Mishlei and Government - Part One

Leadership, authority, and transparency in public life

Photo by Rafael Nir on Unsplash

The book of Mishlei (Proverbs) is a treasure. But it’s the kind of treasure that’s best enjoyed in very small bites. Shlomo will scatter important - and remarkably timely - ideas across multiple passages throughout the work. But both the subtlety of the language and the overall structure can make it hard to squeeze the gems out.

Rabbi S.R. Hirsch, in his From the Wisdom of Mishle, organized some key themes into individual chapters. One of those chapters was titled “The State.” I believe that much of what he wrote in that chapter can teach us valuable lessons about both exercising and living with authority, even in our strange times.

So I thought I’d explore what he had to say, one idea at a time. Here’s my first installment.

משלי כה

ב כְּבֹד אֱלֹקים הַסְתֵּר דָּבָר וּכְבֹד מְלָכִים חֲקֹר דָּבָר

ג שָׁמַיִם לָרוּם וָאָרֶץ לָעֹמֶק וְלֵב מְלָכִים אֵין חֵקֶר

ד הָגוֹ סִיגִים מִכָּסֶף וַיֵּצֵא לַצֹּרֵף כֶּלִי

ה הָגוֹ רָשָׁע לִפְנֵי מֶלֶךְ וְיִכּוֹן בַּצֶּדֶק כִּסְאוֹ

The glory of God is in hiding things, but the glory of kings is in analysis

As the heavens in their height and the earth in its depth; so, to the heart of kings there is no fathoming

As dross must separate from silver for the smith to produce a utensil

So too should the lawless be removed from the king, to establish his throne in righteousness

In sharp contrast to the obvious fact that God's ways are, by and large, far beyond our understanding (see Isaiah 55:8), worldly leaders should strive for transparency. Because His works are well known to us, God can radiate glory despite the mysteries of His acts. But each man who seeks to exercise power over others must earn the respect for his authority.

However if a king can indeed only achieve real and lasting authority by explaining his choices and working to win the hearts and minds of his citizens, why are "the hearts of kings" so often "unfathomable"?

This, explains Rabbi Hirsch, is because of the many "lawless" individuals who, attracted to power, surround public figures and act as gatekeepers. No matter how reasonable the thoughts and plans of a responsible leader acting in good faith might be, conflicting incentives often drive his entourage to obscure or even pervert his goals.

The solution? Minimize the power and control allowed to the hangers-on - especially to those who see themselves as unrestrained (“lawless”) by their leaders’ policies and ideologies.

In theory at least, our always-online world provides governments and public figures with more direct channels of communication than at any time in history. Do we really still need all the layers of bureaucrats standing between “kings” and their public? But it’s also a time when leveraging those channels can require highly specialized skills and resources. Or, as I observed in my: What Can't be Said: Social Engagement in the Torah World article, we’ve added yet another gatekeeping layer.