תהלים, פרק קכ״ז, פסוק ב׳

The delicate balance between human effort and divine providence often defines how people pursue their livelihood. The primary approach among commentators points a critical finger at those who become entirely consumed by worldly matters due to a lack of trust in God. These individuals wake up before dawn to rush to the market and stay late into the night at their jobs [אבן עזרא, רש״י, מצודת ציון]. Burdened by endless toil and constant worry about the future, they eat their meals in sadness and hardship. Their exhausting routine closely mirrors the ancient curse that humanity would only eat through painful labor [מלבי״ם, אבן עזרא, שטיינזלץ].

In stark contrast to this pointless exhaustion, God offers a different path for those who trust Him, granting His loved ones sweet and restful sleep [רד״ק, מלבי״ם]. While an anxious person might work day and night only to secure a meager portion of bread, God effortlessly provides for the needs and success of those He loves, sparing them from agonizing effort [אבן עזרא, מלבי״ם, שטיינזלץ]. Importantly, this is not an endorsement of laziness or a rejection of honest work. Rather, it serves as a warning against placing all confidence in physical exertion alone, reminding people that true success ultimately relies on God's grace [מאירי].

Another perspective completely reverses the concept of sleep, viewing it as something to be willingly sacrificed for a higher purpose [רש״י, מצודת ציון]. This approach praises devoted scholars who banish sleep from their own eyes to immerse themselves in spiritual study. Because of their intense dedication, God supplies their income without requiring them to engage in heavy physical labor [רש״י, מצודת דוד]. Those who give up their rest in this world, along with the spouses who support them, will be rewarded with profound peace and tranquil sleep in the World to Come [תורה תמימה, מנחת שי]. On the other hand, those who exhaust their days and nights chasing temporary worldly vanities lose out on eternal life. Their misplaced priorities indirectly cause the Messiah—referred to as God's beloved—to remain in a deep slumber, delaying his eventual arrival [אלשיך].

Beyond the economic and spiritual lessons, a unique historical interpretation connects these ideas to the bitter struggles over King David's throne. In this context, the one who rises early represents Absalom, who rushed to rebel against his father. The one who stays late represents Adonijah, who launched his rebellion during David's old age. Both men worked fiercely to seize the kingship, eating the bread of sadness and hardship, yet all their agonizing efforts ended in failure. Instead, God easily handed the crown to His beloved, King Solomon, without requiring any effort on his part—as if he had been fast asleep the entire time [רד״ק].