מדרש על שמואל א 4:3
Kohelet Rabbah
“In addition, all his days, he eats in darkness, and has much anger, illness, and rage” (Ecclesiastes 5:16).
“In addition, all his days, he” walks “in darkness” – this refers to the generation of the Judges. “And has much anger” – they would anger the Holy One blessed be He with their wicked deeds. “Illness and rage”: “illness” – this is suffering; “and rage” – that they enraged the Holy One blessed be He and said: “Why, Lord, God of Israel, has this been in Israel, to have one tribe lacking in Israel today?” (Judges 21:3).
Another matter: “In addition, all his days, he” walks “in darkness” – this refers to the generation of Samuel. “And has much anger” – they would anger the Holy One blessed be He with their wicked deeds. “Illness and rage”: “illness” – this is suffering; “and rage” – that they enraged [God] and said: “Why did the Lord cause us to be smitten?” (I Samuel 4:3). The ten tribes were exiled, and none remained of them. Judah and Benjamin were exiled, and some remained.74Thus, the ten tribes are another example of a group that walked in darkness and angered God.
“In addition, all his days, he” walks “in darkness” – this refers to the generation of the Judges. “And has much anger” – they would anger the Holy One blessed be He with their wicked deeds. “Illness and rage”: “illness” – this is suffering; “and rage” – that they enraged the Holy One blessed be He and said: “Why, Lord, God of Israel, has this been in Israel, to have one tribe lacking in Israel today?” (Judges 21:3).
Another matter: “In addition, all his days, he” walks “in darkness” – this refers to the generation of Samuel. “And has much anger” – they would anger the Holy One blessed be He with their wicked deeds. “Illness and rage”: “illness” – this is suffering; “and rage” – that they enraged [God] and said: “Why did the Lord cause us to be smitten?” (I Samuel 4:3). The ten tribes were exiled, and none remained of them. Judah and Benjamin were exiled, and some remained.74Thus, the ten tribes are another example of a group that walked in darkness and angered God.
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