Daily Tanach Sunday Sefer Melachim 1 – Chapter 5: The wisdom of Shlomo

1.      The wisdom of Shlomo:

• G-d granted wisdom to Shlomo and he gave him great understanding and comprehension. His heart was as open as the sand of the beach [i.e. his heart was able to hold the comprehension of the multitude of wisdom’s endless in number similar to the sand of the beach^[1]].
• The wisest of all men: The wisdom of Shlomo surpassed the wisdom of all the previous generations, including of the people of Kedem, and the wisdom of the people of Egypt. He was wiser than all other men, from [the brothers^[2]] Eisan the Ezrachi [i.e. from the tribe of Yehuda, descendants from his son Zerach] and Heiyman and Chalkol and Darda, the sons of Machol. [Alternatively, this refers to the forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, and Yosef, and is saying that Shlomo surpassed even their wisdom.] He became famous amongst all of the nation’s surrounding him.
• His songs in parables: He would speak 3000 parables and compiled 1,005 songs [including Shir Hashirim and Koheles]. [These parables and songs have been lost from us.^[3]]
• Knowing the natures of the trees, plants, animals, birds, and fish: He would speak of the trees [i.e. he would know their medicinal capabilities and what they can be used for construction and planting]. He had knowledge of the cedarwood tree that grew in Lebanon up until the hyssop bush which would grow on the wall. He would speak of the animals, and the birds, and the creeping creatures, and the fish.
• The nations come to hear his wisdom: People would come from amongst all the nations of the world to hear the wisdom of Shlomo. Amongst them were all the kings of the world who heard of the great wisdom of Shlomo.

[1] See Radak 5:9

[2] Rashi 5:11

[3] See Metzudos Dovid 5:12