Commentary for Pesachim 219:11

אמר רב יוסף אמר לי יוסף שידא אשמדאי מלכא דשידי ממונה הוא אכולהו זוגי ומלכא לא איקרי מזיק איכא דאמרי לה להאי גיסא אדרבה מלכא [רתחנא הוא] מאי דבעי עביד שהמלך פורץ גדר לעשות לו דרך ואין מוחין בידו

R'Joseph said: The demon Joseph told me [that] Ashmedai the king of the demons is appointed over all pairs.'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Those who drink in pairs are at his mercy.');">¹⁶</span> and a king is not designated a harmful spirit.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is beneath his dignity to cause hurt. Hence there is generally no danger in pairs (though occasionally he may disregard his dignity - Rashbam) .');">¹⁷</span> Others explain it in the opposite sense: On the contrary, a king is quick-tempered [and] does whatever he wishes, for a king can break through a wall to make a pathway for himself and none may stay him.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence the danger is all the greater.');">¹⁸</span>

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