Why Wealth Comes From God Alone in Tanchuma on Matot

(Numbers 32:1:) "MUCH LIVESTOCK." This is what Scripture says (Psalms 75:7-8 [6-7]): "For not from the east or from the west, and not from the wilderness of mountains; for God is the judge: this one He brings low and that one He lifts up." What is the meaning of "For not from the east or from the west"? Not from that which a person toils over and goes out for trade, traveling from east to west, does he become wealthy. Even if he sets sail in ships and travels from east to west and goes about over the wildernesses and over the mountains, he does not become wealthy. What is the meaning of "and not from the wilderness of mountains (harim)"? Rabbi Abba said: Every instance of "harim" in Scripture means mountains, except for this one, where it means "exaltation" (rommemut), for a person is not exalted from these things. And what does the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He takes from this one and gives to that one. A certain matron asked Rabbi Yose ben Halafta: In how many days did the Holy One, blessed be He, create His world? He said to her: In six days. She said to him: And from that day on, what does He do? He said to her: He sits and makes ladders, raising up this one and bringing down that one. Know this for yourself: when He wished that the children of Reuben and the children of Gad should become wealthy, He cast the Midianites into their hand. What is written? (Numbers 31:9:) "And the children of Israel took captive the women of Midian [and their little ones, and all their cattle, and all their flocks]." And afterward, "And the children of Reuben had much livestock." Thus: "For God is the judge: this one He brings low and that one He lifts up." And who is wealthy? He who rejoices in his portion, as it is said (Psalms 128:2): "When you eat the labor of your hands, happy shall you be, and it shall be well with you."