Today, we're diving into a fascinating story from Bamidbar Rabbah 10, a section of the larger Midrash Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic homilies and interpretations of the Torah. It’s a story about King Solomon, the wisest of all men, and a night that almost changed everything.
The text opens with a perplexing question: Why is Solomon also called Lemuel, as in, "The words of Lemuel the king" (Proverbs 31:1)? Rabbi Yishmael offers a dramatic answer. It all happened on the very night Solomon finished building the Temple. A night of double celebration, because he also married the daughter of Pharaoh.
But here’s where things get dicey. According to this midrash, the joy over Solomon's marriage to Pharaoh’s daughter actually overshadowed the rejoicing for the Temple itself. Can you imagine? This upset God, and the text tells us that God even considered destroying Jerusalem in response! As we find in Jeremiah 32:31, God said, “For [this city has been] a cause of My wrath and of My anger [from the day that they built it until this day; remove it from My presence].”
Why did this marriage cause so much upheaval? Well, the Rabbis explain that Pharaoh's daughter introduced Solomon to a thousand types of song, each dedicated to a different idol. She created a seductive, almost hypnotic atmosphere. Even worse, she put a canopy above Solomon covered in gems that shone like stars. Every time he tried to wake up for his duties, he saw the dazzling display and fell back asleep.
Rabbi Levi adds that on that particular day, the morning offering in the Temple wasn’t sacrificed until the fourth hour of the day – terribly late! There was an incident, we're told, where the daily morning offering was sacrificed at the fourth hour. Imagine the distress of the Israelites. It was the dedication of the Temple, but they couldn't wake Solomon! They were afraid to disturb the king.
So, what did they do? They went to Bathsheba, Solomon's mother, and she took matters into her own hands.
Bathsheba woke Solomon and delivered a powerful rebuke. The text says, "The oration with which his mother admonished him" (Proverbs 31:1). Rabbi Yoḥanan paints a vivid picture: Bathsheba bent him over a post! She then asks, "What, my son?" (Proverbs 31:2). She reminds him that everyone knows his father, King David, was God-fearing. Now, she fears, they'll say she's the reason he's straying.
She continues, "What, son of my womb?" (Proverbs 31:2), reminding him of the sacrifices she made for him, even breaking custom to ensure he was a worthy heir. "And what, son of my vows?" (Proverbs 31:2). While other women prayed for sons fit for kingship, she prayed for a son quick in Torah and worthy of prophecy.
Then comes the core of her message: "Do not give your strength to women" (Proverbs 31:3). She warns him against the dangers of lust and reminds him of the Torah's commandment: "He shall not amass for himself many wives" (Deuteronomy 17:17). Be careful, she warns, these things destroy kings.
She then challenges him: "It is not for kings, Lemuel" (Proverbs 31:4), implying, what business do you have with kings who say, 'Why do we need God [lama lanu el]?' Don't emulate their actions! "It is not for kings to drink wine" (Proverbs 31:4), she continues. Why do you act like kings who get drunk and engage in lewd acts? Don't be like them.
Rabbi Shimon explains that drinking wine can lead one to forget the Torah's commandments, the meḥukak, especially "You shall not commit adultery" (Exodus 20:13). Bathsheba reminds Solomon that justice was entrusted to the House of David. Drinking wine could lead him to "subvert justice for all the children of the poor" (Proverbs 31:5).
The text even delves into the proper use of wine: "Give strong drink to the hopeless, and wine to embittered souls" (Proverbs 31:6). Rabbi Ḥanan says wine was created to reward the wicked in this world and to comfort mourners. It should be used to ease suffering, not to cloud judgment.
The passage then turns to the responsibility of the court to advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves: "Open your mouth for the mute" (Proverbs 31:8), specifically orphans who don't know how to claim their inheritance.
Finally, the text returns to the name "Lemuel." It suggests that "Lemuel" means whispering [nam] to God [lael], saying, "I can amass many wives and not sin." It's a warning against arrogance and the belief that one is above temptation.
The midrash then interprets Bathsheba's admonishment through the lens of Torah law, connecting it to the prohibitions against intermarriage, adultery, and excessive drinking. It emphasizes that these prohibitions are not arbitrary but are essential for maintaining spiritual and moral integrity.
The episode concludes by suggesting that Solomon eventually conceded his error. He learned from the mistakes of Noah and Adam, who were both led astray by wine. Solomon realized that true wisdom lies in acknowledging one's limitations and adhering to the teachings of the Torah.
So, what can we take away from this story? It's a reminder that even the wisest among us are fallible. It's a call to humility, a warning against arrogance, and a reminder of the importance of staying grounded in our values. And perhaps most importantly, it highlights the power of a mother's love and a mother's wisdom in guiding her child back to the right path. It's a powerful narrative about temptation, responsibility, and the enduring strength of moral guidance, still resonant today.