Ecclesiastes 7 and Ecclesiastes 10 show a striking resemblance to the style of the writer of the Book of Proverbs. Hereto the principal object has been to state the vanity of the conditions of human life: henceforth, the principal object will be to direct man how to conduct himself under those condi... [ Continue Reading ]
NAME ... OINTMENT - The likeness between reputation and odor supplies a common metaphor: the contrast is between reputation, as an honorable attainment which only wise people win, and fragrant odor, as a gratification of the senses which all people enjoy. The connection of this verse with the preced... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT - Namely, what is seen in the house of mourning. LAY IT TO HIS HEART - Consider it attentively.... [ Continue Reading ]
SORROW - Rather, Seriousness. THE HEART IS MADE BETTER - i. e., is made bright and joyful (compare 2 Corinthians 6:10). The mind which bears itself equally in human concerns, whether they be pleasant or sorrowful, must always be glad, free, and at peace.... [ Continue Reading ]
HOUSE OF MOURNING ... HOUSE OF MIRTH - These phrases acquire a forcible significance from the Eastern custom of prolonging both festive and mournful celebrations through several days. See Genesis 50:10; Judges 14:17. This verse indicates that a life of enjoyment, does not mean the abandonment of our... [ Continue Reading ]
AS THE CRACKLING OF THORNS - Noisy while it lasts, and quickly extinguished. See Psalms 58:9 note.... [ Continue Reading ]
Rather, oppression (or extortions) maketh a wise man foolish; and a bribe etc. If a wise man, being in a high position, exercises oppression (see Psalms 62:10), or practices extortion, he becomes a fool in so doing. This verse is a warning against impatience in the exercise of power or the acquisiti... [ Continue Reading ]
BETTER - Inasmuch as something certain is attained, man contemplates the end throughout an entire course of action, and does not rest upon the beginning. PATIENT ... PROUD - literally, “Long,” long-suffering ...“high,” in the sense of impatient.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BY IT THERE IS PROFIT ... - literally, And is profitable to the living. The same word as in Ecclesiastes 6:11, to the question in which it looks like an answer.... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM IS A DEFENSE ... - See the margin and Psalms 121:5, i. e., He who is defended from adversity by his wisdom is in as good a position as he who is defended by his riches. EXCELLENCY - literally, Profit. GIVETH LIFE TO - literally, “Causes to live,” “makes alive” Proverbs 3:18; the deeper mean... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WORK OF GOD - The scheme of Divine Providence, the course of events which God orders and controls (compare Ecclesiastes 3:11). It comprises both events which are “straight,” i. e., in accordance with our expectation, and events which are “crooked,” i. e., which by their seeming inequality baffle... [ Continue Reading ]
Good and prosperous days are in God’s design special times of comfort and rejoicing: the days of affliction and trouble, are in God’s design the proper seasons of recollection and serious consideration. The Providence of God hath so contrived it, that our good and evil days should be intermingled ea... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DAYS OF MY VANITY - This does not imply that those days of vanity were ended (see Ecclesiastes 1:12 note). The meaning may be best explained by a paraphrase. Solomon states how the wise man should regard the “crooked Ecclesiastes 7:13 work of God” when it bears upon him. He says in effect, “Do n... [ Continue Reading ]
The connection of this verse with Ecclesiastes 7:18 becomes clearer if it is borne in mind that the fear of God, wisdom, and justice, are merely different sides of one and the same character, the formation of which is the aim of all the precepts in this chapter. The words “just” Ecclesiastes 7:15, E... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSE ... CURSED - Rather, speak evil of ... spoken evil of.... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL BE - Or, I am. There was a time when Solomon thought himself wise enough to comprehend the work of God, and therefore needed for himself the self-humbling conviction declared in this verse. IT - i. e. Wisdom. Compare Ecclesiastes 8:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
literally, Far off is that which hath been i. e., events as they have occurred in the order of Divine Providence), and deep, deep, who can find it out?... [ Continue Reading ]
REASON - The same word is translated “account” Ecclesiastes 7:27, “invention” Ecclesiastes 7:29, and “device” Ecclesiastes 9:10 : it is derived from a root signifying “to count.”... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare the account of Solomon’s wives 1 Kings 11:1 : see also Proverbs 2:16; Proverbs 5:3...... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE MAN - One whose good qualities quite satisfy our expectation. Compare the expression “one among a thousand” (marginal reference). A WOMAN - The number of Solomon’s wives and concubines 1 Kings 11:3 was a thousand.... [ Continue Reading ]
GOD HATH MADE - Rather, God made. A definite allusion to the original state of man: in which he was exempt from vanity.... [ Continue Reading ]