I will bless those who bless you, and one who curses you, I will curse, and all the families of the earth shall be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:3). “I will bless those who bless you” – Rabbi Yirmeya said: The Holy One blessed be He was more exacting regarding the honor of the righteous man than regarding His own honor. Regarding His own honor it is written: “For those who honor Me, I will honor, but those who scorn Me will be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30) – by others.
Regarding the honor of the righteous it is written: “I will bless those who bless you, and one who curses you, I will curse” – I, Myself. It is taught:42This is based on the interpretation of the term venivrekhu (literally translated as “shall be blessed”) as deriving from the word berekh, knee, and meaning to bend the knee. These are the blessings43Of the eighteen blessings in the Amida prayer. during which a person bows: The blessing of the Patriarchs, at the beginning and the end; the blessing of thanksgiving, at the beginning and the end.
One who bows during each blessing, he should be taught not to bow. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Naḥman said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: A High Priest bows at the beginning of each blessing, and a king bows at the beginning of each blessing and at the end of each blessing. Rabbi Simon said in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: The king, once he bowed [at the beginning], he would not stand upright until he would complete his entire prayer.
That is what is written: “It was when Solomon had concluded praying this entire prayer and entreaty to the Lord that he rose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling [mikero’a] on his knees, and his hands were spread heavenward” (I Kings 8:54). What is keria and what is berikha?44These are two terms for bowing or prostration. Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great demonstrated keria before Rabbi,45Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. and he became lame [as a result], but he was healed.
Bar Sisi demonstrated berikha before Rabbi, and he became lame [as a result], and was not healed.46Standing up from berikha is much more difficult. “Shall be blessed in you” – the rains are due to your merit, the dews are due to your merit. That is what is written: “The matter became known to Mordekhai, and he told Queen Esther…” (Esther 2:22).47Mordekhai found out about an assassination attempt against Aḥashverosh, and he warned him about it.
This one [Mordekhai] is circumcised and that one [Aḥashverosh] is uncircumcised, and he took pity on him? That is astonishing. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: [Mordekhai said:] ‘“I gain insight from the elders, for I uphold Your edicts” (Psalms 119:100) – Jacob blessed Pharaoh, as it is stated: “Jacob blessed Pharaoh” (Genesis 47:7). Joseph revealed [the dream] to him [Pharaoh].48He interpreted his dreams and revealed to Pharaoh how to conduct himself during the years of famine.
Daniel revealed [the dream] to Nebuchadnezzar.49He interpreted his dreams and revealed to him how to avoid divine punishment. I, too, will do so: “And he told Queen Esther.”’ Rabbi Neḥemya said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Abraham our forefather: “All the families of the earth shall be blessed in you” (Genesis 12:3).. If you say that it means that they will be wealthy, they [the gentiles] are more wealthy than they [the Jews].
But rather, it is for consultation. When they encounter trouble, they consult with us and we reveal to them [what to do].