1)

What is the significance that the Sefer begins with "Divrei"?

1.

Rashi: "Divrei" is always rebuke - "Eleh ha'Devarim Asher Diber Moshe", "va'Yishman Yeshurun


1

R. Avigdor Kohen Tzedek: Here is rebuke "Havel Havalim

2)

Why is he called Koheles?

1.

Rashi #1: Kihel (he gathered 1 ) many Chachmos 2 . Elsewhere, he is called "Agur ben Yaka" (Mishlei 30:1) - he was Oger (collected) every Binah and Yaka (vomited) it out. Rid - i.e. he taught it to the Rabim 3 .

2.

Rashi #2 (from Koheles Rabah 1:2): He used to say all his words 4 in Hakhel 5 .

3.

Ri Kara: We find that Chachamim abandoned the names that their parents called them, and were called names based on their expertise. 'They asked Torah' means that they asked Moshe; 'they asked Nevu'ah' means that they asked Yechezkel; 'they asked Chachmah' means that they asked Shlomo (Pesikta d'Rav Kahana 24). When Yechezkel talked to Chiram Melech Tzor, he called him Keruv - "Es Keruv mi'Meshach ha'Sochech" (Yechezkel 28:14). He compared him to a bird that spreads its wings and covers everything. Koheles gathered all Chachmah.

4.

Rid: He authored this Sefer in his old age (Shir ha'Shirim Rabah 1:10). He gave a feminine name, for his strength faded due to age 6 , like a female.

5.

Seforno: It is the intellectual Nefesh that gathered all Chachmos to it. "Va'Yechkam mi'Kol ha'Adam;


1

Metzudas Tziyon: This is like "Kehilas Yakov" (Devarim 33:4).

2

Rashbam: He gathered Chachmos more than "Kol Bnei Kedem" and "mi'Kol ha'Adam" (Melachim I, 5:10-11).

3

Maharzu (on Koheles Rabah 1:1): After his wives veered his heart, he vomited (forgot) his Chachmah.

4

Presumably, this includes Koheles, Shir ha'Shirim, Mishlei, and "Sheloshes Alafim Mashal va'Yhi Shiro Chamishah va'Elef" (Melachim I, 5:12). (PF)

5

Koheles Rabah 1:1: We learn from "Az Yakhel Shlomo

3)

Why does it say "Ben David"?

1.

R. Avigdor citing Koheles Rabah 1:2: He was a Chacham ben Chacham, Melech ben Melech, Avginus ben Avginus. Avginus is one of good lineage. Happy is one who has a peg to hang from, i.e. Zechus Avos to protect him!

2.

Seforno: [David] introspected and grew wise - "mi'Kol Melamedai Hiskalti

4)

Why did he say "Melech bi'Yrushalayim"?

1.

Rav Sadya Gaon: It means Melech [of] Yerushalayim.

2.

Rashi: It is the city of Chachmah. Also Refer to 1:12:1:1.

3.

Ibn Ezra: It mentions his capitol for his glory. We find a king called "Malki Tzedek" [because he was] "Melech Shalem" (Bereishis 14:18). Also "Adoni Tzedek" (Yehoshua 10:1) was called so, for he was Adon (master) in the place of Tzedek. "Al Divrasi Malki Tzedek" (Tehilim 110:4) refers to David ha'Melech.

4.

R. Avigdor: "Shir ha'Shirim" hints to three Shirim that he wrote 1 , corresponding to his three Seforim. These correspond to three attributes. (a) "va'Yiten ha'Melech Es ha'Kesef bi'Yrushalayim ka'Avanim" (Melachim I, 10:27). (b) "va'Terev Chachmas Shlomo me'Chachmas Kol Bnei Kedem" (ibid. 5:10). (c) "va'Yeshev Shlomo Al Kisei Hashem" (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 29:23) - he ruled from one end of the world to the other. Anyone who mentioned his name, all Ruchos fled from him. In the end he descended three levels. (a) He was king only over Yisrael - "Mishlei Shlomo


1

It says "va'Yhi Shiro Chamishah va'Alef" (Melachim I, 5:12)! Perhaps he expounds this like Malbim, to teach that Shir ha'Shirim consists of five Shiros, and also Shir ha'Alef (refer to Shir ha'Shirim 8:8:1:4*).

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