Mishlei Perek 25

I hope you’re all doing well today. Welcome to another episode of NachDaily, with Mishlei Perek 25. The perek opens with the words “Gam eileh Mishlei Shlomo asher heitiku anshei Chizkiah, melech Yehudah - These, too, are Shlomo’s proverbs, which were copied down by the men of King Chizkiah of Yehudah.” The Meforshim differ about the history behind this. We know from the end of the last perek that Mishlei contains words of wisdom from people other than Shlomo. The Gr’a notes that this verse actually ends the wisdom of others and we return to the words of Shlomo. The Ibn Ezra notes the opposite…this verse actually ends the words of Shlomo and adds the wisdom of Shevna, who was Shlomo’s personal scribe. The Metsudos explains that these words were actually taught by Shlomo but written down by Chizkiah when he became king. It makes sense, adds the Meiri, that Chizkiah inserted these wise words because there were tremendous enlightenment and Torah learning during his reign. In a similar vein, the Ramad Walli explains that Chizkiah attained so much chochma because he chased after it with all his heart. He was able to reveal what was buried deep below and hidden away. This is why the passuk uses the word “hetika” from the word “ancient,” meaning that Chizkiah revealed the ancient words of Shlomo Hamelech. Verse beis says, “K’vod Elohim haster davar uch’vod melachim chakor davar - The honor of God is to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings is to probe a matter.” The Ramad Walli ex