Comentário sobre Eclesiastes 9:15

Yet no person remembered. No one attributed any importance to him.

“He found in it a poor, wise man, and he saved the city in his wisdom; but no one remembered that poor man” (Ecclesiastes 9:15).
“He found in it a poor, wise man, – this is Noah, as it is stated: “For I have seen you righteous before Me in this generation” (Genesis 7:1). “And he saved the city in his wisdom” – as he would say to them: ‘Alas, empty ones, the flood is coming tomorrow; repent!’ ⁸⁸Noah said to the people of his generation, attempting to save them. They would say to him: ‘If calamity will begin, it will begin from the house of that man.’⁸⁹This is a reference to Noah. When Methuselah died they said to him: ‘Is it not from the house of that man that the calamity began?’⁹⁰Methuselah, a righteous man, died just seven days before the beginning of the Flood. Noah was a direct descendant of his and mourned his death. “But no one remembered that poor man” – the Holy One blessed be He said to them: You did not remember him; I remember him, as it is stated: “The Lord remembered Noah…” (Genesis 8:1).

Another matter, “There was a small city” – this is Egypt, “and few men in it” – these are the Egyptians, “and a great king came against it and surrounded it” – this is the wicked Pharaoh,⁹¹Pharaoh was a wicked king who did not act in the best interest of his subjects. “and built a great siege upon it” – with ambush and subterfuge. “He found in it a poor, wise man” – this is Joseph the righteous, “and he saved the city in his wisdom” – as he said to Pharaoh: “Let Pharaoh proceed and let him appoint officials over the land…and let them gather all the food of these good years…” (Genesis 41:34). “But no one remembered that poor man” – the Holy One blessed be He said: You did not remember him; I remember him, as it is stated: “Joseph was the ruler over the land” (Genesis 42:6).