Commentaire sur L’Ecclésiaste 2:17

And [so] I hated life. He was prophesying about the generation of Rechovam, who were wicked [people].²²During Rechovam’s reign, ten tribes defected and joined forces with him.

“I hated all my toil that I toiled under the sun, as I will leave it to the man who will be after me. Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool? Yet he will control everything for which I have toiled and have become wise under the sun. This, too, is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 2:18–19).
“I hated all my toil that I toiled under the sun…” – Rabbi Meir was an excellent, expert scribe, and he would earn three sela per week from his toil. He would eat and drink with one, would clothe himself with one, and with the other, he would support the Rabbis. His students said to him: ‘Rabbi, your children, what do you do for them?’⁶⁵What will be left for them as an inheritance? He said to them: ‘If they become righteous, it will be as David said: “I have not seen a righteous man forsaken and his offspring seeking bread” (Psalms 37:25). If not, should I leave what is mine to the enemies of the Omnipresent?’ Therefore, Solomon said: “Who knows whether he will be a wise man or a fool?”