Commentary for Ecclesiastes 5:19
כִּ֚י לֹ֣א הַרְבֵּ֔ה יִזְכֹּ֖ר אֶת־יְמֵ֣י חַיָּ֑יו כִּ֧י הָאֱלֹהִ֛ים מַעֲנֶ֖ה בְּשִׂמְחַ֥ת לִבּֽוֹ׃
For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many; for God answereth him in the joy of his heart.
Rashi on Ecclesiastes
For there are not many. For there is no longevity in this world.
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Kohelet Rabbah
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many, as it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many” – this is the generation of Eli.76This is a reference to the prophecy that Eli’s descendants would not have long lives, due to the behavior of Eli and the sins of his sons. See I Samuel 2:27–36 (Etz Yosef). “As it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” – this is Elkana, who would guide Israel and take them up to Jerusalem77This is a textual error, and should read Shilo instead of Jerusalem (Maharzu). each and every year on a different route. That is why the verse lauds him: “This man ascended from his city from year to year” (I Samuel 1:3).
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many” – this is the generation of Eli.76This is a reference to the prophecy that Eli’s descendants would not have long lives, due to the behavior of Eli and the sins of his sons. See I Samuel 2:27–36 (Etz Yosef). “As it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” – this is Elkana, who would guide Israel and take them up to Jerusalem77This is a textual error, and should read Shilo instead of Jerusalem (Maharzu). each and every year on a different route. That is why the verse lauds him: “This man ascended from his city from year to year” (I Samuel 1:3).
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Rashi on Ecclesiastes
Let him remember the days of his life. For they are few and not many; so why then should he bother to accumulate wealth? Let him labor with something that endures for him in the World to Come during his lifetime.
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