Ecclesiastes Rabbah facts for kids

Ecclesiastes Rabbah or Kohelet Rabbah (Hebrew: קהלת רבה) is an ancient Jewish commentary on the biblical book of Ecclesiastes. It's part of a larger collection called the Midrash Rabbot. This book explains almost every verse of Ecclesiastes, offering deeper meanings and stories.

The book was likely divided into sections based on how the Bible was read in ancient times. For example, phrases like "second seder" and "third seder" appear in the text, showing where new sections began. A seder was a reading portion of the Bible.

What is Ecclesiastes Rabbah?

Ecclesiastes Rabbah is a special kind of Jewish text called an aggadic commentary. This means it focuses on stories, lessons, and moral teachings, rather than strict laws. It helps readers understand the wisdom and messages hidden in the Book of Ecclesiastes, which is a book in the Hebrew Bible that explores life's meaning.

How was Kohelet Rabbah created?

The person who put together Kohelet Rabbah lived a long time ago, probably between the 6th and 8th centuries. Their main job was to collect and organize existing teachings, not to write completely new ones. They used many ideas and stories from older Jewish texts, like Bereshit Rabbah, Pesikta Rabbati, and Leviticus Rabbah.

These older texts often had introductions that were like mini-sermons or lessons. The author of Kohelet Rabbah took these introductions and used them to explain parts of Ecclesiastes. This shows how important these older writings were as building blocks for newer ones. Sometimes, the author even combined parts from different old texts to create a new explanation for a verse in Ecclesiastes.

For example, a long section explaining Ecclesiastes 12:1–7 combines parts from Vayikra Rabbah and Lamentations Rabbah. Many other passages in Kohelet Rabbah also come from these earlier sources.

Connections to other Jewish texts

Kohelet Rabbah shares many passages with other important Jewish writings. It has parts in common with Ruth Rabbah, especially a story about Rabbi Meir and his teacher Elisha ben Abuya. This shows how Jewish teachings and stories were passed down and reused in different collections.

Passages from the Talmud

The author of Kohelet Rabbah also looked at the Talmud, especially the Jerusalem Talmud. The Talmud is a huge collection of Jewish law and tradition. It's also believed that some parts of Kohelet Rabbah came directly from the Babylonian Talmud, which suggests that Kohelet Rabbah was put together later than some other Midrash collections.

One interesting thing that shows Kohelet Rabbah is a later work is that it mentions other Jewish texts, like Pirkei Avot and some minor tractates (smaller Jewish writings). It even talks about "additions" to the Torah (Jewish law) from later teachers, like those from the school of Judah ha-Nasi. This shows that the book was written at a time when these other texts and ideas were already well-known.

Understanding the meaning of verses

Kohelet Rabbah often explains verses in different ways. Sometimes it gives the simple, literal meaning. Other times, it uses an allegorical interpretation, which means it explains a verse as a symbol for something else, like the Torah or good deeds.

For example, the Book of Ecclesiastes often talks about eating, drinking, and enjoying life. In Kohelet Rabbah, these ideas are often given a religious meaning. Instead of just physical pleasure, "eating and drinking" can mean the joy of studying the Bible and doing good deeds. This helps readers see a deeper, spiritual message in the text.

Examples of explanations

Let's look at an example from Kohelet Rabbah that explains Solomon's wealth (Ecclesiastes 2:4-8) in three different ways:

• First, it describes Solomon's actual wealth.
• Second, it explains the verses as referring to the Torah (Jewish law and teachings).
• Third, it connects the verses to the wealth and blessings the Jewish people received when they settled in the land of Israel.

Here's how Kohelet Rabbah explains some verses from Ecclesiastes:

I made me great works

• Solomon said: "I built bigger things than my ancestors," like his famous ivory throne.
• It can also mean the Torah, because it says, "And the tablets were the work of God."
• Or, it refers to the great things the Jewish people did when they entered their land, like making offerings to God.

I built me houses

• Solomon built many houses, including the First Temple and his own palace.
• This can also mean synagogues and schoolhouses, where people learn and pray.
• Or, it refers to the "houses full of all good things" that the Jewish people found in their new land.

I planted me vineyards

• Solomon had many vineyards, like the one at Baal-hamon.
• This can mean groups of scholars who sit in rows, like vines in a vineyard, learning together.
• Or, it refers to the "vineyards and olive-trees which you did not plant" that the Jewish people found in their new land.

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruits

• Solomon had beautiful gardens with all sorts of trees, even pepper plants.
• This can mean the great collections of Jewish law and teachings, like the Mishnah.
• Or, it refers to the idea that the land of Israel was so rich, it even had things like pepper.

I made me pools of water

• Solomon had fish-ponds to water his forests.
• This can mean the derashot (interpretations and sermons) that help people understand the Torah.
• Or, it refers to the idea that the land of Israel had plenty of water.

I got me servants and maidens

• Solomon had many servants, including the Nethinim.
• This can mean the nations of the world, who will one day serve Israel.
• Or, it refers to the "mixed multitude" that joined the Jewish people.

I had servants born in my house

• Solomon's own household staff were well-fed and lacked nothing.
• This can mean the Holy Spirit.
• Or, it refers to the Gibeonites, who became servants to the Jewish people.

I had great possessions of great and small cattle

• Solomon had many animals, including special ones from faraway lands.
• This can mean the sacrifices offered in the Temple.
• Or, it refers to the "very great multitude of cattle" that the Jewish people had.

I gathered me also silver and gold

• Solomon made silver as common as stones in Jerusalem.
• This can mean the words of the Torah, which are more valuable than gold.
• Or, it refers to the silver and gold the Jewish people took when they left Egypt.

And the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces

• Kings from all over the world came to visit Solomon, including the Queen of Sheba who tested his wisdom.
• This can mean the scholars who debate Jewish law (Halakha).
• Or, it refers to the treasures and spoils of war that the Jewish people gained.

I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men

• Solomon had musicians and enjoyed things like baths and even used spirits to heat them.
• This can mean the toseftas (additional Jewish teachings) and the aggadot (stories and lessons), which are the "delights" of Scripture.

Different versions of the text

There are different versions of the Midrash Kohelet. The one published by Solomon Buber in 1894, called Midrash Zuṭa, is different from the main Kohelet Rabbah we've been discussing. It's probably a shorter version with some extra parts. This shows that ancient texts could exist in various forms and be copied and changed over time.

Images for kids

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  Thirteenth-century Kohelet Rabbah manuscript from Cairo Geniza (1906 Jewish Encyclopedia)