Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin began in the name of Rabbi Levi: “I expanded my projects: I built myself houses, planted myself vineyards” (Ecclesiastes 2:4). The Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: ‘Go and say to the first patriarchs, I have acted generously with your descendants regarding everything that I stipulated with you.’ “I built myself houses,” as it is stated: “Houses full of everything good” (Deuteronomy 6:11).
“Planted myself vineyards,” as it is stated: “Vineyards and olive trees that you did not plant” (Deuteronomy 6:11). “I made for myself pools of water” (Ecclesiastes 2:6), as it is stated: “And hewn cisterns that you did not hew” (Deuteronomy 6:11), and it is written: “Springs and aquifers” (Deuteronomy 8:7). “To irrigate from them a forest of growing trees” (Ecclesiastes 2:6); Rabbi Levi said: The Land of Israel did not lack even reeds for arrows.
“I made for myself gardens and orchards” (Ecclesiastes 2:5), “a land of wheat and barley” (Deuteronomy 8:8). “And planted in them every fruit tree” (Ecclesiastes 2:5); that is what is written: “When you will come into the land and plant.”