Ecclesiastes Rabbah 10:7

¹“I have seen servants upon horses, and princes walking on the ground like servants” (Ecclesiastes 10:7). “I have seen servants upon horses” – these are Ishmaelites; “and princes walking on the ground like servants” – this is Joseph. Rabbi Levi said: A slave purchased, and the son of a maidservant sold, and a free man was sold to both of them. Rabbi Akiva was ascending to Rome; he encountered a certain eunuch from the royal court. He said to him: ‘Are you the rabbi of the Jews?’ [Rabbi Akiva] said to him: ‘Yes.’ He said to [Rabbi Akiva]: ‘Hear these three matters from me: One on a horse is a king; one on a donkey is a free man; one with shoes on his feet is a person; [therefore,] one without this and without that, one buried in a ditch is preferable to him.’ ). [Rabbi Akiva] said: ‘You said three matters, hear from me three alternative matters: The glory of a face is the beard, the joy of the heart is a wife, and “the portion of the Lord is children” (Psalms 127:3). Woe unto that man who is lacking these three. Moreover, the verse preceded it: “I have seen servants upon horses.” When that eunuch heard this, he banged his head against the wall and died. Another matter: “I have seen servants upon horses” – this is Ahab; “and princes walking on the ground like servants” – this is Elijah, as it is stated: “[And Ahab rode and went to Yizre’el.] The hand of the Lord was upon Elijah, and he girded his loins and ran before Ahab…” (I Kings 18:45–46).