Midrash sur Les Proverbes 8:16

“I also gathered for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and countries; I acquired for myself songsters and songstresses, and chests and wagons of the pleasures of people” (Ecclesiastes 2:8).
“I also gathered for myself silver and gold” – that is what is written: “The king made the silver in Jerusalem as stones” (I Kings 10:27). Is it possible that [silver was placed] as stones on paths and in courtyards and was not stolen? It is because they were large, ten-cubit stones and eight-cubit stones. It is taught: Even the weights during the reign of Solomon were made of gold, and they would use weights of gold, [even the weight of] a kanterin.¹⁸A talent; a very large measure. Each and every weight, large and small, was of gold.
“And the treasure of kings” – as it is stated: “All the kings of the earth sought the presence of Solomon” (II Chronicles 9:23). “And countries [vehamedinot]” – this is the queen of Sheba, who would challenge [medayyenet] him with her wisdom and her questions, but was unable to overcome him, as it is stated: “She came to challenge him with riddles” (I Kings 10:1). “King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba all her desires that she requested” (I Kings 10:13).¹⁹The Hebrew verse cited does not correspond exactly to the actual verse. “I acquired for myself songsters and songstresses” – male singers and female singers; “the pleasures of people” – pools of flowing water and bathhouses; “chests [shidda] and wagons [veshiddot]” – demons [sheida] and demonesses [vesheideta], who would heat them.
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Neḥemya said: Does the verse come to teach us only of Solomon’s wealth? It is speaking only regarding matters of Torah. “I increased my actions [maasai]” – this is what is written: “The tablets were the work [maaseh] of God” (Exodus 32:16). “I built myself houses” – these are synagogues and study halls. “I planted myself vineyards” – these are the rows of Torah scholars who sit in rows like a vineyard, as it is taught in a mishna: This exposition was expounded by Rabbi Elazar ben Azarya before the Sages in the vineyard of Yavne.²⁰Mishna Ketubot 4:6. Was it in fact a vineyard? Rather, these are Torah scholars who sit in rows like a vineyard.
“I made myself gardens and orchards” (Ecclesiastes 2:5) – these are the great compendia of baraitot like the compendium of Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great, and the compendium of Rabbi Hoshaya the Great, and the compendium of bar Kappara. “And I planted in them trees of every fruit” (Ecclesiastes 2:5) – this is the Talmud that is included in them.²¹The great compendia of baraitot include expositions typical of the Talmud. “I made myself pools of water” (Ecclesiastes 2:6) – Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great said: These are the expositions. “To irrigate from them a forest which grows trees” (Ecclesiastes 2:6) – these are the children who study. Rabbi Naḥman said: This is the Talmud. “To irrigate from them a forest which grows trees” – these are the Torah scholars who study.
“I purchased myself slaves and maidservants” (Ecclesiastes 2:7) – these are the nations, as it is stated: “Upon the slaves and upon the maidservants, too, in those days I will pour out My spirit” (Joel 3:2). as it is written in Isaiah: “Strangers will stand and graze your flocks…” (Isaiah 61:5). “And I had stewards[benei bayit]” (Ecclesiastes 2:7) – this is the Divine Spirit.²²The term benei bayit literally means “household members.” Thus, the midrash is stating that the Divine Spirit was regularly present in Solomon’s home. “I also had great possession of herds and flocks” (Ecclesiastes 2:7) – these are offerings; this is what is written: “From the herds and the flocks you shall sacrifice” (Leviticus 1:2). “I also gathered for myself silver and gold” – these are matters of Torah, as it is stated: “More desirable than gold” (Psalms 19:11). “And the treasure of kings,” as it is stated: “Through me kings reign.… through me princes rule” (Proverbs 8:15–16).²³Torah scholars rule the world. “And countries [medinot]” – these are the Torah scholars, who deliberate [medainin] in halakha. “I acquired for myself songsters and songstresses” – these are the Tosefta.²⁴The men recite and memorize the halakhot relevant to them, and the women recite and memorize the halakhot relevant to them. “And the pleasures” – these are the aggadot, which are the pleasures of the biblical text; “chests [shidda] and wagons [shiddot]” – male judges and female judges.