Ecclesiastes Rabbah 11:2

¹“Distribute a portion to seven, and also to eight, as you do not know what evil will be upon the earth” (Ecclesiastes 11:2). “Distribute a portion to seven, and also to eight” – Rabbi Eliezer and Rabbi Yehoshua: Rabbi Eliezer says: “Distribute a portion to seven” – these are the seven days of the week, as it is stated: “It was on the seventh” (I Kings 18:44), on the day of Shabbat. “And also to eight” – these are the eight days of circumcision, as it is stated: “He put his face between his knees…” (I Kings 18:42). Why between his knees? He said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘Master of the universe, even if your descendants have only these two mitzvot to their credit, Shabbat and circumcision, it is fitting that You should have mercy on them.’ Rabbi Yehoshua says: “Distribute a portion to seven” – these are the seven days of Passover; “and also to eight” – these are the eight days of the festival. From where do I derive to include Shavuot , Rosh Hashanah, and Yom Kippur? The verse states: “Also” – “and also” [and these are two] inclusions. and the Days of Awe, i.e., Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. These days too are considered festivals, and the blessing of Sheheḥeyanu is recited, as on other festivals (Rabbi David Luria). Rabbi Azarya says: “Distribute a portion to seven” – this is the generation that Moses circumcised after seven; “and also to eight” – this is the generation that Joshua circumcised after eight, as it is written: “At that time, the Lord said to Joshua…circumcise the children of Israel a second time.” (Joshua 5:2). By inference, [this indicates] that [Moses] had circumcised them in the first instance. “Joshua made [flint knives] for himself [and circumcised the children of Israel at the Hill of the Foreskins]” (Joshua 5:3) – [the name of this place indicates] that they made it a hill with [all their] foreskins. Rabbi Neḥemya interpreted the verse regarding the princes: “Distribute a portion to seven” – as it is written: “On the seventh day the prince of the children of Ephraim” (Numbers 7:48). “And also to eight” – as it is written: “On the eighth day the prince of the children of Manasseh (Numbers 7:54). ). Rabbi Yehuda interpreted the verse regarding the inauguration. “Distribute a portion to seven” – these are the seven days of inauguration, as it is stated: “For seven days He will inaugurate you” (Leviticus 8:33). “And also to eight” – as it is written: “It was on the eighth day (Leviticus 9:1). ). Rabbi Huna said: “Distribute a portion to seven” – these are the seven days of menstruation; “and also to eight” – these are the eight days of circumcision, as it is stated: “And on the eighth day [the flesh of his foreskin] shall be circumcised” (Leviticus 12:3). ). Rabbi Levi said: “Distribute a portion to seven” – these are the seven days of the booth; ] for the seven days of Sukkot . “and also to eight” – as it is stated: “On the eighth day [you shall have] an assembly” (Numbers 29:35). Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon grew weak and his arm was uncovered. His wife saw him, and she smiled, cried, and said: ‘Happy am I with what was my lot in this world. Happy am I that I cleaved to the body of this righteous one.’ She cried and said: ‘Woe is me that the body of this righteous one is going into the ground.’ As he was dying, he said to her: ‘I am dying; however, maggots will have no power over me, other than one worm that is destined to bore a hole behind my ear, for one time I was entering [a place] and I heard the voice of a certain person who was cursing, and although I had the ability to punish him, I did not do so.’ When he died he was buried in Gush Ḥalav. Rabbi Shimon would appear to the residents of Meron, and he would say to them: ‘One right eye that I had, and you do not bury him alongside me?’ The residents of Meron would go and seek to bring him, and the residents of Gush Ḥalav would emerge against them with clubs and spears. One time, with the approach of the great fast, [the residents of Meron] said: This time we will bring him, while they are preoccupied. They went and sought to bring him, and two snakes of fire emerged and went before them. They said: ‘This is the time that we will bring him.’ Once they reached the cave, the two snakes stood to the side. They said: ‘Who will enter and bring him?’ She said: ‘I will enter and bring him, as I know an distinguishing mark in him.’ She entered and found that worm that was sitting and boring a hole behind his ear. She sought to remove it. She heard a Divine Voice saying: ‘Leave the creditor to collect its debt.’ They brought him and placed him alongside his father. From that moment on, Rabbi Shimon did not appear to the residents of Meron. When Rabbi Elazar ben Rabbi Shimon would enter the study hall, the face of Rabbi [Yehuda HaNasi] would become gloomy. His father would say to him: ‘My son, it is proper [that he prevails], as he is a lion, son of a lion, and you are a lion, son of a fox.’ When he died, he sent and proposed to his wife. She sent and said to him: ‘Shall a vessel that was used by the sacred be used by the profane?’ He said to her: ‘What did he do that I do not do like him?’ She said to him: ‘When he would sit and devote himself to Torah study, he would completely devote himself. He would say: May all the suffering of Israel come upon me, and it would come [upon him]. But when it came time to engage [in Torah study], he would say: Each and every one should go to its place.’ He said to her: ‘I, too, will do so.’ He called upon them to come, and they came. He sought for them to leave, but they did not leave. Some say, for thirteen years to the day he suffered from toothaches. He sent and told her. She said to him: ‘I have heard that one elevates in matters of sanctity and one does not downgrade.’ “And also to eight” – as it is stated: “On the eighth day [you shall have] an assembly.” are followed by the Day of Assembly, Shemini Atzeret .