Why Scripture Names the Righteous Before Naming Their Deeds

"There was a certain man" (1 Samuel 1:1). Wherever it is said in this expression, it is reckoned as equal to thirty-one righteous men. "Of Ramathaim." Rabbi Elazar said: There were two heights (ramin) — one of David and one of Samuel. "Zophim (the watchmen)." Rabbi Yochanan said: One who set up for himself two hundred watchmen. "And his name was Elkanah." The wicked are mentioned before their names: "Nabal is his name" (1 Samuel 25:25), "Goliath is his name" (1 Samuel 17:4), "Sheba son of Bichri is his name" (2 Samuel 20:21). But the righteous — their names come first: "and his name was Elkanah" (1 Samuel 1:1), "and his name was Jesse" (1 Samuel 17:12), "and his name was Boaz" (Ruth 2:1), "and his name was Mordecai" (Esther 2:5). They resemble their Creator, "but by My name the LORD I was not known to them" (Exodus 6:3). They raised an objection to him: But is it not written "and Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban" (Genesis 24:29)? Rabbi Yitzchak said: paradoxes (i.e., exceptions). And Rabbi Berekhiah said: he was whitened (meluban) in wickedness. They raised an objection: "And the sons of Samuel: the firstborn, and the second Abiah" (1 Chronicles 6:13) — [here the name follows]. The Rabbis and Rabbi Yehudah son of Rabbi Simon [differed]. The Rabbis said: Just as this one was wicked, so too that one was wicked. And Rabbi Yehudah son of Rabbi Simon said: When they changed for good deeds, they merited the Holy Spirit, as it is said, "the word of the LORD that came to Joel son of Pethuel" (Joel 1:1). "An Ephrathite." Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: it means "palatine (of the palace)." Rabbi Yehoshua son of Rabbi Nechemiah said: "wellborn (eugenetatoi)." Another interpretation: "Ephrathite" — Rabbi Pinchas said: a crown (atarah) with which Ephraim was crowned by our father Jacob at the hour of his departure from the world. He said to him: Ephraim, my son, head of a tribe, head of an academy, the most excellent and praised among the sons, shall be called by your name — "son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephrathite" (1 Samuel 1:1); "and Jeroboam son of Nebat, an Ephrathite" (1 Kings 11:26); "and David, the son of that Ephrathite man" (1 Samuel 17:12).