Komentarz do Psalmów 19:11

and drippings of honeycombs Heb. ונפת צופים, sweetness of honeycombs; breche, or bresches, honeycombs. Menachem interprets ונפת as an expression of a drop, and so (in Prov. 5:3): “drip sweetness (נפת)”; (ibid. 7:17), “I sprinkled (נפתי) my couch.”

More to be desired are they than gold: – He says that the words of the Law and the commandments are to be desired more than gold.

Yea, than fine gold – that is, the good and purified gold; but this is

(which is) superior (רב): – as "to every superior person (רב) of his house" (Esther 1:8) – because it is great in estimation and distinction. Or the interpretation of רב will be of number (much); and the sense of רב will then be applicable to both gold and fine gold, for men desire money, much gold and fine gold. There are interpreters (Ibn Ezra, and others beside him) who take פז as meaning precious stones, and these also man desires; but those who have understanding desire the Law and wisdom more. So also says Solomon (Prov. 3:15): "And none of the things thou canst desire are to be compared unto her." For money is in this world and not in the world to come, while wisdom is both of this world and the world to come. And money is stolen, or man is robbed of it, or he loses it by sea or by land; but wisdom cannot be stolen nor taken in robbery, nor is it lost by those that possess it; money, on the other hand, if a man gives it away or trades with it, he has none left to give; but if a man teaches another wisdom it does not leave his hand, but he increases in wisdom. Behold, then, the words of the Law and wisdom are more to be desired hy the intelligent than gold, yea, than much fine gold.

And (are) sweeter than honey and the honeycomb: – for honey is the food which is sweeter to man than any other; yet not-withstanding, if he continues to eat it, it does him harm and causes him to vomit; and food profits him (only) for the time being; but it is not so with wisdom, for, however much he increases therein, she will benefit him, and continue to benefit him for ever. And, as he says, they are to be desired. And by whom are they to be desired, and to whom are they sweet? To the wise and God-fearing. Therefore he says: