Commentary for Ecclesiastes 12:3
בַּיּ֗וֹם שֶׁיָּזֻ֙עוּ֙ שֹׁמְרֵ֣י הַבַּ֔יִת וְהִֽתְעַוְּת֖וּ אַנְשֵׁ֣י הֶחָ֑יִל וּבָטְל֤וּ הַטֹּֽחֲנוֹת֙ כִּ֣י מִעֵ֔טוּ וְחָשְׁכ֥וּ הָרֹא֖וֹת בָּאֲרֻבּֽוֹת׃
In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out shall be darkened in the windows,
Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Trembling. Trembling.
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Kohelet Rabbah
“on the day that the guards of the house will tremble, the men of valor will be bent, the grinders will cease because they have dwindled, and it will be dark for those who gaze through the windows” (Ecclesiastes 12:3);
“On the day that the guards of the house will tremble” – these are the ribs; “the men of valor will be bent” – these are one’s arms. Rabbi Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Neḥemya says: These are one’s ribs. “The grinders will cease” – this is the stomach; “because they have dwindled” – these are the teeth; “and it will be dark for those who gaze through the windows” – Rabbi Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Neḥemya says: These are the edges of the lungs, from which the sound of the voice emerges.
“On the day that the guards of the house will tremble” – these are the ribs; “the men of valor will be bent” – these are one’s arms. Rabbi Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Neḥemya says: These are one’s ribs. “The grinders will cease” – this is the stomach; “because they have dwindled” – these are the teeth; “and it will be dark for those who gaze through the windows” – Rabbi Ḥiyya ben Rabbi Neḥemya says: These are the edges of the lungs, from which the sound of the voice emerges.
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
The preservers of the house. These refer to the ribs and flanks, that protect the entire body’s cavity.6Alternatively, these refer to the hands and arms. (Metsudas Dovid)
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Will be bent. Will be seized by cramps עִוּוּת, called crampe [in O.F.]. Will be seized with cramps [=וְהִתְעַוְּתוּ is encranpiront in O.F.
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
The strong men. These refer to the legs, upon which the entire body is supported.
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
And the grinders cease. These refer to the teeth.
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Because they are few. In old age, most of his teeth fall out.
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
And the starers in the windows. These refer to the eyes.
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