전도서 1:18 해설: Tze'enah Ure'enah & Kohelet Rabbah

“From much wisdom” [1:18]. The person who has much wisdom relies on his wisdom. The Holy One became very angry when I Solomon collected many horses. I thought my wisdom would help me that I would not go to Egypt. However, my wisdom did not help. I did come to Egypt with the many horses and transgressed the commandment of God, blessed be His name. Also regarding the taking of many wives, I relied on my wisdom and they caused me to sin. All of this was caused by my great wisdom.¹⁵Rashi, Ecclesiastes, 1:17.

The Targum writes: “From much wisdom” means that one who has much wisdom from Torah and commandments, if he commits a sin, he will have great troubles from the Holy One. The Holy One punishes the righteous greatly, even for a small sin.¹⁶Targum, Ecclesiastes, 1:18.

“To increase learning” [1:18]. A young man who has much understanding and wisdom in the Torah and dies young, he brings much sorrow to the hearts of his relatives.¹⁷Targum, Ecclesiastes, 1:18.