Ecclesiastes, or Kohelet as we know it in Hebrew, is full of Solomon's reflections on life, often tinged with a certain weariness. And one particular verse, Ecclesiastes 2:25, really makes you think: “For who will eat, or who will enjoy, other than I?”
It's a simple question, but the Rabbis of Kohelet Rabbah, a classic commentary on Ecclesiastes, really sink their teeth into it. They imagine Solomon himself saying, “Who has eaten as I have eaten? Who has drunk as I have drunk? Who has done as I have done?”
It's a bold statement, isn't it? It's like Solomon is saying, "Nobody has lived it up like I have!" He's not just talking about physical pleasures, but the whole experience of life.
But the commentary doesn't stop there. Rabbi Yirmeya, quoting Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak, tells a fantastic story about Solomon and his… giant eagle. Yes, you read that right. Apparently, Solomon had a massive eagle that he would ride like a… well, like a king on an eagle!
And get this: he would use this avian air service to travel to Tadmor, a city in the wilderness (also known as Palmyra). According to this tradition, he'd make the round trip – from Jerusalem to Tadmor and back – all in a single day!
Now, why Tadmor? Well, the verse in II Chronicles 8:4 tells us, “He built Tadmor in the wilderness.” The Midrash, in a clever play on words, interprets the phrase “who will enjoy [yaḥush]” in Ecclesiastes to mean “who has traveled quickly [yaḥish]”. So, Solomon isn't just bragging about enjoying life; he's boasting about his incredible travel speed, thanks to his giant eagle Uber!
It's a wild image, isn't it? Solomon, the wise king, soaring through the air on a giant eagle. It certainly puts a new spin on "living the high life." But what does it all mean?
Perhaps it's a reminder that even the wisest and most powerful among us can get caught up in comparing ourselves to others. Solomon, with all his wisdom, still felt the need to ask, “Who has it better than me?”
Maybe, just maybe, the story of the eagle is there to show us the absurdity of that comparison. I mean, who else has a giant eagle to ride around on? It's a reminder that true joy isn’t about having more or doing more than anyone else. It’s something…deeper. Something that even a king on an eagle might miss.