Kohelet Rabbah, the commentary on Ecclesiastes, digs into this very question, offering some fascinating, and at times surprising, answers.

The verse from Ecclesiastes, "Wisdom will bolster the wise, more than ten rulers," (Ecclesiastes 7:19) becomes a springboard for a rich discussion. The text first suggests that "the wise" refers to Israel itself, citing Deuteronomy 4:6: "It is a particularly wise and understanding people." But what are these "ten rulers" that wisdom surpasses? Here’s where it gets interesting.

One interpretation suggests these "ten rulers" are actually ten aspects of the human body that influence the soul. Think of it like this: your esophagus, your trachea, your liver, your gallbladder, your lungs, your stomach, your spleen, your kidneys, your heart and your tongue. Each of these, according to this interpretation, plays a role in our emotional and intellectual lives, impacting our wisdom. Our physical being, in this view, is intrinsically linked to our spiritual and intellectual capacity.

But Kohelet Rabbah doesn't stop there. It offers another perspective, shifting from the physical to the spiritual realm. "Wisdom will bolster the wise" – this time, referring to David, the sweet singer of Israel. And the "ten rulers"? These are now understood as ten wise elders who contributed to the Book of Psalms. We're talking about some heavy hitters here: Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and Solomon. No argument there!

But who are the other five? This is where the Rabbis Rav and Rabbi Yoḥanan step in, offering different opinions. Rav suggests Asaf, Heman, Yedutun, the three sons of Koraḥ (considered as one), and Ezra. Rabbi Yoḥanan, however, believes that the Asaf mentioned here is the same Aviasaf, one of the sons of Korah, who was so learned that he merited composing his own songs in addition to singing with his brothers.

Rav, however, distinguishes between them, referencing 1 Chronicles 25:2, which speaks of Asaf prophesying "according to the direction of the king." The debate continues with the interpretation of "for Yedutun" in the Psalms (Psalms 39:1). Rav takes it literally, suggesting that Yedutun actually authored the psalm. Rabbi Yoḥanan, on the other hand, believes that "for Yedutun" means the psalmist prophesied about the decrees and punishments that would befall him and Israel.

Ultimately, Rabbi Huna, in the name of Rabbi Aḥa, offers a unifying perspective. Even though ten people spoke in the Book of Psalms, the entire collection is attributed to David, king of Israel. Why? A parable is told: imagine a group of people wanting to sing a hymn to the king. The king acknowledges their piety and worthiness, but chooses one among them to sing on behalf of all, because "his voice is sweet." Similarly, while ten righteous individuals contributed to the Book of Psalms, God chose David to be the voice for them all, because, as 2 Samuel 23:1 tells us, he was "the sweet singer of Israel."

So, what does this all mean? Perhaps it's about recognizing the many sources of wisdom in our lives – from our physical bodies to the wisdom of generations past. And maybe, just maybe, it's about understanding that even when many contribute, there's often one voice that resonates most powerfully, carrying the song forward for all of us. Just like David's.