Midrash sobre Jó 28:1

When Rabbi Simon bar Zavdi died, Rabbi Ila entered and eulogized him. “But wisdom, where will it be found, and where is the place of understanding?” (Job 28:12). “The deep says: It is not in me; and the sea says: It is not with me” (Job 28:14). “It is vanished from the eyes of all living and hidden from the birds of the heavens” (Job 28:21). There are four elements that are crucial for the function of the world, but if they are lost they have replacements. These are: “For there is a source of silver and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the dust, and copper is smelted from rock” (Job 28:1–2). A Torah scholar, if he dies, who will bring us his replacement? We, who lost Rabbi Simon, where will we find someone like him? Rabbi Levi said: The tribes found a lost item, and it is written: “Their hearts sank and they trembled” (Genesis 42:28).⁴The sons of Jacob were fearful when they found that the money of one of them had been returned to his sack, despite the fact that, generally speaking, finding money is cause for celebration. We, who lost Rabbi Simon bar Zavdi, from where will we find his replacement? That is, “but wisdom, where will it be found?”

When Rabbi Simon bar Zevid died, Rabbi Eila got up and eulogized him with these verses: “But wisdom, where shall it be found.… Man does not know its value” (Job 28:12–13). “It is hidden from the eyes of all living” (Job 28:21). “The depths say: It is not in me” (Job 28:14). If so, a Torah scholar who died, how can we find his replacement? There are four items that are commonly used in the world, and all of them, if they are eliminated, they have replacements. They are: “For there is a source for silver, and a place for gold that they refine; iron is taken from the dust, and bronze is molten from stone” (Job 28:1–2). But, a Torah scholar who died, who will bring us his replacement? We lost Rabbi Simon; who will bring us his replacement? Rabbi Levi said: The tribes found a lost item⁷¹The sons of Jacob found that the money they had paid to purchase produce in Egypt had been returned to their sacks. and wondered, and their hearts sank, as it is stated: “Their hearts sank and they trembled” (Genesis 42:28). We, who lost Rabbi Simon bar Zevid, all the more so.

Rabbi Ẓe'era said: The men of Sodom were the wealthy men of prosperity, on account of the good and fruitful land whereon they dwelt. For every need which the world requires, they obtained therefrom. They procured gold therefrom, as it is said, "And it had dust of gold" (Job 28:6). What is the meaning (of the text), "And it had dust of gold"? At the hour when one of them wished to buy a vegetable, he would say to his servant, Go and purchase for me (for the value of) an assar. He went and bought (it), and found beneath it heaps of gold; thus it is written, "And it had dust of gold" (ibid.). They obtained silver therefrom, as it is said, "Surely there is a mine for silver" (Job 28:1). They procured precious stones and pearls thence, as it is said, || "The stones thereof are the place of sapphires" (Job 28:6). They obtained bread therefrom, as it is said, "As for the earth, out of it cometh bread" (Job 28:5). But they did not trust in the shadow of their Creator, but (they trusted) in the multitude of their wealth, for wealth thrusts aside its owners from the fear of Heaven, as it is said, "They that trust in their wealth" (Ps. 49:6).