Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:15

Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, [so] it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.

15. why was I then more wise? ] Better, Why have I been wise now overmuch? The very wisdom of the seeker might lead him to see that he has not only been wiser than others, but wiser than it was wise to be. The last word is almost identical with the “profit” which occurs so frequently. He found that he had a surplus of wisdom, and that it was but surplusage. We seem to hear an echo of the , the Ne quid nimis (“Nothing in excess”) of Greek and Roman sages. So, with the same Hebrew word, we have in chap. Ecc 7:16, “Be not righteous over much.” So it was that the sentence of ‘Vanity’ was once more written on wisdom as well as folly. It is not without significance that the man feels the bitterness of the sentence, because, even in his wisdom, he, like the Stoics, had been egoistic. That he and the fool, the man of large discourse, and the man to whom culture was an unknown word, should die the same death, this made him curse his destiny.

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

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 danger of trusting too much to it, by showing that it is equally subject to the common accidents of life; and, therefore, incapable of making us completely happy. Having given his sentiments on this point in general terms, he proceeds to those particular instances wherein human prudence chiefly exerts itself; and shows how egregiously it is mistaken in every one of them.-C.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

Why was I then more wise? what benefit have I by my wisdom? or, to what purpose did I desire and take so much pains for wisdom?

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

15. why was Iso anxious tobecome, c. (2Ch 1:10).

ThenSince such is thecase.

thisnamely, pursuit of(worldly) wisdom it can never fill the place of the true wisdom(Job 28:28; Jer 8:9).

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

Then said I in my heart, as it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me,…. The wisest of kings, and the wisest of men; that is, he looked over things in his mind, and considered what had befallen him, or what were his present circumstances, or what would be his case, especially at death; and said within himself, the same things happen to me, who have attained to the highest pitch of wisdom, as to the most errant fool; and therefore no true happiness can be in this sort of wisdom. The Targum paraphrases it thus,

“as it happened to Saul the son of Kish, the king who turned aside perversely, and kept not the commandment he received concerning Amalek, and his kingdom was taken from him; so shall it happen to me;”

and why was I then more wise? the Targum adds, than he, or than any other man, or even than a fool; why have I took so much pains to get wisdom? what am I the better for it? what happiness is there in it, seeing it gives me no advantage, preference, and excellency to a fool; or secures me from the events that befall me?

Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity; this worldly wisdom has nothing solid and substantial in it, as well as pleasure; and it is a vain thing to seek happiness in it, since this is the case, that the events are the same to men that have it, as to one that has it not.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

15. As it happeneth The “it” before the “happeneth” refers to fate.

To me The Hebrew is very emphatic.

Why was I more wise Better, Why am I then wise in any profit? The wise man feels more keenly than the fool, the griefs and disappointments of life.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Ecc 2:15 Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then I said in my heart, that this also [is] vanity.

Ver 15. As it happeneth to the fool, so it happeneth. ] It is with men as with counters, though in the account one stand for a penny, another for a pound, yet in the bag there is no difference; so here in the event all our wisdom is soon refuted with one black Theta, which understanding us not, snappeth us unrespectively without distinction, and putteth at once a period to our reading and to our being.

And why was I then more wise? ] This is a piece of peevishness, a childish folly we are all prone to – viz., to repent us of our best pains if not presently paid for it; so short spirited are we, that unless we may sow and reap all in a day, unless all things may go with us as well as we could wish, we repent us of our repentance with David, Psa 73:13 hit God in the teeth with our obedience, as those hypocrites in Isa 58:2-3 , and as that elder brother in the parable, that told his father he had never been worth a kid to him for all his good service. But, what! is God like to break or to die in our debts that we are so hasty with him? This was good Baruch’s fault, and he is soundly chidden for it. Jer 45:1-5 ; Jer 36:32 Good men oft find it more easy to bear evil than to wait till the promised good be enjoyed. It was so with those Christian Hebrews, Heb 10:34 ; Heb 10:36 whom therefore the apostle there tells they had need of patience, , or tarriance, to tarry God’s time. It needs not repent the wise of this world, much less the children of light, of any good they have done or gotten, however it prove with them, since some degree of comfort follows every good action, as heat accompanies fire, as beams and influences issue from the sun. And this is so true, that very heathens, upon the discharge of a good conscience, have found comfort and peace answerable.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

said I in my heart = spake with myself.

to me. Hebrew “to me, even to me” (Emphatic).

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

even to me: Heb. to me

even to me: and why, Ecc 1:16, Ecc 1:18, 1Ki 3:12

Then I: Ecc 2:1, Ecc 1:2, Ecc 1:14

Reciprocal: 2Sa 3:33 – as a fool dieth Ecc 7:25 – the reason Ecc 9:11 – but Ecc 11:8 – All that 1Co 15:55 – is thy victory

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Ecc 2:15-16. Then I said why was I more wise What benefit have I by my wisdom? or, to what purpose did I take so much pains to get wisdom. For there is no remembrance of the wise Their memory, though it may flourish for a season, yet will, in a little time, be worn out; as we see in most of the wise men of former ages, whose very names, together with all their monuments, are utterly lost. As the fool He must die as certainly as the fool.

Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments