Ecclesiastes
Some study notes which may be of use
to other Bible students.
The Hebrew word is 'Koheleth" = Assembler (or Convener, from 'kahal' = to call, assemble, or gather together). This is
what Solomon did - 1 kings 8:1,2,5. The book is
therefore named after Solomon because of what he did.
Theology is Man's reasoning about
the Word of God, and Science is Man's reasoning about the Works of God. Genesis
is rejected by the Rationalists because it doesn't agree with their earthly
understanding. Ecclesiastes is rejected by many Theologians because it doesn't
agree with their theological understanding.
Solomon's wisdom was given him by
God - 1 Kings 3:5 - 12, 4:29 - 34. It came "from above" - James 3:17,
as did Luke's wisdom - Luke 1:3. Solomon didn't lose his wisdom - Ecc. 2:9.
1:1-1:11 THE ENDLESS ROUND OF NATURE
1:1 'The words" indicates that
the book is meant for reproof, as is indicated by the same words in Deut. 1:1,
Amos 1:1, Jer. 1:1 and 2 Sam. 23:1. the Preacher = the koheleth, or
the Assembler. Another name for Solomon, as explained in opening notes.
1:2 This
expression is used to give the greatest emphasis possible. Vanity = utter
vanity. Vanity - Hebrew = habal = something which
soon vanishes.
1:3 under the sun is an expression
found only in this book. It is equivalent to "upon the earth", and
occurs 29 times. It refers to all that is connected with earthly things as
such, and with Man apart form God.
1:4 abides = stands still, or
continues still, never to be destroyed, while generations come and go on it. for ever = olam = for ages.
1:5 Continuing
the theme of repetition, the sun returns to where it rises.
1:6 the wind = ruach.
The same Hebrew word is also translated "spirit". See Mat. 3:16,5:3.
1:7 This is
the point of the illustration of verse 6.
1:8 labour
= weariness. Just as the sea of v.7 is never filled by the rivers, the natural
man is never filled or satisfied by natural things. Is. 55:1 - 3 is God's call
to the unsatisfied.
1:9 This
underlines the principle of Man without God. On the other hand, Man with
God is a time of discovery, and of newness - Ps. 96:1, 98:1, Is. 42:9, 10, Ez. 11:19, 36:26, Mat. 9:16,17, Rev. 2:17, 3:12, 21:2, 5:9,
14:3, 21:1 - a new heavens and a new earth.
1:10 This
is part of v.9. What the natural man calls "new' is not new at all. His
understanding is on an earthly plane.
1:11 Sm
and Gdsp "There is no memory of earlier people,
and likewise of later people who shall be; there will be no memory of those who
will be later still". The natural man does not consider the shortness of
his mortal life. 2 Pet. 3:3 -7. To describe the
restoration of
1:12-1:18 THE FUTILITY OF LEARNING
1:12 Sm and Gdsp "I, Koheleth, was king over
1:13 under heaven = under the
heavens.
God = Elohim.
The title "Jehovah" is not used in Ecc. because this book refers to Man in relation to his Creator
only, not in covenant relationship. Gen. 1:26 "And Elohim
said, let us make Man in our image . .." Moffat
says "a sorry task this toil set to the sons of men by God".
exercised = humbled.
Here Solomon declares that he will
SCIENTIFICALLY study fallen Man. Moffat says "I set myself to study and
survey thoughtfully . . ." Sm and Gdsp says "I set my mind to search and to investigate
through wisdom ..."
1:14 vexation of spirit = feeding on
wind.
Moffat says "I have seen all
that goes on in this world; it is a vain, futile business" Fallen Man
works to satisfy his natural needs, and ignores the everlasting things. 1 Tim.
4:8 - "Bodily exercise profits little . . ." 'The Spirit quickens
(gives life), the flesh profits nothing ..." - John 6:63. Mat. 16:26
"What is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his
own soul?" and also Mark 8:36.
Moffat says "You cannot
straighten what is twisted, nor can you count up all the defects in life. Mat.
7:16 man cannot gather grapes from a thorn. The fruit of fallen Man is always
"crooked", unable to be straightened, always wanting for something,
always defective, always lacking something.
1:16 Solomon's wisdom is described
more fully in 1 Kings 3:12, 28, 4:29 - 34, 10:1 -7.
1:17 This
shows the amazing extent and depth of Solomon's investigations.
Madness = the opposite to wisdom and
understanding, as displayed in people who totally lack self-control. Solomon
tried raving, or talking and acting wildly, as in a delirium.
folly = infatuation. Solomon tried
saturating himself with the main sensual activities of fallen Man, but at the
same time he used his incredible wisdom to discern and examine his experiments.
God had to have a thoroughly tried
report on all these things, by the best human with the highest qualifications,
as a witness to all people, that each thing which
Solomon tried was of no lasting value. When Jesus came, a "greater that
Solomon" spoke with absolute authority and certainty on the same things -
Mat. 12:42, Luke 11:31. John 10:10 Jesus said "I give life
abundantly", and "For a man's life does not consist of the things he
possesses" Luke 12:15.
1:18 In
much understanding, or intellectual knowledge is much grief = mortification.
Sorrow = makob
= pain.
Sm and Gdsp
says "For with more wisdom is more worry . . ." God's wisdom,
spiritually understood (lCor.2:14) is a wonderfully rich and satisfying source
of life, light and health. It provides regeneration - IPet.
1:23, Conversion - Ps.l9:7, Sanctification - John 17:17, Growth - lPet.2:2,
Faith - John 20:31, and Cleansing - Eph. 5:26.
2:1-26 THE FUTILITY OF ALL HUMAN
EFFORT.
2:1 The
first examination concerning pleasure, now, the
2:2 first conclusion
follows, concerning mirth and laughter. On their own, these two things are
empty and part of fallen Man's array of substitutes for God's plenty. Solomon's
servants were happy - IKings 10:8 because they were
obedient to the king. Man seeks happiness in mirth and laughter, instead of
obedience to God. "My soul shall be joyful in the Lord" - Ps. 35:9.
Col.2:5, Heb. 3:18, Mat. 25:21 - "Enter into the
joy of the Lord..."
mad = the same sense as in 1:17.
2:3 Solomon tried pampering his
flesh with wine, while at the same time he used his wisdom to see if it was of
any worth.
all the days = all the numbered days
wine = yayin,
from the Hebrew root yayan, meaning to ferment, as in
Gen. 9:21, ISam. 25:36,37, Jer. 23:9.
Ecc. 2:1 - 3 is the first stage in
Solomon's investigation. Next comes 4-8.
2:4 Solomon increased, or multiplied
his possessions. Some description of these arc in IKings 7:1 - 12.
2:5 orchards = pardesim
== paradises, parks, or pleasure grounds. (Not "gardens'" which were
cultivated areas, as in Deut. 11:10, IKings 21:2)
Paradises were formed by Eastern monarchs. They were a sort of Botanical
Gardens, and held collected specimens of plants and animals. V.5 describes
fallen Man's tendency to heap about him all sorts of things, especially rich
fallen Men, who often try to create their own self-styled heaven.
2:6 wood = forest
2:7 Solomon bought servants. These
servants are not to be compared with the slaves of the Greek, Roman or African
slaves. Jehovah calls his servants 'ebed' = labourer. There is no Hebrew word for the worst kind of
slave. Solomon's servants were "happy" - IKings
10:8
2:8 gathered = amassed. James 5:1-3
warns against this sort of behaviour. Treasures on earth are of no lasting
worth to fallen Man. True treasures must be kept in heaven -Mark 10:21, Mat.
6:21, Luke 12:34, Hag. 1:5 - 10.
peculiar = segullah
= enclosure. Treasure fenced in, or enclosed, because of its value. Ex. 19:5,
Deut. 14:2. 26:18, Ps. 135:4.
2:9 9 and 10 are a summary in
general of Solomon's outward appearance. To fallen Man he looked
"great". The divine wisdom, however, had not been taken away - 1
Kings 3:3-15.
2:10 labour
= toil. Solomon toiled at his experiment in pleasure, and found that the portion, or share he got out of it was nothing but empty
joy. His heart rejoiced as he toiled at mirth. He found that to work at
mirth was to receive mirth. It was an end in itself.
2:11 Another
conclusion, summarizing his findings: 1. vanity (nothingness), 2. vexation of spirit = feeding on wind, 3. no
profit. Moffat says "Nothing in this world is worthwhile". The
natural Man is wasting his time and energy, as Solomon discovered.
2:12 Moffat says "Solomon went
to the extreme in his studies so that any who follow the same things he studied
can be only a poor copier. Nobody can exceed Solomon, which means that all
Mankind may now understand, that in the things Solomon
studied there is nothing but. . ." see v. 11.
Rom. 6:16 points out that if we obey
our natural appetite, we are its servant. It is the law of sowing aud reaping in Gal. 6. Solomon shows that to obey the will
of the flesh is ...v.ll.
2:13 Sm
and Gdsp says ''Then I saw that wisdom is more
profitable than folly, even as light is more preferable to darkness. Solomon
could say this, having tried both light -Divine wisdom,
and darkness - the pursuits of the natural Man. See John 3:19 - 21. Natural Man
prefers darkness, never having experienced light. (Deut. 30:19)
2:14 This
verse relates to v.l3 by carrying the two extremes of the wise man and the
fool. Very opposite in nature. God gave his Son as a
ransom for-all, so that the two directions for man could be plainly seen - John
3:36, John 5:12. Sight and blindness, walking and seeing as
opposed to walking and not seeing. To both types of person there is one
event = happening happens to them. Heb. mikreh.
2:15 Looking at the death of wise
and foolish people from the natural Man's point of view, Solomon realizes how
futile it is to try to be wise. 1 Tim.6:6 - 10 - "For we brought nothing
into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. . ." From the
natural point of view, life is futile. We are born, we do things, learn, train,
etc, and we die.
2:16 remembrance = memorial.
Sm and Gdsp says "For there is no permanent record for either wise
man or fool, inasmuch as in the course of days to come, everything is
forgotten"". Millions of wise men and fools (probably more of one
than the other) have been swallowed up by time -seemingly never to be seen
again, or ever heard of. For the Christian however, there is a resurrection to
life, in which all who have trusted in the Lord Jesus will be gathered
together. Mat. 8:11, John 11:23 - 26.
2:17 The
word "life" is put here as part of an expression called Metonymy of
the Subject. It is put in the place of pleasure, which Solomon is
evaluating. In other words "Therefore I hated the futility of
pleasure".
2:18 "labour"
is put for what he got for it, by the Figure metonymy of Cause. Solomon hated
the intransigent nature of pleasure, and the amassing of goods, because he
couldn't take anything with him. Everything on earth is part of an endless
cycle of wearing out, passing on, using up, gathering, dispersing, perishing,
etc.
2:19 fool = sakal
= stupid (In v. 14, 15 and 16 it is kasil = fat, or
inert. Be they individuals in positions in society, farm-owners, church
parishes, councils, governments or kings, they are all being replaced by the
next generations.
2:20 took = toiled
Moffat says "For a man who has
toiled skillfully and thoughtfully and ably has to leave all his gains to one
who has never worked for them". This is part of the curse of death. If Man
was immortal, this problem wouldn't occur. (It reminds me of the house I once
bought, where the garden, once lovingly tended, fell into rack and ruin after I
moved away.) Rev. 21:1-4,22:3.
2:21 For
there is a man = for here is a man . . . Solomon lost the kingdom to his
son Rehoboam, who foolishly told all the tribes he
would raise the taxes, which caused a revolt. He became king of Judah - 1 Kings
11:43.
2:22 For
what has man of all his labour =
feeding, or delight. What does the natural Man gain from his pursuit of
pleasure?
2:23 travail = toil that brings
about fatigue. The problems and burdens of life can cause insomnia, nervous
complaints, ill health, etc. Jesus Christ can take all our burdens - Mat. 11:30, and Christians are supposed to bear one another's -
Gal.6:2, while the burden of our obedience to God is our own to cany - Gal. 6:5.
2:24 At first
reading this verse seems to contradict all that came before it, but a careful
look at the words gives: 'There is nothing better for a man (adam - denoting the origin of Man, i.e. the dust). There is
no goodness to be had from eating and drinking for self-gratification.
"This also I saw, that it (true enjoyment) was from the hand of God"
2:25 Solomon says he knows this is
true because he has tried the self-indulgence he speaks about to its fullest
extreme. Who can eat, and who can drink, and enjoy total satisfaction, apart
from God?
2:26 Here
is described yet again the way of sinners and the way of God-fearers. One
inherits the efforts of another, in much the same way, except in reverse, as in
v.21, where one amasses things and labours, only to
leave everything to a fool.
"No new thing" from v.9
From 'The Story of Civilization" p 178: "Khekheperrc-Sonbu,
a savant of the reign of Senusret II, about 2150 BC
wrote: "Would that I had words that are unknown, utterances and sayings in
new language, that hath not yet passed away, and without that which hath not
been said repeatedly - not an utterance that hath grown stale, what the
ancestors have already said."
3:1-8 AN ORDERLY WORLD.
3:1 a season = an appointed time
(Heb. zeman)
a time = a season. In the Hebrew
these 28 seasons are set out in 14 lines, 2 in a line with a space between each
pair.
under heaven = upon the earth.
3:2 to be born = to bear. A woman
reaches a certain age and development wherein she can bear a child. Sarah was
an example of God imposing a time - Gen. 17:17, 21, 18:14, 21:2. These
times and seasons for mankind are set and controlled by God, and Man must pay
the consequences if he tries to side-step them.
to die - Ps. 31:5, 15, Heb. 9:27.
Ps.139 shows how God made us in secret long before we were born (v. 13 - 16)
and there is a time for the resurrection - IThess.
4:16 to 5:1 -4, and 2Thess2:3.
to plant - it is beyond Man's power to
alter the seasons. Man (by and large) is forced to live by the yearly cycle.
(Applied to a kingdom - Ps.44:2, 80:8, 15, Jer.l8:9, Amos 9:15, Mat. 15:13) The
law of Gen. 8:22 continues to this day.
to pluck up - if fruit isn't harvested
it tends to be ruined - Rev.6:13, Is.34:4, and Jer.
18:7,9.
3:3 to kill = judicially. Out of its
proper season, to kill is murder. lKings2:23 - 25 Adonijah
was put to death by Solomon, 28 - 34 Joab was put to
death by Benaiah at the order of Solomon.
Ps.78:31.34, Jer.l2:3.
to heal - God healed Zedekiah when he
repented - Is.38:5,21, 57:18, Ps. 107:20, 147:3.
break down - Jer.39:2,8, Mal.l:4,
Ez.33:21. The first and third references are about God's promised judgment on
to build up - Neh.2:17,18,20, Ps.
102:13,14,16, Is.45:13 in reference to Cyrus, Daii.9:25,Amos9:ll.
3:4 to weep - Gen.23:2, 43:30, Joel
2:17, the time for those in
to mourn - Gen.23:2, lSam.l6:l, Prov. 29:2, Is.38:14, 61:2, JoeI4:9, Zech.l2:10,12,
Mat.5:4,9:15.
to dance - 2Sam.6:14,Ps.l49:3, 150:4,
Jer.31:13, Judges 20:6, lKingsl5:22, Lam.4:l
3:5 to cast away stones, as out of a
vineyard Is.5:2, Lev. 14:40,45, judges 20:16, IKings 15:22, Lam.4:l
to gather stones - Deut.27:4,
Josh.4:3,8,20, ISam. 17:40, IKings
18:31,32, Ps.l02:14, Is. 54:11
to embrace - Gen.29:13,
33:4,48:10,2Kings 4:16
to refrain from embracing - Prov.5:20,
Joel 2:16, ICor. 7:5,6 3:6
to get = to buy, or to acquire - Geu.42:2,7,10, Ruth 4:5, 2Sam.24:21, Is.55:l,
Jer.32:7, Eph.4:28
to lose - Gen.31;39, Mat. 10:39,
16:25, Is.47:9
to keep - ISam.
16:11, Prov.7:1, Luke 8:15, 2Timl: 14, John 2:10, 12:7
to cast away - Judges 15:17, 2Kings
7:15, Is.31:7, Hos.9:17, Ecc.l 1:1
3:7 to rend- ISam. 15:27,2 8, IKings
11:11,31, 13:3,5, 14:8, Joel 2:13, John 19:24
to sew = to sew together, to adjust. Spoken of the kingdom in the parable of the two sticks, Ex.37:15.
to keep silence - Lev. 10:3, Ps.32:3,
Amos 5:13,2Tim.2:11,12, lPet.2:15
to speak- Ex.7:2, Num.22:8, 2Sam.7:17,
Ps.2:5, 145:6,11, Ez.2:7, Luke 1:19,20, John 16:13
3:8 to love - Jer.2:2, Ez.l6:8,
Dan.l:9, Gal.5:13, 2Thess.l:3
to hate - 2Sam.l3:15, Ps. 105:25,
Prov.25:17, Luke 14:26, Prov. 11:15, 15:27, 26:16,
John 12:25, Jude 23.
of war - Ex.l7:16, Num. 1:3,20,22,
26:2, Deut.3:18, Judges 3:2, 2Sam.3:l, Jer.6:4, Luke 14:31, Rev. 12:7, 19:11,19
of peace - Josh. 11:23, 14:15, Lev.26:6,
Judges 4:17, lSam.7:14, Ps.72:3, 85:8, Prov. 16:7,
Is.9:7, Zech.9:10, Rom.5:1, Eph.4:3
All these verses show that life is
rich and varied, and fall of reactions and interactions, all integrated with
each other. Solomon has listed the main activities of fallen Man, showing the
times and seasons for constantly recurring things. Every item listed is
continually being repeated, over and over again, in many different ways. The
next group of verses, 9-15, enlarge on this:
3:9 - 15 MAN'S LIMITATIONS
3:9 When Solomon looks at the
activities of fallen Man, he asks what profit, or benefit, or use is it to all
of them, as they go from day to day, caught up in the toil of their appointed
seasons and times. 3:9 I have seen the travail = toil which causes fatigue,
which God (= Elohim), has given to the sons of men =
"adam" (associated with Man's origin from
the dust of the earth), to be exercised in = to labour
at.
3:11 Sm
and Gdsp says "He has made everything beautiful
in its season; but he has also implanted ignorance in their mind, so that
Mankind cannot discover the work which God has done from beginning to end."
his time = its proper season
the world = Heb. olam
= the ages, or the world in relation to time. When Adam and
Eve sinned. God took from them their understanding of time, and made the
fallen Race aware of the present far more than the past or future. That is why
fallen Man is unable to "find out the work that God makes from the
beginning to the end" The list of 3:1 - 8 gives us the things of Man's times
or seasons which he does see, but what God does is from time past
to time everlasting.
3:12 fallen Man is limited to this
level of satisfaction and fulfillment in his life. Sm
and Gdsp says "I know
that there is nothing good for them but to be glad and to enjoy themselves
while they live". Within the restrictions of mortality, and caught in the
endless cycle of seasons and times, Solomon sees that Man can at least
"rejoice and do good in, or during his life".
3:13 God has blessed fallen Man, as
Gen. 8:21 shows - "I will not again curse the ground for Man's sake; for
(ALTHOUGH) the imagination of Man's heart is evil from his youth . . ."
God knows what fallen Man is like - "nevertheless. He left not Himself
without witness, in that He did GOOD, and gave us rain from heaven ..." -
Acts 14:15 -17. Couple v.l2 (rejoicing and doing good),
with v.l3 (eating and drinking and enjoying the fruit of labour)
and you have an ideal way of living, for fallen
3:14 for ever = Heb. 'olam' = the ages. The irresistible will of God is
described. He orders Man's life, he controls all things by his power - Col.
1:16,17, 2:9. He dictates all the seasons and times of
fallen Man. Rom. 1:19 - 32 shows how God has revealed himself to Mankind at all
times since the Fall, leaving the fallen Race
"^without excuse". 3:15 refers again to the cycle of ch. 1:1 - 11
God requires = God is ever bringing
back
3:16 - 22 MAN
AND BEAST ON THE SAME LEVEL
3:16 the place of judgment = an
expression like ; "the courts of justice"
WICKEDNESS = lawlessness and iniquity, from Heb. 'rasha'.
As is common for fallen Man, where there should be truth and justice, there is
sin.
3:17 the righteous = a righteous one.
the wicked = a lawless one. God will
judge all men one day - Jer.l7:10, 32:19, Mat. 16:27,2Cor.5:10,2Tim.4:1, lPet.4:5
3:18 The
fact that God appoints a time for everything which fallen Man does.
Fallen Man is largely if not totally unaware of the fact that he is living
according to God's control in every detail of his life. This also shows that
fallen Man is the same as the beasts or animals. God controls all the times and
seasons of animal life - as for example, see the 80 questions in Job 38-41.
3:19 The
one great common factor ruling all of Creation is death. Rom.8:18 - 23, quoted
in lCor.15. That which befalls, is the
"event" or "happening", as in 2:14. The "one
thing" is death. They all have one breath (ruach
= spirit). Fallen Man is as much a part of the material world as everything
else created. The very bold statement here sums it all up - Man has no
pre-eminence above a beast (living creature). Ps.49:12, Ps. 146:4
3:20 one place = Sheol,
or the grave.
all are of the dust - Gen. 1:24,
2:7,19, 3:19. In Gen. 1:24 God says "let the earth bring forth the living
creature = nephesh = soul. Ps. 103:14 "He
remembers that we are dust", and ICor. 15:47
turn to dust again -,Gen.3:19, Ps.22:15,
104:29, 146:4, Job 10:9, 34:15.
3:21 spirit = ruach
= breath. Sm and Gdsp says "Who can know whether the spirit of Man goes
upward or the spirit of a beast goes downward . . .?" Who can tell the
answer to this question? Ecc. 12:7 gives the answer - see the notes there. God gives
breath, or spirit, to all souls, making them living souls, and when he
withdraws his spirit, the souls die.
3:22 Repeating
the thought of 2:24. The share (or portion) for fallen Man, is to rejoice in
his own works - why? because he is mortal, and cannot
do anything beyond what God has set for him. 11:9 carries the same thought.
Solomon gives a positive command to the young man, then adds the qualifying
"but know . . ." Ecc. is
about the fate of fallen Man and fallen Creation. Solomon sees many positive
things, but always there is the extreme limitation of mortality imposed on
everything. (A story I once wrote, had a number of animals, being born, living,
and dying, in a vast plain. They thought they were free, and wild, and
able to roam as far as they liked, but the plain was in fact fenced in. The
twist in the story was the fact that none of the animals had ever walked as far
as the fence).
4: 1 - 16 THIS TRANSITORY LIFE.
4:1 Under
the sun = upon the earth. Still dealing with fallen Man's
activities.
they had no comforter = the oppressed
Oppression is an internationally
practiced characteristic of the sinful nature. Rehoboam
for example - IKings 12:12 - 21, lPet.2:13 - 25,
4:2 praised = commended, or
pronounced happy. Moffat says "So I judged the dead already in their
graves to be more happy than the living .. ."
4:3 Moffat says "Yes, and
happier than them both (is the ) man unborn, who has
never known the misery that goes on in the world." Job 5:7, 14:1. Ecc.2:23.
4:4 travail = toil, as connected
with trouble and sorrow.
every right work = all the dexterity in
work, or skill. Sm and Gdsp
says "Then I saw that all the labour,
and all the hard work is due to Man's jealousy of one another." This is
what we sometimes call "keeping up with the Jones's", it is the
materialistic drive, the way neighbours watch each
other and compete with possessions (cars, boats, ornaments, house styles,
fashions, etc.)
this is also vanity and vexation of
spirit = feeding on wind
4:5 fool = kesil
= fat, inert. Moffat says "He is a fool who folds his hands and lets life
go to ruin". Solomon sees that the other extreme, that of avoiding all
work, is just as bad as the first state, that of toiling for more than one
needs.
4:6 This is
similar to 3:12. An ideal for fallen
4:7 This
introduces another aspect of fallen Man's activities. 4:8 Sm
and Gdsp says "Then I saw another case of vanity
under the sun, it is an individual without a companion; he has neither son nor
brother; and yet there is no end to all his toil, nor is his eye ever satisfied
with riches."
4:9 A
positive thought. Solomon sees advantages in twos and threes.
4:10 The fallen nature tends to make
him ignore those who need help, and rather to take from me small and weak -
Micah2:1,2, IKings 21 - Naboth robbed of his vineyard, Mat.21:38 - the decision by
the many Jews to kill and rob Jesus, the small, of the kingdom.
4:11 Animals often sleep together
for mutual warmth. Fallen Man is often at the mercy of the elements, since his
covering was taken, when Adam and Eve sinned.
4:12 prevail against = overpower.
Moffat says 'Two men can stand up to a robber, when a single man would be
overpowered." Christians always have the Lord with them as Companion and
Defense - Mt. 28:20, Ps.59:9,17. A three-fold cord -
Num 6:24 - 26, Micah 6:8, Titus 2:12,13, IThess 1:3 with 2:9,10.
4:13 This
verse begins a new line of thought, which goes through to v. 16. Moffat says
"A young man, lowly born and wise, is better than an old and silly
king, who will no longer take advice."
poor = straightened in means, unable to
profit others. There is a season for old foolish kings, and a time for them to
be challenged by their subjects. Solomon notes that when God decides to. He can
reverse a situation.
4:14 out of prison = in a rebellion
he = the poor wise youth
comes to reign = takes the throne
The cycle has been going on for
centuries. Military coups are common. An example of one who came from prison to
become head of a country is Joseph - Gen.41:40, and also Daniel - 5:29, 6:1-3.
The king, however, is reduced to poverty, even though the throne was his first
place, for example Rehoboam, who was robbed by Shishak. Such reverses in fortune are an everyday part of
modem life too, though in the West the method is usually through the ballot box.
4:15 Solomon now considers the way
the poor youth, who became head, is treated by the world. Moffat says "I
have seen all the living on earth side with such a youth, who was destined
to reign . . .". God's appointed season for the
reverse of destinies also has another part for the passing of the youth.
4:16 Moffat says "No end of
people hailed him as their leader. Yet, later on, men lost interest in
him." Conclusion" all this is vanity, and feeding on wind.
5:1-9 REGARDING VOWS
5:1 God = Elohim
= the true God, or the Deity. In OT days God "dwelt' in a place -John 4:20
24. hear = obey fools = 'kesil'
= fat, inert. the sacrifice of fools is disobedience,
who consider not, or care not that they do wrong. Fools know only how to do
wrong by nature, but to be obedient is to keep the foot from walking astray. Ps.23,48:14, 139:10
5:2 thing = word. "God is in
heaven and you are upon earth". This statement shows the great gulf
between fallen Man and the Creator, "on earth" is the equivalent to
'"under the sun" - 1:3.
5:3 Moffat says "For as many
worries mean that a man will dream, so many words mean that a fool is
talking". A fool, as in v. 1 speaks rashly to God, by reason of his lack
of self-control, in the same way as a man with too many problems has
nightmares, which come in spite of his attempts to control himself.
5:4 vow a vow = make a solemn vow to
Elohim.
Laws concerning vows
: Lev.27, Num.6:2 -21, Deut.23:21
-
5:5 Jepthah
had to keep his vow
5:6 "your
flesh to sin . . ."by making vows concerning the flesh, such as eating,
drinking, marrying, etc.
angel = messenger, as in Mal. 2:7
destroy = confiscate, as in Deut.23:21-23.
5:7 Referring
back to v.3. In many words and in many dreams there is great vanity. The fallen
nature always speaks and expresses itself by these things because it is out of
harmony with its Maker. Mat. 12:34, Jer.l7:9,10, Mat.
15:18,19. "But fear thou God" this is
the only satisfying solution to Man's dilemma. "Thou" = you. Reader
5:8 He that is higher, etc = The
High One above the high one regards, even the Most
High is over them. This title is given to Melchizedek - Gen. 14, and to Jesus,
the Son of the Most High - Ps. 110 and Heb.7.
5:9 The
profit of the earth, it is for all - the whole, that is, not just the king, in
his day. The king is served by the field, but the ruthless ones, of v.8, who
oppress, have an advantage over others. Solomon points out
here one of the most common causes of international disruption.
5:10-20 ABIDING SATISFACTION
5:10 Sm
and Gdsp says "He who loves money will not be
satisfied with money, nor he who loves riches with gain". This leads to
the area of gain and profit. Who is ever content with abundance without
increase? or invested capital without interest? Human
nature tends to want more than it needs.
The Law prohibits rigorous interest, or the exaction of return of a loan without first
regarding the condition of the borrower. Exorbitant interest (usury) is
forbidden -Ex.22:25, Lev.25:36,37, Deut.23:19,20,
Neh.5:7,10. Fallen Man's nature makes him believe that wealth brings
satisfaction.
5:11 Moffat says "The more a
man gains, the more there are to spend it - while the owner can only look
on." This is the same old cycle of gain and loss, wealth and poverty, one
or many entering into another's goods.
5:12 to sleep = to sleep soundly.
abundance = surfeit. Deut.21:20 condemns gluttony. Also Prov.23:l -
3, 20, 21, 25:16, lPet.4:3. (Mat. 11:19) Solomon is not here praising labour; he is noting the folly in the contrast between
those who have too little and those who have too much. The rich have all they
want PLUS, but they can't get a good night's sleep, while the poor have barely
enough, but ALSO have something which the rich, for all their wealth do not
have.
5:13 Verses 13 - 17 form a single
unit about the futility of labouring for self and
hoarding wealth.
owners - plural for emphasis, as in v. 11.
kept = hoarded.
5:14 evil travail = toil's result,
which is fatigue, as in 2:23, and 4:4. In v.l3, one aspect of hoarded riches is
touched on, namely, the problems associated with wealth - to their own hurt the
wealthy cling to the cause of their troubles. In v. 14 Solomon notes
that the means of acquiring wealth can also be the cause of losing it too. Sm and Gdsp says
"and that wealth is lost in an unfortunate enterprise". It is like
one who works all his life, investing and re-investing, and keeping two jobs,
and denying most pleasures, only to try a 'likely' venture, and see all his
efforts collapse in a bankruptcy.
5:15 We
cannot take anything with us - Job 1:21, Ps.49:17, ITim.
6:7
5:16 What
advantage has he that laboured (toiled)
5:17 Moffat says "What does he
gain by all his futile toil, spending his days in gloominess, privations, deep
anxieties, distress and fits of auger?" (By contrast, Christians
are to ; Philippians 4:6, Ps.55:22, Mat. 11:30
5:18 - 20 is all one unit. It covers
gifts of God to all Mankind, as He sees fit to distribute. Verse 18 ends with
"it is his (fallen Man's) portion" or lot. Verse 19 '^this is the (a)
gift of God. In a nutshell, these mercies are summarized in Gen. 8:21,22 and Acts 14:15 - 17. The passage is like a consolation
message to fallen Man, to count his blessings, and to enjoy what he has in the
few short years he lives.
5:19 Those
to whom God has seen fit to increase, may also enjoy what they have. V. 18
those who toil... it is his portion, v. 19 those who are rich .. .it is his portion.
5:20 Completing the unit. If men are
occupied with the things God gives them, they will not be too bothered by the
fact that they must shortly die.
answers = respond, as in Hos.2:21,22, and
note on Ecc.10:19. God is me source of all good things.
6:1-9 FRUSTRATED DESIRE
6:1 men = the man (adam) = humanity. (See note on 1:13)
6:2 An example of this is in Luke 12;20,21, and in Nebuchadnezzar - Dan.4:30 - 32, and in the
butler and baker in Gen.40:1-4 who went from the honour
of serving the king, to dishonour in prison. Or, he
dies.
6:3 To be
deprived of burial was considered by the Hebrews one of the greatest dishonours that could be inflicted on a human being - Ps.
141:7, Jer.36:30, Deut.28:26, ISam. 17:44-46
6:4 he comes = the untimely one,
comes with vanity.
6:5 at least, says Solomon, a
still-born child hasn't experienced a long, miserable life.
6:6 though he = (the man ofv.3) live
for 2000 miserable years, he might as well have not lived at all, for,
ultimately, all go to one place, that is Sheol, the
grave.
6:7 all the labour
= toil of man(adam) is for
his mouth(soul) and yet the appetite (soul) is not filled- (Go to a fairground,
and watch the passing faces. Misery, boredom, hurt, loneliness, passing by,
while all around the wheels spin, the lights flash, the music plays.)
6:8 Both
wise men and fools toil to satisfy their souls, and so does the poor man, who
has the sense to sensibly. All people, from all walks of life, toil to feed
their souls.
6:9 Moffat says "better a joy
at hand, than wants that roam abroad." Concluding his notes on frustrated
desire, Solomon says that even to have a "joy at hand" is to feed on
wind, because it is still part of fallen Man's common, mortal, temporary,
material existence.
6:10 - 12 MAN
HELPLESS BEFORE FATE
Referring back to
1:9. Adam is
that which has been, and which is named already. The Adamites,
fallen Mankind, are not able to contend with their Creator,-
Ps.l44:4, 39:4 -6, all ofPs.49, Ps. 62. God cannot be resisted - Is.27:4,40:17.
6:11 Man also contends with God with
words. Sm and Gdsp says "He is unable to contend with Him that is stronger
than he. For the more words, the greater is the vanity." Solomon sees that
even though fallen Man tries to contend, all he is doing is increasing his
futility, and he is no better off.
6:12 all . . .vain
life = the numbered days of his vain life. Fallen Man spends his life like a
shadow. Who can tell him what the future holds to his benefit. He won't be
there to enjoy it. Time and death reduce everything to futility.
7:1 - 14 A
MEDLEY OF PROVERBS
7:1 good = precious. A good name can
be got, but precious ointment is no indication of goodness. This proverb is
characteristic to all proverbs in the Bible, in that it is a short, compact
sentence, and a condensed summary of some basic truth, capable of being
expanded at any time.
For fallen Man, who spends his life
futility toiling, the day he dies is better than the day he is born, because he
is passing out of all his futility.
7:2 men = Mankind (Heb. adam). If fallen Man would keep it
in mind that death "is the end of all men" he would be more mindful
of the now he lives in - instead of feasting, and forgetting his Creator.
7:3 sorrow = kaas
= sadness. Peter was sobered up by this means - Luke 22:61, 62, Zech.l2:10- 14.
7:4 House of mirth contrasting with
house of mourning. Both are expressions. Mourning, reality,
soberness, truth. Mirth, foolishness, madness,
unreality, senility, self-deception.
7:5 Rebuke of the wise - Prov.27:6,24:24,25,9:7,8.
7:6 This
verse adds to v.5. Fools are like burning nettles - hot air.
7:7 oppression = the act of
oppression. When a wise man becomes an oppressor of men, he is acting in a mad
way; he is out of control.
a gift = a bribe, which destroys the
heart. Stable, wise people, are destroyed by bribes because it is breaking
God's Law, and He will punish such - Ex.23:2,6. Deut.
16:19 says to take no bribes. Man corrupts himself- Hos.9:9, Gen.6:12, Ex. 8:24.
7:8 All things
work together for good for Christians - Rom.8:28. An OT example was
Joseph, who began in a pit and ended up as co-ruler of
7:9 8,9 and
10 are linked by the theme of patient and impatient spirits. Pride and
impatience come from the fallen nature, and are similar in that they echo
Satan's boasting in heaven - Ez.28:17 ... the way Man went before the Flood -
Gen.6:5 - and after it - Gen. 11:1-6. Patience is a fruit of wisdom. It comes
from knowing that God is in control - Ps.25:2 - 5 and Ps.37.
7:10 Moffat says "Never ask why
the past was better than the present for that is a foolish question". Why?
Because everything is being repeated - Ecc.
1:9 - 11, 3:11.
7:11 wisdom is good with = like, an
inheritance. For fallen man, wisdom is as good as riches, giving the possessor
an advantage over fools. Ecc.2:16. Solomon here establishes two basic values:
riches and wisdom, hi the next verse he shows the great advantage of wisdom
over riches.
7:12 but -
emphatic.
wisdom gives life = future life. See Lev.
18:5 where "live" = live again, in resurrection life - Rev.20:5.
Other places where "live" is used in this sense - Ez.3:21, 20:11,
Luke 10:28,
7:14 find = discover. Sm and Gdsp says
"God has made one thing to balance another." Moffat says "all to
keep Man from knowing what is to happen." God rules fallen Man, sending
everything according to His will, as we see in 3:1 - 11. It is not for
fallen Man to know what God is going to do. On the other hand, Christians are
not like this, having 1. The holy Spirit - Acts 2:38
2. Prophesy - 2Pet.l:19. Amos 3:7, 3.
7:15-29 WORLDLY WISDOM
7:15 just = righteous. Righteous
ones do die - Ps.ll6:15, IKings 18:13, and Is.53
where the righteous are slain. The wicked die, as in Jehoram
- 2Chron.21:5 - 20, Ps. 10, 37:35,36, Jer. 12:1-3.
7:16 over much - depending on the
merit of good works.
over wise - beyond what is necessary, or
over righteous.
destroy yourself = make yourself lonely, or
forsaken, as in Job 16:7. Moffat says "Be not over good, or over
wise." Ironically, too much zeal in obeying God, that is in doing more
than He requires, can lead to the mistaken belief that works count for
something, which contradicts the statement that '*the just shall live by
faith" - Lev. 18:5. Too much knowledge can lead to the mistaken belief
that thinking is in some way adding on one's salvation.
7:17 Be no
over much wicked = be not very wicked. Why? Because violation
of nature's laws always ends in damage to health, and, often, premature death.
foolish = stupid
7:18 this - the
words of v.17.
Avoid being over wise, and also avoid being foolish, and stand in awe of God -
that way you make His ways your own ways, and avoid the problems which beset so
many other people.
7:19 See Is.40:28 - 31. Ecc.9:13 -
18 expands on v.l9, and the same thought is repeated in Prov.24:5, 21:22, 8:14.
The wisdom referred to is that given by God - it is not earthly wisdom. By
seeking Him, and obeying His commands, one may grow in this supernatural wisdom
- as it says in Ps. 1. The 10 mighty men are strong physically, and probably
intellectually, but in God's sight, the one who learns of Him - lSam.l6:7 - is
stronger.
10 mighty men (or rulers, or
wardens) may try to guard the city, but the best way of guarding yourself is by
taking heed of God's Word. His wisdom is a sure and dependable guard.
7:20 This
is part of v. 19. Even the best men on earth are open to lapses and failures.
This stresses the importance of God's way of defense and security - His wisdom.
7:21 Also = one thing more.
curse = revile
Moffat says "Never listen to
all that people say: you may hear your own slave cursing you."
7:22 The heart is known to God, even
if your words are not always spoken -Jer.l7:9,10, Mat.
15:18,19, Rom.l:28.
7:23 ALL THIS - and all the
preceding studies - have I proved, or tested, by wisdom. Solomon reaches
another summary and goes over all his findings. His purpose was "to become
wise" as he says, in 1:17 - "I gave my heart to know wisdom .. ." and 1:1 - 3 he says "but it was far from
me." It remained out of reach. He could find no wisdom in the
things he studied, on the material level that is - 1:18, 2:11,17.
Science in all its areas of study has come to the same conclusion. The material
universe, taken as an accident of random evolution, contains many millions of
examples of wisdom, but if a Maker is denied, the wisdom leads nowhere, means
nothing.
7:24 exceeding deep = Heb. = deep,
deep.
that which is = whatever far off.
Wisdom is very far off from fallen Man, and who (of fallen Man) can find it
out?" The wisdom of fallen Man is natural, and not able to be compared
with the deep deep wisdom of God - lCor.2:14.
7:25 Solomon stresses his thorough
methods of investigation. Moffat says "He cast about in
his mind to KNOW and SURVEY and DISCOVER" He applied his heart to KNOW and
to SEARCH and to SEEK out."
wickedness = rasha =
lawlessness.
7:25 - 29 cover: the reason, or root
cause of lawlessness, and of madness and folly, which are the opposites to wisdom.
7:26 "More
bitter than death" implies a living death, or an event which is as
bad as actually dying. The woman = the event wherein a woman snares and binds a
man. The sin of adultery, by the Law, and socially, can create a terribly
bitter situation for the offenders and also for others involved indirectly. It
is forbidden in Ex.20:14, Deut.5:18, Mat.5:27, 19:18,
7:27 I take it that Solomon took a
census or poll of men and women. He was called the Koheleth,
or Assembler, of statistics, so it is quite likely that part of his
survey included men and women.
7:28 my soul = I myself.
Moffat says "One true man in a
thousand, but never a true woman. The percentage of wise, God-fearing people
per thousand gave Solomon the evidence which confirmed what God had already
stated in the past. For example, only Noah and his family escaped the Flood
(Geu.6:5 - 8), only Lot and two daughters escaped the destruction of
A woman among all
those (which I counted), who was an upright, wise. God-fearing soul, have I not found.
Fallen Man is predominantly lost. Solomon found that by far the greatest
majority of people in his survey were "seeking out inventions", that
is, following their sinful imaginations. (TV today is an excellent example of
how depraved and ignorant Man's fallen mind is.)
7:29 CONCLUSION.
inventions = devices
they = Mankind
Elohim made Adam upright, and sinless, but
since that wonderful beginning, the fallen progeny of Adam have turned to ways
of death - Gen.6:12, Prov.l4:12, 16:25, Is.55:7.Ez.3:18.
8:1-9 THE CAPRICE OF RULERS
Caprice is a sudden change of mind
or conduct.
1. who is
like a wise man? Those who have God's wisdom are wise, as Ps. 119:130
indicates. The "face" of a man (adam)
shines = his life is illuminated by the light of truth boldness = sternness
When fallen Man obeys God, he is
given a measure of understanding, which changes his earthly plane of existence,
which is usually the same as that of the beasts - Ecc.3:19, to a new lifestyle,
in which he looks for the Saviour in heaven - Phil.
3:20, Rom. 8:23.
face = himself. (See "God's
face" in Ps.34:16, lPet.3:12, Luke 1:76, 2Chron.7:14, Ps.27:8.
8:2 I think
Solomon here addresses the readers of his day, saying to them that they should
keep his commandment. Why? Because he was specially blessed by God according to
the oath - lKings3:5 - 12, 4:29 - 34. Because all the words of Solomon in the
Bible are inspired, we also today should keep them. See Prov.l:8,23, 33.
8:3 be not hasty - rebel not rashly
against him, as did Shimei in IKings
2:42, and Abiathar in 2:26, and Joab
in 2:31.
8:4 Solomon goes from himself, to
"a king", bringing out the authority which kings have. They have
power, and might, and control - Heb "shilton',
only here and v.8 - but only over the behavior of those under them. This fact
is put alongside their impotence in v.8. God gives kings authority as He rules
men from heaven - John 19:11, Ps.2, Mat.28:18, Dan.5:18, 4:35,2:21.
8:5 feel no evil thing = know no calamity. A wise man can discern "a time,
yes, a judgment time". Daniel was a wise man who
saw this - Dan.2:19 - 23. Those familiar with the curses of the Law (Deut.28,
Lev.26) would be able to discern the judgments of God in later years. The Times of the Gentiles also - Luke 21:24, and their fullness
-Rom. 11:25. All obedient to the king, whether he be a good or a bad one, will be safe from his wrath - this is a general
principle, and not a hard and fast rule. However, the wise have a broader view,
and see that the times of both king and subject are both God's Hand.
8:6 because to every purpose (3:1-8)
there is a time, fallen Man is unaware that kings and subjects come and go as
God decides, but the wise are enlightened on this point.
therefore . . . upon him = when the evil of
Man is heavy upon him. When oppression exists, the wise know that God will shortly
judge the oppressors. Solomon points out here, and v.6 and 7, that it is God
who judges
8:7 .. .but fallen Man is unaware of this.
Man proposes - but God disposes
8:8 the
powerlessness of
wind = ruach =
breath. Ps.ll:5 andProv.30:4
The context points more to the human
spirit than the elements, since no man can control the years he lives, v.8 is
about the ordinary life of fallen Man - 'There is no discharge (furlough,
holiday, break) in that war, (the battle of life)"
wickedness (cunning) cannot help.
No amount of effort by Man can
prevent the final act of life - death, for all Men are given to it, and all
possess death, in the end.
8:10 - 9:6 THE LACK OF MORAL
DISCRIMINATION IN HUMAN AFFAIRS
8:9 Solomon breaks the line of
thought, remarking again on his thoroughness of study - every work that
is done under the sun = upon the earth. Moffat says "All this I saw as
thoughtfully I pondered what goes on in this world whenever men have power over
their fellows, power to injure them".
8:10 the wicked = lawless men. (Heb rasha)
This verse has to do with the
association of wicked people, with the holy people and me
11 Swiftness of judgment is a good
deterrent - Deut. 21:21. The thought ofv.10, of me unfair end of a wicked
and/or pious person, leads on to v. 11's thought of this sort of common
injustice thriving on delayed judgment, which leads in v.l2 to the way wicked people
seem to thrive unmolested. 8:12 Ps.73 expands on this verse. Also
Ps.37 (esp.v.7), 92:7 and 12.
8:13 see above.
14 Moffat says "Good men fare
as if they were wicked, and wicked men fare as if they were good". Both
wise and foolish are hit by storms - Mat.7:24 - 29, Rom.8:18 -25. The standing
we have with God personally is the crucial thing - lCor.3, Rev .20:6, 12- 15.
8:15 mirth = "simchah = rejoicing, joy, gladness.
"No better thing" - see note on 2:24. Fallen Man has his
allotted portion while he lives: food, and the usual physical range of other
pleasures, which may be his to enjoy during his brief time of toil in this life.
labour = toil. This word answers to
"business"' in the next verse.
8:16 when I..
.through to v. 17 . . .then I. When I, then I.
business = travail
Moffat says "When I gave my
mind to the study of wisdom, to study all the busy life of the world".
Solomon saw the extreme of the business, or travail, of the world -
toiling night and day.
8:17 His conclusion: fallen Man cannot
fathom God's ways or thoughts, neither can a wise man. Is.55:8,9, Rom. 11:33 - 36. (I am reminded of an illustration I
heard, of a man who needed $300,000. He asked a brother to pray for him, and
shortly a woman came with the money. She had started saving ten years
beforehand. This simple cause and effect is part of an unfathomable series of
causes and effects, which goes back through history, covering billions of
possible alternatives. No wise man could ever work the whole out.) This is a
farther development of Solomon's earlier conclusion in 7:23, 24, for in v.l7
here, he says "yes, farther", (or: "in addition")
9:1 considered = I have taken to
heart
no man = no adam
God = Elohim
The wise are ruled just as much as
the foolish, and no man (adam)
knows whether his future will hold either love or hatred.
All that is before them = the future
of the wise or the foolish. 9:2 All of Mankind briefly summarized into general
categories must face the "one event", just as in v.l
Solomon found that none know their future, so also none know the time of their
death. (See notes on 2:14,15).
9:3 an evil = the greatest or worst
calamity of all.
Notice the force of the words when
the italics are removed: "and after that - to the dead!"
evil = calamity
Death is the worst calamity ever to
hit Man. Rom.5:12 - 14, 6:25, Heb. 9:27, Hos. 13:14 -
"I will ransom them from the power of the grave ..." Death is so
powerful, it took the death of the Son of God to pay its terrible price -
2Cor.5:21.
9:4 hope = confidence = Heb bittalion. Only used here.
a living dog. Dogs were regarded as a
most unclean and despicable creature. Examples :
lSam.l7:43, 24:14. 2Sam.9:8, 16:9, 2Kings 8:13, Mat.7:6, 15:26,
Rev.22:15. By contrast, the lion was regarded as a noble animal
: Gen.49:9, Job 10:16, Is.38.-13, Lam.3:10, Hos.
13:7, Rev.5:5
9:5 This
verse gives the basic reason why being alive is preferable to being dead. The
dead know not anything - see v. 10, Ps.6:5,30:9,
31:17, 88:11, Is.38:18,19.
The dead have no reward = no
advantage, or self-advantage.
The memory of them = their faculty
of remembering; as the first thought states, they know not anything.
9:6 stresses the complete lack of
communicative ability by the dead.
9:7 Solomon gives advice to fallen
Man, concerning his enjoyment of pleasures and gifts of God. This is all in
contrast and complement to the preceding thoughts. While Man is alive, he might
as well enjoy . .. etc.
9:8 Anointing with ointment was
commonly practiced as a mark of hospitality - Luke 7:46, as honour
for kings - 2Kings 11:12, and for priests - Ps. 133:2, and as a sign if joy
-Ps.45:7,Heb.l:9.
White garments '= purity of
character - Dan.7:9, Mat. 17:2, 27:3, Mark 16:5, Luke 24:4, John
20:12, Rev.7:13. 19:14.
9:9 This
verse is fall of the emphatically stated idea of fallen Man's temporary,
futile, vain, empty existence, with the accompanying few pleasures.
9:10 your hand = you
The total end of fallen Man's
consciousness and communicative ability is stressed. See notes on v.5.
9:11 "time and chance" =
does not mean luck, or fickle fate, because we have already seen that God
orders and rules everything. The words mean "occurrence and time of
fortune or misfortune
happens = befalls
race = Heb. merots
= a race. This word used only once. I think the principle here is :
the winning of a race is not always for
those best suited for running, nor is the winning of a battle to those best
armed and able to fight, etc. There is a predetermined time set by God for all
men to either fail or succeed at things. See next verse. (This is always within
the balance between what God knows will happen and Man's free will. As Man
makes choices, he sets running a chain of causes and effects, all of which God
knew about long before they happened. Knowing something is not the same thing
as controlling it.)
9:12 The
best and the most able are often destroyed or "snared" in a time of
calamity. 9:13 New start, new subject. Moffat says
"Here is another case of wisdom which I have seen on earth, and I was
struck by it."
9:14 poor - 2Cor.8:9, Phil.2:6 - 8,
wise - lCor.l:24, delivered - ICor.l: 18,25, none remembered - Is.58:3 despised - lCor.l:28, words
heard in quiet - Job 6:24, Ez. 1:24,25, Luke 10:39
9:15 Having
set the scene for "a time for war or siege", a wise man is found who
skillfully beats back the aggressor. No man remembered this "wise man'
because the whole generation passed on.
9:16 Because
by wisdom men can be helped, it is a quality more valuable than strength -
Is.40:31 The poor man's words and wisdom are forgotten by the next generation
after him. The consolation is that God sees everybody - 12:14 - and will set
things right one day.
9:17 and 18 add thoughts to the
"little city" illustration. Solomon sees that wise people behave
differently from fools - they are quieter and less demanding. Fools tend to be
loud and oppressive.
9:18 A
sinner is one who sins, which means he/she breaks God's Law, hence: a lawless
person. Such can ruin the work of wise people. Like leaven, a lawless person
can spoil a whole group of wiser people - lCor.5:6, Gal.5:9.
Chapter 10.
10:1 Dead flies = flies of death. (A Hebrew expression). They bring or produce death. The
contrast is between he who has a reputation for having wisdom, and his folly,
which is greater than it at first appears.
folly = stupidity.. This word is close to
the word * dullard'. We would say thick-headed' today. (From Heb. sekel, as in 1, and 14) Ez. 18 is
about this trait of the wise to sometimes turn to folly.
10:2 Sm
and Gdsp says 'The wise man's mind makes for success,
but the fool's mind makes for his failure". Also see Psalm 1.
10:3 When a fool, or dullard
"goes on his way" (Sm and Gdsp), he shows by his words, actions and manner of
executing his enterprise that he is foolish.
10:4-20 MISCELLANEOUS MAXIMS
The fickleness of
rulers. They
blunder, they upset the normal structure of society, they
become angry without good reason.
"yielding
pacifies great offenses = gentleness brings peace. Gentleness can not only help
to prevent trouble from escalating, but it can also give some space for
negotiating, and communicating.
10:5 5 is explained by 6 and 7.
Normally, only me ladies of the higher class rode, with a servant urging the
ass or donkey along.
10:6 folly = a great dullard
10:7 Social strata turned upside
down.
10:8 People who dig pits shall (may) fall into them. Solomon begins a thought concerni