Midras Amsal 27:20: Kohelet Rabbah

Another matter, “all the rivers go to the sea,” – all the dead enter only the grave, but the grave is never filled, as it is stated: “The grave and oblivion are not sated…” (Proverbs 27:20). You might say that once they die in this world they do not live again in the World to Come; the verse [therefore] states: “To the place that the rivers go, they go there again” – to the place that the dead gather in the World to Come, there they return and are destined to recite songs in the messianic era. What is the reason?⁴⁷What is the source? “From the ends of the earth we have heard songs” (Isaiah 24:16); “your dead will live, my corpses shall arise” (Isaiah 26:19).

Another matter, “all the rivers go to the sea,” all property accumulates only to the kingdom of Edom, but the kingdom of Edom is never filled, as Rabbi Levi said: It is written: “The eyes of man [ha’adam] are never satiated” (Proverbs 27:20) – the eyes of Edom are never satiated. You might say that the property that enters Edom never returns to its owners; the verse [therefore] states: “To the place that the rivers go, they go there again” – the place where property is collected, the kingdom of Edom, in this world, from there it will be dispersed in the messianic era, as it is written: “Her merchandise and her fee will be consecrated to the Lord” (Isaiah 23:18). Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei raised a question before Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi], he said to him: ‘What is this that is written: “For the merchandise will be for those who dwell before the Lord” (Isaiah 23:18)?’ He said: ‘Like you, your counterparts, and two wrapped in linen sheets,⁴⁹Torah scholars who are humble; the reference is to two specific Torah scholars who lived at the time. like you, who are completely insignificant in your eyes.’ Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: The Holy One blessed be He is destined to restore the glow to the faces of the righteous in the future, as it is stated: “But those who love Him are like the sun emerging in its might” (Judges 5:31). Just as He restores their faces, so He restores their garments; today garments that are half silk, tomorrow garments completely of silk. He said to him:⁵⁰Rabbi Yishmael ben Rabbi Yosei asked Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi. What is that which is written: “To eat to satiation and for fine garments” (Isaiah 23:18)? He said: ‘Today, cotton garments, tomorrow garments completely of silk.’