Disciplined Governance

Disciplined Governance

Disciplined Governance Kohelet 10 16 17 Twil 5785

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קהלת י (טז) אִֽי־לָ֣ךְ אֶ֔רֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ נָ֑עַר וְשָׂרַ֖יִךְ בַּבֹּ֥קֶר יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (יז) אַשְׁרֵ֣יךְ אֶ֔רֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ בֶּן־חוֹרִ֑ים וְשָׂרַ֙יִךְ֙ בָּעֵ֣ת יֹאכֵ֔לוּ בִּגְבוּרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בַשְּׁתִֽי׃

Kohelet 10 (16) Woe to the land, when your king is young, and your rulers eat in the morning. (17) Fortunate is the land when your king is free, and the officers eat at the [proper] time, in strength and not in drinking.

Questions:

Q1: What is the problem with a young or immature ruler?

Q2: What does eating in the morning indicate?

Q3: What is a king that is free?

Q4: What is eating in strength versus with drinking?

ספורנו קהלת – (טז) אי לך ארץ שמלכך נער. וכמו שיקרה הקלקול בפרטים בסיבת הנהגת הסכלים, כן יקרה בכללות המדינה קלקול בסיבת סכלות המלך והשרים כשהם נערים, ואוכלים בבוקר כמנהג הילדים, באופן שאין בהם שלימות חכמה ולא נסיון, וצריכים לעצת אחרים, ועם זה פונים להנאתם ותאוותם, ובכן לא יפנו לשמור המדינה מן הקלקול ומסיבותיו:

(יז) אשרך ארץ שמלכך בן חורין. משעבוד התאוות והתגברותם, ובזה יהיה בעל עצה מעצמו, ויפנה לתקן עניני המדינה בגבורה, בזריזות וחריצות לתקן המדינה, ולא בשתי, על היפך 'גבורים לשתות יין' (ישעיה ה כב), כמנהג רוב השרים:

Sforno on Kohelet – Woe to you, land, whose king is a child. Just as corruption occurs in the details as a result of leadership of fools, so too will there be corruption in the nation as a whole because of the foolishness of the king and his ministers when they are immature. They eat in the morning like children, in a manner that shows they lack wisdom and experience, and they are dependent on the advice of others. Moreover, they are driven to benefit themselves and their desires, and therefore they will not focus on safeguarding the nation from corruption and its causes.

(17) Fortunate are you, land, whose king is free, from subservience to base desires and being ruled by them. In such a case, the ruler will be able to follow his own advice, and will direct his efforts to address the matters of the state with strength, speed, and diligence. And not in drinking, unlike the "mighty who drink wine" (Isaiah 5:22), as is the custom of most ministers.

The Sforno explains that immature leadership has consequences for a nation. Eating in the morning represents this immaturity. Small children must eat first thing when they wake up. They do not yet have the ability to delay gratification. If a leader is beholden to pursuing their own interests, they will ignore the true threats the country. It will lead to deterioration apparent first in the details of governance, and eventually in the core institutions.

In contrast, a leader who is free from being ruled by their desires can assess situations clearly. They can trust their intuition. With strength, enthusiasm, and diligence, they can address the challenges facing their nation. They also eat, but “at the right time”, only after taking care of their responsibilities. They dine from a position of strength which they have created, not as an escape.

King Solomon contrasts two different types of leadership. Immature leaders are slaves to their own interests, which will ultimately cost those they serve. A mature leader is defined as someone who is free from outside influence, enabling them to direct their full energies toward the task at hand.

קהלת י (טז) אִֽי־לָ֣ךְ אֶ֔רֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ נָ֑עַר וְשָׂרַ֖יִךְ בַּבֹּ֥קֶר יֹאכֵֽלוּ׃ (יז) אַשְׁרֵ֣יךְ אֶ֔רֶץ שֶׁמַּלְכֵּ֖ךְ בֶּן־חוֹרִ֑ים וְשָׂרַ֙יִךְ֙ בָּעֵ֣ת יֹאכֵ֔לוּ בִּגְבוּרָ֖ה וְלֹ֥א בַשְּׁתִֽי׃

Kohelet 10 (16) Woe to the land, when your king is immature, and your rulers eat in the morning. (17) Fortunate is the land when your king is free, and the officers eat at the [proper] time, in strength and not in drinking.

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