Kohelet Rabbah, a commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, dives deep into the question: "Of laughter, I said it is confounded" (Ecclesiastes 2:2). How confounding is laughter, really? Rabbi Aḥa, quoting Shmuel, gives us a clue: Solomon was challenged by the attribute of justice in three specific areas, and ultimately, he was confounded and confused.

What were these challenges? They all stemmed from Solomon seemingly ignoring explicit commandments in Deuteronomy. "He shall not have many wives" (Deuteronomy 17:17), the Torah states plainly. But Solomon? "He had seven hundred wives, princesses, and three hundred concubines" (I Kings 11:3). A thousand women!

Then there's the matter of horses. Deuteronomy 17:16 says, "He shall not have many horses." Yet, "Solomon had forty thousand stables of horses" (I Kings 5:6). Forty thousand! That’s not just a few extra ponies.

And finally, there's the issue of wealth. Deuteronomy 17:17 warns against amassing excessive gold and silver. But "the king made the silver and the gold in Jerusalem as stones" (II Chronicles 1:15). I mean, as stones! Rabbi Yosei ben Rabbi Ḥanina even explains that the stones were enormous, ten and eight cubits each – far too large to steal. Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai adds that even the weights used for trade were made of gold! "None of silver, as it was not considered anything during the reign of Solomon" (I Kings 10:21).

So what was going on here? Did Solomon think he was above the law? Did he think his wisdom gave him a free pass? According to Kohelet Rabbah, that’s exactly what happened. The Holy One, blessed be He, essentially said, "What is this crown doing in your hands? Descend from My throne!" Solomon thought he could violate these rules without consequence, but he was wrong.

And here's where the story takes a truly heartbreaking turn. At that very moment, an angel descended, taking on Solomon’s appearance, and sat upon his throne. Solomon, stripped of his power and glory, wandered among the synagogues, the study halls, and the homes of Israel’s leaders, proclaiming, "I am Kohelet, I was king over Israel in Jerusalem" (Ecclesiastes 1:12). But no one believed him. They thought he was mad. They struck him with a reed and gave him a bowl of grits – the food of the destitute.

Imagine the humiliation. Imagine the fall from such heights. At that moment, Solomon wept, uttering the words of Ecclesiastes 2:10: "This was my portion from all my exertion."

What does this story tell us? Perhaps it's a cautionary tale about the dangers of hubris, of believing ourselves to be exceptions to the rules. Perhaps it's a reminder that even the wisest among us can fall prey to temptation and ultimately face the consequences of our actions. It's a stark reminder that even the greatest achievements can turn to ashes if they are built on a foundation of disregard for divine law. And maybe, just maybe, it’s a little comforting to know that even Solomon, in all his glory, wasn't perfect.