The Book of Ecclesiastes – or Kohelet as it's known in Hebrew – grapples with this very feeling. It asks us: what do we do when we see injustice seemingly rewarded?
Specifically, Kohelet 5:7 says, "If you see exploitation of the poor, and the perversion of justice and integrity in the state, do not marvel at the purpose; for one higher than high is watching, and there are high ones over them." It's a loaded verse, right? So, how do we unpack it?
Well, Kohelet Rabbah, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on Ecclesiastes, offers some fascinating insights. It starts by saying that if you see someone exploiting the poor, someone truly indigent, and yet the Righteous One – God – still grants them tranquility and good fortune... don't be fooled. See in that very situation a sentence of Gehenna, or hell. The verse is using "state" – bamedina in Hebrew – as a sort of portmanteau, a combination of the words bam dina, meaning "they will be sentenced." It's a clever play on words, isn't it? A reminder that earthly success doesn't equal divine approval.
Then the Midrash, or interpretation, tackles the phrase "one higher than high." It suggests that "one higher" refers to the angels, but "there are high ones over them" – that is the Holy One, blessed be He. God is ultimately watching, even when it seems like injustice reigns.
Rabbi Yosei bar Ḥanina takes this idea further, applying it to Esau. Now, the Sages often associated the Romans with Esau, the brother of Jacob who was tricked out of his birthright. So, Rabbi Yosei says, if you saw Esau, symbolized by the Roman empire, exploiting the poor and robbing the indigent, and yet God bestows tranquility upon him, you will still see in him the attribute of justice. Rome, despite its apparent power, will eventually be punished. It’s a long game, this divine justice.
This connects back to the blessing Isaac gave Esau: "Behold, of the fat of the earth will be your dwelling" (Genesis 27:39). The Midrash says, don't marvel that this wish was fulfilled. Because even earthly power structures, like ministers, governors, and commanders – "one higher" – are ultimately overseen by the King who lives forever.
Rabbi Aḥa brings in another powerful image. He says we can learn about God's "behold" from the "behold" of flesh and blood. Just as Ahasuerus's "behold" – "Behold, I have given Haman’s house to Esther" (Esther 8:7) – provided life for an entire people, imagine the power of God’s "behold"! As it says in Zechariah 14:1, "Behold, a day of the Lord is coming..." If a mortal king’s decree could bring such wealth and salvation, how much more so when God’s prophecy is fulfilled?
So, what does this all mean for us today? Maybe it's a call to patience. A reminder that even when we see injustice flourishing, there's a larger perspective at play. It’s a message of hope, suggesting that ultimate justice, though sometimes delayed, is never truly denied. It's also a call to action, perhaps. To not simply "marvel" at injustice, but to actively work towards a world where the "behold" of God manifests in tangible ways.