וַיְהִ֨י הַיּ֜וֹם וַיַּעֲבֹ֧ר אֱלִישָׁ֣ע אֶל־שׁוּנֵ֗ם וְשָׁם֙ אִשָּׁ֣ה גְדוֹלָ֔ה וַתַּחֲזֶק־בּ֖וֹ לֶאֱכָל־לָ֑חֶם וַֽיְהִי֙ מִדֵּ֣י עָבְר֔וֹ יָסֻ֥ר שָׁ֖מָּה לֶאֱכָל־לָֽחֶם׃
Y aconteció también que un día pasaba Eliseo por Sunem; y había allí una mujer principal, la cual le constriñó á que comiese del pan: y cuando por allí pasaba, veníase á su casa á comer del pan.
Rabbeinu Bahya
In this verse Solomon warns not to run after princes and after people appointed to the king’s palace in order to curry favor with them, seeing that He, G’d, is the ruler of the universe. Getting too close to the authorities will result in these people suffering damage seeing that rulers on earth are compared to fire, which while beneficial also spreads damage at the same time and consumes all those near it. The benefits derived from fire are that it warms you when you are cold and that it provides light. The damage accruing to those who come too close to it are that they will get burned. Our sages in Avot 1,10 have paraphrased this thought when they said: “hate the holding of high office and do not seek to become intimate with the authorities.”
The reason that the government is called רשות in the language of our sages is that they have the רשות, “authority,” and the power to do what they want, to open, to close, to save and to destroy. On the same subject our sages in Avot 2,3 also said: “be cautious with the ruling authorities, for they befriend you only for their own interest when it is to their advantage but they do not stand by a man in times of distress.”
The disadvantages cited as the danger when associating too closely with the authorities are in addition to the built-in problem that being involved with the authorities invariably brings in its wake a loosening of one’s ties to G’d, neglect of Torah study, seeing that time devoted to it will be interpreted as time spent at the expense of one’s duties vis-a-vis the demands of the state. This is what prompted Solomon to say in Proverbs 24,21: “fear the Lord my son and the king, do not associate with those who keep changing.” Solomon advises us to first and foremost cultivate fear of the Lord before worrying about respect for the local king. Under no circumstances should one have one’s priorities mixed up by first cultivating the relationship with one ‘s terrestrial ruler. If one were to do this it is tantamount to desecrating the name of the Lord.
Concerning this subject we can learn a lesson from the woman in Shunem who was asked by the prophet Elisha if he could do something for her such as interceding on her behalf with the king. Her response was that בתוך עמי אני יושבת, “I live inconspicuously amongst my people;” she meant that she did not want to get involved with the authorities (compare Kings II 4,8). These are the considerations which prompted Solomon to say “when you sit down to dine with the king, consider well who is before you.” Do not be in a hurry to become close to the authorities until you have weighed all the pros and cons. Consider what happened to people who preceded you in such positions. Solomon adds another verse dealing with the subject (Proverbs 29,26). ”Many seek a ruler’s audience, but a man gets justice from the Lord.” What the author meant is that although there are many supplicants wanting favors from a king only a few have their wishes granted so that they are permanent beneficiaries. If you are a discriminating intellect bent on pursuing permanently useful objectives you will refrain from chasing such favours, as the merely physical food served at the king’s table is truly not the sum total of your aspirations in life. Solomon therefore added in Proverbs 23,2: “thrust a knife into your gullet, if you are a man of large appetite.” This is the plain meaning of the above quotation.
The reason that the government is called רשות in the language of our sages is that they have the רשות, “authority,” and the power to do what they want, to open, to close, to save and to destroy. On the same subject our sages in Avot 2,3 also said: “be cautious with the ruling authorities, for they befriend you only for their own interest when it is to their advantage but they do not stand by a man in times of distress.”
The disadvantages cited as the danger when associating too closely with the authorities are in addition to the built-in problem that being involved with the authorities invariably brings in its wake a loosening of one’s ties to G’d, neglect of Torah study, seeing that time devoted to it will be interpreted as time spent at the expense of one’s duties vis-a-vis the demands of the state. This is what prompted Solomon to say in Proverbs 24,21: “fear the Lord my son and the king, do not associate with those who keep changing.” Solomon advises us to first and foremost cultivate fear of the Lord before worrying about respect for the local king. Under no circumstances should one have one’s priorities mixed up by first cultivating the relationship with one ‘s terrestrial ruler. If one were to do this it is tantamount to desecrating the name of the Lord.
Concerning this subject we can learn a lesson from the woman in Shunem who was asked by the prophet Elisha if he could do something for her such as interceding on her behalf with the king. Her response was that בתוך עמי אני יושבת, “I live inconspicuously amongst my people;” she meant that she did not want to get involved with the authorities (compare Kings II 4,8). These are the considerations which prompted Solomon to say “when you sit down to dine with the king, consider well who is before you.” Do not be in a hurry to become close to the authorities until you have weighed all the pros and cons. Consider what happened to people who preceded you in such positions. Solomon adds another verse dealing with the subject (Proverbs 29,26). ”Many seek a ruler’s audience, but a man gets justice from the Lord.” What the author meant is that although there are many supplicants wanting favors from a king only a few have their wishes granted so that they are permanent beneficiaries. If you are a discriminating intellect bent on pursuing permanently useful objectives you will refrain from chasing such favours, as the merely physical food served at the king’s table is truly not the sum total of your aspirations in life. Solomon therefore added in Proverbs 23,2: “thrust a knife into your gullet, if you are a man of large appetite.” This is the plain meaning of the above quotation.
From David to Destruction
People frequently ask why Elisha’s oil miracle for the widow (Melachim II 4:1-7) is included in the Haftarah of Parashat VaYeira. After all, the major portion of the Haftarah focuses on the story of Elisha’s facilitation of a miracle so that an older childless couple, the Ishah HaShunamit and her husband can finally have a child (Melachim II 4:8-17).
Ibn Ezra
מדי חדש Whenever new moon will be.42A. V., From one new moon to another. Your daily tasks. מדי has nearly the same meaning as בכל עת whenever (Est. 5:13). Comp. מדי עברו whenever he passed (2 Kings 4:8).