קהלת רבה ז׳Kohelet Rabbah 7

Verse 1 · 1א׳

סדרא תנינא טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב, שֶׁמֶן טוֹב יוֹרֵד, וְשֵׁם טוֹב עוֹלֶה. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב לִשְׁעָתוֹ, וְשֵׁם טוֹב לְעוֹלָם. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב כָּלֶה, וְשֵׁם טוֹב אֵינוֹ כָּלֶה. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב בְּדָמִים, וְשֵׁם טוֹב בְּחִנָם. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב נוֹהֵג בַּחַיִּים, וְשֵׁם טוֹב נוֹהֵג בַּחַיִּים וּבַמֵּתִים. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב בָּעֲשִׁירִים, וְשֵׁם טוֹב בָּעֲנִיִּים וּבָעֲשִׁירִים. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב מְהַלֵּךְ מִקִּיטוֹן לַטְרַקְלִין, וְשֵׁם טוֹב הוֹלֵךְ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הַמֵּת וּמַבְאִישׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (קהלת י, א): זְבוּבֵי מָוֶת יַבְאִישׁ יַבִּיעַ שֶׁמֶן רוֹקֵחַ. שֵׁם טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הַמֵּתִים וְאֵינוֹ מַבְאִישׁ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלכים ב ד, לה): וַיַּעַל וַיִּגְהַר עַל הַיֶּלֶד וגו'. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הַמַּיִם וְנִדּוֹחַ, וְשֵׁם טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הַמַּיִם וְאֵינוֹ נִדּוֹחַ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (יונה ב, יא): וַיֹּאמֶר ה' לַדָּג וַיָּקֵא אֶת יוֹנָה. שֶׁמֶן טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הָאוּר וְנִשְׂרַף, וְשֵׁם טוֹב נוֹפֵל עַל הָאוּר וְאֵינוֹ נִשְׂרָף, דִּכְתִיב (דניאל ג, כו): בֵּאדַיִן נָפְקִין וגו'. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן מָצִינוּ בַּעֲלֵי שֶׁמֶן טוֹב נִכְנְסוּ לִמְקוֹם חַיִּים וְיָצְאוּ הֵם שְׂרוּפִין, וּבַעֲלֵי שֵׁם טוֹב נִכְנְסוּ לִמְקוֹם מֵתִים וְיָצְאוּ חַיִּים, נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא, נִכְנְסוּ לִמְקוֹם חַיִּים וּמֵתוּ, חֲנַנְיָה מִישָׁאֵל וַעֲזַרְיָה, נִכְנְסוּ לְאַתּוּן נוּרָא וְיָצְאוּ חַיִּים. לְכָךְ נֶאֱמַר: טוֹב שֵׁם מִשֶּׁמֶן טוֹב וגו'.

“A good name is better than fine oil, and the day of death than the day of one's birth” (Ecclesiastes 7:1). “A good name is better than fine oil.” Fine oil descends, a good name ascends. Fine oil is temporary, a good name is eternal. Fine oil is finite, a good name is infinite. Fine oil costs money, a good name is free. Fine oil is for the living, a good name is for the living and for the dead. Fine oil is for the wealthy, a good name is for the poor and the wealthy. Fine oil wafts from the inner chamber to the banquet hall, a good name carries from one end of the world to the other end. Fine oil falls on a corpse and putrefies, as it is stated: “Flies of death putrefy and ferment blended oil” (Ecclesiastes 10:1). A good name falls on the dead and does not putrefy, as it is stated: “He went up and stretched himself upon the boy […and the lad opened his eyes]” (II Kings 4:35). Fine oil falls on water and disperses, a good name falls on water and does not disperse, as it is stated: “The Lord said to Jonah and it spewed Jonah out” (Jonah 2:11). Fine oil falls onto fire and burns, a good name falls on fire and does not burn, as it is written: “Then…they emerged [from within the fire]” (Daniel 3:26). Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: We have found those with fine oil who entered a place of life and emerged burned, and those with a good name who entered a place of death and emerged alive. Nadav and Avihu entered a place of life and died. Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya entered a fiery furnace and emerged alive. Therefore, it is stated: “A good name is better than fine oil…”

Verse 1 · 2ב׳

רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה לֵךְ וּמַנֵּה לִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם מֵאֵיזֶה שֵׁבֶט, אָמַר לוֹ מִשֵּׁבֶט לֵוִי. וּבַמֶּה אֲנִי מוֹשְׁחוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שָׂמַח משֶׁה, אָמַר כָּךְ שִׁבְטִי חָבִיב לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁבְטְךָ הוּא אֶלָּא אָחִיךָ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות כח, א): וְאַתָּה הַקְרֵב אֵלֶיךָ. וּמְשִׁיחָתוֹ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות כט, ז): וְלָקַחְתָּ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, אֲבָל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ אֵינָהּ עֲבוֹדָה וְנִתְחַיֵּב, אִלּוּלֵי שֶׁשְּׁמוֹתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים חֲקוּקִים עַל לִבּוֹ, דִּכְתִיב (שמות כח, כט): וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת שְׁמוֹת וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חֲבִיבִין עָלַי שְׁמוֹתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה שֶׁנִּמְשְׁחוּ כֹּהֲנִים וּמְלָכִים. אָמַר רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְמשֶׁה לֵךְ וּמַנֵּה לִי כֹּהֵן גָּדוֹל, אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם מֵאֵיזֶה שֵׁבֶט, אָמַר לוֹ מִשֵּׁבֶט לֵוִי. וּבַמֶּה אֲנִי מוֹשְׁחוֹ, אָמַר לוֹ בְּשֶׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה. בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה שָׂמַח משֶׁה אָמַר כָּךְ שִׁבְטִי חָבִיב לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, אָמַר לֵיהּ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא חַיֶּיךָ לֹא שִׁבְטְךָ הוּא אֶלָּא אָחִיךָ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (שמות כח, א): וְאַתָּה הַקְרֵב אֵלֶיךָ. וּמְשִׁיחָתוֹ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: וְלָקַחְתָּ מִשֶּׁמֶן הַמִּשְׁחָה, אֲבָל עֲבוֹדָתוֹ אֵינָהּ עֲבוֹדָה וְנִתְחַיֵּב אִלּוּלֵי שְׁמוֹתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים חֲקוּקִים עַל שְׁתֵּי כְתֵפָיו, דִּכְתִיב (שמות כח, יב): וְנָשָׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת שְׁמוֹתָם לִפְנֵי ה' עַל שְׁתֵּי כְתֵפָיו לְזִכָּרוֹן, שִׁשָּׁה מִשְּׁמוֹתָם, אָמָר רַב בֵּיבַי אִלּוּ הָיוּ חֲסֵרִים אוֹת אַחַת לֹא הָיוּ מְשַׁמְּשִׁין. תָּנֵי רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא אֲפִלּוּ נְקֻדָּה אַחַת. תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי, שְׁלשָׁה כְּתָרִים הֵם, כֶּתֶר תּוֹרָה, וְכֶתֶר כְּהֻנָּה, וְכֶתֶר מַלְכוּת. כֶּתֶר כְּהֻנָּה זָכָה בּוֹ אַהֲרֹן וּנְטָלוֹ, כֶּתֶר מַלְכוּת זָכָה בּוֹ דָּוִד וּנְטָלוֹ, כֶּתֶר תּוֹרָה הֲרֵי מֻנָּח לְדוֹרוֹת, כָּל מִי שֶׁזּוֹכֶה לְתוֹרָה כְּאִלּוּ זָכָה לִשְׁלָשְׁתָּן, וְכָל שֶׁלֹא זָכָה לְתוֹרָה כְּאִלּוּ לֹא זָכָה לְאַחַת מֵהֶן. רַבִּי בּוֹן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָנִי אָמַר, מָצִינוּ שֶׁהָלַךְ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַהֲלַךְ חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת שָׁנָה לִקְנוֹת לוֹ שֵׁם, דִּכְתִיב (שמואל ב ז, כג): אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ אֱלֹהִים לִפְדוֹת לוֹ לְעָם וְלָשׂוּם לוֹ שֵׁם, אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אֻמָּה וֵאלֹהֶיהָ. אָמַר לוֹ רַבִּי עֲקִיבָא עָשִׂיתָ קֹדֶשׁ חֹל, אָמְרוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל לִפְנֵי הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כִּבְיָכוֹל עַצְמְךָ פָּדִיתָ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל ב ז, כג): אֲשֶׁר פָּדִיתָ לְךָ מִמִּצְרַיִם גּוֹיִם וֵאלֹהָיו. כְּתִיב (דברי הימים א יז, כא): אֲשֶׁר הָלַךְ לוֹ אֱלֹהִים, וּלְהַלָּן הוּא אוֹמֵר: אֲשֶׁר הָלְכוּ אֱלֹהִים, הָלַךְ זֶה הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הָלְכוּ זֶה משֶׁה וְאַהֲרֹן.

The Rabbis say: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Go and appoint a High Priest for Me.’ [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, from which tribe?’ He said to him: ‘From the tribe of Levi.’ [Moses asked:] ‘With what will I anoint him?’ He said to him: ‘With the anointing oil.’ At that moment, Moses was joyful; he said: ‘My tribe is so beloved before the Holy One blessed be He.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, it is not your tribe, but it is your brother’ – that is what is written: “And you, bring [Aaron your brother] near to you” (Exodus 28:1). His anointing with the anointing oil, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “You shall take the anointing oil […and anoint him]” (Exodus 29:7). However, his service is not service and he has liability unless the names of the tribes are engraved on his heart, as it is written: “Aaron will bear the names…[of the children of Israel…upon his heart]” (Exodus 28:29). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘The names of the tribes are dearer to me than the anointing oil with which priests and kings are anointed.’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Go and appoint a High Priest for Me.’ [Moses] said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, from which tribe?’ He said to him: ‘From the tribe of Levi.’ [Moses asked:] ‘With what will I anoint him?’ He said to him: ‘With the anointing oil.’ At that moment, Moses was joyful; he said: ‘My tribe is so beloved before the Holy One blessed be He.’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, it is not your tribe, but it is your brother; that is what is written: “And you, bring [Aaron your brother] near to you” (Exodus 28:1). His anointing with the anointing oil, from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “You shall take the anointing oil […and anoint him]” (Exodus 29:7). However, his service is not service and he has liability unless the names of the tribes are engraved on his two shoulders, as it is written: “Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders as a remembrance” (Exodus 28:12). “Six of their names [on one stone and the names of the six that remain on the other stone]” (Exodus 28:10). Rav Beivai said: Had they been missing one letter they would not have served their purpose. Rabbi Oshaya taught: Even one dot. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: There are three crowns; the crown of Torah, the crown of priesthood, and the crown of kingship. The crown of priesthood, Aaron merited it and took it. The crown of kingship, David merited it and took it. The crown of Torah is available for [all] generations. Anyone who acquires Torah it is as though he acquired [all] three of them. Anyone who did not acquire Torah, it is as though he did not acquire any of them. Rabbi Bon said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥmani: We found that the Holy One blessed be He went a distance that takes five hundred years to traverse to make a name for Himself, as it is written: “[Who is like Your people, like Israel…] whom God went to redeem to Himself for a people and to make a name for Himself […nations and their gods]” (II Samuel 7:23). Rabbi Yosei HaGelili said: A nation and its gods. Rabbi Akiva said to him: You have rendered the sacred profane. The Israelites said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘You redeemed Yourself, as it were, as it is stated: “Whom You redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, nations and their God”’ (II Samuel 7:23). It is written: “Whom God went [halakh] [to redeem] for Himself [a people]” (I Chronicles 17:21), and later it says: “Whom God went [halekhu] [to redeem for Himself for a people]” (II Samuel 7:23). Halakh, this is the Holy One blessed be He; halekhu, this is Moses and Aaron.

Verse 1 · 3ג׳

אָמַר רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי, חָבִיב שֵׁם טוֹב מֵאֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית, שֶׁאֲרוֹן הַבְּרִית לֹא הָלַךְ אֶלָּא שְׁלשָׁה יָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (במדבר י, לג): וַאֲרוֹן בְּרִית ה' נֹסֵעַ לִפְנֵיהֶם. וְשֵׁם טוֹב הוֹלֵךְ מִסּוֹף הָעוֹלָם וְעַד סוֹפוֹ, מְנָא לָן, מִדָּוִד, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים א יד, יז): וַיֵּצֵא שֵׁם דָּוִיד בְּכָל הָאֲרָצוֹת וַה' נָתַן אֶת פַּחְדּוֹ עַל כָּל הַגּוֹיִם, חָבִיב שֵׁם טוֹב מִכְּהֻנָּה וּמַלְכוּת, שֶׁכְּהֻנָּה וּמַלְכוּת בָּטְלוּ, וְשֵׁם טוֹב לֹא בָּטֵל. תַּלְמִידָיו דְּרַבִּי אַבָּא, וְאַבָּא צִידוֹנִי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר חֲבִיבָה מִיתָתָן שֶׁל שְׁבָטִים יוֹתֵר מִבְּחַיֵּיהֶם, שֶׁבְּחַיֵּיהֶם לֹא נֶאֱמַר שִׁשָּׁה מִשְּׁמוֹתָם, וּבְמִיתָתָן נֶאֱמַר שִׁשָּׁה מִשְּׁמוֹתָם. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה מִרְיָם וְיוֹכֶבֶד הֵן הֵן הָיוּ חַיּוֹתֵיהֶם שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל, דִּכְתִיב (שמות א, טו): שֵׁם הָאַחַת שִׁפְרָה וְשֵׁם הַשֵּׁנִית פּוּעָה, שִׁפְרָה זוֹ יוֹכֶבֶד שֶׁהָיְתָה מְשַׁפֶּרֶת אֶת הַיְלָדִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁפָּרָה וְרָבָה. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁפָּרוּ וְרָבוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל יָדֶיהָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁשִּׁפְּרוּ אוֹתָן בְּמִצְווֹת וּבְמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שִׁפְרָה לְשֵׁם שֶׁבַח, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (איוב כו, יג): בְּרוּחוֹ שָׁמַיִם שִׁפְרָה. פּוּעָה זוֹ מִרְיָם, שֶׁהָיְתָה פּוֹעָה בָּאִשָּׁה וְהַוְלַד יוֹצֵא. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פּוּעָה שֶׁהָיְתָה פּוֹעָה וּבוֹכָה עַל אָחִיהָ משֶׁה שֶׁהֻשְׁלַךְ לַיְאוֹר, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות ב, ד): וַתֵּתַצַּב אֲחֹתוֹ מֵרָחֹק. דָּבָר אַחֵר, פּוּעָה שֶׁהוֹפִיעָה אֶת מַעֲשֵֵֹה אָחִיהָ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, שֶׁפָּעַת בִּפְנֵי פַּרְעֹה וְאָמְרָה לוֹ אוֹי לְךָ מִיּוֹם הַדִּין. תָּנֵי שְׁלשָׁה שֵׁמוֹת נִקְרָא לָאָדָם הַזֶּה, אֶחָד שֶׁקָּרְאוּ לוֹ אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ, וְאֶחָד שֶׁקָּרְאוּ לוֹ אֲחֵרִים, וְאֶחָד שֶׁקָּרוּי לוֹ בְּסֵפֶר תּוֹלְדוֹת בְּרִיָּתוֹ.

Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai said: A good name is more beloved than the Ark of the Covenant, as the Ark of the Covenant went only three days, as it is stated: “And the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord traveled before them [three days’ journey to seek out a resting place for them]” (Numbers 10:33), and a good name goes from one end of the world to the other end. From where do we derive it? It is from David, as it is stated: “The name of David went out to all the lands; and the Lord imposed fear of him upon all the nations” (I Chronicles 14:17). A good name is more beloved than priesthood and kingdom, as priesthood and kingdom lapsed, and a good name does not lapse. The disciples of Rabbi Abba and Abba Tzidoni said in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman: The tribes are more beloved in their death than in their lifetimes, as during their lives, it was not stated: “Six of their names,” while after their deaths, it is stated: “Six of their names” (Exodus 28:10). Rabbi Yehuda said: Miriam and Yokheved were the midwives of the Israelites. As it is written: “The name of one was Shifra and the name of the second was Pu’a” (Exodus 1:15). Shifra, this is Yokheved, who would tend to [mishaperet] the children. Alternatively, it is because she procreated [shepara verava]. Alternatively, it is because the Israelites procreated due to her. Alternatively, it is because they bettered [shiperu] [the Israelite women] with mitzvot and good deeds. Alternatively, Shifra [is the name given her] as praise [of her character], as it is stated: “With His breath the heavens were calmed [shifra]” (Job 26:13). Pu’a, this is Miriam, as she would make a comforting sound [po’a] to the woman, and the child would emerge. Alternatively, Pu’a, as she would cry [po’a] and weep over her brother Moses who was cast into the Nile, as it is stated: “His sister stood at a distance” (Exodus 2:4). Alternatively, Pu’a, as she revealed [hofia] the actions of her brother. Alternatively, as she stood boldly [pa’at] before Pharaoh and said to him: ‘Woe to you on the Day of Judgment.’ It is taught: A man is called by three names; one that his father and his mother called him, one that others called him, and one that he is called in the book of his lineage.