INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 8 The preacher begins this chapter with the praise of wisdom, from its excellency and usefulness, Ecclesiastes 8:1; and advises men, if they would live quietly and comfortably, to honour and obey the king that rules over them, and not be rebellious against him, since he... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO IS AS THE WISE [MAN]?.... Who is as the first man, that was made upright, and was a wise man? not one of his sons. Or who is as the wise man, meaning himself? no man; he was the wisest of men; and yet he could not find out wisdom, and the reason of things, and the wickedness of folly, Ecclesiast... [ Continue Reading ]
I [COUNSEL THEE] TO KEEP THE KING'S COMMANDMENT,.... Or, "to observe the mouth of the king" w; what he says, and do according to it when it is agreeably to the law of God, and according to the laws of the kingdom, by which he is to govern; for kings are to be honoured, obeyed, and submitted to, in t... [ Continue Reading ]
BE NOT HASTY TO GO OUT OF HIS SIGHT,.... But of the sight of the King of kings. Do not think to hide thyself from him, for there is no fleeing from his presence, Psalms 139:7; it is best, when under some consternation, as the word y signifies, or under some fearful apprehension of his wrath and indi... [ Continue Reading ]
WHERE THE WORD OF A KING [IS, THERE IS] POWER,.... Or "dominion" z. Authority goes along with his word of command; and there is an inferior magistracy, a subordinate power under him, ready to execute his will upon the rebellious and disobedient. Jarchi interprets it, the word of the holy blessed God... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSO KEEPETH THE COMMANDMENT SHALL FEEL NO EVIL THING,.... Either the commandment of an earthly king, which should be kept, when agreeably to the laws of the nation, and not inconsistent with the commands of God; and such as do observe it "know no evil" a, as it may be rendered, or no sorrow; they... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE TO EVERY PURPOSE THERE IS TIME AND JUDGMENT,.... There is a fit season, and a right and proper manner of doing everything that is to be done; see Ecclesiastes 3:1; which a wise man discerns; and which when a man hits upon, it prevents a great deal of mischief, which for want of it comes upon... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE KNOWETH NOT THAT WHICH SHALL BE,.... Or that "it shall be" b; that he ever shall have the opportunity again he has lost, nor what is to come hereafter; what shall be on the morrow, or what shall befall him in the remaining part of his days; what troubles and sorrows he shall meet with, or wha... [ Continue Reading ]
[THERE IS] NO MAN THAT HATH POWER OVER THE SPIRIT TO RETAIN THE SPIRIT,.... Which is not to be understood of the wind, which the word used sometimes signifies, and of men's having no power to restrain that, or hinder it from blowing; for to what purpose should Solomon mention this? rather it may be... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THIS HAVE I SEEN,.... Observed, taken notice of, and thoroughly considered; all that is said above, concerning the scarcity of good men and women, the fall of our first parents, the excellency of wisdom, the necessity and advantage of keeping the king's commandment, the time and manner of doing... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SO I SAW THE WICKED BURIED,.... Or "truly" k, verily, as the Targum, this is matter of fact; or "then I saw", as Aben Ezra and others, upon applying his heart to every work; or when be observed particularly wicked magistrates, he took notice that some of them continued in their power until death... [ Continue Reading ]
BECAUSE SENTENCE [AGAINST] AN EVIL WORK IS NOT EXECUTED SPEEDILY,.... Any evil work done by magistrates, or others, against which the wrath of God is revealed from heaven, and is threatened with his vengeance; the decree is gone forth, the sentence is passed, God is determined upon punishment; but t... [ Continue Reading ]
THOUGH A SINNER DO EVIL AN HUNDRED TIMES,.... That is ever so many times, a certain number for an uncertain; though he lives in a continued course of sin, being resolved upon the above consideration to give himself a swing to his lusts. The Targum renders it a hundred years; though be should live so... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IT SHALL NOT BE WELL WITH THE WICKED,.... It shall be ill with him; more is designed than is expressed, Isaiah 3:11; in life they have no solid peace and comfort; at death they will be turned into at judgment they will hear the awful sentence, "Go, ye cursed", and will be in torment to all etern... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE IS A VANITY WHICH IS DONE UPON THE EARTH,.... Transacted in this lower world under the sun, through the permission and direction of divine Providence; not that it is a vanity on the part of God, who has wise ends to answer by it, for the good of his people, the trial of their graces, c. or to... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I COMMENDED MIRTH,.... Innocent mirth, a cheerfulness of spirit in whatsoever state condition men are; serenity and tranquillity of mind, thankfulness for what they have, and a free and comfortable use of it; this the wise man praised and recommended to good men, as being much better than to fr... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN I APPLIED MINE HEART TO KNOW WISDOM,.... The nature and causes of things; the wisdom of God in his providence, and the grounds and reasons of his various dispensations towards the children of men: the Targum interprets it, the wisdom of the law; AND TO SEE THE BUSINESS THAT IS DONE UPON THE EA... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN I BEHELD ALL THE WORK OF GOD,.... Not of creation, but of Providence; took notice of it, contemplated on it, considered it, and weighed it well; viewed the various steps and methods of it, to find out, if possible, at least, some general rule by which it proceeded: but all so various and uncert... [ Continue Reading ]