הֲבֵל הֲבָלִים אָמַר קֹהֶלֶת. קֹהֶלֶת קוֹרֵא תַגַּר וְאוֹמֵר עַל־כָּל־יְצִירַת שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית שֶׁהַכֹּל הֶבֶל שֶׁל הֲבָלִים הוּא: Vanity of vanities, said Koheles. Koheles complains about the entire seven days of creation, that it is all a vanity15Vanity is something empty of substance, it is zero. However, when combined with something of substance, such as Torah study, it adds value to it, in the same manner that a zero that is placed next to a number adds value to it. (Mashal Umlitzah) of vanities.
הֲבֵל. "הֲבֵל" נָקוּד חֲטָף פַּתָּח לְפִי שֶׁהוּא דָּבוּק, כְּלוֹמַר, הֶבֶל שֶׁבַּהֲבָלִים. שִׁבְעַת הֲבָלִים כְּנֶגֶד מַעֲשֵׂה שִׁבְעַת יְמֵי בְרֵאשִׁית: Vanity of. הֲבֵל16The numerical value [gematria] of ‘הבל’ is 37, corresponding to the 37 years of Shlomo’s reign, considering his exile of three years. (Gra) is punctuated with a chataph patach, because it is in the construct state; i.e., the vanity of the vanities. Seven vanities [are mentioned],17הבל is one, הבלים [plural] are two, הבל is one, הבלים are two, and הבל is one, making a total of seven. corresponding to the seven days of creation.