1)

What is the grammatical form of "he'Chacham"?

1.

Ibn Ezra: The prefix Hei that introduces a question [usually] has under it a Patach with a Sheva. If the next vowel is a Sheva Na, the Hei has a Patach, like "habe'Machanim 1 " (Bamidbar 13:19). After Hei ha'Yedi'ah (to identify, like 'the'), the following letter has a Dagesh, unless it is Aleph, Hei, Vov or Yud; then, usually the Hei has a Kamatz, or sometimes a Patach. Here it has a Segol, to make the pronunciation easier, since the next two vowels are Kamatzim. It is pronounced just like "he'Chacham Einav b'Rosho" (14, even though there it is ha'Yedi'ah, and here it is a question.


1

Ibn Ezra: There is another case (an exception) in which it has a Patach - "ha'Yeitiv b'Einei Hashem" (Vayikra 10:19).

2)

What will be the consequence of his son being a Chacham or Kesil?

1.

Rashbam: If my son will be a Chacham, he will rule over it, and it will last in his hand. If he will be a Kesil, my toil and wealth will fall to others (Ri Kara - he will lose it via his folly).

2.

Seforno: I hope to merit to leave my toil and acquisitions to a Chacham, so he will use them to perfect his intellectual Nefesh and acquire eternity, like Hashem's desire. If so, also I will merit that I helped him to do so.

3.

Metzudas David: If he will be a Chacham, I need not be pained that my toil will pass to him. However, I do not know if this will occur!

3)

Why does it say "Gam Zeh Hevel"?

1.

Rashi: This is one of the Havalim created in the world, that a Chacham toils and a Kesil inherits him.

2.

Rashbam: If my son will be a Kesil, my toil will leave his hand, and I toiled for nothing.

3.

Rid: Also what I toiled for is Hevel.

4.

Metzudas David: Gathering acquisitions to leave them for another to inherit after him, is Hevel.

Sefer: Perek: Pasuk:

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