Ecclesiastes 10:19

A feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things. A FEAST (HEBREW, BREAD) IS MADE FOR LAUGHTER. Their meals are taken, not for strength, but for self-indulgent excess. Referring to . Instead of repairing the breaches in the commonwealth (the "building"), the princes 'make a feast for laughter' (), and wine maketh their life glad. BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL (THINGS) - i:e., by having money they can have what they wish; all things are at the call of money, and it answers all charges; so they take bribes to support their extravagance; and hence arise the wrongs that are perpetrated (Ecclesiastes 10:5;...

16-20 The happiness of a land depends on the character of its rulers. The people cannot be happy when their princes are childish, and lovers of pleasure. Slothfulness is of ill consequence both to private and public affairs. Money, of itself, will neither feed nor clothe, though it answers the occasions of this present life, as what is to be had, may generally be had for money. But the soul, as it is not redeemed, so it is not maintained with corruptible things, as silver and gold. God sees what men do, and hears what they say in secret; and, when he pleases, brings it to light by strange and unsuspected ways. If there be hazard in secret thoughts and whispers against earthly rulers, what must be the peril from every deed, word, or thought of rebellion against the King of kings, and Lord of lords! He seeth in secret. His ear is ever open. Sinner! curse not THIS KING in thy inmost though...

Verse 19. _A FEAST IS MADE FOR LAUGHTER_] The object of it is to produce merriment, to banish care and concern of every kind. But who are they who make and frequent such places? Epicures and drunkards generally; such as those of whom _Horace_ speaks: Nos numerus sumus, et fruges consumere nati. _Epist_. lib. i., ep. 2, ver. 27. "Those whose names stand as indications of _men_, the _useless many_; and who appear to be born only to consume the produce of the soil." _BUT MONEY ANSWERETH ALL_] This saying has prevailed everywhere. _Scilicet_ uxorem _cum_ dote, fidemque, _et_ amicos, _Et_ genus, _et_ formam REGINA PECUNIA _donat_; Ac ben

Foolish rulers, by their weakness, self-indulgence and sloth, bring decay upon the state: nobleness and temperance insure prosperity: yet the subject must not rebel in word or thought against his king. Ecclesiastes 10:16 A CHILD - Rather, young. The word is applied to Rehoboam 2 Chronicles 13:7 at the time of his accession to the throne, when he was 41 years old. EAT IN THE MORNING - A sign of intemperance (compare Isaiah 5:11). Ecclesiastes 10:17...

EXPOSITION ECCLESIASTES 10:1 Section 11. _A little folly mars the effect of wisdom, _and is sure to make itself conspicuous. ECCLESIASTES 10:1 DEAD FLIES CAUSE THE OINTMENT OF THE APOTHECARY TO SEND FORTH A STINKING SAVOR. This is a metaphorical confirmation of the truth enunciated at the end of the last chapter, "One sinner destroyeth much good." It is like the apostle's warning to his converts, "A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump" (1 Corinthians 5:6). The Hebrew expression is literally, "flies of death," which may mean either "dead flies," as in our version and the Vulgate (muse

A FEAST IS MADE FOR LAUGHTER,.... Or, "who make bread for laughter" i. Not bakers, who make bread for common use, and for all sorts of persons, sorrowful ones as others; but luxurious men, particularly such princes as are before described; they "make bread", that is, a feast, as the phrase is used, Daniel 5:1; not for mere refreshment, but to promote mirth and gaiety to an excessive degree; being attended with rioting and drunkenness, chambering and wantonness, with revellings and dancing; AND WINE MAKETH MERRY; or, "and [they prepare] wine" k; which is provided in plenty at feasts; and which is sometimes put for a feast itself, and called a banquet of wine, Esther 7:2; which wine makes merry, and men drink of it till they become drunk with it, at such profuse feasts: or, "which maketh life cheerful

CHAPTER 10 This chapter contains a series of proverbs, expressing the wisdom and prudence of the natural man. Here are a number of observations and all show that there is a practical value in wisdom and that it has certain advantages. These maxims are of a different kind than the proverbs in the preceding book. There we are face to face with the wisdom which is from above, here it is the wisdom of man. The name of the Lord is not mentioned once, Similar philosophic utterances can be traced in the literature of other ancient nations. They need no detailed annotations....

ECCLESIASTES 9:17 TO ECCLESIASTES 10:15. EXPERIENCE CRYSTALLISED IN PROVERBS. Ecclesiastes 9:17 to Ecclesiastes 10:3 forms a series of proverbs perhaps due to the sage who worked over the original book. In Ecclesiastes 9:17 follow _mg.;_ the contrast is between the quiet but sure voice of the wise and the noisy pretentious clatter of an arch-fool. With Ecclesiastes 9:18, _cf._...

WINE. Hebrew. _yayin._ App-27. MAKETH MERRY. will gladden life. Compare Psalms 104:15. ANSWERETH ALL THINGS. maketh everything respond [to their requirements]: i.e. will procure both [feast and wine]. See note on Ecclesiastes 5:19, the only two occurrences of _'anah_ in this book....

_money answereth all things_ The maxim as it stands in the English Version, has a somewhat cynical ring, reminding us only too closely of the counsel condemned by the Roman satirist, "O cives, cives, quærenda pecunia primum est; Virtus post nummos." "Money, my townsmen, must be sought for first; Virtue comes after guineas," "Isne tibi melius suadet, qui rem facias; rem, Si possis, recte; si non, quocunque modo rem?" "Does he give better counsel whom we hear, -Make money, money; justly if you can, But if not, then in any way, make money?" " Hor. _Epp._i. 1. 53, 65. So Menander (quoted by Delitzsch) "Silver and gold these are the Gods who profit most. If these are in thy house pray for what thou wilt and it shall be thine," and Horace: Scilicet uxorem cum dote, fidemque, et amicos, Et genus, et formam, regina pecunia donat; Ac bene nummatum decorat Suadela Venusque." "Seek'st...