Musar for Ecclesiastes 8:8

אֵ֣ין אָדָ֞ם שַׁלִּ֤יט בָּר֙וּחַ֙ לִכְל֣וֹא אֶת־הָר֔וּחַ וְאֵ֤ין שִׁלְטוֹן֙ בְּי֣וֹם הַמָּ֔וֶת וְאֵ֥ין מִשְׁלַ֖חַת בַּמִּלְחָמָ֑ה וְלֹֽא־יְמַלֵּ֥ט רֶ֖שַׁע אֶת־בְּעָלָֽיו׃

There is no man that hath power over the wind to retain the wind; neither hath he power over the day of death; and there is no discharge in war; neither shall wickedness deliver him that is given to it.

Kav HaYashar

The Zohar writes (Parashas Vayechi 217b): When the time approaches for a person to depart from this world, it [the time of his departure] is announced, thirty days beforehand, in Gan Eden. It was taught: During these thirty days his soul departs every night and sees its place in the other world, although the person himself is unaware of this. Moreover, during these thirty days he no longer has dominion over his soul as he did previously, as it is written, “A man cannot rule over the spirit, etc.” (Koheles 8:8). Rabbi Yehudah said: Once these thirty days begin a man’s visage darkens and his form can no longer be seen on earth.
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