Midrash su Ecclesiaste 8:15
וְשִׁבַּ֤חְתִּֽי אֲנִי֙ אֶת־הַשִּׂמְחָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אֵֽין־ט֤וֹב לָֽאָדָם֙ תַּ֣חַת הַשֶּׁ֔מֶשׁ כִּ֛י אִם־לֶאֱכ֥וֹל וְלִשְׁתּ֖וֹת וְלִשְׂמ֑וֹחַ וְה֞וּא יִלְוֶ֣נּוּ בַעֲמָל֗וֹ יְמֵ֥י חַיָּ֛יו אֲשֶׁר־נָֽתַן־ל֥וֹ הָאֱלֹהִ֖ים תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃
Quindi ho elogiato l'allegria, che un uomo non ha niente di meglio sotto il sole, che mangiare, bere, ed essere allegro, e che questo dovrebbe accompagnarlo nel suo lavoro per tutti i giorni della sua vita che Dio gli ha dato sotto il Sole.
Kohelet Rabbah
“I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Also, every man who eats and drinks, and sees good in all his toil; this, too, is a gift of God” (Ecclesiastes 3:12–13).
“I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Also, that every man who eats and drinks…” Rabbi Tanḥuma said that Rabbi Naḥman son of Rav Shmuel bar Naḥman said, and Rabbi Menaḥama, and some say, Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: Every instance in which eating and drinking is stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [ba’amalo] […during the days of his life…]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15). In his world [be’olamo] – in this world.53The midrash interprets the word ba’amalo as though it read be’olamo, in his world, which is a reference to man’s life on earth. “During the days of his life” – to the grave. Is there food and drink in the grave, that it accompanies a person to his grave? Rather, these are Torah and good deeds.
“I know that there is nothing better for them, than to rejoice, and to do good during their lifetime. Also, that every man who eats and drinks…” Rabbi Tanḥuma said that Rabbi Naḥman son of Rav Shmuel bar Naḥman said, and Rabbi Menaḥama, and some say, Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: Every instance in which eating and drinking is stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [ba’amalo] […during the days of his life…]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15). In his world [be’olamo] – in this world.53The midrash interprets the word ba’amalo as though it read be’olamo, in his world, which is a reference to man’s life on earth. “During the days of his life” – to the grave. Is there food and drink in the grave, that it accompanies a person to his grave? Rather, these are Torah and good deeds.
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Kohelet Rabbah
“Behold what I have seen to be good: That it is fine to eat, and to drink, and to see benefit in all one’s toil that he toils under the sun, the number of days of his life that God has granted him, as it is his portion” (Ecclesiastes 5:17).
“Behold what I have seen to be good: That it is fine to eat and to drink.” Rabbi Tanḥuma says: Every instance in which eating and drinking are stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).75The parallel midrash (Kohelet Rabba 2:24) adds at this point of the derivation: “That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave.” Is there eating and drinking that accompanies a person to the grave? What accompanies him? It is Torah and good deeds.
“Behold what I have seen to be good: That it is fine to eat and to drink.” Rabbi Tanḥuma says: Every instance in which eating and drinking are stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15).75The parallel midrash (Kohelet Rabba 2:24) adds at this point of the derivation: “That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave.” Is there eating and drinking that accompanies a person to the grave? What accompanies him? It is Torah and good deeds.
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Kohelet Rabbah
“There is nothing better for a man than for him to eat and drink, and indulge his soul through his toil. This too, I saw, that it is from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24).
“There is nothing better for a man than for him to eat and drink.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said [that] Rabbi Naḥman son of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman and Rabbi Menaḥama [said], and some say: Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: Every instance in which eating and drinking is stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave. Is there food and drink in the grave that it accompanies a person to his grave? Rather, these are Torah and good deeds.
“There is nothing better for a man than for him to eat and drink.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said [that] Rabbi Naḥman son of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman and Rabbi Menaḥama [said], and some say: Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: Every instance in which eating and drinking is stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds. Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave. Is there food and drink in the grave that it accompanies a person to his grave? Rather, these are Torah and good deeds.
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