Midrash
Kohelet Rabbah 2:4 קהלת רבה ב׳:ד׳
Part of: Chapter 2
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הִגְדַּלְתִּי מַעֲשָׂי, אָמַר שְׁלֹמֹה הִגְדַּלְתִּי מַעֲשַׂי מִמַּעֲשֵׂי אֲבוֹתַי, הִגְדַּלְתִּי מַעֲשָׂי, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א י, יח): וַיַּעַשׂ הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּסֵּא שֵׁן גָּדוֹל וגו' בָּנִיתִי לִי בָּתִּים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (מלכים א ט, י): וַיְהִי מִקְצֵה עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה אֲשֶׁר בָּנָה שְׁלֹמֹה אֶת שְׁנֵי הַבָּתִּים. נָטַעְתִּי לִי כְּרָמִים, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שיר השירים ח, יא): כֶּרֶם הָיָה לִשְׁלֹמֹה בְּבַעַל הָמוֹן.
“I increased my actions; I built myself houses, I planted myself vineyards” (Ecclesiastes 2:4).
“I increased my actions” – Solomon said: I have made my actions greater than the actions of my ancestors. “I increased my actions” – that is what is written: “The king crafted a great ivory throne…” (I Kings 10:18). “I built myself houses” – that is what is written: “It was at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses” (I Kings 9:10). “I planted myself vineyards,” as it is stated: “Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon” (Song of Songs 8:11).
“I increased my actions; I built myself houses, I planted myself vineyards” (Ecclesiastes 2:4).
“I increased my actions” – Solomon said: I have made my actions greater than the actions of my ancestors. “I increased my actions” – that is what is written: “The king crafted a great ivory throne…” (I Kings 10:18). “I built myself houses” – that is what is written: “It was at the end of twenty years, when Solomon had built the two houses” (I Kings 9:10). “I planted myself vineyards,” as it is stated: “Solomon had a vineyard in Baal Hamon” (Song of Songs 8:11).