Our tradition teaches us that something else holds even greater worth: a good name. And it's not just about reputation, but about the power and blessing inherent in a name earned through righteous action.
Shemot Rabbah, a classic collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Exodus, explores this very idea. It opens with a powerful statement: "A name is preferable [nivḥar] to great wealth" (Proverbs 22:1). To illustrate this point, the text compares Moses's name to the wealth of Korah, the infamous rebel. Remember Korah? He challenged Moses's leadership and was swallowed up by the earth along with his followers (Numbers 16). The Midrash (rabbinic interpretive commentary) points out that Korah possessed immense riches. It mentions "two hundred and fifty firepans" (Numbers 16:17) which, according to Maharzu, Korah himself provided, a testament to his vast fortune. Yet, as it says, "Were it not for Moses His chosen one [beḥiro]” (Psalms 106:23), and “I have known you by name” (Exodus 33:17). God knew Moses by name. The Holy One, blessed be He, essentially says: "So you're haughty because of your wealth? Moses’s name is preferable to all your silver and gold!"
The Midrash continues with another compelling comparison: the name of Pinḥas versus the wealth of Zimri. Zimri, a prince of the tribe of Simeon, brazenly brought a Midianite woman into the Israelite camp, defying God's law and Moses's authority. As (Proverbs 21:29) says, "A wicked man is insolent." Zimri's arrogance was staggering. He even tried to argue with Moses in front of everyone, claiming that he was greater because his tribe came before Moses's! (Levi was the third son of Jacob, Simeon the second). The text recounts that Zimri challenged Moses, asking if this woman was forbidden or permitted. When Moses confirmed she was forbidden, Zimri accused him of hypocrisy, implying that Moses's own wife, being Midianite, was similarly forbidden. “Before the eyes of Moses,” the people were weeping, as it says: “And they were weeping” (Numbers 25:6).
The story takes a dramatic turn with the introduction of Pinḥas. Seeing Zimri's open defiance and the resulting plague that afflicted the Israelites, Pinḥas was torn. Should he act? Could one man stand against such brazen wickedness? The Midrash says Pinḥas began saying to himself, "What will I do? Two can prevail over one; can one, perhaps, prevail over two?" But as (Proverbs 24:10) says, "You faltered on a day of trouble." God, in essence, urged him to act, reminding him (Proverbs 24:11), "Deliver those taken to death."
In a moment of courageous action, Pinḥas acted decisively, killing Zimri and the Midianite woman. This stopped the plague and earned him God's favor. Rabbi Yosei says that Pinḥas expounded, saying that if a horse gives its life for its owner in battle, how much more so should he give his life for the sanctity of God's name. As it says, "Pinḥas stood and he prayed" (Psalms 106:30). Immediately the Holy One, blessed be He, summoned Moses and said to him, "Come and I will inform you who preserved the descendants of Abraham." That's why it is stated: "A name is preferable to great wealth" (Proverbs 22:1).
The final anecdote contrasts Mordechai's name with Haman's wealth. Haman, the villain of the Purim story, offered Ahasuerus a vast sum of money to destroy the Jewish people. But as (Proverbs 22:1) says, "Good grace [ḥen] is preferable to silver and gold." Rabbi Yoshiya said that Haman took out all the silver and gold that he had and gave it to Aḥashverosh. The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him, "By your life, ‘good grace [ḥen] is preferable to silver and gold’ (Proverbs 22:1)." The grace of Esther, as it is stated: "Esther found favor [ḥen]" (Esther 2:15), is preferable. When the wicked one came with the money, the king said to him: “The money is given to you” (Esther 3:11). The Holy One, blessed be He, said: "Is this how you are selling Mine for what is Mine?" Mordechai's righteousness and Esther's grace ultimately triumphed over Haman's wealth and evil intentions.
These stories, drawn from Shemot Rabbah, offer a profound lesson. They remind us that true value lies not in material possessions, but in the kind of name we build through our actions, our courage, and our commitment to what is right. It's a powerful reminder to focus on earning a good name, a name that resonates with righteousness and echoes in eternity, long after wealth has faded away. So, what kind of name are we building? What legacy will we leave behind?
Another matter: “They shall take Me a gift” – that is what is written: “A name is preferable [nivḥar] to great wealth” (Proverbs 22:1). The name of Moses is preferable, as it is stated: “Were it not for Moses His chosen one [beḥiro]” (Psalms 106:23), and likewise it says: “I have known you by name” (Exodus 33:17) – to Koraḥ’s wealth, as it is stated: “Two hundred and fifty firepans” (Numbers 16:17).5The implication of the verse is that all two hundred fifty gold firepans were provided by Koraḥ himself, which is an indication of his great wealth (Maharzu). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: Because you have wealth you are haughty? The name of Moses is preferable to all your wealth of silver and gold. That is, “and good grace to silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). Another matter: The name of Pinḥas is preferable to the wealth of Zimri, who was the prince of the tribe of Simeon. What did Zimri do? In his regard, Solomon said: “A wicked man is insolent” (Proverbs 21:29). “And the upright, he discerns his way” (Proverbs 21:29) – this is Pinḥas. In what way was Zimri insolent? It was, that when Kozbi came, he sought to take her. She said to him: ‘I will not submit to you, as my father commanded me that I should submit only to Moses.’ He said to her: ‘I am greater than Moses, as he is from the third tribe6Levi, Jacob’s third-born and I am from the second tribe.7Simeon, Jacob’s second-born Do you want to know that I am greater than Moses? I will take you in his presence,’ as it is stated: “And, behold, a man from the children of Israel came and brought the Midianite woman near to his brethren, before the eyes of Moses” (Numbers 25:6), as he was flinging words against [Moses]. He said to him: ‘Moses, is this one forbidden or permitted?’ He said to him: ‘She is forbidden to you.’ Zimri said to him: ‘Are you the one who is most faithful to the Torah, such that the Holy One blessed be He takes pride in you and says: “Not so My servant Moses; [in all My house he is faithful]” (Numbers 12:7)? If you say that this one is forbidden, then the wife that you took is forbidden to you. This one is Midianite and that one is Midianite. This one is the most prominent of her patrilineal family, and your wife is the daughter of a priest.’ That is, “before the eyes of Moses.” Solomon cries out: “A wicked man is insolent.” When they saw him8When the Israelite elders saw Zimri’s insolent attack on Moses. they were weeping, as it is stated: “And they were weeping” (Numbers 25:6). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, are you weeping? Where is your wisdom that you said something and you caused Koraḥ to be swallowed, and now you are weeping?’ The Divine Spirit calls out: “The stout-hearted ran rampant. They fell into a stupor” (Psalms 76:6). Moses said to Him: “There is no wisdom, no understanding, and no counsel against the Lord” (Proverbs 21:30).9Zimri’s attack is purely against the Lord. Therefore, human wisdom is irrelevant, and it is God who should punish Zimri (Yefe To’ar). The Holy One blessed be He said: I know who is prepared for this matter. What is written thereafter? “A horse is ready for the day of battle, but salvation is for the Lord” (Proverbs 21:31). Rabbi Yosei said: Pinḥas himself expounded: If a horse that gives its life on a day of war, even if it dies, it gives its life for its owner, I, for the sanctity of the name of the Holy One blessed be He, all the more so. “Pinḥas son of Elazar saw” (Numbers 25:7) – he began saying to himself: What will I do? Two can prevail over one; can one, perhaps, prevail over two? While he was deliberating to himself, the plague was afflicting and the Holy One blessed be He was saying: “You faltered on a day of trouble” (Proverbs 24:10), “Deliver those taken to death” (Proverbs 24:11). “If you say: Behold, we did not know this” (Proverbs 24:12), I will attest in your regard, as it is stated: “Is He not the assessor of hearts, He understands” (Proverbs 24:12).10God said to Pinḥas: If you are concerned that people will suspect your motives, I will attest that your motives were pure (Rabbi David Luria). Pinḥas entered, and he found that the Holy One blessed be He had secured them one to the other; they were intertwined one with the other, and they were unable to separate themselves. And he stabbed them in the place of their attachment, as it is stated: “He stabbed the two of them” (Numbers 25:8). When he exited, the tribe of Zimri entered. What did the Holy One blessed be He do? He smote them all with the plague. When Pinḥas saw the plague, he was standing and praying, as it is stated: “Pinḥas stood and he prayed” (Psalms 106:30). Immediately the Holy One blessed be He summoned Moses and said to him: ‘Come and I will inform you who preserved the descendants of Abraham,’ as it is stated: “Pinḥas son of Elazar [the son of Aaron the priest has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel]” (Numbers 25:11). That is why it is stated: “A name is preferable to great wealth” (Proverbs 22:1). Another matter: The name of Mordekhai is preferable to the wealth of Haman. Rabbi Yoshiya said: What did that wicked one do? He took out all the silver and gold that he had and he gave it to Aḥashverosh. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘By your life, “good grace [ḥen] is preferable to silver and gold”’ (Proverbs 22:1). The grace of Esther, as it is stated: “Esther found favor [ḥen]” (Esther 2:15), is preferable. When the wicked one came with the money, the king said to him: “The money is given to you” (Esther 3:11). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Is this how you are selling Mine for what is Mine?’ As it is stated: “For the children of Israel are slaves to Me” (Leviticus 25:55), and it is written: “The silver and the gold are Mine” (Haggai 2:8). ‘As you live, what you said: “The money is given to you…,” so, “on that day, King Aḥashverosh gave the house of Haman to Queen Esther”’ (Esther 8:1).
