Our story revolves around a "wise man" – and we aren't explicitly told who, which almost makes him universal. He's speaking about a woman who has conceived a child with him. Now, here's where it gets interesting: he doesn't refer to her as his wife, nor even as his concubine. Instead, he calls her "the handmaiden of his wife."
Talk about layered!
The Midrash points out the sheer brilliance of this phrasing. He acknowledges her role, her motherhood, without inflaming the emotions of his wife. He soothes, he demonstrates prudence. He’s walking a tightrope, and Philo’s Midrash sees him doing it with grace.
But there's more than meets the eye here. The passage also offers an allegory. "In thy hand," he says. According to Philo, this alludes to the relationship between wisdom and sophistry. Sophistry, that clever but often misleading form of argumentation, "lives under the dominion of wisdom." They both, if I may so say, "spring forth from the same fountain." Think of it as two sides of the same coin, or perhaps two streams diverging from a single source.
The Zohar, that foundational text of Jewish mysticism, often speaks of the concept of sparks – divine sparks that can be found even in the darkest corners. Perhaps sophistry holds a spark of wisdom, twisted and obscured, but still present.
However, sophistry doesn't preserve the purity of the source. It "draws up with its waters many fetid things," Philo writes, and other undesirable elements. Yet, wisdom holds the power to discern, to purify.
"Since, therefore, it is in thy hand and in thy power… do with it whatsoever pleases thee," the wise man essentially says. Whoever possesses wisdom also possesses knowledge of all disciplines, all forms of learning. This power dynamic is crucial. Wisdom can judge sophistry, refine it, or even discard it.
The passage concludes with the wise man expressing his conviction that justice will prevail. Wisdom distributes to each according to their deserts, neither honoring nor despising anyone beyond what they deserve. It's a powerful statement about the responsibility that comes with knowledge and understanding.
What are we to make of all this? This short passage gives us a glimpse into the complexities of human relationships, the delicate balance of power, and the eternal struggle between wisdom and sophistry. It reminds us that true wisdom lies not just in acquiring knowledge, but in using it justly and compassionately. And maybe, just maybe, even in the trickiest situations, a little bit of careful phrasing can go a long way.