**The Tale of the Wise King and the Two Brothers**
In the ancient kingdom of Shelem, nestled between rolling hills and fertile valleys, there lived a wise and just king named Eliab. His reign was marked by prosperity and peace, for he ruled with integrity and sought the counsel of the Lord in all matters. The people of Shelem revered him, not only for his wisdom but also for his unwavering commitment to justice. King Eliab often meditated on the words of the Proverbs, and one verse in particular guided his decisions: *”Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise”* (Proverbs 20:1). This truth shaped his laws and his personal conduct, for he knew the dangers of excess and the folly of those who indulged in it.
One day, a dispute arose in the kingdom that would test the king’s wisdom and his understanding of the Proverbs. Two brothers, Asher and Caleb, came before the king with a bitter quarrel. Their father, a wealthy merchant, had passed away, leaving behind a vast estate. Asher, the elder brother, claimed that Caleb had stolen a portion of their inheritance, while Caleb insisted that Asher was hoarding the wealth and refusing to share it fairly. The brothers’ voices rose in anger, and their accusations grew louder, filling the grand hall of the palace with tension.
King Eliab, seated on his throne of carved cedar, observed the brothers carefully. He noticed the flush of Asher’s face and the trembling hands of Caleb, signs of their inner turmoil. The king raised his hand, and the room fell silent. “Peace, my sons,” he said in a calm but commanding voice. “Anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Let us seek the truth with patience and humility.”
The king ordered his servants to bring forth the records of their father’s estate. As the scrolls were unrolled, the king began to examine them meticulously. He knew the truth of the proverb: *”Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?”* (Proverbs 20:9). No one was without fault, and the king sought to uncover the heart of the matter.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that both brothers had acted selfishly. Asher had indeed withheld a portion of the inheritance, fearing that Caleb would squander it on his reckless habits. Caleb, on the other hand, had taken more than his share, driven by greed and a desire to live lavishly. The king’s heart was heavy, for he saw how their actions had fractured their family and dishonored their father’s memory.
Turning to the brothers, King Eliab spoke with solemn authority. “Listen to the wisdom of the Lord: *’Differing weights and differing measures—the Lord detests them both’* (Proverbs 20:10). You have both used deceit to gain advantage over the other, and in doing so, you have sinned against God and each other. Repent of your ways, and seek reconciliation.”
The brothers bowed their heads in shame, their anger replaced by remorse. The king decreed that the inheritance be divided equally, but he also imposed a condition: they must work together for a year to restore their father’s business, which had suffered during their feud. “For *’even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?’* (Proverbs 20:11),” the king said. “Let your actions prove your repentance.”
As the months passed, Asher and Caleb learned to work together. They discovered that their strengths complemented each other, and their father’s business flourished once more. The people of Shelem marveled at the transformation, and the brothers became a living testimony to the power of reconciliation and the wisdom of the king.
One evening, as the sun set over the hills, King Eliab stood on the palace balcony, gazing at the kingdom he loved. He reflected on the words of the Proverbs that had guided him: *”The Lord’s lamp sheds light on a person’s life, searching the innermost parts”* (Proverbs 20:27). He thanked God for the wisdom to discern truth and the courage to uphold justice. And he prayed that the people of Shelem would continue to walk in the light of the Lord, seeking wisdom and living in harmony.
And so, the kingdom of Shelem remained a beacon of righteousness, a testament to the enduring truth of the Proverbs and the faithfulness of a wise and just king.
