Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 11:8
But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity.
8. But if a man live many years ] Better, For if a man The relation is one of connexion rather than contrast. In the calm, enjoyable because beneficent, life which the thinker now contemplates as within his reach, the remembrance of the darkness which lies beyond is to be a motive, not for a fretful pessimism, but for a deliberate effort to enjoy rightly. The figure of a corpse which was carried about in the banquets of the Egyptians was intended not to destroy or damp the joy, but to make it more lasting by making it more controlled (Herod. ii. 78). The teaching now is something more than the “Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die” of the sensualist ( Wis 2:1-6 ; 1Co 15:32). “ Respice finem; Memento mori,” these rules teach us to use life wisely and therefore well.
let him remember the days of darkness ] These are clearly not the days of sorrow or adversity (though the phrase as such might admit that meaning), but those of the darkness which is contrasted with the light of the sun, with the light of life, the land that lies behind the veil, in the unseen world of Hades or of Sheol, the darkness of the valley of the shadow of death. As the Greeks spoke of the dead as “the many,” so does the writer speak of the days after death as “many.” The night will be long and dreary, therefore it is well to make the most of the day. The teaching of the whole verse finds, as might be expected, an echo in that of the Epicurean poet, when he greets his friend on the return of spring, but the echo is in a lower key.
Nunc decet aut viridi nitidum caput impedire myrto
Aut flore, terr quem ferunt solut,
Pallida Mors quo pulsat pede pauperum tabernas
Regumque turres. O beate Sexti,
Vit summa brevis spem nos vetat inchoare longam,
Jam te premet nox, fabulque Manes
Et domus exilis Plutonia.
“Now is it meet to crown bright brow
With wreaths of fresh green myrtle; now.
With flowers that owe their timely birth
To spring’s soft influence o’er the earth.
With equal foot the pauper’s cell
Death visits, and where emperors dwell,
Wherefore my Sextus, good and dear,
Life’s little span forbids us here
To start, if we indeed are wise,
On some far-reaching enterprise:
Soon Night and fabled forms of dread,
Where Pluto lords it o’er the dead,
Shall meet thee in thy narrow bed.”
Hor. Od. i. 4.
All that cometh is vanity ] There is a significance in the new form of the burden of the Debater’s song. The sentence of “vanity,” i.e. of shadowy transitoriness, is passed not only on the years in which he is, in a measure, capable of enjoyment, and on the days of darkness, but even on that which lies beyond them. The unknown future the undiscovered country it was, from the point of view from which, for the time, he looked at it, “vanity” to build too much even on that. Men speculated much and knew but little, and there was an unreality in sacrificing the present to that undefined future. What has been called “other-worldliness,” involving the contempt at once of the duties and enjoyments of this world, was but a form of unwisdom. Asceticism, looking to that other world, needed to be balanced by the better form of Epicureanism.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 8. If a man live many years] And even have prosperity through the whole; yet the days of darkness-times of affliction, weakness, and perhaps old age, will be many. If he die not a violent death, which no man can wish, he will die a lingering death; and this is ordinarily attended with many pains, and many sorrows; therefore let him prepare to meet his God; and to carry this thought through life, that all must terminate in death. The writer of Ecclesiasticus, Eccl 7:36, has a good saying, similar to this: “Whatsoever thou takest in hand, remember thy END; and thou shalt never do amiss;” , thou wilt not sin.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Live many years; which is a privilege granted but to few persons comparatively.
And rejoice in them all; and suppose he enjoy all the comforts, and escape all the embitterments, of human life, all his days; which also is a great rarity.
Let him remember, it is his duty and interest seriously to consider, the days of darkness; of death, or of the state of the dead, which is oft expressed by darkness, as Job 10:21; Psa 88:12, &c., and here is opposed to the foregoing light.
They shall be many, i.e. far more than the days of this short life, especially if to the time of lying in the grave be added that greater and utter darkness which is reserved for impenitent sinners, and which is everlasting, Mat 22:13; 25:30; 2Pe 2:17; Jud 1:13. And this is added for the caution of mankind, that they may not rejoice excessively in, nor content themselves with, the happiness of the present life, but may seek for something more durable, and more satisfactory.
All that cometh; all things which befall any man belonging only to this life, whether they be comfortable or vexatious, they are but vain and inconsiderable, because they are short and transitory.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
8. But while man thankfullyenjoys life, “let him remember” it will not last for ever.The “many days of darkness,” that is, the unseen world(Job 10:21; Job 10:22;Psa 88:12), also days of “evil”in this world (Ec 11:2), arecoming; therefore sow the good seed while life and good days last,which are not too long for accomplishing life’s duties.
All that comeththatis, All that followeth in the evil and dark days isvain, as far as work for God is concerned (Ec9:10).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But if a man live many years,…. Enjoying light and life, and beholding the sun with much delight and pleasure. The days of men on earth, or under the sun, are but few at most; but some live many days, in comparison of others; they come to a good old age, as Abraham did; and to their graves like a shock of corn fully ripe; and arrive to, or beyond, the common term of human life;
[and] rejoice in them all; in and throughout the many years he lives, even all his days; that is, is blessed with a plentiful portion of the good things of life, and enjoys them in a free and comfortable manner, with moderation and thankfulness; partakes of the good of his labour, and rejoices in his works, in the fruit and effects of them, through the blessing of divine Providence; not only is blessed with many days, but those days good ones, days of prosperity: such a man is in a happy case; and especially if he is possessed of spiritual joy, of joy in the Holy Ghost; if he rejoices in Christ, and in what he is to him, and has done for him; and having professed him, and submitted to his ordinances, goes on his way, rejoicing. Some render it, “let him rejoice in them all” w; a good man has reason to rejoice always, throughout the whole course of his life; because of the goodness of divine Providence to him; because of the blessings of grace bestowed on him; and because of his good hope of eternal glory and happiness. The Targum is,
“in all these it becomes him to rejoice, and to study in the law of the Lord;”
yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many; or, “they may be” x; meaning either, that though persons may live long, and enjoy much health and prosperity; yet, in the midst of all, they should consider, that it is possible that days of adversity and distress may come upon them, and continue; and therefore should not please themselves, as Job did, that they shall die in their nest in the height their prosperity, since they know not what days of evil may come, and how long they will last; or, however, they should remember the night of death, that is hastening, the land of darkness, and the shadow of death, they are going to; the dark grave, they will soon be laid in, where they will remain many days; many more than those in which they have lived, enjoying the light of the sun, even till the heavens shall be no more; though these days will not be infinite, they will have an end, and there will be a resurrection from the dead: and particularly if a man is a wicked man, that has lived a long and prosperous life, he should not only remember the above things; but also that outer darkness, that blackness of darkness reserved for him, the darkness of eternal death, which will be his portion for evermore. The Targum is,
“he shall remember the days of the darkness of death, and shall not sin; for many are the days that he shall lie dead in the house of the grave.”
All that cometh [is] vanity; Aben Ezra interprets this of every man that comes into the world, as in Ec 1:2; whether high or low, rich or poor, in prosperity or adversity; man, at his best estate, is vanity: let a man therefore be in what circumstances he will, he should not take up his rest here; all that comes to him, everything that befalls him, is vanity. The wise man keeps in view the main thing he proposed, to prove that is vanity, all in this life; for what is to come hereafter, in a future state of happiness, cannot come under this name and character.
w “in eis omnibus laetetur”, Junius Tremellius, Mercerus, Cocceius, Gejerus. x “quia multi sint”, Amama, so some in Drusius “quod multi futuri sint”, Piscator, Gejerus, Rambachius.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(8) Days of darkness.Psa. 88:12; Psa. 143:3; Job. 10:21. (Comp. also Psa. 56:13; Job. 33:30.)
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
8. But if, etc. Better, Even though a man live many years let him rejoice in them all. This course of activity and kindness should be maintained to the last. In this way the longest life will have the longest sunshine. Not long ago Koheleth was urging the brevity of life, and the length of the abode in the grave, as the reason for grasping the largest possible amount of pleasure: now, from a higher view, he urges the same as the reason for the unceasing activity of nobler things of kindness and generosity and benevolence.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Ecc 11:8. But if a man live many years Yet, if a man was to live many years in a continual enjoyment of pleasure, and should remember that the days of darkness shall be many; all that is past is vanity.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Ecc 11:8 But if a man live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity.
Ver. 8. But if a man live many years and rejoice, &c., ] q.d., Say he live pancratice et basilice, and sit many years in the world’s warm sunshine, yet he must not build upon a perpetuity, as good Job did, but was deceived, when he said, “I shall die in my nest,” Job 29:18 and holy David, when he concluded, “I shall never be moved.” Psa 30:6 For as sure as the night follows the day, a change will come, a storm will rise, and such a storm as to wicked worldlings will never be blown over. Look for it, therefore, and be wise in time. “Remember the days of darkness,” that is, of adversity, but especially of death and the grave. The hottest season hath lightning and thunder. The sea is never so smooth but it may be troubled; the mountain not so firm but it may be shaken with an earthquake. Light will be one day turned into darkness, pleasure into pain, delights into wearisomeness, and the dark days of old age and death far exceed in number the lightsome days of life, which are but a warm gleam, a momentary glance. Let this be seriously pondered, and it will much rebate the edge of our desires after earthly vanities. “Dearly beloved,” saith St Peter, “I beseech you, as pilgrims and strangers abstain from fleshy lust,” &c., 1Pe 2:12 q.d., The sad and sober apprehension of this, that you are here but sojourners for a season, and must away to your long home, will lay your lusts a-bleeding and a-dying at your feet. It is an observation of a commentator upon this text, that when Samuel had anointed Saul to be king, to confirm unto him the truth of the joy, and by it to teach him how to be careful in governing his joy, he gave him this sign, “When thou art departed from me today, thou shalt find two men at Rachel’s sepulchre.” 1Sa 10:2 For he that findeth in his mind a remembrance of his grave and sepulchre, will not easily be found exorbitant in his delights and joys; for this it was, belike, that Joseph of Arimathea had his sepulchre ready hewn out in his garden. The Egyptians carried about the table a death’s head at their feasts; a and the emperors of Constantinople, on their coronation day, had a mason appointed to present unto them certain marble stones, using these ensuing words –
“ Elige ab his saxis ex quo, invictissime Caesar,
Ipse tibi tumulum me fabricare velis. ”
“Choose, mighty sir, under which of these stones,
Your pleasure is, erelong, to lay your bones.”
a
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
man. Hebrew. ‘adam (with Art.) App-14. See note on Ecc 1:13.
and rejoice = let him rejoice.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
if a man, Ecc 6:6, Ecc 8:12
rejoice: Ecc 3:12, Ecc 3:13, Ecc 5:18-20, Ecc 8:15
yet: Ecc 7:14, Ecc 12:1-5, Deu 32:29, Job 10:22, Job 14:10, Job 15:23, Job 18:18, Jer 13:16, Joe 2:2, Mat 22:13, Joh 12:35, Jud 1:18
All that: Ecc 2:1-11, Ecc 2:15, Ecc 2:17, Ecc 2:19, Ecc 2:21-23, Ecc 2:26, Ecc 4:8, Ecc 4:16, Ecc 5:15, Ecc 5:16, Ecc 6:11
Reciprocal: Ecc 1:2 – General Ecc 12:2 – the sun
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
11:8 But if a man shall live many years, [and] rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of {g} darkness; for they shall be many. All that cometh [is] vanity.
(g) That is, of affliction and trouble.