What is "Aden"?
Rashi: It is like Adayin (still).
Ibn Ezra: It is as if it says Ad Henah; a Hei is omitted before and after the Nun.
R. Avigdor: It is one who is not Me'aden (indulge) himself in this world. Avos d'R. Nasan (Nusach 2, Perek 27) - one who is Me'aden himself in this world, they withhold from him pleasures in the world to come, and he is not in Gan Eden.
Who is "Asher Aden Lo Hayah Asher Lo Ra'ah
Rav Sadya Gaon, Metzudas David: One who was not in existence until now.
Rashi citing Koheles Rabah: These are the 974 generations that it was decreed that they be created, but they were not created 1 .
Ibn Ezra: Many were astounded - how does Tov apply to one who was not created? Also Chazal said 2 'happy is one who was not created.' This is not difficult; it is said merely as a comparison (Metzudas David - metaphor).
Ri Kara #1: It is a generation that will be created in the future. Perhaps people will fix their ways, and he will not see evil!
Ri Kara #2: It is one who died before people started oppressing others. Such evil was not yet in the world.
R. Avigdor: He did not toil in this world, and was not pained in it at all.
Seforno: He will be created only after the future redemption.
Tehilim (105:8): "Davar Tzivah l'Elef Dor"; Rashi - Hashem commanded to reveal the Torah after 1000 generations, but He saw that the world cannot exist without Torah, so He removed 974 of them.
Eruvin 13b: It would have been better for man that he not be created.
What evil deed did he not see?
Metzudas David: The oppression mentioned above. Ri Kara - he did not see the oppressors, and not the oppressed.
Why does it say "Asher Na'asah Tachas ha'Shamesh"?
Seforno: Its purpose perishes.
