Bible Commentary

The wise man’s eyes [are] in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all. 14. The wise man’s eyes are in his head ] The figurative language is so much of the nature of an universal parable that we need hardly look to … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:14”

Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness. 13. I saw that wisdom excelleth folly ] Better, as keeping up, in the English as in the Hebrew, the characteristic word of the book, There is profit in wisdom more than in folly, and so in the second clause. Something then … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:13”

And I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly: for what [can] the man [do] that cometh after the king? [even] that which hath been already done. 12. I turned myself to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly ] We enter on yet another phase of the life of the seeker after happiness. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:12”

Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labor that I had labored to do: and, behold, all [was] vanity and vexation of spirit, and [there was] no profit under the sun. 11. Then I looked ] Here also, however, the result was as before. There came the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:11”

And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labor: and this was my portion of all my labor. 10. whatsoever mine eyes desired ] From such a life the idea of self-denial, even of self-control, was absolutely excluded. … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:10”

So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me. 9. I was great, and increased ] There is something significant in the repetition of the formula of ch. Ecc 1:16. The king had surpassed all others in wisdom, he was now surpassing all … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:9”

I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I got me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, [as] musical instruments, and that of all sorts. 8. I gathered me also silver and gold ] Here also we find a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:8”

I got [me] servants and maidens, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that were in Jerusalem before me: 7. I got me servants and maidens ] Better, I bought. The picture of Oriental state was incomplete without this element, and the slave … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:7”

I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees: 6. I made me pools of water ] Those at Etam have been mentioned above. Besides these we have the fish-pools of Heshbon (Song Son 7:4), the pool of the king (Neh 2:14), possibly also, the pools of Siloam (Joh … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:6”

I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all [kind of] fruits: 5. I made me gardens and orchards ] The latter word, originally Persian, and found only in the O. T. in this book, in Song Son 4:13, and Neh 2:8, is the “paradise” of Xenophon, of later Rabbinic … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Ecclesiastes 2:5”