Gangs and Bullies IX (Park)

Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in the presence of all the assembly of Israel....

 - From 1 Kings 8

We have a great meeting in Israel, of something like the two types of people we have been talking about:

First, we have Solomon, the King of Israel. He was probably greater even than his father, David, for he ruled over a truly united Kingdom. He ruled without scandal, without intrigue. It was like America's "Era of Good Feelings" under James Monroe. The economy was sound, international affairs were solid. And the nations of the world really seemed to look towards Israel for the model of good governance, culture, and people.

Solomon was a powerful sole ruler . . . but he was no bully. He had too much wisdom for that!

Second, we have the entire "Assembly" of Israel. Or did we? The context shows us that there were representatives from each of the Tribes of Israel: twelve of them. And just how were they chosen? No . . . they weren't elected. Solomon had wisdom, remember? 

It was the elders of each tribe . . . the oldest members of the tribe went to represent them. No campaigns, no ads, no vitriol. The elder is the elder, period. 

But because of the Hebrew concept of "agency" it was understood that these elders were empowered to speak on behalf of their respective members. It was as if every person in Israel was actually there, being heard. 

So the assembly, formed in this way, acted as the equivalent to a mob. But they didn't act like mobs normally do, because the elders were in charge. And no . . . I am not going to explicate on why rule by elders tends to work this way.

Here is the perfect foil to bullies: a kind, wise, beloved ruler.

And the perfect foil to gangs: a representative group of the whole, in the person of the elders. 

Wow. 

So, the solution to bullydom is humility and wisdom. But you don't get wisdom by carrying on with the crowd. You gain wisdom through solitary activities. 

And the solution to ganging up is to send representatives on your behalf. But choose them not based on how attractive they are, or loud, or eloquent, or popular. Choose them based on their years. 

And so we now have some criteria, in sizing up whether or not to follow this leader, or that crowd.