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Why is Kohelet

Read on Sukkot?

David Curwin

ommon to the stories of both House and was satisfied with a temporary reliance on G-d, to Eretz Yisrael, where it
Adam and Shlomo is the descent Tabernacle. But just as the people asked might seem we’re no longer dependent
from great potential to disgrace. for a monarchy (a “house” of kingship), upon Him.
CThey became obsessed with if they ask for a House for G-d, they’ll get
acquiring the few things forbidden to it – along with the risk of no longer feeling Both Adam and Shlomo had to learn this
them, and their prosperity caused their vulnerable and dependent on G-d (Shmuel lesson. Adam left the Garden, where G-d
downfall. II 7:1–16). provided everything, for a life of toil. But
even in this new life, he needed to under-
The dangers of abundance don’t apply only David’s son Shlomo was tasked with build- stand he was still dependent on G-d, and
to those like Adam and Shlomo. A passage ing G-d’s House, and building is a focus therefore must remain obedient to G-d’s
in Devarim shows that everyone is at risk: of his reign (see also Kohelet 2:4). Yet in will.
“Beware not to forget Hashem… Otherwise, Devarim 8, the danger inherent in building
when you’ve eaten and been satisfied, built and dwelling in “good houses” is applied Shlomo lived a life of houses. He built his
good houses and lived in them, when your to all Jews, not only the king. The anti- own house and the House of God. Inside
herds and flocks have multiplied, your dote is remembering that G-d “brought those structures, his success appeared
silver and gold have multiplied, and all you out of the land of Egypt,” and “led you invulnerable, and his legacy permanent.
that you own has multiplied, your heart through the wilderness.” Those miracles But he, too, discovered how dependent
will grow haughty, and you’ll forget the were unmistakable. But G-d was no less he was on G-d. According to Kohelet,
L-rd your G-d who brought you out of the involved in our success once we entered Shlomo ultimately understood that life is
land of Egypt… who led you through the Israel, built our houses, and acquired both futile and overwhelming when our
wilderness... You’ll say to yourselves, ‘My possessions. relationship with G-d is shattered. Ulti-
power, the strength of my hand, brought While this lesson is important all year mately, Shlomo’s houses weren’t stable.
me this great wealth’” (Devarim 8:11–17). Life’s temporality couldn’t be averted in
long, it’s particularly emphasized on
These verses recall the laws of kings Sukkot. Sukkot occurs at harvest, when houses of stone.
(Devarim 17:14–20). The phrase, “your we’re likely to rejoice in abundance and There’s no difference between a temporary
heart will grow haughty,” appears in the potentially forget G-d, and so we leave booth in the wilderness and a majestic
Torah only here and in the laws of the our houses and recreate the sukkot of the palace in the capital. This, ultimately, is
king: “to not act haughtily above his broth- wilderness to remember G-d’s role in our the message of both Kohelet and Sukkot.
ers.” Additionally, “multiply” appears here achievements. If we would remain secure
three times, as well as when prohibiting in our houses during our harvest celebra-  Adapted from David Curwin’s new book,
the king from amassing horses, wives, and tion, we’d risk forgetting where our bless-
“gold and silver.” These parallels show that ings came from. Kohelet – A Map to Eden (Maggid, 2023), which
like the king, ordinary citizens may forget But gratitude to G-d isn’t sufficient to pre- demonstrates how Kohelet compares the lives
G-d when things go well. of Adam and Shlomo.
vent that hazardous haughtiness. Just as
Devarim 8 includes another sign of pros- the king is warned against “acting haugh-
perity not mentioned in the laws of kings: tily above his brothers,” so is every Jew
building houses. The king isn’t prohibited commanded to include his brothers in his
from building houses, and with one excep- harvest celebration. Sukkot includes the
tion, there’s no mention in the Tanach of instruction: “Rejoice in your festival… the
anyone building houses until David and migrants, orphans, and widows” (Devarim
Shlomo. The stability of their monarchy 16:13–15). Including the disadvantaged in
and permanent dwellings exemplifies the celebration demonstrates that the David Curwin
a level of comfort that can lead to the harvest bounty doesn’t belong to the land- is a writer and independent scholar living
neglect of G-d – a risk the Torah seeks to owner alone. in Efrat. He writes about Hebrew language
issues on his site balashon.com
mitigate. Cultivating dependence on G-d is the goal and has published widely on Tanakh
After David built his house, he wanted to of Sukkot. Transitioning from established and Jewish philosophy. He is a regular
build a House for G-d. Nathan told David houses to the temporary sukkot mirrors contributor to HaMizrachi Parsha Weekly.
that G-d never asked for a permanent the move from the wilderness, with full

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