REMEMBER NOW - Rather, And remember. The connection between this verse and the preceding one is unfortunately interrupted by our division of chapters. CREATOR - Gratitude to God as Creator is here inculcated, as just previously Ecclesiastes 11:9 fear of God as Judge. Godliness, acquired as a habit... [ Continue Reading ]
WHILE ... NOT - Or, Before. The darkening of the lights of heaven denotes a time of affliction and sadness. Compare Ezekiel 32:7; Job 3:9; Isaiah 5:30. Contrast this representation of old age with 2 Samuel 23:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
The body in old age and death is here described under the figure of a decaying house with its inmates and furniture. This verse is best understood as referring to the change which old age brings to four parts of the body, the arms (“the keepers”), the legs (“the strong men”), the teeth (“the grinde... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DOORS ... IS LOW - The house is viewed from without. The way of entry and exit is stopped: little or no sound issues forth to tell of life stirring within. The old man, as he grows older, has less in common with the rising generation; mutual interest and social contact decline. Some take the... [ Continue Reading ]
HIGH - The powerful and the proud, such persons as an old man in his timidity might shrink from opposing or meeting: or, high ground which old men would avoid ascending. FEARS ... IN THE WAY - Compare Proverbs 26:13. THE ALMOND TREE - The type of old age. Many modern critics translate “The almond... [ Continue Reading ]
BE LOOSED - The termination of life is signified generally by the snapping of the silver cord by which the lamp hangs from the ceiling; by the dashing in pieces of the cup or reservoir of oil; by the shattering of the pitcher used to bring water from the spring; and by the breaking of the wheel by w... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SPIRIT - i. e., The spirit separated unto God from the body at death. No more is said here of its future destiny. To return to God, who is the fountain Psalms 36:9 of Life, certainly means to continue to live. The doctrine of life after death is implied here as in Exodus 3:6 (compare Mark 12:26)... [ Continue Reading ]
This passage is properly regarded as the Epilogue of the whole book; a kind of apology for the obscurity of many of its sayings. The passage serves therefore to make the book more intelligible and more acceptable. Here, as in the beginning of the book Ecclesiastes 1:1, the Preacher speaks of himself... [ Continue Reading ]