This is what the verse said: “For it is neither from the east nor from the west, nor from the wilderness or the mountains, but it is God who is the Judge; He humbles this one and exalts that one” (Psalms 75:7–8). What is, “for it is neither from the east nor from the west”? It is not from the fact that a person goes out and toils in commerce and goes from east to west that he becomes wealthy. Even if he sets sail in ships and goes from east to west, and circulates in the wildernesses and on the mountains, he does not become wealthy.
What is “nor from the wilderness or the mountains [harim]” (Psalms 75:7)? Rabbi Abba of Rumanya said: All the harim in the Bible are mountains, except for this one, which is exaltedness, as a person is not exalted by these matters. What does the Holy One blessed be He do? He takes money [nekhasim] from this one and gives it to that one, as it is stated: “He humbles this one and exalts that one” (Psalms 75:8).
That is why they7Property are called nekhasim; it is because they are concealed [nikhsim] from this one and revealed to that one. And why are they called zuzin?8The name of a coin. It is because they move [zazim] from this one and are given to that one. Money Mamon – what are you counting [moneh]; it is nothing.
Maot – what of the future time [ma le’et]? In this manner you expound. Likewise Hannah says: “The Lord puts to death and brings to life; He lowers to the netherworld and raises. The Lord impoverishes and makes rich; He humbles, also [af] elevates” (I Samuel 2:6–7).
What is af elevates? With the wrath [af] that He brings against this one, He elevates that one. A certain noblewoman asked Rabbi Shimon ben Ḥalafta: ‘In how many days did the Holy One blessed be He create the world?’ He said to her: ‘In six days, as it is stated: “For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth”’ (Exodus 20:11).
She said to him: ‘From that time until now, what has He been doing?’ He said to her: ‘He sits and crafts ladders; He elevates this one and lowers that one.’ That is why it is stated: “But it is God who is the Judge; He humbles this one and exalts that one” (Psalms 75:8). Know that when He sought for the children of Reuben and the children of Gad to become wealthy, He toppled the Midianites before Israel so that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad would become wealthy.
What is written previously? “The children of Israel took the women of Midian and their young children captive, [and all their livestock]” (Numbers 31:9), and then “Much livestock.” The Holy One blessed be He humbled the Midianites and exalted Israel, to realize what is stated: “For it is neither from the east nor from the west, nor from the wilderness or the mountains, but it is God who is the Judge; He humbles this one and exalts that one” (Psalms 75:7–8).