Crowns and Swords at Sinai and the Glory of the Wise

(Exodus 29:1:) "And this is the thing which you shall do to them, etc." This is what Scripture says (Proverbs 3:35): "The wise shall inherit glory" — these are Israel; "but fools carry away shame" (ibid.) — these are the nations of the world. And when shall Israel inherit the glory? When they received the Torah from Sinai. Rabbi Yochanan said: Sixty myriads of ministering angels descended with the Holy One, blessed be He, to Sinai, and they placed crowns upon the head of each and every one of Israel. Rabbi Abba bar Kahana said: When Israel stood at Mount Sinai and said, "We will do and we will obey," immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, cherished them, and gave to each and every one of them two angels; and the one girded him with his weapon, and the other placed a crown upon his head. Rabbi Simon said: They clothed them in purple robes, as it is said (Ezekiel 16:10): "And I clothed you with embroidered garments." Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai said: He gave them a weapon, and the Ineffable Name was engraved upon it. Thus, "The wise shall inherit glory" — these are Israel, who received the Torah; "but fools carry away shame" — these are the nations of the world, and the Holy One, blessed be He, makes shame for them. Rabbi Shmuel said: "The wise shall inherit glory" — these are David and Solomon, who built the Temple; "but fools carry away shame" — these are the nations of the world who destroyed it, and the Holy One, blessed be He, makes shame for them. Rabbi Nachman said: See what is written (Psalms 73:20): "O Lord, in the city You shall despise their image." Why "in the city"? Rather, the proverb says: In the place where the robber commits his robbery, there he is hanged. Therefore it is written "in the city."