6). One recited: “How great is Your goodness that You have in store for those who fear You, which You have created for those taking refuge in You, to be bestowed before the people” (Psalms 31:20). And one recited: “For our heart rejoices in Him” (Psalms 33:21). That is [proof] that at the time of departure of the righteous, the Holy One blessed be He shows them the reward that they are given and causes them to rejoice.
Ben Azai said: “Weighty [yakar] in the eyes of the Lord is the death of His pious ones” (Psalms 116:15). When does the Holy One blessed be He inform the righteous of the honor [yekar] that is prepared for them? It is adjacent to their death, as it is stated: “The death of His pious ones.” At that moment they see and laugh. That is why, “she laughs at the final day.” There was an incident involving a certain disciple of Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai who went out of the Land of Israel and returned wealthy. The disciples would see him and envy him, and they, too, sought, to go out of the Land of Israel. Rabbi Shimon knew and he took them to a certain valley near Meron. He prayed, saying: ‘Valley, valley, fill with gold dinars!’ It began flowing with gold dinars before them. He said to them: ‘If it is gold you seek, here is gold, take it for yourselves; however, know that anyone who takes now, it is his portion of the World to Come that he is taking, as the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come.’ That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
There was an incident involving Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta who arrived [home] on the day before Shabbat and he did not have a source of sustenance.7He did not have enough money to buy food for Shabbat. He exited the city and prayed before God and he was given a gem from the heavens. He gave it to a money changer and bought provisions for that Shabbat. His wife said: ‘From where are these [provisions]?’ He said: ‘From the sustenance provided by the Holy One blessed be He.’ She said to him: ‘If you do not tell me where they are from, I will not taste anything.’ He began relating to her, he said to her: ‘This is how I prayed before God, and it was given me from the heavens.’ She said to him: ‘I will not taste anything until you say to me that you will return it at the conclusion of Shabbat.’ He said to her: ‘Why?’ She said to him: ‘Would you like your table to be lacking and the table of your colleagues intact?’8Do you want to be lacking in the World to Come? Rabbi Shimon went and informed Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] of the incident. He said to him: ‘Tell her that if your table is lacking, I will complete it from my portion.’ He went and told it to her. She said to him: ‘Go with me to the one who taught you Torah.’ She said to him: ‘Rabbi, does a person see his counterpart in the World to Come? Does each and every righteous one not have a world to himself, as it is stated: “For the man goes to his eternal [olamo] home, and the mourners will circle in the streets” (Ecclesiastes 12:5)? Olamim is not written, but rather, olamo.’9The singular term is used rather than the plural, indicating that each righteous individual sees only his own eternal home and not multiple eternal homes. Apparently, Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi could not refute the argument of Rabbi Shimon’s wife. When [Rabbi Shimon] heard that, he went to return it. Our Rabbis say, the latter miracle was greater than the former. When he extended his hand to return it, immediately, an angel descended and took it from him. Why? Because the reward for Torah is given only in the World to Come, for the final day. That is, “she laughs at the final day.”
Another matter, “might and grandeur are her garment” – this is Moses, as it is stated: “Moses did not know that the skin of his face was radiant” (Exodus 34:29). “She laughs at the final day,” these are the cynics of Israel, who mocked him and said to one another: ‘Is it possible that the Divine Presence will rest by means of the son of Amram?’ He did not act,10Moses did not respond to their mocking (Etz Yosef). but when God said to him to erect the Tabernacle, he began laughing at them, as it is stated: “She laughs at the final day.” He said to them: ‘Come, let us erect the Tabernacle.’ They began to carry it and come to him, as it is stated: “They brought the Tabernacle.”