The Desire for the Tables of Kings
He sought the closeness of people of high standing. He wanted to greatly improve his social standing. He wanted to climb the social ladder.
("Do not seek greatness for yourself, nor covet honor...and do not covet the gifts of kings, whose gifts are greater than theirs, and whose crown is greater than their crown, and who is faithful over your kingdom, who will reward you for your work" - Avot 6:4)
Translation
Expression (Hebrew)
הַתַּאֲוָוה לְשֻׁולְחָנָם שֶׁל מְלָכִים
Definition (Hebrew)
חִיפֵּשׂ קִרְבָתָם שֶׁל אֲנָשִׁים בְּמַעֲמָד גָּבוֹהַּ. רָצָה לְשַׁפֵּר מְאוֹד אֶת מַעֲמָדוֹ הַחֶבְרָתִי.רָצָה לְטַפֵּס בַּסֻּלָּם הַחֶבְרָתִי.
("אַל תְּבַקֵּשׁ גְּדֻלָּה לְעַצְמְךָ וְאַל תַּחְמֹד כָּבוֹד ...וְאַל תִּתְאַוֶּה לְשֻׁלְחָנָם שֶׁל מְלָכִים שֶׁשֻּׁלְחָנְךָ גָּדוֹל מִשֻּׁלְחָנָם וְכִתְרְךָ גָדוֹל מִכִּתְרָם וְנֶאֱמָן הוּא בַּעַל מְלַאכְתֶּךָ שֶׁיְּשַׁלֵּם לְךָ שְׂכַר פְּעֻלָּתְךָ"- אָבוֹת ו ד )