קהלת רבה ד׳Kohelet Rabbah 4

Verse 1 · 1א׳

וְשַׁבְתִּי אֲנִי וָאֶרְאֶה. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה וְרַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר אֵלּוּ הַקְּטַנִּים הַנִּגְנָזִים בְּחַיֵּיהֶן בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתָם בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה, לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא הֵן עוֹמְדִין בְּצַד חֲבוּרָה שֶׁל צַדִּיקִים וַאֲבוֹתֵיהֶם בְּצַד חֲבוּרָה שֶׁל רְשָׁעִים, וְהֵם אוֹמְרִין לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם כְּלוּם מַתְנוּ אֶלָּא בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, יָבוֹאוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּזְכֻיּוֹתֵינוּ. וְהוּא אוֹמֵר לָהֶם אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם חָטְאוּ מֵאַחֲרֵיכֶם, וְחַטֹּאתֵיהֶם מְלַמְּדִין קַטֵיגוֹר. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי אִלְעָאי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה אֵלִיָּהוּ זָכוּר לַטּוֹב יוֹשֵׁב וּמְלַמֵּד סָנֵיגוֹרְיָא וְאוֹמֵר לָהֶם אִמְרוּ לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם אֵי זוֹ מִדָּה מְרֻבָּה מִדַּת הַטּוֹבָה אוֹ מִדַּת הַפֻּרְעָנוּת, אֱמֹר מִדַּת הַטּוֹב מְרֻבָּה וּמִדַּת הַפֻּרְעָנוּת מְעוּטָה, וּמַתְנוּ בַּעֲוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, אִם מִדַּת הַטּוֹב מְרֻבָּה לֹא כָּל שֶׁכֵּן שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ אֶצְלֵנוּ, אָמַר לָהֶם יָפֶה לִמַּדְתֶּם סָנֵיגוֹרְיָא יָבוֹאוּ אֶצְלְכֶם, דִּכְתִיב (זכריה י, ט): וְחָיוּ אֶת בְּנֵיהֶם וְשָׁבוּ, שֶׁשָּׁבוּ מִלֵּירֵד לַגֵּיהִנֹּם וְהֵם נִיצָלִין בִּזְכוּת בְּנֵיהֶם, לְפִיכָךְ חַיָּב כָּל אָדָם לְלַמֵּד אֶת בְּנוֹ תּוֹרָה שֶׁיַּצִּילֵהוּ מִגֵּיהִנֹּם. וְרַבִּי חֲנִינָא פָּתַר קְרָיָיה בַּהֲרוּגֵי מַלְכוּת, שֶׁהֵם בָּאִים לְחַיֵּי עוֹלָם הַבָּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵינָן מִתְוַדִּין. רַבִּי בִּנְיָמִין פָּתַר קְרָיָיה בַּחֲנִיפֵי תוֹרָה, סְבוּרִים כָּל עַמָּא שֶׁהוּא קְרָיָין וְלֵית הוּא קְרָיָין, תַּנּוֹיֵי וְלֵית הוּא תַּנּוֹיֵי, עֲטֵיף גּוֹלְתֵיהּ וּתְפִלִּין בְּרֵישֵׁיהּ. וְהִנֵּה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשׁוּקִים וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלַי לְהִפָּרַע מֵהֶן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (ירמיה מח, י): אָרוּר עֹשֶׂה מְלֶאכֶת ה' רְמִיָּה. וְרַבָּנָן פָּתְרִין קְרָיָיה בְּאֻמּוֹת הָעוֹלָם, וְהִנֵּה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשׁוּקִים וְאֵין לָהֶם מְנַחֵם, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא עָלַי לְהִתְוַכֵּחַ עִמָּהֶם, דִּכְתִיב (ירמיה נ, לד): גֹּאֲלָם חָזָק ה' צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ רִיב יָרִיב אֶת רִיבָם. דָּנִיֵּאל חַיָּיטָא פָּתַר קְרָיָיה בַּמַּמְזֵרִין, אֵלּוּ מַמְזֵרִין עַצְמָן, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, זֶה הַבָּא עַל הָעֶרְוָה וְהוֹלִידוֹ, זֶה מֶה חָטָא, וְזֶה מָה אִיכְפַּת לֵיהּ. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן פָּזִי אֲפִלּוּ הַמַּמְזֵר בָּא לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, דִּכְתִיב: וְהִנֵּה דִּמְעַת הָעֲשׁוּקִים וגו', אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא לְפִי שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הֵם פְּסוּלִין אֲבָל לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא אָמַר זְכַרְיָה אֲנָא חֲמִיתֵּהּ אָלוֹ כּוּרְסְיָן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (זכריה ד, ב): וְהִנֵּה מְנוֹרַת זָהָב כֻּלָּהּ וגו' וּשְׁנַיִם זֵיתִים עָלֶיהָ וגו', תְּרֵין אָמוֹרִין חַד אָמַר גּוֹלָה וְחַד אָמַר גּוֹאֲלָה, מַאן דְּאָמַר גּוֹלָה, גּוֹלָה שֶׁבְּבָבֶל וְגָלַת שְׁכִינָה עִמָּהֶם. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר גּוֹאֲלָה, הוּא פָּרוֹקָא, דִּכְתִיב (ישעיה מז, ד): גּוֹאֲלֵנוּ ה' צְבָאוֹת שְׁמוֹ, וּכְתִיב (מיכה ב, יג): עָלָה הַפֹּרֵץ לִפְנֵיהֶם וגו'.

“I returned and saw all the oppressions that are performed under the sun; and behold the tears of the oppressed, and they have no one to comfort them; and their oppressors possess power, but they have no one to comfort them” (Ecclesiastes 4:1). “I returned and saw” – Rabbi Yehuda, Rabbi Neḥemya, and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yehuda says: These are the children who, due to the iniquities of their fathers, are taken during their lifetimes in this world. In the World to Come, they stand on the side of the group of the righteous, and their fathers stand on the side of the group of the wicked. They say before [God]: ‘Master of the universe, did we not die only due to the iniquities of our fathers? Let our fathers enter [the group of the righteous] on the basis of our merits.’ He says to them: ‘Your fathers sinned after you died, and their sins condemn them.’ Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Ilai [said] in the name of Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi: At that time Elijah the prophet, may he be remembered for good, will sit and teach them a defense, and say to them: ‘Say before Him: Master of the universe, which attribute is greater, the attribute of beneficence or the attribute of punishment? Say that the attribute of beneficence is greater and the attribute of punishment is lesser. We died due to the iniquities of our fathers. If the attribute of beneficence is greater, all the more so our fathers should come to us.’ [God] will say to them: ‘You have advocated well; they will come to you,’ as it is written: “They shall live with their children and return” (Zechariah 10:9), [teaching] that they return from descending to Gehenna and they are rescued due to the merit of their children. Therefore, every person is obligated to teach his son Torah, so that he will save him from Gehenna. Rabbi Ḥanina interpreted the verse regarding those executed by the monarchy, who come to the life of the World to Come even though they do not confess. Rabbi Binyamin interpreted the verse regarding those who engage in Torah disingenuously. The entire people think they are well versed in Bible, but they are not well versed in Bible; well versed in Mishna, but they are not well versed in Mishna. He is clad in his caftan with phylacteries on his head. “And behold the tears of the oppressed, and they have no one to comfort them” – the Holy One blessed be He said: It is incumbent upon Me to exact retribution from them, as it is stated: “Cursed is one who performs the labor of the Lord deceitfully” (Jeremiah 48:10). The Rabbis interpreted the verse regarding the nations of the world. “And behold the tears of the oppressed, and they have no one to comfort them” – The Holy One blessed be He said: It is incumbent upon Me to contend with them, as it is written: “Their Redeemer is strong, the Lord of hosts is His name; He will champion their cause” (Jeremiah 50:34). Daniel the tailor interpreted the verse regarding mamzerim. These [the oppressed] are the mamzerim themselves, and who is it [who oppresses him]? It is the one who engaged in relations with a woman who is forbidden to him and begot him. What sin did this one [the mamzer] commit, and what is his connection to it? Rabbi Yehuda ben Pazi said: Even the mamzer enters the World to Come, as it is written: “And behold the tears of the oppressed...” The Holy One blessed be He says: In this world they are unfit [to enter the community], but regarding the future, Zechariah said: I have seen it and they are pure gold, as it is stated: “And behold a candelabrum entirely of gold…and there are two olives upon it [with its bowl [gulah] at its top]” (Zechariah 4:2). Two amora’im [explain the latter phrase of the verse]; one says: Its exile [gola] and one says its Redeemer [go’ala]. The one who says gola, it is the exile in Babylon and the exile of the Divine Presence with them. The one who says go’ala, it is redemption, as it is written: “Our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts is His name” (Isaiah 47:4), and it is written: “The one who breaks out will go up before them…[with the Lord at their head]” (Micah 2:13).

Verse 2 · 1א׳

וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים שֶׁכְּבָר מֵתוּ, אֵלּוּ דּוֹר אֱנוֹשׁ וְדוֹר הַמַּבּוּל. מִן הַחַיִּים אֲשֶׁר הֵמָּה חַיִּים עֲדֶנָה. אֵלּוּ הַסְּדוֹמִיִּים וְהַמִּצְרִיִּים.

“I praise the dead who are already dead, more than the living who are still alive” (Ecclesiastes 4:2). “I praise the dead who are already dead” – these are the generation of Enosh and the generation of the Flood; “more than the living who are still alive” – these are the Sodomites and the Egyptians.

Verse 3 · 1א׳

וְטוֹב מִשְׁנֵיהֶם אֵת אֲשֶׁר עֲדֶן לֹא הָיָה, אֵלּוּ אֶלֶף דּוֹר שֶׁעָלוּ בַּמַּחֲשָׁבָה לְהִבָּראוֹת, וְכַמָּה נִמְחוּ מֵהֶם, רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בְּנוֹ שֶׁל רַבִּי יוֹסֵי הַגְּלִילִי אוֹמֵר תְּשַׁע מֵאוֹת וְשִׁבְעִים וְאַרְבָּעָה דוֹרוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קה, ח): דָּבָר צִוָּה לְאֶלֶף דּוֹר. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ פָּתַר קְרָיָיה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָמְדוּ לִפְנֵי הַר סִינַי, כֵּיוָן שֶׁבָּאוּ לְאוֹתוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה, לֹא הִנִּיחַ משֶׁה זָוִית בְּקַרְקַע הָהָר שֶׁלֹא נֶחְבַּט עָלֶיהָ וּמְבַקֵּשׁ תְּפִלָּה וְרַחֲמִים עַל יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְלֹא נַעֲנָה, וְנִזְדַּוְּגוּ לוֹ חֲמִשָּׁה מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה, קֶצֶף, וּמַשְׁחִית, וְהַשְׁמֵד, אַף, וְחֵמָה. מִיָּד נִתְיָרֵא משֶׁה מֵהֶן, מֶה עָשָׂה נִתְלָה בְּמַעֲשֵׂה אָבוֹת, מִיָּד הִזְכִּיר וְאָמַר (שמות לב, יג): זְכֹר לְאַבְרָהָם לְיִצְחָק וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל עֲבָדֶיךָ. אָמַר לוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, משֶׁה, אֲבוֹת הָעוֹלָם מַה יֵּשׁ לָהֶם עָלַי אִם בָּאתִי לְדַקְדֵּק אַחֲרֵיהֶם, אֲנִי יֵשׁ לִי עֲלֵיהֶם, אַבְרָהָם יֵשׁ לִי עָלָיו שֶׁאָמַר (בראשית טו, ח): בַּמָּה אֵדַע כִּי אִירָשֶׁנָּה. יִצְחָק יֵשׁ לִי עָלָיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית כה, כח): וַיֶּאֱהַב יִצְחָק אֶת עֵשָׂו, וַאֲנִי שְׂנֵאתִיו, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (מלאכי א, ג): וְאֶת עֵשָׂו שָׂנֵאתִי. יַעֲקֹב יֵשׁ לִי עָלָיו, שֶׁאָמַר (ישעיה מ, כז): נִסְתְּרָה דַרְכִּי מֵה'. כֵּיוָן שֶׁאָמַר (שמות לב, יג): אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתָּ לָהֶם בָּךְ, לְמַעַן שִׁמְךָ, בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נִתְמַלֵּא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא רַחֲמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמות לב, יג): וַיִּנָּחֶם ה' וגו', מִיָּד נִסְתַּלְּקוּ מִמֶּנּוּ שְׁלשָׁה מַלְאֲכֵי חַבָּלָה, קֶצֶף, וּמַשְׁחִית, וְהַשְּׁמֵד, וְנִשְׁתַּיְּרוּ שְׁנַיִם, אַף, וְחֵמָה, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (דברים ט, יט): כִּי יָגֹרְתִּי מִפְּנֵי הָאַף וְהַחֵמָה. אָמַר לְפָנָיו רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם יָכֵיל אֲנָא מֵיקַם בְּתַרְוֵיהוֹן, סְבוֹל אַתְּ חַד וַאֲנָא חַד, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים ז, ז): קוּמָה ה' בְּאַפֶּךָ וגו'. וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁעָמַד משֶׁה בְּאֶחָד מַלְאַךְ חֵמָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קו, כג): וַיֹּאמֶר לְהַשְׁמִידָם לוּלֵי משֶׁה בְחִירוֹ עָמַד בַּפֶּרֶץ לְפָנָיו לְהָשִׁיב חֲמָתוֹ מֵהַשְׁחִית. עַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הוּא אוֹמֵר: וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים, כְּגוֹן אֲנִי וַחֲבוּרָתִי. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן פָּתַר קְרָיָיא בְּדָוִד, בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁבָּנָה שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת בֵּית הַמִּקְדָּשׁ בִּקֵּשׁ שֶׁתֵּרֵד אֵשׁ מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם וְלֹא יָרְדָה, הִקְרִיב אֶלֶף עוֹלוֹת וְלֹא יָרְדָה, הִתְפַּלֵּל עֶשְׂרִים וְאַרְבָּעָה תְּפִלּוֹת וְלֹא יָרְדָה, עַד שֶׁאָמַר (דברי הימים ב ו, מב): זָכְרָה לְחַסְדֵּי דָּוִיד עַבְדֶךָ, מִיָּד יָרְדָה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברי הימים ב ז, א): וּכְכַלּוֹת שְׁלֹמֹה לְהִתְפַּלֵּל וְהָאֵשׁ יָרְדָה. רַבִּי יוּדָה בְּרַבִּי לְעַיי וְרַבָּנָן, רַבִּי יוּדָה בְּרַבִּי לְעַיי אָמַר חָיָה דָּוִד בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה. וְרַבָּנָן אָמְרִין אֲרוֹנוֹ הֵבִיא, וְלָא פְּלִיגִין, מַאן דְּאָמַר חָיָה דָּוִד בְּאוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה הוּא שֶׁדָּוִד אוֹמֵר בְּפִיו (תהלים ל, ד): ה' הֶעֱלִיתָ מִן שְׁאוֹל נַפְשִׁי וגו', וְכָתוּב אֶחָד אוֹמֵר (דברי הימים ב ו, מב): ה' אֱלֹהִים אַל תָּשֵׁב פְּנֵי מְשִׁיחֶךָ, דְּהוּא קַיָּם קֳדָמָךְ. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אֲרוֹנוֹ הֵבִיא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב; זָכְרָה לְחַסְדֵּי דָוִד עַבְדֶּךָ. וְעַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נֶאֱמַר: וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים וגו', כְּגוֹן אֲנִי וַחֲבוּרָתִי, רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בְּרַבִּי סִימוֹן פְּתַר קְרָיָיה בִּיחֶזְקֵאל בְּשָׁעָה שֶׁעָמַד עַל הַבִּקְעָה וְאָמַר (יחזקאל לז, ד): הָעֲצָמוֹת הַיְבֵשׁוֹת שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר ה', מִיָּד וַתִּקְרְבוּ עֲצָמוֹת עֶצֶם אֶל עַצְמוֹ וגו', אָמַר לָהֶם בַּתְּחִלָּה אָמַרְתִּי לָכֶם (ירמיה ב, ד): שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר ה' בֵּית יַעֲקֹב וְלֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם, וְעַכְשָׁיו שְׁמַעְתֶּם. בְּחַיֵּיכֶם לֹא שְׁמַעְתֶּם, בְּמִיתַתְכֶם שְׁמַעְתֶּם. עַל אוֹתָהּ שָׁעָה נֶאֱמַר: וְשַׁבֵּחַ אֲנִי אֶת הַמֵּתִים, כְּגוֹן אֲנִי וַחֲבוּרָתִי.

“Better than both of them is one who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil actions that are done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 4:3). “Better than both of them is one who has not yet been” – these are the one thousand generations that were in God’s mind to have created. How many of them were eliminated? Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Eliezer son of Rabbi Yosei HaGelili: Nine hundred and seventy-four generations, as it is stated: “He commanded the matter for one thousand generations” (Psalms 105:8). Rabbi Yehoshua interpreted the verse regarding the Israelites at the time that they stood before Mount Sinai. Once they performed that act, Moses did not leave any corner of the ground on the mountain upon which he did not prostrate himself in prayer asking for mercy upon Israel, but he was not answered. Five angels of destruction harassed him: Anger, Destruction, Annihilation, Wrath, and Fury. Moses was fearful of them. What did he do? He relied on the actions of the patriarchs, and immediately mentioned them and said: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel Your servants” (Exodus 32:13). The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘Moses, what claims do the patriarchs of the world have against Me? If I come to be exacting with them, I have claims against them. I have a claim against Abraham, who said: “How will I know that I will inherit it” (Genesis 15:8)? I have a claim against Isaac, as it is stated: “Isaac loved Esau” (Genesis 25:28), but I hated him, as it is stated: “And Esau I hated” (Malachi 1:3). I have a claim against Jacob, who said: “My way is hidden from the Lord” (Isaiah 40:27).’ Once [Moses] said: “To whom You took an oath by Yourself” (Exodus 32:13), for the sake of Your name, at that moment, the Holy One blessed be He was filled with mercy, as it is stated: “The Lord reconsidered…” (Exodus 32:14). Immediately, three of the angels of destruction, Anger, Destruction, and Annihilation, departed, and two remained: Wrath and Fury. That is what is written: “For I was in dread due to the Wrath and the Fury” (Deuteronomy 9:19). He said before Him: ‘Master of the universe, am I able to withstand the two of them? You bear one and I will bear one.’ That is what is written: “Arise, Lord, in Your wrath [be’appekha]…” (Psalms 7:7). From where is it derived that Moses withstood one, the angel of Fury [Ḥema]? It is as it is stated: “He said He would destroy them, were it not for Moses, His chosen one, who stood before Him in the breach to turn back His fury” (Psalms 106:23). It is regarding that moment that he said: “I praise the dead […more than the living]” (Ecclesiastes 4:2), like me and my associates. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman interpreted the verse regarding David. When Solomon built the Temple, he requested that fire descend from the heavens, but it did not descend. He sacrificed one thousand burnt offerings, but it did not descend. He prayed twenty-four prayers, but it did not descend, until he said: “Remember the good deeds of David your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42), [and then] it descended immediately, as it is stated: “When Solomon concluded praying, the fire descended” (II Chronicles 7:1). Rabbi Yuda ben Rabbi Le’ai and the Rabbis: Rabbi Yuda ben Rabbi Le’ai said: David came to life at that time. The Rabbis say: He brought his coffin. They do not disagree; the one who said David came to life at that time, that is what David himself said: “Lord, You have raised my soul from the grave…” (Psalms 30:4), and another verse says: “Lord God, do not reject the face of Your anointed” (II Chronicles 6:42), as he is alive before You. The one who said: He brought his coffin, that is what is written: “Remember the good deeds of David Your servant” (II Chronicles 6:42). It is regarding that moment that he said: “I praise the dead […more than the living]” (Ecclesiastes 4:2), like me and my associates. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon interpreted the verse regarding Ezekiel. When he stood in the valley and said: “Dry bones, heed the word of the Lord” (Ezekiel 37:4), immediately, “the bones came together, each bone to its bone…” (Ezekiel 37:7). He said to them: ‘Initially I said to you: “Heed the word of the Lord, house of Jacob” (Jeremiah 2:4), but you did not heed; and now you are heeding. During your lifetimes you did not heed; after your deaths you heeded.’ Regarding that moment it is stated: “I praise the dead […more than the living]” (Ecclesiastes 4:2), like me and my associates.