I was shocked when Shlomo's approach of the neheneh seemed surprisingly positive for a moment. He acknowledged the positive outcome of having a business setup with two, three, a corporation, and finally, a kingdom. Shlomo seemed to be momentarily convinced that this was the solution to his debilitating search for meaning. For a moment, it was as if Shlomo had finally stumbled upon the answer he had so desperately sought out through so many different approaches. It seemed that through so much searching (searching that had led to nothing but dead ends), Shlomo had struck gold.
It would only make sense for Shlomo to apply this solution to his own personal situation. When Shlomo thought further into his revelation, he realized that he was, in fact, incorrect. He was back to square one: hakol hevel. Why? What happened?
Shlomo realized that if he was destined to be replaced by nothing but a lowly servant, his kingship would be meaningless. After his searching and finally uncovering what was seemingly the solution to all of his woes, he decided that his kingdom and his reign meant nothing at all if the heir to the throne was nothing but a mere servant. To me, this is selfish and totally conceited. If he finally found a solution to his search for meaning, yet he was to self-absorbed to accept it. If G-d chose the next king to take the throne, obviously he would be chosen for a reason. Shlomo was too absorbed in his own image to realize that whoever is the heir to the throne is going to be chosen by Hashem. Therefore, as degrading as Shlomo thinks it is, he needs to pull his personal self-obsession out of the picture, and accept his solution to his own problems. He is basically being a cranky baby and should chill out. No matter how great Shlomo was, G-d obviously knows what He is doing when He sets someone up for the throne, and Shlomo needs to take himself out of the picture and accept that it may not all revolve around him.
Sorry, buddy.
Agreed, Hannah, Shlomo always thought too much about himself and even more. He was always trying to be G-d like. When he had the dream in Givon, that was secretly him wanting to be like G-d. He does need to step down off of his high horse and realize that everything is not about him all the time.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with Hannah and Sophie. What I find most interesting is that Shlomo completely forgot that his own father was not part of the direct bloodline of kings until G-d proclaimed that David should be king. G-d's removal of the kingship from Shaul and giving of the kingship to David is a demonstration of G-d's dominance over man. Now, fewer than eighty years after David took the throne, Shlomo is complaining that G-d is giving his kingdom to a mere servant when HIS OWN FATHER was a mere commoner. Shlomo is so worried about his legacy. Maybe, if he had remembered how his father had risen to greatness and how Shaul had fallen, he would not have taken such a selfish standpoint in Sefer Kohelet. Yes, I understand that taking the kingdom away is not fair, but such is life.
ReplyDelete