Midrash su Ecclesiaste 7:2

(Fol. 72) We are taught that it was the custom of R. Maier to say: "What is the meaning of the passage (Ecc. 7, 2) It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. What does the words and the living will lay it to his heart, mean? This refers to things in connection with death. He who mourns [the death of] others, [his death] will be mourned by others; he who raises [his voice] in mourning upon other's death, will, in return, be mourned by others; he who escorts [the dead] will be escorted by others, and he who carries [the bier of] others, will, in return, be carried [with] honor by others."

(Gen. 35:9:) NOW GOD APPEARED UNTO JACOB AGAIN…. This text is related (to Eccl. 7:2): IT IS BETTER TO GO UNTO A HOUSE OF MOURNING < THAN UNTO A HOUSE OF FEASTING >…. R. Simeon bar Abba said: There are two ways to be charitable, to be charitable with a bride and with the dead. If both of these < opportunities > should present themselves to you, you would not know which of them to seize first. Solomon came and explained (in Eccl. 7:2): IT IS BETTER TO GO INTO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING < THAN UNTO A HOUSE OF FEASTING >…. We have found that, when people have gone to the house of feasting, their names were not specified; but, when people have gone to the house of mourning, they have been excluded from Gehinnom, their names have been specified, and they have prophesied through the Holy Spirit.⁷⁵Eccl.R. 7:2:4. So who were those who entered the house of feasting? It is written (in Gen. 21:8): SO THE CHILD (Isaac) GREW AND WAS WEANED, AND ABRAHAM MADE A GREAT FEAST. What is the meaning of GREAT? It teaches that Shem, Eber, and Abimelech were there; but their names were not specified.⁷⁶Cf. Gen. R. 53:10. However, the names of those who went to the house of mourning {Job and his friends} were excluded from Gehinnom and the Holy Spirit rested upon them, i.e., upon Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. And the Holy Spirit rested upon them, in that it is stated (in Job 4:1): THEN ANSWERED ELIPHAZ THE TEMANITE. Now he would only have answered in the language of prophecy. Thus it is stated (in Exod. 19:19): MOSES SPOKE, AND GOD ANSWERED HIM IN THUNDER.⁷⁷See also ySot. 7:2 (21c). Ergo: IT IS BETTER TO GO INTO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING < THAN INTO A HOUSE OF FEASTING >…. And who was the first to show his face [as a mourner]. See, the Holy One says < when >. When? When Deborah died, as stated (in Gen. 35:8): THEN < REBEKAH'S NURSE > DEBORAH DIED < AND WAS BURIED UNDER THE OAK BELOW BETHEL; AND ITS NAME WAS CALLED WEEPING OAK >. And it is written (in vs. 9): NOW GOD APPEARED UNTO JACOB AGAIN … < AND BLESSED HIM >.⁷⁸According to below, 8:26; Eccl. 7:2:3, the Holy One blessed him with a benediction for mourners.