Midrash sobre Provérbios 11:4

(Fol. 156a) It was written in the memorandum of R. Joshua b. Levi: "He who was born on the first day of the week, will be a man in whom not one thing will be found." What does "not one thing will be found"' mean? Shall I say [that it means] he will not possess one good thing? Has not R. Ashi said: "I was born on the first day of the week," [and he surely possessed many good things] . Shall I say, on the other hand that there will not be found one bad thing in him? Behold, R. Ashi said: "I and Dimi b. Kakuzita were both born on the first day of the week, yet I am a chief [of an Academy] while he is a chief of thieves!" We must therefore, say [that he means this]: He will be either entirely good or grossly bad, because light and darkness were created [on the first day of creation]. He who was born on the second day of the week, will be a quarrelsome man, for on the second day of the week, the division of water took place [which shows disagreement]. He who was born on the third day of the week will be rich and of a voluptuous disposition, because all grass came forth on the third day of creation [which are abundant in number but without distinction]. He who was born on the fourth day of the week, will be a scholar and a bright man, because on this day the luminaries were hung up in heaven. He who was born on the fifth day of the week, will be a charitable man, because on this day the fishes and the fowls were created [which do not work for their maintenance, but are supplied by God]. He who was born on the Sabbath eve will he a zealous man and R. Nachman b. Isaac said: "He will be zealous in the execution of religious duties" [because on the Sabbath eve everybody works in honor of the Sabbath]. He who was born on the Sabbath will die on the Sabbath, because the Sabbath was violated on his account when he was born. Raba b. Shila said: "He will be called the great and pious man." R. Chanina said [to his disciples who recited this before him]: "Go and tell the son of Levi that not the day's planet [has influence] but the constellation of the hour [of birth]. He who was born during the hour in which the Sun serves, will be a bright man; he will eat and drink of his own [like the sun which encroaches upon none]; he will not be able to conceal his secrets, neither will he be successful in stealing. He who was born during the hour in which the planet Venus serves, will be rich and of a voluptuous disposition, because to that planet the fire was attached [and this man wUl also be of hot temper]. He who was born during the hour in which the planet Mercury serves, will be an intelligent and wise man, because that planet is the secretary of the Sun. He who was born during the hour in which the Moon serves, will be burdened with sickness; he will build and destroy, destroy and rebuild; he will eat not of his own and drink not his own [like the Moon which has no light of her own] and he will be able to conceal his secrets. He will be successful also in stealing. He who was born during the hour in which the planet Saturn serves, will meet disappointment in all of his expectations, and according to some, whatever others will plan against him, will turn to naught. He who was born during the hour in which the planet Jupiter serves, will be a righteous person. And R. Nachman adds: 'He will be righteous in religious duties.' He who was born during the hour in which the planet Mars serves, will be a man whose occupation is to shed blood." R. Ashi said: [He will be] "Either a sergeant or a thief, or a butcher or a Mohel." Rabba said: "I was born during the hour in which the planet Mars serves." Abaye said to him: "The master indeed is like one of them, for thou punisheth those who violate thy orders." R. Chanina said: "According to the destinies is a man's wisdom and according to the destinies are his riches and Israel is not dependent on nativity."R. Jochanan said that Israel does not come under the fate or influence of stars, and R. Jochanan said: "Whence do we infer that Israel is not dependent on planetary influence? It is said (Jer. 10, 2.) Thus hath the Lord said, 'Do not habituate yourself to the way of the nations, and at the signs of the heavens be ye not dismayed'; although the nations should be dismayed at them. i.e., other nations should be dismayed by them but not Israel." Rab also contends that Israel does not come under the control of stars for R. Juda said in the name of Rab: "Whence do we learn that Israel is not dependent on planetary influence? It is said (Gen. 15, 5.) And he brought him forth abroad, i.e. Abraham said before the Holy One, praised be He! 'Sovereign of the universe. One born in my house will be my heir!' (Ib. ib. 3.) To which the Lord answered, 'This one shall not be thy heir but he that shall come forth from thy bowels.' (Ib.) He again pleaded: 'Sovereign of the universe, I have searched my constellation and have found that I am incapable of having a son.' 'Cease thy astrological speculations,' said the Lord to him, 'for Israel stands not under planetary influence. Why do you think so? Is it not because the planet Jupiter stands in the West (i.e., thy planet is on the point of declining)? I shall cause it to return to the East.' And thus is meant by the passage (Is. 41, 2.) Who woke up from the East the man whom righteousness met on his steps." (Ib. b) And from Samuel it is also understood that Israel is not subject to nativity; for Samuel was once sitting with Abalat (the astrologer) while some persons passed by on their way to the field. "This man," said Abalat to Samuel, "is going away but will not return, for a serpent will bite him and he will die." "If he is an Israelite," remarked Samuel, "he will return." While they were sitting, that man returned. Abalat rose immediately and examined the man and found in his pack a serpent cut in two. "What [meritorious] deed has thou performed to-day?" inquired Samuel of that man. The man answered: "We are accustomed to make every day a collection of everyone's bread, and eat that in company. To-day we had a man among us, who, [I knew] had no bread, and seeing that he would be put in an embarrassing position, I said to the company, 'I will make the collection to-day.' When I reached that [poor] man I made it appear as if I took a portion from him [but in reality I gave away my own share] and thus prevented the poor man from becoming embarrassed." "Thou hast fulfilled a meritorious deed of charity," was Samuel's remark. Thereupon Samuel went out and expounded, "But righteousness will deliver from death (Pr. 11, 4). Not only will it deliver from an unnatural death, but also from a natural one." And from Akiba, we also learn that Israelites are not subject to destiny, for R. Akiba had a daughter of whom the Chaldeans predicted that on the day on which she would enter the garden, a snake would bite her, and she would die of the effect. This prediction caused R. Akiba much worry. One day his daughter took off her head-dress in the garden and as she stuck the sharp side into the fence, she happened to pierce the eyes of a snake who was then at the fence, and it was killed. The next morning when she took her head-dress, the dead snake was dragging after her, so her father asked her: "What meritorious deed hast thou performed to-day that thou wast saved from the snake?" She told him: "One day late in the afternoon, a poor man appeared at the door. The whole family were busy at their meal and none heard him but I; upon hearing him, I took the portion which was given to me and gave it to the poor man." "Thou hast performed a meritorious act of charity," remarked R. Akiba. Thereupon R. Akiba went out and expounded: "Charity delivered from death (Pr. 11, 4), and not only does it deliver from an unnatural death but also from a natural one." And from R. Nachman we learn also that Israelites are not subject to destiny, for R. Nachman's mother had a prediction from the Chaldeans that her son (R. Nachman) would be a thief. So she always watched him that he should not be left bare-headed, saying to him: "Always keep thy head covered that thou mayest have the fear of the Lord, and pray to Him for mercy." He never understood what she referred to. One day he was sitting and studying underneath a date-tree, when it happened that his hat fell off his head. He lifted up his eyes and saw the fruit on the tree. His inclination overwhelmed him and he climbed up the tree and cut off a branch of fruit with his teeth. [Hence it shows that while craving God's mercy, a man can escape all destinies].

Rabbi Simeon said: Owing to the power of || charity the dead will be quickened in the future. Whence do we learn this? From Elijah the Tishbite. For he betook himself to Zarephath, and a woman (who was) a widow received him with great honour. She was the mother of Jonah, and they were eating and drinking his bread and oil; he, she, and her son, as it is said, "And she did eat, and he also" (1 Kings 17:15).

A man has three friends || in his lifetime, and they are: his sons and his household, his money, and his good deeds. At the hour of a man's departure from the world he gathers his sons and his household, and he says to them: I beg of you to come and save me from the judgment of this evil death. They answer him, saying to him: Hast thou not heard that there is no one who can prevail over the day of death? and is it not written thus, "None of them can by any means redeem his brother" (Ps. 49:7)? "For the redemption of their soul is costly" (Ps. 49:8). And he has his money fetched, and says to it: I beseech thee, save me from the judgment of this evil death. It answers him, saying: Hast thou not heard, "Riches profit not in the day of wrath" (Prov. 11:4)? He (then) has his good deeds fetched, and he says to them: I beseech you, come and deliver me from the judgment of this evil death. And they answer him and say to him: Before thou goest, verily, we will go in advance of thee, as it is said, "And charity delivereth from death" (ibid.). Does then charity deliver from death? (This refers) to an evil death only. Another Scripture says, "And thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the Lord shall be thy rearward" (Isa. 58:8).