Commentary on Ecclesiastes Part 2 (No. F021ii)

Ecclesiastes Chs. 7-12 (RSV)

Ecclesiastes 6:10-7:12 In this section we see the unchangeable lot of man, nor can he foresee the future nor the ultimate God.

He can experience what is relatively good. Hence the seven proverbs on reflection and self-control.

Chapter 7

A Disillusioned View of Life

A good name is better than precious ointment; and the day of death, than the day of birth. ²It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for this is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to heart. ³Sorrow is better than laughter, for by sadness of countenance the heart is made glad. ⁴The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. ⁵It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. ⁶For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fools; this also is vanity. ⁷Surely oppression makes the wise man foolish, and a bribe corrupts the mind. ⁸Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. ⁹Be not quick to anger, for anger lodges in the bosom of fools. ¹⁰Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. ¹¹Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. ¹²For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money; and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it. ¹³Consider the work of God; who can make straight what he has made crooked? ¹⁴In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider; God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him.

The Riddles of Life

¹⁵In my vain life I have seen everything; there is a righteous man who perishes in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man who prolongs his life in his evil-doing. ¹⁶Be not righteous overmuch, and do not make yourself overwise; why should you destroy yourself? ¹⁷Be not wicked overmuch, neither be a fool; why should you die before your time? ¹⁸It is good that you should take hold of this, and from that withhold not your hand; for he who fears God shall come forth from them all. ¹⁹Wisdom gives strength to the wise man more than ten rulers that are in a city. ²⁰Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins. ²¹Do not give heed to all the things that men say, lest you hear your servant cursing you; ²²your heart knows that many times you have yourself cursed others. ²³All this I have tested by wisdom; I said, “I will be wise”; but it was far from me. ²⁴That which is, is far off, and deep, very deep; who can find it out? ²⁵I turned my mind to know and to search out and to seek wisdom and the sum of things, and to know the wickedness of folly and the foolishness which is madness ²⁶And I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and whose hands are fetters; he who pleases God escapes her, but the sinner is taken by her. ²⁷Behold, this is what I found, says the Preacher, adding one thing to another to find the sum, ²⁸which my mind has sought repeatedly, but I have not found. One man among a thousand I found, but a woman among all these I have not found. ²⁹Behold, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many devices.

Intent of Chapter 7

7:1 Reputation is never secure until death for that is the end of all men. The living lay that to heart.

7:2-10 These are the sequence of proverbs that deal with the distinction between the wise and the foolish.

7:11-12 A wise heir will live to enjoy his inheritance.

7:13-21 Man cannot change the world order and righteousness brings no advantage. Therefore moderation is better than folly or excessive piety.

vv. 17-18 Be not wicked overmuch nor overly foolish. The fear of God delivers from all evil. And will come forth from them all having done his duty.

v. 19 Wisdom gives strength to the wise more than the rulers in a city.

v. 20 There is no man, no matter how righteous, without sin (see also 1Jn. 1:8-10).

7:23-8:9 (7:23-29) Wisdom is that which the wise seek out but as one among a thousand men but not sought for or found among women (v. 28).

7:23-29 God made man upright but they have sought out many devices.

Verse 28 shows that wisdom is rare (0.1%) among men but women are stated to not have such a quality. This follows from the physiological makeup of women that have great difficulty in dealing with Biblical prophecy and consequence and the prophetic surety that God will punish the people for sin which is transgression of the Law; thus acting against the nurturing instincts of a woman who is emotionally geared to preservation of the family and tribe on into the future. Prophecy therefore runs counter to the basic female instincts. For that reason few women are genuine prophets and often only when they are past family life as with the prophetess Anna of Asher at the time of Christ (Lk. 2:36). Those installed as prophets and prophetesses in the Sardis and Laodicean systems in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries as listed in the texts of Rev. 3:1-6 and 14-22 (e.g. Ellen G. White, C. T. Russell, Rutherford, Dugger and Armstrong and those groups), with massive male avarice and female influence, made a complete mess of latter day prophecy and doctrine and ruined the Sabbatarian, Adventist, J. W. and associated systems. The false prophets of both systems cost many their place in the First Resurrection of Rev. 20:4-6 (see also Jer. 4:15-27 n. in F024), (see also False Prophecy (No. 269)).

Chapter 8

Obey the King and Enjoy Yourself

Who is like the wise man? And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man’s wisdom makes his face shine, and the hardness of his countenance is changed. ²Keepthe king’s command, and because of your sacred oath be not dismayed; ³go from his presence, do not delay when the matter is unpleasant, for he does whatever he pleases. ⁴For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” ⁵He who obeys a command will meet no harm, and the mind of a wise man will know the time and way. ⁶For every matter has its time and way, although man’s trouble lies heavy upon him. ⁷For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? ⁸No man has power to retain the spirit, or authority over the day of death; there is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. ⁹All this I observed while applying my mind to all that is done under the sun, while man lords it over man to his hurt.

God’s Ways Are Inscrutable

¹⁰Then I saw the wicked buried; they used to go in and out of the holy place, and were praised in the city where they had done such things. This also is vanity. ¹¹Because sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the sons of men is fully set to do evil. ¹²Though a sinner does evil a hundred times and prolongs his life, yet I know that it will be well with those who fear God, because they fear before him; ¹³but it will not be well with the wicked, neither will he prolong his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God. ¹⁴There is a vanity which takes place on earth, that there are righteous men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the wicked, and there are wicked men to whom it happens according to the deeds of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. ¹⁵And I commend enjoyment, for man has no good thing under the sun but to eat and drink and enjoy himself, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of life which God gives him under the sun. ¹⁶When I applied my mind to know wisdom, and to see the business that is done on earth, how neither day nor night one’s eyes see sleep; ¹⁷then I saw all the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much man may toil in seeking, he will not find it out; even though a wise man claims to know, he cannot find it out.

Intent of Chapter 8

8:1-9 Carried on from 7:23-29 above. The pursuit of the meaning of existence is concealed in the mysteries of God. The plan of God is unalterable.

8:1 A wise man knows the interpretation of a matter and his wisdom makes his face shine and changes his countenance.

8:2-5 Obey the monarch. He who obeys a command meets no harm and the wise understand the time and the way. Every matter has its time and way even though man is troubled by it all. None knows the outcome.

v. 8 No man has power to retain the spirit (as it returns to God who gave it (12:8)).

8:9 There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it.

All can be observed from the conduct of affairs and man lords it over man to his hurt.

8:10-9:1 Learn to accept the failure of retribution to overtake the wicked as an anomaly.

No man knows whether God will favour him or not. Enjoy life as God permits.

v. 16 No man can find out all the works of God.

Chapter 9

Take Life as It Comes

But all this I laid to heart, examining it all, how the righteous and the wise and their deeds are in the hand of God; whether it is love or hate man does not know. Everything before them is vanity, ²since one fate comes to all, to the righteous and the wicked, to the good and the evil, to the clean and the unclean, to him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good man, so is the sinner; and he who swears is as he who shuns an oath. ³This is an evil in all that is done under the sun, that one fate comes to all; also the hearts of men are full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that they go to the dead. ⁴But he who is joined with all the living has hope, for a living dog is better than a dead lion. ⁵For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward; but the memory of them is lost. ⁶Their love and their hate and their envy have already perished, and they have no more for ever any share in all that is done under the sun. ⁷Go, eat your bread with enjoyment, and drink your wine with a merry heart; for God has already approved what you do. ⁸Let your garments be always white; let not oil be lacking on your head. ⁹Enjoy life with the wife whom you love, all the days of your vain life which he has given you under the sun, because that is your portion in life and in your toil at which you toil under the sun. ¹⁰Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol, to which you are going. ¹¹Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to the men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all. ¹²For man does not know his time. Like fish which are taken in an evil net, and like birds which are caught in a snare, so the sons of men are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

Wisdom Superior to Folly

¹³I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴There was a little city with few men in it; and a great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵But there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶But I say that wisdom is better than might, though the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded. ¹⁷The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. ¹⁸Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good.

Intent of Chapter 9

9:2-12 Enjoy life as far as God permits.

One fate comes to all and that is an inexorable death.

He who is alive has hope. A live dog is better than a dead lion. There is no understanding or life in death. Only in the resurrections is there conscious understanding. In the Scriptures there are only the Resurrections of the Dead. That is at the First Resurrection or at the Second Resurrection of the Dead as explained in Revelation chapter 20 (see Nos 143A and 143B). There is no understanding in the grave (see 12:8 below). Heaven and Hell is a pagan heretical doctrine that has no place in the Bible texts, nor in the Koran.

9:13-10:20 A Parable and Maxims on life and wisdom

9:13 Wisdom is better than might though the poor man's words are not heeded.

9:17-18 The words of the wise heard in quiet are better than the shouting of a ruler among fools. Wisdom is better than weapons of war, but one sinner destroys much good. It is by obedience to the Law of God that nations are saved.

Chapter 10

Miscellaneous Observations

Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off an evil odor; so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honor. ²A wise man’s heart inclines him toward the right, but a fool’s heart toward the left. ³Even when the fool walks on the road, he lacks sense, and he says to every one that he is a fool. ⁴If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place, for deference will make amends for great offenses. ⁵There is an evil which I have seen under the sun, as it were an error proceeding from the ruler: ⁶folly is set in many high places, and the rich sit in a low place. ⁷I have seen slaves on horses, and princes walking on foot like slaves. ⁸He who digs a pit will fall into it; and a serpent will bite him who breaks through a wall. ⁹He who quarries stones is hurt by them; and he who splits logs is endangered by them.¹⁰If the iron is blunt, and one does not whet the edge, he must put forth more strength; but wisdom helps one to succeed.¹¹If the serpent bites before it is charmed, there is no advantage in a charmer.¹²The words of a wise man’s mouth win him favor, but the lips of a fool consume him. ¹³The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the end of his talk is wicked madness. ¹⁴A fool multiplies words, though no man knows what is to be, and who can tell him what will be after him? ¹⁵The toil of a fool wearies him, so that he does not know the way to the city. ¹⁶Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! ¹⁷Happy are you, O land, when your king is the son of free men, and your princes feast at the proper time, for strength, and not for drunkenness! ¹⁸Through sloth the roof sinks in, and through indolence the house leaks. ¹⁹Bread is made for laughter, and wine gladdens life, and money answers everything. ²⁰Even in your thought, do not curse the king, nor in your bedchamber curse the rich; for a bird of the air will carry your voice, or some winged creature tell the matter.

Intent of Chapter 10

10:1 Dead flies make the perfumer's ointment give off an evil odour, so a little folly outweighs wisdom and honour.

10:2-3; 12-15 Here right and left have a moral connotation as in Mat. 25:33-46.

10:4-6 Wisdom is not disturbed by arbitrary power and helps one to succeed and avoid danger.

Errors can proceed from the appointments of the ruler. So also evil comes from the conduct of those in service. Be silent and serve the king. The term money answers everything means it can provide all necessary (v. 19).

Chapter 11

The Value of Diligence

Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. ²Give a portion to seven, or even to eight, or you know not what evil may happen on earth. ³If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls to the south or to the north, in the place where the tree falls, there it will lie. ⁴He who observes the wind will not sow; and he who regards the clouds will not reap. ⁵As you do not know how the spirit comes to the bones in the wombof a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything. ⁶In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand; for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.

Youth and Old Age

⁷Light is sweet, and it is pleasant for the eyes to behold the sun. ⁸For if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember that the days of darkness will be many. All that comes is vanity. ⁹Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. ¹⁰Remove vexation from your mind, and put away pain from your body; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

Intent of Chapter 11

11:1-6 Qoholeth (the prophet) calls on men to act in spite of life's uncertainties. The satisfaction of work is in doing it (2:24).

11:1-2 Cast your bread - extend assistance and help and trade upon many waters and that will benefit you. Giving aid or assistance to numbers will establish alliances and strength and establish good will.

11:3-4. What happens will happen and observing it will not alter it. Act and get on with life and the circumstances will take care of themselves. Man cannot ensure certainty if he would live at all.

11:7-12:8 Youth is the best of life and to be enjoyed. Old Age and Death come soon enough.

Chapter 12

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”; ²before the sun and the light and the moon and the stars are darkened and the clouds return after the rain; ³in the day when the keepers of the house tremble, and the strong men are bent, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look through the windows are dimmed, ⁴and the doors on the street are shut; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one rises up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of song are brought low; ⁵they are afraid also of what is high, and terrors are in the way; the almond tree blossoms, the grasshopper drags itself alongand desire fails; because man goes to his eternal home, and the mourners go about the streets; ⁶before the silver cord is snapped, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern, ⁷and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it. ⁸Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.

Epilogue

⁹Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging proverbs with great care. ¹⁰The Preacher sought to find pleasing words, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. ¹¹The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings which are given by one Shepherd. ¹²My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. ¹³The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.¹⁴For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Intent of Chapter 12

12:1-7 This is a famous allegory of old age and esteemed by Hebrew scholars as the poetry rises to great heights. Many do not develop it because of the heaven and hell doctrines within the Sun and Mystery Cults in Trinitarianism.

The text carries on from Ch. 11 with the injunction to remember your creator in the days of your youth, before old age catches up with you and your capacity to enjoy them diminishes. So also may the social pleasure be overtaken by hard times and few labourers. So then the years progress and man is brought to the grave and the symbols of a good life are removed and the mourners are in the streets. And the dead go to the grave, or sheol, as the pit, as his home until the Resurrection. Here (in v. 7) we see the body divided from the spirit where the body as dust returns to the earth and the spirit returns to God who gave it.

v. 8 The spirit of man then remains with God until the resurrections. The pagan doctrine of an eternal soul is not found among the Hebrews and the laws of God in the Bible Texts. (see No. 092).

12:9-14 The wisdom of the prophet or preacher is praised as are the Proverbs.

His writings are espoused as words of uprightness and truth.

vv. 11-12 The sayings of the wise are like goads and like nails firmly fixed are the sayings of one Shepherd.

12:13-14 The End of the Matter: All has been Heard.

Fear God and keep His Commandments for this is the whole duty of man. The text then goes on to the Judgment of man at the Resurrections. For God will bring every deed into judgment in the Resurrections with every secret thing whether good or bad.

Those of the First Resurrection are under judgment during their life (see No. 143A).

Those of the Second Resurrection which is the Resurrection of Krisis or correction are re-educated in that phase (see Nos. 080 and 143B).

Bullinger’s Notes on Chs. 7-12 (for KJV)

Chapter 7

Verse 1

name . . . ointment. Note the Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ), " shem mishshemen".

better. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:24 .

precious = good. Same word as "good" at the beginning of the sentence.

Verse 2

the end. Hebrew. soph . See note on Ecclesiastes 3:11 .

men. Hebrew. 'addm (with Art.) = mankind. App-14 . See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 .

Verse 4

fools = fat, inert. Hebrew. kesil. Same word as in verses: Ecclesiastes 7:5 , Ecclesiastes 7:6 , Ecclesiastes 7:9 , Ecclesiastes 7:25 ("folly"). Not the same as "foolish "(Ecclesiastes 7:17 ), or "foolishness", Ecclesiastes 7:25 . See note on "poverty", Proverbs 1:7 .

Verse 6

crackling. Same word as "voice" (Genesis 3:8 ), used of any sound.

thorns . . . pot. Note Figure of speech Paronomasia ( App-6 ). Hebrew. hassirim . . . hassir. May be Englished by "nettles . . . kettles".

vanity. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:2 .

Verse 7

oppression = oppressing: i.e. the act of oppressing.

maketh . . . mad. Referring to the madness of folly.

mad = beyond control. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:17 .

a gift = a bribe.

Verse 11

Wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 1:2 .

with, &c. = like, or as. See Ecclesiastes 2:16 ; Ecclesiastes 8:1 .Genesis 18:23 , Genesis 18:25 . Render:"Wisdom [is as] good as riches, and more advantageous to them that see the sun".

see the sun: i.e. the idiom for "are alive".

Verse 12

life = future life. See note on Leviticus 18:5 .

Verse 13

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God: i.e. the Deity. App-4 .

Verse 14

find = discover.

Verse 15

just = righteous.

Verse 16

over much: i.e. depending on the merit of good works.

over wise: i.e. beyond what is necessary.

destroy thyself = make thyself lonely: i.e. forsaken. Compare Job 16:7 .

Verse 17

Be not over much wicked = Be not very wicked: i.e. Be not wicked at all. For violation of nature's laws surely end in premature death.

foolish = stupid. Hebrew. sakal; not the same word as in verses: Ecclesiastes 4:5 , Ecclesiastes 4:6 , Ecclesiastes 4:9 , Ecc 4:25 ("folly"). See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 .

Verse 18

come forth of them all = make His way with both.

Verse 19

the wise = a wise man.

Verse 21

curse = revile.

Verse 25

the reason . . . madness = in order to know the reason (or cause) of folly's wickedness, and the madness of folly.

Verse 27

counting, &c. Or, supply the Ellipsis thus: "[considering women] one by one", &c.

account = result.

Verse 28

my soul = I myself. Hebrew. nephesh. App-13 .

seeketh = sought.

Verse 29

Lo. Figure of speech Asterismos. App-6 . Same as "Behold" in Ecclesiastes 7:27 .

they = mankind: not merely the above classes. This verse is admittedly the inspired truth of God: so therefore are the other statements in this book. Moreover, "they" is emphatic.

inventions = devices.

Chapter 8

Verse 1

as = like.

who . . . ? Supply the Ellipsis ( App-6 ), from the preceding line: "Who [is like him that] knoweth? "

interpretation = understanding.

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Proverbs 8:1 , Proverbs 8:2 .

boldness = sternness.

Verse 2

I counsel thee: or I say, then, in regard of-on account of.

Verse 3

stand not = do not take thy stand. Some codices, with one early printed edition, Syriac, and Vulg, read, "and stand not".

Verse 4

power = might, or control. Hebrew. shilton. Occurs only here and in Ecclesiastes 8:8 .

Verse 5

feel = know.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a'.

time and judgment = a time, yea, a judgment time. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

Verse 6

purpose. See note on Ecclesiastes 3:1 .

there is = there exists. Hebrew. yesh.

therefore the misery = when the evil.

great = heavy.

Verse 8

the spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Some render "wind" and refer to Ecclesiastes 11:5 .Proverbs 8:30 , Proverbs 8:4 .

discharge in that war = no furlough in the battle [of life].

wickedness. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 . Perhaps here = cunning: no cunning will save the wicked.

those that are given to it = its possessors.

Verse 9

under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .

there is a time wherein = sometimes.

Verse 10

I saw = I have seen.

the wicked = lawless men (plural) Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

come and gone. Supply the complex Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ), "I have seen wicked men come [to the grave; and righteous men] depart [in death, Genesis 15:2 ] from the place of the holy, and be forgotten", &c.

Verse 12

days. Supply the Ellipsis by "evil-doing".

God . Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God: the Deity.

Verse 14

upon the earth. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:2 .

just = righteous.

Verse 16

business = travail.

for also there is, &c. = how that one doth not see sleep with his eyes by day or by night. Figure of speech Catachresis ( App-6 ).

Chapter 9

Verse 1

I considered = I have taken to heart.

even to declare. Septuagint and Syriac read, "and my heart proved".

the righteous =. just ones. God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God: the Deity. App-4 .

hatred by all that is before them = hatred. All lies before them (i.e. in the future).

them: i.e. the righteous and the lawless.

Verse 2

All things come alike to all = Just as before all others. Reading on from Ecclesiastes 9:1 .

one event: i.e. death. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:14 .

the wicked = a lawless one. Hebrew. rasha'. App-44 .

sinner. Hebrew. chata. App-44 . All the nouns in this verse are singular.

Verse 3

an evil. The Preposition (= B) in bebol, gives the force of the superlative: i.e. the greatest or worst calamity of all, &c.

evil = calamity. Hebrew. ra'a' App-44 .

under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .

madness. Plural as elsewhere. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:17 .

they go. Omit these words and note the Figure of speech Aposiopesis ( App-6 ), "and after that to the dead! "See the following note.

Verse 4

For to him that is joined. Connect this with the end of preceding verse and render "For who is excepted? To all the living", &c.

hope = confidence. Hebrew. bittahon (from batah) . App-69 . Occurs only here, 2 Kings 18:19 , and Isaiah 36:4 .

a living dog, &c. Figure of speech Paroemia, App-6 . Same proverb in Arabic.

living dog. Regarded by the Jews as the most unclean and despicable creature (1 Samuel 17:43 ; 1 Samuel 24:14 . 2Sa 9:8 ; 2 Samuel 16:9 . 2 Kings 8:13 .Matthew 7:6 ; Matthew 15:26 . Revelation 22:15 ). Hence Gentiles so called.

is = he [is]: i.e. even he.

better. See note on Ecclesiastes 2:24 .

lion. Regarded as the noblest of animals (Genesis 49:10 . Job 10:16 . Isaiah 38:13 .Lamentations 3:10 . Hosea 13:7 . Revelation 5:5 ).

Verse 5

the dead know not any thing. See and Compare Ecclesiastes 9:10 . Psalms 6:5 ; Psalms 30:9 ; Psalms 31:17 ; Psalms 88:11 .Isaiah 38:18 , Isaiah 38:19 .

a reward = any advantage [to them].

memory = the faculty of remembering. See note on "them", below.

them. The Hebrew suffix "them" must be taken as the subject in all the four nouns alike. As in Ecclesiastes 9:6 , the possessive pronoun "their" is, and must be, taken alike in each case.

is forgotten = ceases to exist, as in Psalms 77:9 , where it is parallel with "clean gone for ever "and "evermore", and in the next verse here(Ecclesiastes 9:6 ), where it stands parallel with "perished" and "for ever".

Verse 6

perished . Like the knowledge and memory of Ecclesiastes 9:5 .

Verse 7

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

Verse 8

ointment = perfume.

Verse 9

labour . . . takest = toil. . . toilest.

Verse 10

thy hand findeth to do. Hand put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , for the strength put forth by it (Leviticus 12:8 ; Leviticus 25:28 ).

do it with thy might = do it while thou art able, and have time to do it.

nor knowledge, &c. See note on Ecclesiastes 9:5 , above.

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:2 . t

he grave. Hebrew Sheol. App-35 .

Verse 11

men. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

chance = occurrence. Hebrew. phega' : i.e. "time[of misfortune]". Occurs only here and 1 Kings 5:4 , where it is associated with "evil" (or calamity).

happeneth = meeteth, or befalleth.

Verse 12

For man, &c. Connect this sentence with Ecclesiastes 9:11 .

man . . . men. Hebrew. 'adam (with Art.) App-14 .

Verse 14

a little city. For the application of verses: Ecclesiastes 9:14-16 , note the following illustrations: poor (2 Corinthians 8:9 . Philippians 1:2 , Philippians 1:6-8 ); wise (1 Corinthians 1:24 ); delivered (1 Corinthians 1:18 , 1 Corinthians 1:25 ); none remembered (Isaiah 53:3 ); despised (1 Corinthians 1:28 ); words heard in quiet (Job 6:24 .Ezekiel 1:24 , Ezekiel 1:25 .Luke 10:39; Luke 10:39 ).

men. Hebrew, plural of 'enosh. App-14 .

Verse 15

there was found = [some one] was found.

poor = unfortunate. Hebrew. misken. See note on Proverbs 6:11 .

poor wise. Some codices, with three early printed editions, Aramaean, Septuagint, and Vulgate, read "poor but wise".

man. Hebrew. 'ish . App-14 .

Verse 17

fools = fat, inert. Hebrew. kesil. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

Chapter 10

Verse 1

Dead flies. Hebrew flies of death: i.e. flies that bring or produce death. Supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis, "[as] dead".

cause = [are that which will] cause, &c.

to send forth a stinking savour = to stink [and] fer-ment. Figure of speech Hendiadys. App-6 .

folly = stupidity. Hebrew. sakal. Same root as in Ecclesiastes 10:6 . See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

him. Note the Figure of speech Ellipsis ( App-6 ) : "So doth stupidity [cause] him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour [to send forth an offensive savour]".

wisdom. Hebrew. chakmah. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:2 .

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Verse 2

fool's = dullard's. Hebrew. kesil = fat, inert. Same word as in Ecclesiastes 10:12 . See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

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Verse 3

fool. Hebrew. sakal. Same word as in verses: Ecclesiastes 10:6 , Ecclesiastes 10:14 , not verses: Ecclesiastes 10:2 , Ecclesiastes 10:12 , Ecclesiastes 10:15 .

wisdom = beart.

saith = tells. See note on Proverbs 1:7 .

he = he himself (emph.)

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Verse 4

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

yielding, &c. = gentleness preventeth greater outrages.

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Verse 5

evil. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 .

under the sun. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:3 .

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Verse 6

Folly = a great dullard. Hebrew. sakal, as in verses: Ecclesiastes 10:1 , Ecclesiastes 10:3 , Ecclesiastes 10:3 , Ecclesiastes 10:14 .

in great dignity = in many high positions.

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Verse 7

horses. No evidence of a late origin of this book, for we read of them in 1 Kings 4:26 , 1Ki 4:28 ; 1 Kings 10:26 , 1 Kings 10:28 ; 1Ki 22:4 . 2 Kings 9:33 ; 2 Kings 14:20 . If not in common use, it was because of the Law (Deuteronomy 17:16 ); and because of Solomon's disobedience (1 Kings 10:28 . 2Ch 1:16 , 2 Chronicles 1:17 ; 2 Chronicles 9:28 ).

upon the earth. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:2 .

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Verse 8

hedge = a wall built of loose stones without mortar. Hebrew. gader, used especially of sheep-folds (Numbers 32:16 , Numbers 32:24 , Numbers 32:36 ; 1 Samuel 24:3 ). Zephaniah 2:6 ); also for fencing pathways between the vineyards (Numbers 22:24 .Psalms 62:3 ; Psalms 80:12 ). The crevices between the loose stones form hiding-places for lizards and other creeping things.

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Verse 13

foolishness. Hebrew. sakal, as in verses: Ecclesiastes 10:3 , Ecclesiastes 10:6 , Ecclesiastes 10:14 .

madness. See note on Ecclesiastes 1:17 .

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Verse 15

labour = toil.

foolish. Hebrew. kesil, as in Ecclesiastes 10:2 and Ecclesiastes 10:12 ; not sakal, as in verses: Ecclesiastes 10:3 , Ecclesiastes 10:6 , Ecclesiastes 10:13 , Ecclesiastes 3:14 .

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Verse 17

Blessed = Happy. Hebrew. 'ashrey. The only occurrence in this book.

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Verse 18

building decayeth = the roof falleth in.

droppeth through = leaketh.

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Verse 19

wine. Hebrew. yayin. App-27 .

maketh merry = will gladden life. Compare Psalms 104:15 .

answereth all things = maketh everything respond [to their requirements]: i.e. will procure both [feast and wine]. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:19 , the only two occurrences of 'anah in this book.

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Verse 20

Curse not the king = Revile not a king.

in thy thought = in thy secret thought: i.e. with all thy [acquired] knowledge. Hebrew. madda', a rare word. Occurs only six times. Rendered "thought", here; "knowledge" (2 Chronicles 1:10 , 2Ch 1:11 , 2 Chronicles 1:12 .Daniel 1:17; Daniel 1:17 ); "science" (Daniel 1:4 ).

Chapter 11

Verse 1

bread. Put by Figure of speech Metonymy (of Effect), App-6 , for the seed from which it is produced.

upon = upon the surface of.

it = the profit or result of it.

Verse 2

Give: i.e. in charity.

a portion: i.e. a portion of the bread of Ecclesiastes 11:1 .

seven . . . eight. An idiomatic phrase denoting several or many, like the idiom "once . . . twice" = several times (Job 33:14 .Psalms 62:11; Psalms 62:11 ); "twice. . . thrice" = often (Job 33:29 . Isaiah 17:6 ); "three and four" = frequently, or many (Exodus 20:5 ; Exodus 34:7 . Proverbs 30:15 , Proverbs 30:18 , Proverbs 30:21 .Amos 1:3 , Amos 1:6 , Amos 1:9 , Amos 1:11 , Amos 1:13 ; Amos 2:1 , Amos 2:4 , Amos 2:6 ); "four and five" (Isaiah 17:6 ); "six and seven" = many (Job 5:19 ); "seven and eight" (Micah 5:5 ).

what evil. As the verb is Masculine but "evil" is feminine, render "what will prove a misfortune".

evil = misfortune. Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

upon the earth. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:2 .

Verse 4

wind. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

shall not sow. shall not reap. The ploughing must be done when the early rains have come, even in the face of storm and tempest; otherwise there will be no reaping after the latter rains.

Verse 5

As = According as. See note on John 3:8 . spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 .

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the [true] God, or the Deity. App-4 . See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 .

Verse 6

prosper. Hebrew. kasher: supposed to be a later Hebrew word, but a kindred form seems to be found in Psalms 68:6 , where "with chains" should be rendered "into prosperity". See App-75 .

Verse 8

man. Hebrew. 'adam (with Art.) App-14 . See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 .

and rejoice = let him rejoice.

Verse 9

Rejoice, &c. A positive command, not irony; qualified by the solemn fact: "but know thou", &c.

young man = a chosen youth, implying beauty and strength.

youth = childhood.

thy youth. Same word as "young man".

judgment = the judgment.

Verse 10

evil = sadness.

youth = dawn of life. Hebrew. shaharuth. Occurs only here

Chapter 12

Verse 1

now = also.

Creator. Plural of Majesty = the [great] Creator, or a reference to the Trinity.

evil days = days of the misfortune: i.e. affliction and death. Hebrew. ra'a' . App-44 . i.e. the days described in following verses.

pleasure. See note on Ecclesiastes 3:1 .

Verse 3

keepers of the house: i.e. the arms of the body.

house. The human body is often compared to a house (Isaiah 38:12 . Job 4:19 . 2 Corinthians 5:1 , 2 Corinthians 5:2 ; 2 Peter 1:13 ).

tremble. Occurs only here, Esther 5:9 ("move"), and Habakkuk 2:7 ("vex"). See App-76 .

the strong men: . i.e. the legs. Hebrew. geber. App-14 .

the grinders: i.e. the teeth.

cease = fail, or become unfit for use. Hebrew. batal = a passage; probably = the ear-passage. Occurs only in Solomon's writings. Here, Ecclesiastes 12:5 , Proverbs 7:8 , and Song of Solomon 3:2 (plural)

those that look out of the windows: i.e. eyes ("those" is feminine, agreeing with Hebrew "eyes").

windows = lattices = the eyelids.

darkened = dimmed.

Verse 4

the doors = the openings: i.e. the mouth and ears.

streets = street (singular)

sound of the grinding is low: i.e. the mastication with gums instead of teeth is low.

rise up = start: referring to insomnia.

the daughters of musick: i.e. songs, &c, the product of music.

Verse 5

afraid: i.e. of ascending heights.

high = lofty, elevated.

fears shall be in the way: i.e. apprehensions of danger in journeying.

almond tree shall flourish: i.e. grey hairs shall grow scanty, or drop off, not "almond nuts be rejected"; for the teeth and eating have already been dealt with in Ecclesiastes 12:3 .

grasshopper , or locust.

shall be a burden = shall become burdensome: i.e. as to weight.

desire shall fail. "Desire" = Hebrew = the caperberry. Here the Authorized Version beautifully renders the figure of speech (as a version should do), while the Revised Version renders it literally (as a translation too often does). The Figure of speech is Metalepsis: i.e. a double Metonymy ( App-6 ), by which (1) the "caperberry" is put for the condiment made from it, and then (2) thecondiment is put for the appetite produced by it. And further, since, because of its shape, as well as from the notion that it was supposed to create sexual desire, all that is intended by the figure is included in the rendering "desire shall fail".

man. Hebrew. 'ddam (with Art). App-14 . See note on Ecclesiastes 1:13 .

Verse 6

Or, &c. New figures now (in Ecclesiastes 12:6 ) introduced, referring to the arrival (Structure, above) of death itself.

the silver cord: i.e. the spinal cord.

the golden bowl: i.e. the head, or skull.

pitcher: the failure of the heart.

the wheel. On which the bucket is brought up by a rope from the cistern, or well.

Verse 7

dust. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Cause), App-6 , put for the body which is made of dust (Genesis 2:7 ; Genesis 3:19 . Psalms 104:29 . Job 34:15 , Job 34:16 ).

as it was. Note the reference to Adam's creation.

spirit. Hebrew. ruach. App-9 . Not nephesh, soul ( App-13 ).

return unto God. Hence He is said to be the God of the spirits of all flesh (Numbers 16:22 ; Numbers 27:16 . Compare Luke 23:46 . Acts 7:59 ); "the Father of spirits" (Hebrews 12:9 ).

God. Hebrew. Elohim. (with Art.) = the (true or triune) God; the Deity. App-4 . Concerning where the dead are, for us to assume any further than what is said here (Ecclesiastes 12:7 ) is no more than mere speculation.

Verse 11

The words of the wise. See notes on p. 864, and App-7 .

nails. These were built into a wall, because Eastern walls were too hard or too soft for them to be hammered in. fastened = planted. Masculine, while "nails" is feminine: but the Accent unite the two words. The verb nata' is found again only in Ecclesiastes 3:2 , where it is singular.

by the masters = [are] the lords, or rulers. ba'al.

one shepherd. The Inspirer. See Genesis 48:15 ; Genesis 49:24 .Psalms 23:1 .

Verse 12

And further = Beyond these. Note the Structure above.

Verse 13

the conclusion. See note on "the end", Ecclesiastes 3:11 .

God. Hebrew. 'eth ha-'Elohim = the [true and only] God; the great Creator, who throughout the book is put in contrast with man (Hebrew. 'adam. App-14 .) the creature. App-4 .

Verse 14

secret = hidden.

evil . Hebrew. ra'a'. App-44 .

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