Przysłów 30:31 Komentarz: Rashi

The greyhound Heb. זרזיר מתנים. I do not know what it is, but from the context appears to be an animal with weak loins.

and the king against whom no one dares to rise up Heb. ומלך אלקום I do not know what it is according to its simple meaning, but the Aggadic midrashim interpret these five sections of four as corresponding to the four kingdoms. Since their rule over Israel was strengthened because of the iniquity of having transgressed the five Books of the Pentateuch, Scripture mentions them five times.

[16] The grave and the barren womb The grave represents the kingdom of Babylon, for it is stated regarding Nebuchadnezzar (Hab. 2:5): “who widened his desire like the nether- world.” And the barren womb, that is Media, in whose time mercy (רחמים) was held back from Israel, as it is said (Esther 3:13): to destroy, kill and cause to perish.”

the earth, which is not sated with water This represents Greece, which was not sated with issuing decrees on Israel.

and fire, which does not say, “Enough!” Corresponding to Esau, who acted with burning wrath against Israel, for he said to destroy children and women in one day. And likewise...

[19] The way of the eagle This is Babylon, the great eagle, with the long wings (Ezek. 17:3).

serpent This is Media.

the way of a ship in the heart of the sea This represents Greece, who was swift with its decrees.

the way of a man with a young woman This represents Edom, who said, “I will be a mistress forever.” [גבר is interpreted as גברת, a mistress, and בעלמה as לעולם, forever.]

[20] So is the way of an adulterous woman The people of Israel brought this evil upon themselves because they played the adulteress with idolatry, and they deserved that the retribution should befall them.