Ecclesiastes Rabbah 1:10

¹“There is a matter of which it is said: See, this is new. It has already been, in the ages that were before us” (Ecclesiastes 1:10). “There is a matter of which it is said: See, this is new.” It is written: “The Lord delivered to me the two tablets of stone written with the finger of God, and on them [ va’aleihem ] was written in accordance with all [ kekhol ] the matters [ hadevarim ]…” (Deuteronomy 9:10). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: “ Aleihem , va’aleihem ; kol , kekhol ; devarim , hadevarim ; but instead says vaaleihem , with the prefix va . These additional letters and words are amplifications that come to include additional matters. “all the commandment [ kol hamitzva ] [that I command to you today you shall observe to perform]” (Deuteronomy 8:1); hamitzva , kol hamitzva . It is to teach you that Bible, Mishna, halakhot , Tosefta , and aggada , and rulings that distinguished disciples were destined to issue, already existed, and were given as halakhot to Moses from Sinai. From where is it derived? From what is written: “There is a matter of which it is said: See, this is new.” His counterpart admonishes him: “It has already been, in the ages [that were before us].” Rabbi Berekhya in the name of Rabi Ḥelbo: This is analogous to one who had a sela coin tied into the corner of his garment, and it fell from him. To replace it with one larger, there is no room for it; to replace it with one smaller, it will not be filled; to replace it with an identical one, it will be filled. So too, if you hear Torah from a Torah scholar, you should consider it as though your ears heard it from Mount Sinai. That is what the prophet is admonishing them and saying to them: “Approach me, hear this: From the beginning I did not speak in secret. From the time that it was, I was there” (Isaiah 48:16). ). They said to him: ‘Why didn’t you tell us?’ He said to them: ‘Because I did not have the capacity. But now I have the capacity, “now the Lord God has sent me and His spirit” (Isaiah 48:16).’