Ecclesiastes
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Ecclesiastes 2
Ecclesiastes 2
1I said in my heart, Come now, I will prove thee with mirth; therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also was vanity.
1I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure: and, behold, this also is vanity.
Commentary · verse 1
2I said of laughter, It is mad; and of mirth, What doeth it?
3I searched in my heart how to cheer my flesh with wine, my heart yet guiding me with wisdom, and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what it was good for the sons of men that they should do under heaven all the days of their life.
2I said of laughter, It is mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?
3I sought in mine heart to give myself unto wine, yet acquainting mine heart with wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life.
Commentary · verses 2-3
He even used wine as a method of "cheering his flesh." And when he had given up on wisdom, he made himself a fool (folly) to experience what "the sons of men" would experience all the days of their lives.
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards;
4I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards:
Commentary · verse 4
I made…
5I made me gardens and parks, and I planted trees in them of all kinds of fruit;
5I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted trees in them of all kind of fruits:
Commentary · verse 5
I made…
6I made me pools of water, to water therefrom the forest where trees were reared;
6I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees:
Commentary · verse 6
I made…
7I bought men-servants and maid-servants, and had servants born in my house; also I had great possessions of herds and flocks, above all that were before me in Jerusalem;
7I 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:
Commentary · verse 7
I bought…
8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces; I gat me men-singers and women-singers, and the delights of the sons of men, musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
8I gathered me also silver and gold, and the peculiar treasure of kings and of the provinces: I gat me men singers and women singers, and the delights of the sons of men, as musical instruments, and that of all sorts.
Commentary · verse 8
I gathered…Verses 4-8, Solomon showed that he was focused on strengthening himself. He had no consideration and was "not strengthening the poor/needy": the fourth listed cause of judgment.
9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
9So I was great, and increased more than all that were before me in Jerusalem: also my wisdom remained with me.
Commentary · verse 9
Solomon stated that these things (vs. 4-8) increased him more than anyone before him: "pride." He also stated that his wisdom remained with him, also translated as "wisdom never failed me." Having wisdom and acting wise were not the same thing. Were Solomon's actions wise?
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them; I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced because of all my labor; and this was my portion from all my labor.
10And whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy; for my heart rejoiced in all my labour: and this was my portion of all my labour.
Commentary · verse 10
Solomon focused on possessions (HAVE). He fulfilled whatever his eyes desired. Remember Genesis 3:6, Eve's three reasons for eating the fruit? - "good for food, pleasing to the eyes, able to make one wise." This chapter showed Solomon was focused on things pleasing to his eyes...
11Then 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 a striving after wind, and there was no profit under the sun.
11Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
Commentary · verse 11
Solomon saw everything he had as unprofitable.
12And 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 done long ago.
12And 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.
Commentary · verse 12
Solomon focused on what he saw as the differences between the foolish and the wise. He was focused on "able to make one wise," like Eve...
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14The wise man’s eyes are in his head, and the fool walketh in darkness: and yet I perceived that one event happeneth to them all.
15Then said I in my heart, As it happeneth to the fool, so will it happen even to me; and why was I then more wise? Then said I in my heart, that this also is vanity.
13Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness.
14The 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.
15Then 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.
Commentary · verses 13-15
...Solomon saw that whatever happened to a fool also happened to him. He did not see the benefit of having understanding and wisdom if the things that happened to a fool also happened to a man with understanding. Was Solomon considering the long term? Was Solomon making the same wrong conclusion as Job in Job 9?
16For of the wise man, even as of the fool, there is no remembrance for ever; seeing that in the days to come all will have been long forgotten. And how doth the wise man die even as the fool!
16For there is no remembrance of the wise more than of the fool for ever; seeing that which now is in the days to come shall all be forgotten. And how dieth the wise man? as the fool.
Commentary · verse 16
Solomon was focused on the short term. He once again mentioned his belief that the wise would be forgotten just as the fools were. No one remembered a fool or the wise?!?! What was his definition of wise? The actions that he had done throughout the first chapter and a half of this book were not wise. Solomon had not been wise but thought he was.
17So I hated life, because the work that is wrought under the sun was grievous unto me; for all is vanity and a striving after wind.
17Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Commentary · verse 17
Solomon hated life because the work he did was grievous to him and he saw it as vain, like chasing the wind. Again, he only focused on the short term.
18And I hated all my labor wherein I labored under the sun, seeing that I must leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
18Yea, I hated all my labour which I had taken under the sun: because I should leave it unto the man that shall be after me.
Commentary · verse 18
Solomon wanted the benefit of his work now. He did not want to give the fruit of his labor to others (not loving). He was focused on himself and the effects of his labor.
19And who knoweth whether he will be a wise man or a fool? yet will he have rule over all my labor wherein I have labored, and wherein I have showed myself wise under the sun. This also is vanity.
20Therefore I turned about to cause my heart to despair concerning all the labor wherein I had labored under the sun.
19And who knoweth whether he shall be a wise man or a fool? yet shall he have rule over all my labour wherein I have laboured, and wherein I have shewed myself wise under the sun. This is also vanity.
20Therefore I went about to cause my heart to despair of all the labour which I took under the sun.
Commentary · verses 19-20
Solomon caused his own heart to despair concerning the work he had done. Solomon's attitude towards life was his own doing.
21For there is a man whose labor is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with skilfulness; yet to a man that hath not labored therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
21For there is a man whose labour is in wisdom, and in knowledge, and in equity; yet to a man that hath not laboured therein shall he leave it for his portion. This also is vanity and a great evil.
Commentary · verse 21
Solomon only saw the fruit of his labor as a physical benefit. He thought it was unprofitable to pass on physical things to someone who had not done the work.
22For what hath a man of all his labor, and of the striving of his heart, wherein he laboreth under the sun?
23For all his days are but sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
22For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
23For all his days are sorrows, and his travail grief; yea, his heart taketh not rest in the night. This is also vanity.
Commentary · verses 22-23
Solomon was focused on his possessions: HAVE.
24There is nothing better for a man than that he should eat and drink, and make his soul enjoy good in his labor. This also I saw, that it is from the hand of God.
24There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.
Commentary · verse 24
Solomon blatantly stated that nothing was better for a man than eating and drinking..."good for food" (Eve). He saw these physical acts as the cause of his soul enjoying his work. He was focused on the physical and consuming more than what was needed or produced. This was "fullness of bread" (the second listed cause of judgment). This was a completely short term pleasure.
25For who can eat, or who can have enjoyment, more than I?
25For who can eat, or who else can hasten hereunto, more than I?
Commentary · verse 25
"Pride"
26For to the man that pleaseth him God giveth wisdom, and knowledge, and joy; but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that pleaseth God. This also is vanity and a striving after wind.
26For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
Commentary · verse 26
Solomon saw God acting Justly towards those who pleased God and saw those who sinned against God as vain. In two chapters, Solomon had covered all four causes of judgment and the three reasons Eve stated for eating the fruit. The wrong foundation had been completely established. Next, Solomon continued to build on this unprofitable foundation...
Solomon was seeking pleasure, an effect. No wonder he thought this was "vain."