משלי, פרק כ״ג, פסוק ח׳

Sharing a meal is traditionally a moment of connection, but sitting at the table of a stingy person who does not truly want to share becomes a barren and humiliating experience. Accepting favors from a grudging host leads only to disappointment, as both the food consumed and the effort to build a relationship are ultimately wasted.

The physical reaction to such a meal is intense discomfort, leading the guest to expel and throw up the food [מצודת ציון]. The primary approach among commentators is that the distress of the situation is so severe that the guest will vomit the meal, leaving them as if they had never eaten at all. This physical rejection stems from a deep sense of shame [רש״י], brought on by the host staring with a resentful eye throughout the meal [אבן עזרא, מצודת דוד]. From a spiritual perspective, there is a deep irony in this dynamic. The food is actually considered the guest's own portion, as God either deducted it from the guest's heavenly allowance or provided it to the host specifically for this person. Despite the food truly belonging to the guest by divine decree, the host still serves it with a miserable spirit [אלשיך].

Alongside the physical rejection of the food, the guest's speech loses all its value. The primary approach among commentators is that the guest will have wasted all the pleasant words of flattery, affection, and gratitude showered upon the host. These words are ruined and spoken in vain, as there is no benefit in trying to bond with someone who has no desire for closeness [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Instead of appreciating the gratitude, the host will simply view the guest as a glutton [אבן עזרא]. Furthermore, once the food is thrown up, it becomes clear that all the earlier expressions of thanks were completely pointless [מצודת דוד, רש״י].

Taking a different approach, the pleasant words wasted at the table can be understood as words of Torah. A guest might attempt to share spiritual wisdom, hoping to elevate and sanctify the meal. However, a grudging host will only feel disgust toward these teachings. As a result, instead of uplifting the environment, the guest merely degrades and ruins the sacred words by sharing them with someone who despises them [אלשיך].