The book Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, a fascinating collection of Jewish legends and interpretations, touches on this very idea. It speaks of kings whose influence stretched to the very edges of the earth. And it uses the term "king" loosely; not just those who wore crowns, but those who wielded power and influence.
The text highlights two figures in particular, individuals whose impact, according to tradition, resonated far beyond their immediate kingdoms. It's a glimpse into how our ancestors conceived of leadership and dominion, a concept that goes beyond military might or political borders.
First, we have Joseph. Yes, that Joseph – the one with the coat of many colors. The story in Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer paints him as a ruler whose reach was truly global. Remember the famine in the book of Genesis? "And all the earth came into Egypt to Joseph" (Genesis 41:57). Notice it doesn’t just say "Egypt came." The text emphasizes that everyone came into Egypt. They brought gifts, tribute, anything they could offer to buy grain from Joseph. The world’s resources flowing to one place, controlled by one man. The text goes on to say that Joseph served as second to the king for forty years. But for forty more years, he reigned alone. How do we know this? Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer suggests the verse, "Now there arose a new king over Egypt" (Exodus 1:8) refers to Joseph finally taking the throne in his own right.
Then there's Solomon, the wise king of Israel. The Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer states that his reign, too, extended "from one end of the world to the other." We read in 1 Kings 4:21, "And Solomon ruled over all the kingdoms." And the stream of tribute? It was constant. "And they brought every man his present, vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, and raiment, and armour, and spices, horses, and mules, a rate year by year" (1 Kings 10:25). A king's wealth was measured not just in gold, but in the constant flow of goods from across the known world.
What’s striking about both these figures is that their power wasn’t solely based on military conquest. Joseph’s power came from his ability to manage resources and provide for the world during a time of crisis. Solomon’s came from his wisdom and the prosperity he brought to his kingdom. These stories, drawn from Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer, ask us to consider: What does it truly mean to be a king? Is it about controlling territory, or about influencing the lives of people across the globe? And perhaps more importantly, what kind of king – what kind of leader – do we aspire to be?