“Everything that my eyes sought I did not keep from them; I did not withhold my heart from any joy, as my heart was joyful from all my toil, and this was my portion from all my toil” (Ecclesiastes 2:10). “Everything that my eyes sought…I did not withhold my heart from any joy” – this is the joy of wealth. “As my heart was joyful from all my toil, and this was my portion from all my toil” – there is one who says [this is referring to] his plate, and one who says [it is referring to] his belt.31This is when Solomon was banished from the throne and had no access to any of his wealth, as discussed above (section 2:3).
Poor wanderers would commonly have a plate with which to collect food, and all travelers would wear a belt in which they could tuck their robes so they could walk comfortably. Alternatively, “Everything that my eyes sought,” among women, “I did not keep from them.” “I did not withhold my heart from any joy” – this is joy from women. “As my heart was joyful from all my toil” – there is one who says: This is the separation of ḥalla, and there is one who says: This is the separation of libations.32These mitzvot are performed after many stages of toil in preparing bread or wine.