He spoke about plant life, from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop that grows out of walls. He also spoke about animals and birds, reptiles and fish. – 1 Kings 4:33

Today’s Scripture Reading (July 30, 2016): 1 Kings 4

The Rabbi’s in antiquity told a parable. A certain man was walking in a field in the heat of the day. As he walked, he carried a jug of cool milk and he came across a snake that was dying of thirst. The snake looked up at the man with the milk and begged the man for a drink. The man looked down at the dying snake and refused to part with any of his milk. But the snake persisted and finally told the man that in exchange for a drink of milk, the snake would show the man a treasure. Intrigued by what the snake might call a treasure, the man gave in and offered the snake some milk. Once the snake’s thirst had been satisfied, the snake led the man to his treasure hidden under a rock. Just as the man was about to take his reward, the snake pounced, coiling itself around the man’s neck. The man protested the snake’s behavior, but the snake insisted that he would never allow the man to take his treasure. So the man proposed that they take their case before Solomon the Wise.

The snake agreed and the pair went and found Solomon. When they arrived at the place where Solomon was, the snake was still coiled around the man’s neck. Solomon asked the snake what it was that he wanted. The snake told the king that he wanted to kill the man because the scriptures dictated that the snake will bruise the heel of man. Solomon pondered the snake’s request and then demanded that the snake lets go of the man before he delivered his ruling, telling the snake that the two parties in a trial must have equal standing. So the snake lets go of the man and dropped to the ground. Then Solomon asked a second time what it was that the snake wanted. Again the snake informed the king that he wanted to kill the man fulfilling the scripture that said that the snake would bruise the heel of man. Solomon turned to the man and said “To you, God commands that you crush the head of the snake – do it! And the man did it.

The Hebrew teachers taught that Solomon understood plants from the Cedar of Lebanon which was the most majestic all the way down to the Hyssop plant which was the least of the plants. He also knew all the categories of animals on the earth, from mammals to reptiles, and the birds and the fish. In Solomon, we see a man that fulfilled the commands given to Adam, the first man, to take care of creation. And Solomon’s commitment and care were such that, at least according to the Rabbi’s, even the animals brought their differences before the wise king.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 5