CHAPTER II _The vanity of human courses in the works of pleasure,_ _planting, equipage, amassing wealth, c._, 1-11. _Wisdom preferable to folly_, 12-14 _yet little difference between the wise and the foolish in_ _the events of life_, 15-17. _The vanity of amassing wealth for heirs, when whethe... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:2. _I SAID OF LAUGHTER_, IT IS _MAD_] Literally "To laughter I said, O mad one! and to mirth, What is this one doing?" Solomon does not speak here of a sober enjoyment of the things of this world, but of _intemperate pleasure_, whose two attendants, _laughter_ and _mirth_ are i... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:3. _TO GIVE MYSELF UNTO WINE_, (_YET ACQUAINTING_ [נהג noheg, "guiding"] _MINE HEART WITH WISDOM,)_] I did not run into _extremes_, as when I gave up myself to _mirth_ and _pleasure_. _There_, I threw off all restraint; _here_, I took the middle course, to see whether a _moderat... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:4. _I BUILDED ME HOUSES_] Palace after palace; the house of the forest of Lebanon, 1 Kings 7:1, c. a house for the queen; the temple, c., 2 Chronicles 8:1, c. 1 Kings 9:10, c., besides many other buildings of various kinds.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:5. _I MADE ME GARDENS AND ORCHARDS_] פרדסים _pardesim_, "paradises." I doubt much whether this be an original _Hebrew_ word. [Arabic] _ferdoos_, is found in the _Persian_ and _Arabic_; and signifies a _pleasant garden_, a _vineyard_. Hence our word _paradise_, a place _full of d... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:6. _POOLS OF WATER_] _Tanks_ and _reservoirs_. _TO WATER THEREWITH THE WOOD_] Aqueducts to lead the water from the tanks to different parts.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:7. _SERVANTS AND MAIDENS_] For my works, fields, folds, and various domestic labors. _SERVANTS BORN IN ANY HOUSE_] Besides those hired from without, he had _married couples_ in the precincts of his grounds, palaces, etc., who, when their children grew up, got them employment wi... [ Continue Reading ]
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 "peculiar treasure of kings;" _taxes_ and _tribute_. _MEN SINGERS AND WOMEN SINGERS_] This includes all... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:10. _I WITHHELD NOT MY HEART FROM ANY JOY_] He had every means of gratification; he could desire nothing that was not within his reach; and whatever he wished, he took care to possess.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:11. _AND, BEHOLD, ALL_ WAS _VANITY_] Emptiness and insufficiency in itself. _AND VEXATION OF SPIRIT_] Because it promised the good I wished for, but did not, could not, perform the promise; and left my soul discontented and chagrined.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:12. _FOR WHAT_ CAN _THE MAN_ DO _THAT COMETH AFTER THE KING_?] I have examined every thing proposed by _science_, by _maddening_ _pleasure_, and by more refined and regulated _mirth_. I seized on the whole, and used them to the uttermost; and so far, that none ever shall be able... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _THEN I SAW THAT WISDOM EXCELLETH FOLLY_] Though in none of these pursuits I found the _supreme_ good, the happiness my soul longed after; yet I could easily perceive that wisdom _excelled_ the _others_, as far as _light excels darkness_. And he immediately subjoins the reasons.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THE WISE MAN'S EYES, C._] Well expressed by _Choheleth_: - "The wise are circumspect, maturely weigh The consequence of what they undertake, Good ends propose, and fittest means apply To accomplish their designs." _BUT THE FOOL WALKETH IN DARKNESS_] "But fools, deprived Of reason's... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _AS IT HAPPENETH TO THE FOOL_] Literally, "According as the event is to the fool, it happens to me, even me." There is a peculiar beauty and emphasis in the repetition of _me_. Having pointed out the advantages that wisdom has over folly, he takes this opportunity of reminding us of the da... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. THERE IS _NO REMEMBRANCE_] The wise and the fool are equally subject to death; and, in most instances, they are equally forgotten. _Time_ sweeps away all remembrances, except the very _few_ out of _millions_ which are preserved for a while in the _page of_ _history_.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 17. _THEREFORE I HATED LIFE_] את החיים _et hachaiyim, the_ _lives_, both of the _wise_, the _madman_, and the _fool_. Also all the _stages_ of life, the _child_, the _man_, and the _sage_. There was nothing in it worth _pursuing_, no _period_ worth _re-living_ and no _hope_ that if this were p... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 18. _I HATED ALL MY LABOUR_] Because, 1. It has not answered the end for which it was instituted. 2. I can enjoy the fruits of it but a short time. 3. I must leave it to others, and know not whether a _wise man_, a _knave_, or a _fool_ will possess it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 19. _A WISE_ MAN _OR A FOOL?_] Alas! Solomon, the _wisest_ of all men, made the _worst use_ of his wisdom, had _seven hundred wives_ and _three hundred concubines_, and yet left but _one son_ behind him, to possess his _estates_ and his _throne_, and that one was the silliest of fools!... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 20. _I WENT ABOUT TO CAUSE MY HEART TO DESPAIR_] What makes all worse, there is no remedy. It is impossible in the present state of things to prevent these evils.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 21. _FOR THERE IS A MAN_] Does he not allude to himself? As if he had said, "I have laboured to cultivate my mind in wisdom and in science, in knowledge of men and things, and have endeavoured to establish _equity_ and dispense justice. And now I find I _shall leave_ all the fruits of my labou... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 22. _FOR WHAT HATH MAN OF ALL HIS LABORER_] _Labour_ of _body,_ _disappointment_ of _hope_, and _vexation of heart_, have been all my portion.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 23. _HIS DAYS_ ARE _SORROWS_] What a picture of human life where the heart is not filled with the peace and love of God! All his _days_ are _sorrows_; all his _labours griefs_; all his _nights_ _restless_; for he has no portion but merely what _earth_ can give; and that is embittered by the la... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 24. THERE IS _NOTHING BETTER FOR A MAN_] The sense of this passage is well expressed in the following lines: - "For these disorders wouldst thou find a cure, Such cure as human frailty would admit? Drive from thee anxious cares; let reason curb Thy passions; and with cheerful heart enjoy... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 25. _FOR WHO CAN EAT - MORE THAN I?_] But instead of חוץ ממני _chuts mimmenni, more than I_; חוץ ממנו chuts mimmennu, without _HIM_, is the reading of _eight_ of _Kennicott's_ and _De Rossi's_ MSS., as also of the _Septuagint, Syriac_, and _Arabic_. "For who maye eat, drynke, or bring enythin... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 2:26. _GIVETH - WISDOM, AND KNOWLEDGE, AND JOY_] 1. God gives _wisdom_ - the knowledge of himself, light to direct in the way of salvation. 2. _Knowledge_ - understanding to discern the operation of his hand; _experimental acquaintance_ with himself, in the dispensing of his _gr... [ Continue Reading ]