Chapter Twelve (פֶּרֶק שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר)

A wondrous story of Shlomo the king, peace be upon him (מַעֲשֶׂה נוֹרָא שֶׁל שְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ ע״ה), how he married Naamah, the daughter of the king of Ammon (אֵיךְ נָשָׂא נַעֲמָה בַּת מֶלֶךְ עַמּוֹן). And behold, converts are not accepted, neither in the days of David nor in the days of Shlomo (וְהֲלֹא אֵין מְקַבְּלִים גֵּרִים לֹא בִּימֵי דָוִד וְלֹא בִּימֵי שְׁלֹמֹה) (Yevamot 24b). And if it had not been the will of the Holy One, Blessed Be He, in this matter (וְאִם לֹא הָיָה רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל הקב״ה בָּזֶה), Rechavam her son would not have reigned after her (לֹא מָלַךְ רְחַבְעָם בְּנָהּ אַחֲרֶיהָ). And the entire chain of the royal seed would not have come forth from her, until Mashiach ben David (וְלֹא יָצָא מִמֶּנָּה כָּל הַשַּׁלְשֶׁלֶת שֶׁל זֶרַע הַמְּלוּכָה, עַד מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד). Rather, he married her at the time that he went into exile in utter poverty (אֶלָּא שֶׁנְּשָׂאָהּ בִּזְמַן שֶׁהָלַךְ בְּדִלֵּי דָּלוּת בַּגָּלוּת), to fulfill what is said: “Whoever sojourns with you in your poverty, upon him Hashem will cast [His lot]” (לְקַיֵּם מַה שֶּׁנֶּאֱמַר: 'מִי גֵּר אִתְּךָ בְּעָנְיוּתְךָ, הוּא דִי׳ עָלֶיךָ יִפּוֹל') (Yalkut Shimoni, Remez 478: Isaiah 54). And she was truly his destined mate from the six days of Creation (וְהִיא הָיְתָה בַּת זוּגוֹ מַמָּשׁ מִשֵּׁשֶׁת יְמֵי בְּרֵאשִׁית).

A story of Shlomo the king, peace be upon him (מַעֲשֶׂה בִּשְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ ע״ה), who would journey every day to the heavens (אֲשֶׁר הָיָה שָׁט בְּכָל יוֹם לָרָקִיעַ), to hear secrets from the mouth of Aza and Azael (לִשְׁמֹעַ סוֹדוֹת מִפִּי עֲזָא וַעֲזָאֵל). And he had no fear and no dread (וְלֹא הָיָה לוֹ פַּחַד וְאֵימָה). And all the heavenly hosts would bow and prostrate themselves before the Holy One Blessed Be He (וְכָל צְבָא מַעְלָה הָיוּ כּוֹרְעִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים לִפְנֵי הקב״ה). And they would praise Him, that He had established such a king in Israel (וְהָיוּ מְשַׁבְּחִים אוֹתוֹ, שֶׁהֶעֱמִיד מֶלֶךְ כָּזֶה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל). And they would fulfill all his will (וְהָיוּ מְמַלְּאִים לוֹ כָּל רְצוֹנוֹ), as it is said: “And Shlomo sat upon the throne of Hashem as king” (וַיֵּשֶׁב שְׁלֹמֹה עַל כִּסֵּא י״י לְמֶלֶךְ) (I Chronicles 29:23). And he ruled over the upper ones and the lower ones (וְהָיָה מוֹלֵךְ עַל הָעֶלְיוֹנִים וְהַתַּחְתּוֹנִים). He decreed, and they brought stones and all the materials needed for the building of the Beit HaMikdash (גָּזַר וְהֵבִיאוּ אֲבָנִים וְצָרְכֵי בִּנְיָן לְבֵית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ). And when he sought the shamir (וּכְשֶׁבִּקֵּשׁ הַשָּׁמִיר), he brought Ashmedai, king of the demons, in chains of iron (הָיָה מֵבִיא אַשְׁמְדַּי מַלְכָּא דְּשִׁידֵי בִּשְׁלְשְׁלוֹת שֶׁל בַּרְזֶל), and a ring upon which was engraved the Explicit Name (וְטַבַּעַת שֶׁחָקוּק עָלֶיהָ שֵׁם הַמְּפוֹרָשׁ). And he kept him captive for many days, even after the building of the Beit HaMikdash (וְהָיָה תָּפוּס אֶצְלוֹ יָמִים רַבִּים אֲפִלּוּ אַחַר בִּנְיַן בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ). And when sin brought it about (וּכְשֶׁגָּרְמָה הַחֵטְא), he requested of him that he release him (בִּקֵּשׁ מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁיַּתִּיר אוֹתוֹ), and he would reveal to him one secret (וְהוּא יְגַלֶּה לוֹ סוֹד אֶחָד), which was a matter great and exceedingly awesome (שֶׁהוּא עִנְיָן גָּדוֹל וְנוֹרָא מְאֹד). And he released him (וְהִתִּירוֹ), and he asked him to give him his ring upon which the Explicit Name was engraved (וְשָׁאַל מִמֶּנּוּ שֶׁיִּתֵּן לוֹ טַבַּעְתּוֹ שֶׁהָיָה חָקוּק בּוֹ שֵׁם הַמְּפוֹרָשׁ), and he trusted him (וְהוּא הֶאֱמִינוֹ).

It was ordained by Hashem to repay him according to his deed (הָיְתָה סִבָּה מֵאֵת י״י לְשַׁלֵּם לוֹ כְּפָעֳלוֹ), because he transgressed three negative commandments (עַל שֶׁעָבַר שְׁלוֹשָׁה לָאוִין), that he should go three years in exile (שֶׁיֵּלֵךְ ג׳ שָׁנִים בַּגָּלוּת). And when he took the ring, he cast it into the sea (וּכְשֶׁלָּקַח הַטַּבַּעַת הִשְׁלִיכוֹ לַיָּם), and a fish came and swallowed it (וּבָא דָּג אֶחָד וּבְלָעוֹ). Then he cast him four hundred parasangs into the land of the nations (אָז הִשְׁלִיכוֹ אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת פַּרְסָאוֹת בְּאֶרֶץ הָעַמִּים), and they drove him from his kingdom, and all his glory was lost, for he had been cast far away (וְגֵרְשׁוּ מֵעַל מַלְכוּתוֹ וְאָבַד כָּל תִּפְאַרְתּוֹ כִּי הִשְׁלִיכוּ לְמֶרְחָק). And he begged from door to door (וְהָיָה שׁוֹאֵל עַל הַפְּתָחִים), and he would say: “I am Shlomo; I was king in Jerusalem” (אֲנִי שְׁלֹמֹה הָיִיתִי מֶלֶךְ בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם). And they would laugh at his words (וְהָיוּ מְשַׂחֲקִים מִדְּבָרוֹ), and they would say: “Would such a king beg from door to door?” (מֶלֶךְ כָּזֶה יִשְׁאַל עַל הַפְּתָחִים). And he endured this suffering for three years (וְעָמַד בָּזֶה הַצַּעַר ג׳ שָׁנִים), because he transgressed three commandments of the Torah: “And he shall not multiply wives for himself” (וְלֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ נָשִׁים) (Deuteronomy 17:17), “He shall not multiply horses for himself” (לֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ סוּסִים) (Deuteronomy 17:16), and “Silver and gold he shall not greatly multiply for himself” (וְכֶסֶף וְזָהָב לֹא יַרְבֶּה לוֹ מְאֹד) (Deuteronomy 17:17). And he stumbled in them all (וְנִכְשַׁל בְּכוּלָּם). And at the end of this period, at the end of the three years (וּבְסוֹף הַזְּמַן הַזֶּה, בְּסוֹף הַשָּׁלוֹשׁ שָׁנִים), the Holy One Blessed Be He desired to have mercy upon him (רָצָה הקב״ה לְרַחֵם עָלָיו), for the sake of David His servant (לְמַעַן דָּוִד עַבְדּוֹ), and for the sake of the righteous Naamah, daughter of the king of Ammon (וּלְמַעַן הַצַּדֶּקֶת נַעֲמָה בַּת מֶלֶךְ עַמּוֹן), from whom Mashiach ben David would come forth (שֶׁיֵּצֵא מִמֶּנָּה מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד), that he might be joined to her and bring her with him to the Land of Israel (שֶׁיִּתְחַבֵּר אֵלֶיהָ וִיבִיאֶנָּה עִמּוֹ לְאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל).

The Holy One Blessed Be He brought him to the land of Ammon (הֵבִיאוֹ הקב״ה לְאֶרֶץ עַמּוֹן), and he came to the royal city, whose name was Mishkhemam (וּבָא לְעִיר הַמְּלוּכָה שְׁמָהּ מִשְׁכְּמָם). And he was standing in the street of the city of Mishkhemam (וְהָיָה עוֹמֵד בִּרְחוֹב הָעִיר מִשְׁכְּמָם). And the king’s steward, the chief of the cooks, who prepared and cooked the king’s food (וּמַלְצַר הַמֶּלֶךְ שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה וּמְבַשֵּׁל מַאֲכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ), came to take what he needed for his work (בָּא לָקַחַת מַה שֶּׁצָּרִיךְ לַעֲשׂוֹת לִמְלַאכְתּוֹ), and he found Shlomo standing there (וּמָצָא שָׁם אֶת שְׁלֹמֹה עוֹמֵד שָׁם). And he took him for forced labor, to carry what he had taken (וְלָקַח אוֹתוֹ בַּאֲנַגְרִיָּא שֶׁהוֹלִיךְ מַה שֶּׁלָּקַח). And he brought him to the cookhouse, and he saw what he was doing (וְהוֹלִיכוֹ לְבֵית הַתַּבְשִׁיל וְרָאָה מַה שֶּׁהוּא עוֹשֶׂה). And Shlomo said that he should remain with him and serve him (וְאָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה שֶׁיַּעֲמֹד עִמּוֹ וִישָׁרְתֵהוּ), and that he desired only the food itself (וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה אֶלָּא הַמַּאֲכָל בִּלְבַד). And he agreed to him (וְנִתְרַצָּה לוֹ), and he remained with him and served him and helped him (וַיֵּשֶׁב עִמּוֹ וִישָׁרְתֵהוּ וְיַעְזְרֵהוּ). After some days, he said to him that he should cook food for the king according to his custom, since he was a great expert in these foods (אַחַר אֵיזֶה יָמִים אָמַר לוֹ שֶׁיְּבַשֵּׁל לַמֶּלֶךְ מַאֲכָלִים כְּמִנְהָגוֹ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁהוּא הָיָה אוּמָן גָּדוֹל בָּאֵלּוּ הַמַּאֲכָלִים). And the steward agreed to him (וְנִתְרַצָּה לוֹ הַמַלְצַר). And he prepared and cooked the king’s delicacies (וְהוּא עָשָׂה וּבִשֵּׁל מַעֲדַנֵּי הַמֶּלֶךְ). And when the king ate those delicacies that the steward had brought him (וּכְשֶׁאָכַל הַמֶּלֶךְ אוֹתָם הַמַּטְעַמִּים שֶׁהֵבִיאוֹ הַמַלְצַר), and tasted those dishes (וְטָעַם אוֹתָם הַתַּבְשִׁילִין), the king asked the steward, “Who cooked these foods? Until now you have never brought me the like of them.” (שָׁאַל הַמֶּלֶךְ לַמַלְצַר מִי בִשֵּׁל אֵלּוּ הַמַּאֲכָלִים שֶׁעַד עַתָּה לֹא הֵבֵאתָ לִי כָּהֶם). And he related to him the whole incident, that this man had cooked them (וְסִפֵּר לוֹ כָּל הַמְּאוֹרָע שֶׁאוֹתוֹ הָאָדָם בִּשְּׁלָם). And he commanded his servants to summon him (וְצִוָּה לַעֲבָדָיו שֶׁיִּקְרְאוּ אוֹתוֹ).

And he came before the king (וּבָא לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ). And he said to him, “Would you be willing to be my steward?” (וְאָמַר לוֹ אִם רוֹצֶה אַתָּה לִהְיוֹת לִי מַלְצָר). And he said, “Yes” (וַיֹּאמֶר הֵן). And he dismissed the steward from before him (וְשִׁלַּח אֶת הַמַלְצַר מִלְּפָנָיו). And he appointed him in his place, to cook all his food for him (וְשָׂם אוֹתוֹ בִּמְקוֹמוֹ לְבַשֵּׁל לוֹ כָּל מַאֲכָלָיו). And it came to pass after these things, that the daughter of the king of Ammon, whose name was Naamah, saw him (וַיְהִי אַחַר הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה רָאֲתָה אֹתוֹ בַּת מֶלֶךְ עַמּוֹן שְׁמָהּ נַעֲמָה), and she said to her mother that she desired to take this man, the steward, as her husband (וַתֹּאמֶר לְאִמָּהּ שֶׁרְצוֹנָהּ לָקַחַת אֶת הָאִישׁ הַזֶּה הַמַלְצָר לְבַעַל). And her mother rebuked her and said to her, “There are many officers and nobles in your father's kingdom (וְאִמָּהּ גָּעֲרָה בָּהּ וַתֹּאמֶר לָהּ: יֵשׁ בְּמַלְכוּת אָבִיךְ שָׂרִים רַבִּים וּנְכַבָּדִים); take whichever one is good in your eyes” (שֶׁתִּקְחִי אֶחָד מֵהֶם הַטּוֹב בְּעֵינַיִךְ). And she said, “I desire no one but this steward” (וַתֹּאמֶר אֵינֶנִּי רוֹצָה אֶלָּא זֶה הַמַלְצָר). And she pleaded with her greatly, but it was of no avail (וְהִפְצִירָה בָּהּ הַרְבֵּה וְלֹא הוֹעִיל), for she said, “In any case, I desire no other man but this one” (שֶׁאָמְרָה עַל כָּל פָּנִים אֵין רְצוֹנִי בְּאִישׁ אַחֵר אֶלָּא בָּזֶה). Until her mother was forced to reveal the matter to her husband the king (עַד שֶׁהֻכְרְחָה אִמָּהּ לְגַלּוֹת הָעִנְיָן לְבַעְלָהּ הַמֶּלֶךְ), that his daughter's desire was to take the steward as her husband (שֶׁרְצוֹן בִּתּוֹ הוּא לִקַּחַת אֶת הַמַלְצָר לְאִישׁ). And when he heard this matter, it grieved him exceedingly (וּכְשֶׁשָּׁמַע זֶה הַדָּבָר חָרָה לוֹ זֶה עַד מְאֹד), and he wanted to kill them both (וְרָצָה לַהֲרוֹג אֶת שְׁנֵיהֶם). But it was not the will of the Holy One Blessed Be He (אֲבָל לֹא הָיָה רְצוֹנוֹ שֶׁל הקב״ה), and it came about that the king's compassion was aroused toward them (וְנַעֲשָׂה לָהֶם שֶׁנִּכְמְרוּ רַחֲמֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ עֲלֵיהֶם). And he did not wish to shed innocent blood (וְלֹא רָצָה לִשְׁפֹּךְ דָּם נָקִי). And he called one of his servants and commanded him to take them to a desolate wilderness (וַיִּקְרָא לְאֶחָד מֵעֲבָדָיו וְצִוָּהוּ שֶׁיוֹלִיךְ אוֹתָם לְמִדְבַּר שָׁמֵם), where they would die of themselves (וְשָׁם יָמוּתוּ מֵאֲלֵיהֶם). And the eunuch did as the king commanded him (וְהַסָּרִיס עָשָׂה כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּהוּ הַמֶּלֶךְ), and left them in the wilderness (וְהִנִּיחָם בַּמִּדְבָּר), and returned to the king to serve him as before (וְהָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ לְשָׁרְתוֹ כְּבָרִאשׁוֹנָה). And they went from there to find food to sustain themselves (וְהֵם הָלְכוּ מִשָּׁם לִמְצֹא אֹכֶל לְהַחֲיוֹת אֶת נַפְשָׁם), and they came to a certain city that was on the seashore (וּבָאוּ לְעִיר אַחַת שֶׁהָיְתָה עַל שְׂפַת הַיָּם). And he went to seek food for them (וְהוּא הָלַךְ לְבַקֵּשׁ אֹכֶל לְנַפְשָׁם), and found fishermen selling fish (וּמָצָא דַיָּגִים מוֹכְרִים דָּגִים). And he bought one of them (וְקָנָה אֶחָד מֵהֶם), and brought this fish to his wife to cook (וְהֵבִיא אֶת הַדָּג הַזֶּה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ שֶׁתְּבַשֵּׁל אוֹתוֹ). And when she opened the fish, she found the ring inside it, upon which the Explicit Name was engraved (וּכְשֶׁפָּתְחָה אוֹתוֹ הַדָּג מָצְאָה הַטַּבַּעַת בְּתוֹכוֹ שֶׁחָקוּק עָלָיו שֵׁם הַמְּפוֹרָשׁ). And she gave this ring to her husband (וְנָתְנָה אֶת הַטַּבַּעַת הַזֶּה לְבַעְלָהּ). And immediately he recognized the ring and placed it upon his finger (וְתֵכֶף הִכִּיר אֶת הַטַּבַּעַת הַזֶּה וְשָׂם אוֹתוֹ בְּאֶצְבָּעוֹ). And immediately his spirit returned to him and his mind was restored (וְתֵכֶף שָׁב רוּחוֹ אֵלָיו וְדַעְתּוֹ נִתְיְשְׁבָה עָלָיו). And he went up to Jerusalem (וְעָלָה לִירוּשָׁלַיִם), and he drove out Ashmedai (וְגֵרֵשׁ אֶת אַשְׁמְדַּי). And he sat upon his royal throne (וַיֵּשֶׁב עַל כִּסֵּא מַלְכוּתוֹ), and placed the royal crown upon his head (וְשָׂם כֶּתֶר מַלְכוּת בְּרֹאשׁוֹ). And afterward he sent to summon her father, who was the king of the people of Ammon (וְאַחַר כָּךְ שָׁלַח לִקְרוֹא לַאֲבִיהָ שֶׁהוּא מֶלֶךְ בְּנֵי עַמּוֹן). And he said to him, “Why did you kill two souls without authority?” (וַיֹּאמֶר לוֹ לָמָּה הֲרַגְתָּ שְׁנֵי נְפָשׁוֹת בְּלִי רְשׁוּת). And he was afraid, and said, “Heaven forbid! I did not kill them, but I drove them into a desolate wilderness. I did not know what became of them” (וּפָחַד וַיֹּאמֶר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם לֹא הֲרַגְתִּים אֶלָּא גֵרַשְׁתִּים לְמִדְבַּר שָׁמֵם, לֹא יָדַעְתִּי מַה נַּעֲשָׂה בָּהֶם). Shlomo the king, peace be upon him, said to him, “And if you were to see them, would you recognize them? Know that I am the steward, and your daughter is my wife” (אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה הַמֶּלֶךְ ע״ה לוֹ, וְאִם תִּרְאֶה אוֹתָם תּוּכַל אַתָּה לְהַכִּיר אוֹתָם, דַּע שֶׁאֲנִי הַמַלְצָר וּבִתְּךָ אִשְׁתִּי). And he sent to summon her, and she came and kissed his hands (וְשָׁלַח לִקְרֹאתָהּ וּבָאָה וְנָשְׁקָה יָדָיו). And he rejoiced with great joy (וְהוּא שָׂמַח שִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה). And he returned to his land (וְהָלַךְ לוֹ אֶל אַרְצוֹ).