Midrash
Kohelet Rabbah 5:19 קהלת רבה ה׳:י״ט
Part of: Chapter 5
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כִּי לֹא הַרְבֵּה יִזְכֹּר אֶת יְמֵי חַיָּיו. זֶה דּוֹרוֹ שֶׁל עֵלִי. כִּי הָאֱלֹהִים מַעֲנֶה בְּשִׂמְחַת לִבּוֹ, זֶה אֶלְקָנָה, שֶׁהָיָה מַדְרִיךְ אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל וּמַעֲלֶה אוֹתָם בִּירוּשָׁלַיִם בְּכָל שָׁנָה וְשָׁנָה בְּדֶרֶךְ אַחֶרֶת, לְכָךְ הַכָּתוּב מְקַלְּסוֹ (שמואל א א, ג): וְעָלָה הָאִישׁ הַהוּא מֵעִירוֹ מִיָּמִים יָמִימָה.
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many, as it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many” – this is the generation of Eli.76This is a reference to the prophecy that Eli’s descendants would not have long lives, due to the behavior of Eli and the sins of his sons. See I Samuel 2:27–36 (Etz Yosef). “As it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” – this is Elkana, who would guide Israel and take them up to Jerusalem77This is a textual error, and should read Shilo instead of Jerusalem (Maharzu). each and every year on a different route. That is why the verse lauds him: “This man ascended from his city from year to year” (I Samuel 1:3).
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many, as it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” (Ecclesiastes 5:19).
“For let him remember the days of his life that they are not many” – this is the generation of Eli.76This is a reference to the prophecy that Eli’s descendants would not have long lives, due to the behavior of Eli and the sins of his sons. See I Samuel 2:27–36 (Etz Yosef). “As it is God who responds with the joy of his heart” – this is Elkana, who would guide Israel and take them up to Jerusalem77This is a textual error, and should read Shilo instead of Jerusalem (Maharzu). each and every year on a different route. That is why the verse lauds him: “This man ascended from his city from year to year” (I Samuel 1:3).