Comentários de Citação sobre Provérbios 27:9

Bahya writes. King Solomon, of blessed memory, said: “Oil and incense gladden the heart, and the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel” [Proverbs, 27:9]. The verse teaches us that one should feed the stranger and the poor and one should speak positively with them. King Solomon compared the food to oil and incense that smells nice. This teaches us that one should honor the poor person with good food, well prepared and good tasting, to rejoice the heart of the poor person. He should speak nicely to the poor person. This is the meaning of “the sweetness of a friend.” That is to say, he should speak with him as if he was his good friend. Therefore, the verse also says, “than one’s own counsel.” That is to say, the good words to the poor person should be with his whole heart. There are many who speak with their mouth to the poor person, that he should eat, but his heart is not in it. The Midrash says about the verse, “Oil and incense gladden the heart.” The oil and the incense gladden the heart of the Holy One. So too, with the Holy One’s creatures it is written, “may the Lord rejoice in His works” [Psalms, 104:31]. The Holy One was also joyous. After the completion of the building of the Tabernacle the Lampstand was lit with oil and incense was brought. The Holy one was also happy, just like after the Holy One’s creation of humanity, which was the most important creation of all things. So too, after the completion of the Tabernacle, the Holy One commanded the high priest to light [the Lampstand] in the Tabernacle. Therefore, the portion says here.¹Bahya, Tezaveh, Introduction.

"and on acts of lovingkindness" As the matter that they said (Sukkah 49b), "Acts of lovingkindness are greater than charity (tsedekah); since lovingkindness is both with the poor and with the wealthy but charity is only with the poor. Great is lovingkindness since it is both with one's body and with one's money, but charity is only with one's money." And this is what they said, (Bava Batra 9a), "One who gives a small coin to a poor man is blessed in six ways and one who comforts him with words is blessed in eleven." And pertinent to acts of lovingkindness is to inspect the poor and to make a distinction between the good and the bad and to give preference to the modest and those that fear God over others who are not like them (even if we must give charity to all). And it is like Yirmiyahu, peace be upon him, stated (Jeremiah 18:23), "let them be made to stumble before You; act against them in Your hour of wrath!" - even in the time that they do charity, make them stumble that they should give it in the incorrect place. And acts of lovingkindness are even to the wealthy, to lend them money at a time when it is not found in their hand and to give them advice, as King Shlomo said, (Proverbs 27:9), "Oil and incense gladden the heart, but the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel." [This] is to say, just like oil and incense gladden the heart, so [too] does one 's friend become delighted by personal advice; and when he gives him good advice, he is gladdened by it. And this trait of kindness brings God's satisfaction in front of Him, and for it was the world created - in order to do it. And about it Shlomo said in his wisdom (Proverbs 14:34), "Righteousness exalts a nation; Sin is a reproach to any people" - and adjacent to it, "The king favors a capable servant" - the will of the Holy One, blessed be He is only for Israel, who investigate [how] to do the things that are desirable in front of Him.

And she hid them.⁸The word וַתִּצְפְנוֹ is singular but the verse is said regarding the two men and should be plural. There are scriptural verses that speak of the plural as if it were singular. Since she was in a hurry to hide them and she hid them in a narrow place⁹She hid them in a place that normally would have sufficed for one person. it was as though they were one person. The Midrash of Rabbi Tanchuma states ‘That these two men were Pinchos and Caleiv, and Pinchos stood before them¹⁰Before the pursuers. but they did not see him because he was [invisible] like an angel.’¹¹Therefore there was no need to hide him and thus she actually hid only one man. Another interpretation: She hid each of them separately.¹²Therefore it is correct to say: she hid him. We find a similar verse: ‘Oil and incense gladden the heart’¹³Mishlei, 27:9. and it does not say יְשַׂמְחוּ לֵב, in the plural.