Kohelet Rabbah, the rabbinic commentary on Ecclesiastes, wrestles with this very idea, focusing on the verse: "Anger is better than laughter, as with a cross countenance the heart will be bettered" (Ecclesiastes 7:3). Seems counterintuitive, right? But the Rabbis delve into this, offering some pretty compelling examples.

The commentary starts with King David and his sons. Remember Adoniya? Solomon reflects on his father's leniency, suggesting that a bit of anger, a stern rebuke, would have been far better for Adoniya. Why? Because "with a cross countenance the heart will be bettered." If David had only shown Adoniya a sterner face, perhaps Adoniya would have corrected his path. Instead, the text reminds us, "his father had never aggrieved him" (I Kings 1:6). And we all know how that turned out – Adoniya's attempt to seize the throne, and his ultimate demise. It's a stark illustration of how unchecked freedom can lead to ruin.

The same lesson applies to Amnon. Kohelet Rabbah argues that had David shown even a little anger towards Amnon, it would have been better than the "laughter" with which the attribute of justice mocked him. Again, the principle holds: "with a cross countenance the heart will be bettered.” David's inaction, his lack of stern guidance, ultimately contributed to tragedy. As the text notes, “Amnon alone is dead” (II Samuel 13:32).

But the commentary doesn't stop there. It takes this idea and applies it to God's relationship with humanity.

Imagine if God had been angry at the generation of the Flood. Sounds terrible, right? But Kohelet Rabbah suggests it would have been better than the "laughter" with which the attribute of justice mocked them. The text quotes Job 21:8, "Their offspring are established before them," highlighting their apparent prosperity even in their wickedness. The idea is that divine anger, a clear sign of displeasure, might have spurred them to change their ways. They might have improved and, in the end, died peacefully, surrounded by their families.

And then, there's Sodom. Had God shown anger towards the Sodomites, Kohelet Rabbah contends, it would have been better than the "laughter" with which the attribute of justice mocked them. Again, quoting Job (21:9), "Their houses are safe, without fear," pointing to their undisturbed, yet deeply flawed, existence. A little divine anger, a wake-up call, might have been what they needed.

So, what's the takeaway here? Is Kohelet Rabbah advocating for constant anger and disapproval? Not at all. It's about balance. It's about recognizing that sometimes, a gentle nudge isn't enough. Sometimes, what's needed is a clear, firm, even angry, signal that something is wrong. It's a reminder that true love and care sometimes require us to deliver hard truths, to risk discomfort, for the ultimate betterment of those we care about. It's a challenging thought, but one that resonates deeply when we consider the consequences of unchecked behavior, both in our personal lives and on a grander, even cosmic, scale.