This story from the rich tapestry of Jewish legend, found within Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, explores just that question.
It begins with King Solomon, whose wisdom, as we know, was legendary. People flocked to him hoping to glean some of his insight. Three brothers were among those who sought Solomon's wisdom, serving him for thirteen long years. But they grew disillusioned, feeling they hadn't learned a thing. So, they decided to leave.
Solomon, being Solomon, offered them a choice: one hundred coins each, or three wise sayings. The brothers, perhaps a little short-sighted, opted for the money. They grabbed their coins and left, eager to start spending. But the youngest brother had a change of heart.
He turned back, much to the annoyance of his siblings, and said, "My lord, I didn't come here for money, I came for wisdom. Please, take back the coins and teach me instead!"
Solomon, pleased with his sincerity, agreed. He imparted three rules of conduct: "When you travel, start at dawn and stop before nightfall; never cross a swollen river; and never reveal a secret to a woman." Simple enough, right?
The youngest brother, now armed with Solomon's wisdom, rejoined his brothers. But he kept his newfound knowledge to himself. They continued their journey, and as the day wore on, nearing the ninth hour—three hours after noon—the youngest suggested they stop for the night.
His brothers scoffed. "See? You're still foolish! You proved that when you gave back the money to Solomon." Fueled by pride and impatience, they pressed on.
The youngest brother, trusting Solomon's advice, made camp. As darkness descended, a fierce snowstorm engulfed the land. The two older brothers, who had pressed on, were caught in the blizzard and perished.
The next day, the youngest brother discovered their bodies. He did what he had to do: he took their money, buried them, and continued his journey. He reached a river, swollen and raging. Remembering Solomon’s warning, he waited for the waters to subside. While he waited, he saw the king's servants trying to cross with animals laden with gold, but they were swept away by the current.
Once the waters calmed, he crossed and recovered the gold from the drowned animals. He returned home a wealthy and wise man. But here's where things get tricky.
His wife, naturally, was curious about his sudden wealth. She pressed him relentlessly for answers. And, alas, he forgot Solomon's third piece of advice: never reveal a secret to a woman.
One day, during a quarrel, his wife blurted out, "Not enough that you murdered your brothers, you want to kill me too?!"
His sisters-in-law, hearing this accusation, accused him of murdering their husbands. He was arrested, tried, and sentenced to death! Talk about a turn of events.
But just as he was about to be hanged, he revealed his entire story to the king. Solomon recognized him! The king realized the truth, and the man was spared.
This story, as we find in Midrash Rabbah, illustrates the profound value of wisdom. It was with this man's life in mind that Solomon declared: "Acquire wisdom; she is better than gold and much fine gold."
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? Would we have made the same choices as those brothers? Would we have had the foresight to value wisdom over immediate gain? And perhaps more importantly, would we have had the strength to keep a secret when the pressure was on? Food for thought, indeed.