How do we find that "Zevuvei Maves Yav'ish Yabi'a Shemen Roke'ach"?
Rashi citing a Midrash: The Yetzer ha'Ra is compared to Zevuvei Maves 1 . It spoils Shem Tov, which is better than Shemen Tov (7:1). Brachos 61a - the Yetzer ha'Ra is like a fly (a tiny creature that spoils great things). It sits between the two chambers of the heart 2 .
Rav Sadya Gaon: A fly dies in scented oil, and decays, and makes froth and bubbles. Rashi - in winter, flies lack strength, and they are close to dying. "Yabi'a" is like Avabu'os 3 (bubbles). The previous verse said that one Choteh can ruin much good. Our verse teaches that even one Chet (sin) can ruin much good.
Ibn Ezra, Metzudas David: Yabi'a is like "Nachal Mavu'a" (12:6), like "Nachal Nove'a" (Mishlei 18:4). Dead flies spoil scented oil, which has the best smell. Yabi'a is Po'el Yotzei (it acts on others); they constantly make the oil stink.
Rashbam: They are not proper for anything, only to die.
Etz Yosef 61a, citing Nefesh ha'Chayim - the Yetzer Tov is always in the right chamber. The Yetzer ha'Ra is normally in the left, but sometimes switches, giving counsel that looks virtuous, but is really evil.
Ibn Ezra: This is wrong. Avabu'os is from the root Ba'ah (the last letter of the root is Hei), like "Mayim Tav'ah Esh", "Niv'eh b'Chomah" (Yeshayah 64:1, 30:13. Here, the Pi'el would be Yav'eh - Magihah in Toras Chayim.)
"Zevuvei Maves" is plural. Why does it say "Yav'ish" (singular)?
Ibn Ezra #1: We often find the singular in place of plural.
Ibn Ezra #2, Metzudas David: Each fly spoils in its place. Ibn Ezra - this is like "Bnos Tza'adah Alei Shor" (Bereishis 49:22). "Va'Tikach ha'Ishah Es Shnei ha'Anashim va'Titzpenehu" (Yehoshua 2:4) - she hid each in his place. "Va'Yikach Chizkiyah Es ha'Seforim mi'Yad ha'Mal'achim va'Yikra'ehu" (Yeshayah 37:14) - he read each by itself.
Ri Kara: It refers to one or two flies.
What is the meaning of "Yakar"?
Rashi: It means heavy.
Ibn Ezra, Metzudas David: Here Yakar refers to man, who is honored due to Chachmah and honor; a little folly spoils his reputation. Ibn Ezra - Yakar with a Kamatz under the Yud is an adjective. When there is a Sheva under the Yud, e.g. Mishlei 20:15, it is a noun, like Kavod (honor).
How is the end of the verse connected to beginning?
Rav Sadya Gaon: Just like a fly ruins scented oil, a little folly can cause a great loss of Chachmah and honor. Ri Kara - due to a small amount of folly in front of people, people abandon his Chachmah and honor, and deride him for his folly. Rid - one can lose his kingship due to folly!
Rashi: A small matter (a fly) ruined an important matter. So one who was half merits and half sins, they weigh equally. If he does one Mitzvah, he is now mostly a Tzadik. If he does one sin, he is mostly evil! One folly outweighed all his Chachmah and honor!
Ibn Ezra, Ri Kara, Seforno: This is like the previous verse - "v'Choteh Echad Ye'abed Tovah Harbe 1 ." Ibn Ezra - also one sin for a Chacham is a great loss. Hashem appeared twice to Shlomo, and he built the Beis ha'Mikdash, and his Chachmah exceeded [all] those before and after him, and he had only one sin - he did not seek what his wives did 2 . They built a house for their gods from Shlomo's wealth. Due to this, he is censured greatly in prophesies of Achiyah (Melachim I, Perek 11) and Nechemyah (13:26). Every sin is small or great based on the one who does it - "bi'Krovai Akadesh" (Vayikra 10:3). "U'Svivav NiS'ARaH Me'od" (Tehilim 50:3; Hashem is exacting with His Tzadikim like a Sa'ARaH (hair) - Yevamos 121b).
Seforno: Just like one sin can cause a great loss (defeat) in war, also in other matters. Scented oil is very esteemed. Zevuvei Maves, which are not esteemed at all, can cause a great loss to it. So a small folly that one does can spoil him in the eyes of the masses, and demote him from his honor and importance.
Shabbos 56b: Sanhedrin 21b says that he also transgressed amassing too many horses and marrying too many women. (PF)
