Midrash Rabbah - Ecclesiastes 5:20
קהלת רבה (וילנא) פרשה ה
[יד] כאשר יצא מבטן אמו, גניבא אמר לשועל שמצא כרם והיה מסוייג מכל פנותיו והיה שם נקב אחד ובקש להכנס בו ולא הוה יכיל מה עבד צם תלת יומין עד דכחיש ותשש ועאל בהדא נקובא, ואכל ושמן, בעא למיפק ולא יכיל מעיבר כלום, חזר וצאים תלת יומן אוחרנין עד דכחיש ותשש וחזר היך מה דהוה ונפק, כד נפק הוה אפיך אפוי ואיסתכל ביה אמר כרמא כרמא, מה טב את ומה טבין אינון פירין דבגווך, וכל מה דאית בך יאין ומשבחן, ברם מה הניה ממך, כמה דבר נש עליל לגוויך כך הוא נפיק, כך הוא דין עלמא... תני בשם רבי מאיר כשאדם בא לעולם ידיו הן קפוצות כלומר כל העולם כלו שלי הוא אני נוחלו וכשהוא נפטר מן העולם ידיו הן פשוטות כלומר לא נחלתי מן העוה"ז כלום, שכן שלמה אומר כאשר יצא מבטן אמו ערום ישוב ללכת כשבא ומאומה וגו'.
“As he came forth of his mother‘s womb, [naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour.]" (Ecclesiastes 5:14). Genibah said: It is like a fox who found a vineyard which was fenced in on all sides. There was one hole through which he wanted to enter, but he was unable to do so. What did he do? He fasted for three days until he became lean and frail, and so got through the hole. Then he ate [of the grapes] and became fat again, so that when he wished to go out he could not pass through at all. He again fasted another three days until he became lean and frail, returning to his former condition, and went out. When he was outside, he turned his face and gazing at the vineyard, said, 'O vineyard, O vineyard, how good are you and the fruits inside! All that is inside is beautiful and commendable, but what enjoyment has one from you? As one enters you so he comes out.’ Such is this world... R. Meir: When a person enters the world his hands are clenched as though to say, ‘The whole world is mine, I shall inherit it’; but when he takes leave of it his hands are spread open as though to say, ' I have inherited nothing from the world.’ For thus said Solomon, “As he came forth of his mother‘s womb, naked shall he go back as he came, and shall take nothing for his labour." (Ecclesiastes 5:14) [Soncino Translation]

Suggested Discussion Questions:

There are numerous ancient cultures in which kings were buried with all their wealth. How does this contrast with the Jewish view of you can't take it with you?

Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)