Translation:Mikraot Gedolot/Ecclesiastes/12:1

Text

And remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of evil will come, and the years draw near, of which you shall say: "I have no pleasure in them."

Rashi

And remember your Creator

We learnt there (Avot 3:1): "Akavia ben Mahalalel said: 'Look at three things'," etc. And from this verse he expounded (8):

• And remember your Creator: That you will give an account and a reckoning before Him;
• And remember your pit (בורך): Your grave: A place of dust, worms, and maggots;
• And remember your well (בארך): The well that you flowed from its source: that is the putrid drop of seed and of white [matter].

The days of evil

The days of the old-age and weakness.

Sifsei Chakhamim

(8) He expounded that it's notarikon: Your Creator, your pit (בורך) , your well (בארך); and so it is in Midrash Rabbah in Ecclesiastes and in Leviticus Rabbah (Chapter 18).

Ibn Ezra

And remember

We find youth [and] old age (נעורים עלומים זקונים); all of them masculine forms. Only your youth (בחורותיך) deviated from the rule. And there are those who say that they are two forms, and משרת משה מבחוריו (Numbers 11:28) will mean from his youth (מבחורותיו), because all youths (בחורים), if they will be possessed, they will not differ.

The days of evil

They are the days of old age for the elder and the days of sickness for all is the sickness in which he will die.