Why Solomon said life and death are in the power of the tongue…(3)

“The tongue thereupon replied: ” To-day even ye shall know that I am your master.”

The physician awoke from his sleep and remembered his dream. When he appeared in presence of his royal master, he thus spoke to him:

“Here is the dog’s milk which I have obtained for your Majesty; drink it.”

Greatly enraged, the King gave orders for his physician to be hanged. When he was being led to the place of execution, all the members and organs of the condemned man’s body began to tremble violently.

Thereupon the tongue thus addressed all the other limbs: “I told ye that without me you were all useless; now will ye admit my superiority and acknowledge me as your master if I promise to save ye even now from death?”

The organs of the body readily promised, and the physician’s tongue spoke to the executioner, requesting him to lead him once more before the King. Brought into the presence of his royal master, the physician asked him why he had ordered him to be hanged.

“Because,” said the King, ” thou didst not obey my in-struction, and didst bring me dog’s milk instead of that of a lioness.” ”

And what does it matter if it is a remedy and will cure thee of thy disease? Besides, we often call a lioness a bitch.I beg now your Majesty to drink of the milk I have brought.” The King granted the physician’s request, drank of the milk, and soon recovered. He thereupon set the physician free and dismissed him in peace. The members and organs of the body then said to the tongue:

“Now we see that thou art really master over all the organs of the human body, and we readily acknowledge thee as such.”

Therefore Solomon said: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue “-Proverbs18:21).

1 ‘Midrash Tehillim, 39; Sepher, Hamaassiot, pp. 38b-39a; cf. Monatsschrift, Vol. XXXLX, PP. 107-110.