Lamplighter
“Death and Life are in the power of the tongue”
וֹשׁן֑לָיד־ַבְּיּים ִחַוְ֭ות ֶָ֣מ - Proverbs 18:21
The King of Persia was ill. Though all his physicians tried to cure him, none succeeded. Finally, one physician declared that lion's milk was the only possible remedy.
The Persian ministers sent a message to King Solomon, known far and wide for his wisdom. They knew that if anyone could figure out how to procure milk from a lioness, it would be the wise King.
King Solomon chose the wise and courageous Benayahu ben Yehoyada to carry out the dangerous mission. Benayahu set out for a lioness's den, taking with him some servants and ten young goats. He approached the den and went close enough to be able to see that the lioness was nursing her cubs. At that point, Benayahu threw the beast one of the goats and watched with satisfaction as the lioness devoured it hungrily.
Each day Benayahu ventured a little closer to the lion's den, threw a goat, and watched as the lioness eyed him less and less warily. By the tenth day, Benayahu was standing at the lioness' side. The giant animal allowed Benayahu to touch her and even draw some milk.
Their mission accomplished, Benayahu and his servants returned home with the lion's milk for the ailing King of Persia.
The Persian royal messenger took the milk and set out on the long journey back to his native land. On the way, he lay down for a rest and fell asleep. He dreamt that various parts of his body were arguing, each one claiming credit for safely conveying the lion's milk.
"We went to fetch the milk from the Land of Israel and deliver it to the king," claimed the feet. "We are by far the most important."
"We are the ones who are actually carrying the milk," exclaimed the hands. "We have made sure that not a drop has spilled."
The tongue now spoke up. "I am the most important part of the body. Because of me, the king was able to articulate his request that someone bring him the lion's milk!"
Upon hearing these words, all the other parts of the body pounced on the little tongue and ridiculed it: "Who are you, smallest and least significant of us all? What is your strength compared to ours? You are altogether worthless."
But the tongue refused to be intimidated. "We will see who is the strongest when we stand before the king tomorrow!"
Shaken by this strange dream, the messenger woke up and hurried to complete his mission. When he arrived at the royal palace, he went before the Persian king and bowed deeply. "I have brought the dog's milk you requested," he announced.
"Dog's milk!" the king roared. Before the servant could utter another word, the king ordered him imprisoned, to be hung the next morning.
That night, the servant lay on the stone floor of his cell. Sleep did not come to him easily, but when it did, he had another strange dream. The parts of his body were continuing their argument from the previous day. "Now you must truly admit that I am the most important part of the body," exclaimed the tongue happily. "If you admit that I am the most powerful, I will save you tomorrow." The entire body unanimously agreed that the tongue was, indeed, the most powerful part of the body.
When the servant awoke, he instinctively knew what he must do. On the following day, as he was being led to the gallows, he asked for one last privilege before he died: to be brought before the king once more.
When this wish was granted, the servant said, humbly, "Your majesty! I did truly bring you lion's milk, as you ordered. You see, we hunters sometimes refer to lions as dogs. Please, give me a chance. Drink the milk. If it cures you, then you will surely know that I tell the truth."
The king drank the milk and began to feel better immediately. Within no time, he had recovered. The messenger was awarded his life and became the living example of King Solomon's statement in Proverbs: "Death and Life are in the power of the tongue."
