SOLOMON, THE "WISE MAN."

...and the rules of poetry original: "Poesy". In occultism and "talismanic magic" he was an expert original: "Adept".

And in addition to the fact that Koheleth Koheleth: The Hebrew name for the author of Ecclesiastes, often identified as Solomon was wise, he continually taught the people knowledge.

If what others said interested the people, how much more readily did they listen to SOLOMON; with how much more ease did they understand him!

We may illustrate his method of teaching by the following comparison: There was a basket without handles original: "ears", filled with fine fruit, but the owner was unable to get it to his home because of the difficulty in carrying it, until a wise man, seeing the predicament, attached handles to the basket, after which it could be carried with great ease.

So did SOLOMON remove difficulties from the path of the student.

Rabbi Huna further illustrated this same concept. "There was once," he said, "a well of the most pure and excellent water; but the well was so deep that the people were not able to reach the water, until a man of wisdom, taking a bucket, attached to it one rope after another until the whole was long enough to reach the water. So was it with SOLOMON'S teachings. The Bible is a well of truth, but its teachings are too deep for the understanding of some. SOLOMON, however, introduced parables and proverbs suited to the comprehension of all, through which means a knowledge of the law became readily obtainable."

Rabbi Simon, the son of Chalafta, related the following parable: "A certain king had an officer to whom he was much attached, and whom he took great delight in honoring. One day he said to this favorite, 'Come, express a wish; anything that I can give you shall be yours.' Then this officer thought, 'If I ask the king for gold or silver or precious stones, he will give what I ask; even though I desire higher honor and a more exalted station he will grant it; yet I will ask him for his daughter, for if he grants that, all the rest will be included.'"

When the Lord appeared to SOLOMON in Gibeon original: "Gibon", and said to him in a dream, "What shall I give to you?" SOLOMON reflected, "If I ask for gold, silver, or jewels, the Lord will give them to me; I will ask, however, for wisdom; if that is granted to me, all other good things are included." Therefore, he replied, "Give to your servant an understanding heart."

Then the Lord said:

"Because you have asked for wisdom, and requested not wealth or dominion over your enemies; by your life, wisdom and knowledge shall be yours, and through them you shall obtain wealth and power."

"And Solomon awoke, and behold, it was a dream." He wandered into the fields, and he heard the voices of the animals; the donkey brayed, the lion roared, the dog barked, the rooster crowed, and behold, he understood what they said to one another.

An ox, even after being killed and prepared for meat original: "dressed", may be made to stand, provided the tendons original: "sinews" are uncut; but if they are severed, ropes are required...