“There is nothing better for a man than for him to eat and drink, and indulge his soul through his toil. This too, I saw, that it is from the hand of God” (Ecclesiastes 2:24). “There is nothing better for a man than for him to eat and drink.” Rabbi Tanḥuma said [that] Rabbi Naḥman son of Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman and Rabbi Menaḥama [said], and some say: Rabbi Yirmeya and Rabbi Meyasha [said] in the name of Rabbi Shmuel bar Rav Yitzḥak: Every instance in which eating and drinking is stated in this scroll, the verse is referring to Torah and good deeds.
Rabbi Yona said: The paradigm for all of them is as it is stated: “[There is nothing better…than to eat, drink, and rejoice]. That will accompany him in his toil [baamalo]” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – in his world [beolamo], in this world. “During the days of his life” (Ecclesiastes 8:15) – to the grave. Is there food and drink in the grave that it accompanies a person to his grave? Rather, these are Torah and good deeds.