מאיתן האזרחי (מ"א ה יא). זה אברהם, שנאמר משכיל לאיתן האזרחי (תהלים פט א), והימן (מ"א שם), זה משה, שנאמר בכל ביתי נאמן הוא (במדבר יב ז). וכלכל (מ"א שם), זה יוסף, שנאמר ויכלכל יוסף (בראשית מזי ב), אמרו המצרים כלום מלך עבד זה עלינו אלא בחכמתו, מה עשו לו, הביאו שבעים פתקים, וכתבו עליהם שבעים לשון, והיו משליכים אותו לפניו, וקורא כל אחד ואחד בלשונו, ולא עוד אלא שהיה מדבר בלשון הקודש, שלא היה בהן כח לשמוע, שנאמר עדות ביהוסף שמו בצאתו על ארץ מצרים שפת לא ידעתי אשמע (תהלים פא ו). ודרדע (מ"א שם), זה דור המדבר שהיה בהם דעה. בני מחול (שם), בנים שמחלה להם שכינה במעשה העגל.
(I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER> THAN ETHAN THE EZRAHITE. This is Abraham, of whom it is stated (in Ps. 89:1): A MASKIL (a psalm of erudition) OF ETHAN THE EZRAHITE.81It is assumed, of course that Abraham wrote the Psalm, an assumption based on a comparison of Ps. 89:1 and Is. 41:2: WHO HAS RAISED UP RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE EAST?. See BB 15a. The Ezrahite (‘ezrahi) of Ps. 89:1 is understood in the sense of “Easterner,” and Ethan (which means “steadfast”) is regarded as equivalent to “righteous.” For another argument identifying Ethan and Abraham, see PR 6:5. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > HEMAN (rt.: 'MN). This is Moses, of whom it is stated (in Numb. 12:7 with reference to Moses): HE IS TRUSTED (rt.: 'MN) IN ALL MY HOUSE. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > CALCOL (KLKL). This is Joseph, of whom it is stated (in Gen. 47:12): AND JOSEPH SUSTAINED (rt.: KLKL) <HIS FATHER AND HIS BROTHERS>. The Egyptians said: Has this slave come to rule over us for any reason but because of his wisdom? What did they do to him? They brought seventy tablets82Gk.: piyyakia; Lat.: pittacia. and wrote on them in seventy tongues. Then when they cast them83The Buber text has the singular “it” here. before him. He read each and every one in its own tongue. And not only that, but he spoke in the Holy Tongue, which they did not have the ability to understand, as stated (in Ps. 81:6 [5]): HE MADE IT A STATUTE IN JACOB, WHEN HE WENT OUT OVER THE LAND OF EGYPT. I HEAR A LANGUAGE I HAD NOT KNOWN. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > DARDA (DRD')]. This is the generation (dor) of the desert, which had knowledge (de'ah). (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > THE CHILDREN OF MAHOL, i.e., the children whom the Divine Presence forgave (rt.: MHL) for the deed of the calf.
מאיתן האזרחי (מ"א ה יא). זה אברהם, שנאמר משכיל לאיתן האזרחי (תהלים פט א), והימן (מ"א שם), זה משה, שנאמר בכל ביתי נאמן הוא (במדבר יב ז). וכלכל (מ"א שם), זה יוסף, שנאמר ויכלכל יוסף (בראשית מזי ב), אמרו המצרים כלום מלך עבד זה עלינו אלא בחכמתו, מה עשו לו, הביאו שבעים פתקים, וכתבו עליהם שבעים לשון, והיו משליכים אותו לפניו, וקורא כל אחד ואחד בלשונו, ולא עוד אלא שהיה מדבר בלשון הקודש, שלא היה בהן כח לשמוע, שנאמר עדות ביהוסף שמו בצאתו על ארץ מצרים שפת לא ידעתי אשמע (תהלים פא ו). ודרדע (מ"א שם), זה דור המדבר שהיה בהם דעה. בני מחול (שם), בנים שמחלה להם שכינה במעשה העגל.
(I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER> THAN ETHAN THE EZRAHITE. This is Abraham, of whom it is stated (in Ps. 89:1): A MASKIL (a psalm of erudition) OF ETHAN THE EZRAHITE.81It is assumed, of course that Abraham wrote the Psalm, an assumption based on a comparison of Ps. 89:1 and Is. 41:2: WHO HAS RAISED UP RIGHTEOUSNESS FROM THE EAST?. See BB 15a. The Ezrahite (‘ezrahi) of Ps. 89:1 is understood in the sense of “Easterner,” and Ethan (which means “steadfast”) is regarded as equivalent to “righteous.” For another argument identifying Ethan and Abraham, see PR 6:5. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > HEMAN (rt.: 'MN). This is Moses, of whom it is stated (in Numb. 12:7 with reference to Moses): HE IS TRUSTED (rt.: 'MN) IN ALL MY HOUSE. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > CALCOL (KLKL). This is Joseph, of whom it is stated (in Gen. 47:12): AND JOSEPH SUSTAINED (rt.: KLKL) <HIS FATHER AND HIS BROTHERS>. The Egyptians said: Has this slave come to rule over us for any reason but because of his wisdom? What did they do to him? They brought seventy tablets82Gk.: piyyakia; Lat.: pittacia. and wrote on them in seventy tongues. Then when they cast them83The Buber text has the singular “it” here. before him. He read each and every one in its own tongue. And not only that, but he spoke in the Holy Tongue, which they did not have the ability to understand, as stated (in Ps. 81:6 [5]): HE MADE IT A STATUTE IN JACOB, WHEN HE WENT OUT OVER THE LAND OF EGYPT. I HEAR A LANGUAGE I HAD NOT KNOWN. (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > DARDA (DRD')]. This is the generation (dor) of the desert, which had knowledge (de'ah). (I Kings 5:11 [4:31], cont.:) <WISER THAN … > THE CHILDREN OF MAHOL, i.e., the children whom the Divine Presence forgave (rt.: MHL) for the deed of the calf.