What do we learn from "Ashrech Eretz she'Malkech Ben Chorim v'Sarayich ba'Es Yochelu"?
Shabbos 10a: We sit in judgment until the time to eat 1 .
Rav Sadya Gaon: They eat in the proper time.
Rashbam: Sarayich are next to the king. They eat when [most] people eat; they fight with Gevurah against the enemies, in order to sustain the land. At the time of eating they go to their houses and eat.
Ri Kara: Happy is the land whose king conducts in the way of freedom and authority. Before he eats, he engages in Gevurah to establish his kingdom. This makes his land quiet.
Metzudas Tziyon: Ashrech is praise, like "Ki Isheruni Banos" (Bereishis 30:13).
R. Chananel (10a): This is the fourth hour of the day, when most people eat. Rif - it is the sixth hour, when Chachamim eat.
What is the significance of "Ben Chorim"?
Ibn Ezra #1: He does acts of Gedolim - the opposite of Ben Beliya'al (Shmuel I, 25:17).
Ibn Ezra #2: Some say that "Chorim" is white, like "Chur Karpas u'Secheles" (Esther 1:6). And so they explain "v'Oregim Chorai" (Yeshayah 19:9), "Salei Chori" (Bereishis 40:16). In Arame'ic, white is Chiver. Gedolim are compared to white, and the lowest are compared to darkness - "Bal Yisyatzev Lifnei Chashukim" (Mishlei 22:29).
Rashbam: He is esteemed, and a Chacham; he sustains the world with his Chachmah.
Seforno: He is a Ben Chorin (free) from overpowering of desire. He himself will know proper counsel, and fix matters of the country.
Rid: It is the son of esteemed people. Since his fathers were esteemed, their deeds were proper, and he learned from them.
Metzudas David: He is the son of great people 1 . Such a king does not act like a youth.
Metzudas Tziyon: So are called great, renowned people - "vela'Chorim vela'Seganim" (Nechemyah 2:16).
What do we learn from "[she'Malkech Ben Chorim v'Sarayich ba'Es] Yochelu bi'Gvurah v'Lo va'Shesi"?
Shabbos 10a: They (Rashi - Chachamim, who are called Melachim) eat in the Gevurah (might) of Torah, and not in drinking wine.
Rav Sadya Gaon: They eat so they will have strength and courage, and do not drink.
Rashi: They engage in Gevurah of Chachmah and Binah, and not in drinking wine.
Ibn Ezra: "Va'Shesi" is poverty - "v'Nishsu Mayim me'ha'Yam", "Leshonam ba'Tzama Nashasah" (Yeshayah 19:5, 41:17). All their deeds are with Gevurah. Gevurah is put next to Achilah, to teach that they do not eat until they hunger, and the previous eating was digested. They eat only as needed, and not for the sake of pleasure.
Rashbam: They do not engage in drinking and overeating. Therefore, you should cling to a king who is Ben Chorim, so the world will be sustained. I do not know why va'Shesi has a Sheva under the under the Shin and not a Segol; it is from the root Shasah. It should be like Keri, from the root Karah! Rid - this is like "Vechi" (Devarim 34:8, Shoftim 21:2) from Bachah.
Ri Kara: "Yochelu bi'Gvurah" teaches that he spreads over all his enemies, brings booty and eats. He is not like a young king who engages only in eating and drinking, but not in Gevurah; amidst this, his enemies overpower him and make his land desolate.
Rid: They do not fix their eating on drinking wine, rather, on the Gevurah of Chachmah and Tzedek.
Seforno: Gevurah is zeal and diligence to fix the country. It is the opposite of "Giborim Lishtos Yayin" (Yeshayah 5:22), the custom of most officers.
