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Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible

Ecclesiastes 2:8

Silver and gold] cp. 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:2; 1 Kings 10:14; 1 Kings 10:27. Peculiar treasure] The specialities and rarities of each country found their way to him. Of kings and of the provinces] cp. 1 Kings 10:15, where Solomon receives precious things as tribute from the kings of Arabia and the governors of the country. Musical instruments, and that of all sorts] RV'concubines very many' (but RM agrees with AV). The meaning of the Heb. is obscure. Probably, however, the reference is to the grosser sort of sensual enjoyments: cp. 1 Kings 11:1.

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See also Ecclesiastes 2:8 in other biblical comments:

  • Adam Clarke Bible Commentary

    Verse Ecclesiastes 2:8. _THE PECULIAR TREASURE OF KINGS AND OF THE PROVINCES_] 1. The _taxes_ levied off his subjects. 2. The _tribute_ given by the neighboring potentates. Both these make the "pecu...

  • Albert Barnes' Bible Commentary

    KINGS - Both tributary 1 Kings 10:15 and independent 1 Kings 5:1; 1 Kings 9:14; 1 Kings 10:2; the “provinces” probably c

  • Annotated Bible by A.C. Gaebelein

    CHAPTER 2THE RESULTS OF THE SEARCH AND DIFFERENT VANITIES _ 1. His personal experience (Ecclesiastes 2:1)_ 2. Various vanities and a conclusion (Ecclesiastes 2:12) Ecclesiastes 2:1

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 1:12 TO ECCLESIASTES 2:26. QOHELETH'S INVESTIGATIONS. Assuming the character of Solomon the writer tells of his search for happiness under many forms. The pursuit of wisdom (Ecclesiastes...

  • Arthur Peake's Commentary on the Bible

    ECCLESIASTES 1:12 TO ECCLESIASTES 2:26. QOHELETH'S INVESTIGATIONS. Assuming the character of Solomon the writer tells of his search for happiness under many forms. The pursuit of wisdom (Ecclesiastes...

  • Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes

    GATHERED. amassed. Hebrew. _kanas,_ said to be. later Hebrew word (see App-76.) THE PROVINCES. Hebrew. _medinah,_ from _dun_. to rule, hence. country. There is no article before "kings", because they...

  • Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

    _I gathered me also silver and gold_ Here also we find a counterpart in what is recorded of the wealth of Solomon, the ships of Hiram that brought gold from Ophir, to the amount of 420 talents (1 King...

  • Charles Box Commentaries

    _THE VANITY OF SELF-INDULGENCE -- ECCLESIASTES 2:1-11:_ All through the book of Ecclesiastes we observe Solomon as he thought and reasoned within himself. He had looked upon and tried all the good, pl...

  • Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

    AS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, &C.— _A captive woman, nay, several captive women._ It is doubted, whether the Hebrew words, rendered by us _musical instruments,_ &c. signify things or persons. Mr. Desvoeux i...

  • College Press Bible Study Textbook Series

    c. Wisdom is used in the exploration of sensuous pleasure. Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 TEXT 2:1-11 1 I said to myself, Come now, I will test you with pleasure. So enjoy yourself. And behold, it too was fut...

  • Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

    I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under...

  • Darby's translation notes (1890)

    2:8 men, (b-31) Or 'sons of the _ Adam_ ;' often in this book. The _ Adam_ is also frequent. see Genesis 1:27 ....

  • EasyEnglish Bible Commentaries

    THE TEACHER SEARCHES FOR THE PURPOSE OF OUR LIVES BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES _HILDA BRIGHT AND KITTY PRIDE_ CHAPTER 2 THE TEST TO DISCOVER WHAT MAKES A PERSON HAPPY – ECCLESIASTES 2:1-11...

  • Ellicott's Commentary On The Whole Bible

    PECULIAR TREASURE. — The word is used of the Jewish people (Exodus 19:9; Psalms 135:4; Malachi 3:17; but generally 1 Chronicles 29:3). That So

  • ETCBC data on Hebrew bible

    כָּנַ֤סְתִּי לִי֙ גַּם ־כֶּ֣סֶף וְ זָהָ֔ב וּ

  • Expositor's Bible Commentary (Nicoll)

    FIRST SECTION The Quest Of The Chief Good In Wisdom And In Pleasure Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 2:1 OPPRESSED by his profound sense of the vanity of the life which man lives amid the play of pe...

  • Frederick Brotherton Meyer's Commentary

    24-26, VAIN UNDERTAKINGS Ecclesiastes 2:1-17 At the beginning of his search for happiness Solomon erected a splendid home and planned all kinds of delights of an artistic and sensuous nature. There w...

  • G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

    Turning from the pursuit of knowledge to the pathway of pleasure, the king had given himself up to mirth, seeking the false stimulus of wine. In this also he had been disappointed, finding that mirth...

  • Geneva Study Bible Commentary

    I gathered me also silver and gold, and the special treasure of kings and of the provinces: I procured me male and female singers, and the (d) delights of the sons of men, (e) [as] musical instruments...

  • George Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary

    _Silver, which became, in consequence, of little value. --- Singing. At the court of Persia, people sung all night, and during the feasts. (Atheneus xii., and 14.) --- Cups and vessels; (Aquila and Sy...

  • Hawker's Poor man's commentary

    I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity. (2) I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it? (3) I sought...

  • John Darby's Synopsis

    THE FOLLOWING COMMENTARY COVERS CHAPTER S 1 THROUGH 12. The Book of Ecclesiastes is, up to a certain point, the converse of the Book of Proverbs. (see NOTE TO PROVERBS below) It is the experience of a...

  • John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

    I GATHERED ME ALSO SILVER AND GOLD,.... In great quantities: the weight of gold which came to him in one year was six hundred threescore and six talents; see 1 Kings 9:14; AND THE PECULIAR TREASURE O...

  • John Trapp Complete Commentary

    _I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical instruments, and...

  • Joseph Benson’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    _I gathered me silver and gold_ Vast riches; _and the peculiar treasure of kings_ Riches, answerable to the state of a king, or, he means, the greatest jewels and rarities of other kings, which they g...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces, 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:24; I GAT ME MEN SINGERS AND WOMEN SINGERS, such as were common at Oriental courts...

  • Kretzmann's Popular Commentary of the Bible

    Solomon's own Example...

  • Marginal Notes in the King James Version (1611)

    AS MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: , and that of all sorts: _Heb._ musical instrument, and instruments...

  • Mark Dunagan Commentaries

    "ALSO,. COLLECTED FOR MYSELF SILVER AND GOLD, AND THE TREASURE OF KINGS AND PROVINCES.. PROVIDED FOR MYSELF MALE AND FEMALE SINGERS AND THE PLEASURES OF MEN-MANY CONCUBINES." Solomon possessed wealth...

  • Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible

    1-11 Solomon soon found mirth and pleasure to be vanity. What does noisy, flashy mirth towards making a man happy? The manifold devices of men's hearts, to get satisfaction from the world, and their...

  • Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

    THE PECULIAR TREASURE OF KINGS; either, 1. Vast riches, answerable to the state of a king. Or, 2. The greatest jewels and rarities of other kings, which they gave to me either as a tribute, or by way...

  • Patchworkid's Personal Study Bible Notes

    Ecclesiastes 2:8 gathered H3664 (H8804) silver H3701 gold H2091 special H5459 kings H4428 provinces H4082 acquired...

  • Peter Pett's Commentary on the Bible

    CHAPTER 2 THE SEARCH FOR PLEASURE. Experimenting With Good Things (Ecclesiastes 2:1). Ecclesiastes 2:1 ‘I said in my heart, “Go at it now, I will test out merriment. Therefore enjoy pleasure (or ‘g...

  • Sermon Bible Commentary

    Ecclesiastes 1:12-2 I. As was natural in so wise a man, the Preacher turns first to wisdom. It is the wisdom that is born of wide and varied experience, not of abstract study. He acquaints himself wit...

  • Summarized Bible Commentary

    CONTENTS: Solomon shows that there is no true happiness and satisfaction to be had in mirth, pleasure and the delights of sense. CHARACTERS: God, Solomon. CONCLUSION: True and lasting happiness and...

  • Sutcliffe's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

    Ecclesiastes 2:1. _Enjoy pleasure._ The first doctrine of Epicurus, whose system is here rebutted. Acts 17:18. Ecclesiastes 2:2. _I said of laughter,_ of all forced and frantic joy, _it is mad._ Chald...

  • The Biblical Illustrator

    _Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth._ THE THREEFOLD VIEW OF HUMAN LIFE Three views of human life are given in this remarkable chapter. I. The theatrical view of life (Ecclesiastes 2:1). The wri...

  • The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary

    CRITICAL NOTES.— ECCLESIASTES 2:3. I SOUGHT IN MINE HEART.] The word has the meaning not of thinking or reflecting, but to prove or assay—to make a moral experiment. ECCLESIASTES 2:8. THE PECULIAR TR...

  • The Pulpit Commentaries

    EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 2:1 Section 2. _Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth._ ECCLESIASTES 2:1 Dissatisfied with the result of the pursuit of wisdom, Koheleth embarks on a course of sensua...

  • Through The Bible C2000 Serie by Chuck Smith

    So I said in my heart, Go to now, I'm going to prove thee with [pleasure,] with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: but, behold, this was vanity (Ecclesiastes 2:1). So we read in the New Testament the ep...

  • Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

    1 Chronicles 25:1; 1 Chronicles 25:6; 1 Kings 10:10; 1 Kings 14:21;...

  • Wesley's Explanatory Notes

    Peculiar treasure — The greatest jewels and rarities of other kings, which they gave to me, either as a tribute, or by way of present. Of provinces — Which were imposed upon or presented by all the pr...

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