Midrash
Kohelet Rabbah 4:14 קהלת רבה ד׳:י״ד
Part of: Chapter 4
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כִּי מִבֵּית הָסוּרִים יָצָא לִמְלֹךְ, דְּהוּא מְכַשְׁכֵּשׁ לִבְרִיָיאתָה כְּמִן בֵּינֵי סְרִיאָתָה. כִּי גַּם בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ נוֹלַד רָשׁ, בְּמַלְכוּת יֵצֶר טוֹב נוֹלַד רְשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁל יֵצֶר הָרָע. דָּבָר אַחֵר, טוֹב יֶלֶד מִסְכֵּן, זֶה אַבְרָהָם. מִמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל, זֶה נִמְרוֹד. מָה הוּא (בראשית יד, יז): אֶל עֵמֶק שָׁוֵה, שֶׁשָּׁם הֻשְּׁווּ וְקָצְצוּ אֲרָזִים וְעָשׂוּ לוֹ בִּימָה גְדוֹלָה וְהוֹשִׁיבוּהוּ עָלֶיהָ לְמַעְלָה, וְהָיוּ מְקַלְּסִין לְפָנָיו וְאוֹמְרִים (בראשית כג, ו): שְׁמָעֵנוּ אֲדֹנִי נְשִׂיא אֱלֹהִים אַתָּה בְּתוֹכֵנוּ. כִּי גַּם בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ נוֹלַד רָשׁ, בְּמַלְכוּתוֹ שֶׁל אַבְרָהָם נוֹלַד רְשׁוּתוֹ שֶׁל נִמְרוֹד. דָּבָר אַחֵר, טוֹב יֶלֶד מִסְכֵּן, זֶה יוֹסֵף. וְחָכָם, שֶׁבְּחָכְמָתוֹ הֶחֱיָה כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ בָּרָעָב. מִמֶּלֶךְ זָקֵן וּכְסִיל, זֶה פּוֹטִיפַר, כַּמָּה נִסִּים רָאָה עַל יָדוֹ וְלֹא נִזְהָר. כִּי מִבֵּית הָסוּרִים יָצָא לִמְלֹךְ, מִבֵּית גִּירַרְתּוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה יָצָא מֶלֶךְ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית מא, מד): אֲנִי פַרְעֹה וּבִלְעָדֶיךָ לֹא יָרִים וגו'.
“For he emerged from prison to reign, as also to his kingdom he was born poor” (Ecclesiastes 4:14).
“For he emerged from prison [beit hasurim] to reign” – as it [the evil inclination] entangles people as though among thorns [seriata]. “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of the good inclination comes the beginning of the impoverishment of the evil inclination.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Abraham; “than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Nimrod. What is: “To the Shaveh Valley” (Genesis 14:17)? As there they all agreed [hushvu] and chopped down the cedars, and constructed a large platform, and enthroned him32Abraham above upon it; and they were lauding him and saying: “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us” (Genesis 23:6). “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of Abraham comes the beginning of the impoverishment of Nimrod.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Joseph; “and wise” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – as his wisdom sustained the entire world during the famine. “Than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Potifar. How many miracles did he see performed through [Joseph], but he was not admonished.33He believed his wife’s false accusations against Joseph. “For he emerged from prison to reign” – from Pharaoh’s jail he emerged a king, as it is stated: “I am Pharaoh, and without you no one will lift [his hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt] ” (Genesis 41:44).
“For he emerged from prison to reign, as also to his kingdom he was born poor” (Ecclesiastes 4:14).
“For he emerged from prison [beit hasurim] to reign” – as it [the evil inclination] entangles people as though among thorns [seriata]. “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of the good inclination comes the beginning of the impoverishment of the evil inclination.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Abraham; “than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Nimrod. What is: “To the Shaveh Valley” (Genesis 14:17)? As there they all agreed [hushvu] and chopped down the cedars, and constructed a large platform, and enthroned him32Abraham above upon it; and they were lauding him and saying: “Hear us, my lord; you are a prince of God among us” (Genesis 23:6). “As also to his kingdom he was born poor” – with the kingship of Abraham comes the beginning of the impoverishment of Nimrod.
Another matter: “Better is a poor…child” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Joseph; “and wise” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – as his wisdom sustained the entire world during the famine. “Than an old and foolish king” (Ecclesiastes 4:13) – this is Potifar. How many miracles did he see performed through [Joseph], but he was not admonished.33He believed his wife’s false accusations against Joseph. “For he emerged from prison to reign” – from Pharaoh’s jail he emerged a king, as it is stated: “I am Pharaoh, and without you no one will lift [his hand or foot in the entire land of Egypt] ” (Genesis 41:44).