The Power of the Tongue: A Medieval Hebrew Story from Midrashic Literature

The Hebrew tale The Power of the Tongue initially appeared in Midrash Psalms around the tenth century. The story is written in a transitional form that combines typical features found in rabbinic aggadah texts and the medieval Jewish folktale. The writing includes characteristics that are midway between realistic and fantastic, concrete and allegorical, didactic and casually entertaining. According to the analysis offered in this paper, the story creates a hierarchy in which speech - represented by King David - supersedes wisdom - represented by King Solomon.