CHAPTER VIII _A man's wisdom makes his face shine_, 1. _Kings are to be greatly respected_, 2-4. _Of him who keeps the commandment; of the misery of man; of the_ _certainty of death_, 5-8. _Of him that rules another to his own hurt_, 9. _The end of the wicked_, 10. _God's longsuffering_, 11,... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:2. _TO KEEP THE KING'S COMMANDMENT_] This sentence would be better translated, _I keep the mouth of the king_; I take good heed not to meddle with state secrets; and if I know, to hide them. Or, I am obedient to the commands of the laws; I feel myself bound by whatever the king... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:3. _BE NOT HASTY_] I consider the first _five_ verses here as directions to _courtiers_, and the more immediate servants of kings. Be steadily faithful to your sovereign. _Do not stand in an evil_ _thing_. If you have done wrong, do not endeavour to vindicate yourself before h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:5. _BOTH TIME AND JUDGMENT._] It is a matter of great importance to be able to discern WHEN and HOW both to _speak_ and _act_; but when _time_ and _manner_ are both determined, the _matter_ comes next. WHAT shall _I speak_? WHAT shall _I do_? _When, how_, and _what_, answer to _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:6. _TO EVERY PURPOSE THERE IS TIME_] חפץ _chaphets_, every _volition_, every thing that _depends on the will of man_. He has generally the _opportunity_ to do whatever he purposes; and as his purposes are frequently evil, his acts are so too: and in consequence his misery is gre... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:8. There is _NO MAN THAT HATH POWER OVER THE SPIRIT TO_ _RETAIN THE SPIRIT_] The _Chaldee_ has, "There is no man who can rule over the spirit of the breath, so as to prevent the animal life from leaving the body of man." Others translate to this sense: "No man hath power over t... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:9. _ONE MAN RULETH OVER ANOTHER TO HIS OWN HURT._] This may be spoken of rulers generally, who, instead of _feeding, fleece the_ _flock_; tyrants and oppressors, who come to an untimely end by their mismanagement of the offices of the state. All these things relate to _Asiatic_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:10. _WHO HAD COME AND GONE FROM THE PLACE OF THE HOLY_] The place of the holy is the sacred office which they held, _anointed_ either as _kings_ or _priests_ to God; and, not having fulfilled the holy office in a holy way, have been carried to their _graves_ without _lamentation... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:11. _BECAUSE SENTENCE_] פתגם _pithgam_, a _Divine decree_ or _declaration_. This is no _Hebrew_, but a mere _Chaldee_ word, and occurs only in the _later books_ of the Bible - _Esther, Ezra_ and _Daniel_, and nowhere else but in this place. Because God does not immediately punis... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:12. _THOUGH A SINNER DO EVIL A HUNDRED TIMES_] If God bear so long with a transgressor, waiting in his longsuffering for him to repent and turn to him, surely he will be peculiarly kind to them that _fear him_, and endeavour to walk uprightly before him.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 13. _BUT IT SHALL NOT BE WELL WITH THE WICKED_] Let not the long-spared sinner presume that, because sentence is not speedily executed on his evil works, and he is suffered to go on to his _hundredth transgression_, God has forgotten to punish. No; _he_ _feareth not before God_; and therefore... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 14. _THERE BE JUST_ MEN] See on Ecclesiastes 7:16.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 15. _THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH_] These are some more of the cavils of the infidel objector: "Since _virtue_ is frequently under oppression, and _vice_ triumphs in health, and rolls in wealth, I see plainly that we should not trouble ourselves about future things; and therefore should be governed... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 16. _WHEN I APPLIED MINE HEART TO KNOW WISDOM_] This is the reply of the wise man: "I have also considered these seeming contradictions. God governs the world; but we cannot see the reasons of his conduct, nor know why he does this, omits that, or permits a third thing. We may _study night_ an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Ecclesiastes 8:17. _THEN I BEHELD ALL THE WORK OF GOD, THAT A MAN CANNOT_ _FIND OUT THE WORK THAT IS DONE UNDER THE SUN_] I saw it to be of such a nature - 1, That _a man cannot find it out_. 2. That if he _labour to find it out_, he shall not succeed. 3. That though he be _wise _- the _mos... [ Continue Reading ]