College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Ecclesiastes 10:5-7
2. Foolishness leads to humiliation. Ecclesiastes 10:5-7
TEXT 10:5-7
5
There is an evil I have seen under the sun, like an error which goes forth from the ruler
6
folly is set in many exalted places while rich men sit in humble places.
7
I have seen slaves riding on horses and princes walking like slaves on the land.
THOUGHT QUESTIONS 10:5-7
378.
What is the reason given why folly is set in many exalted places?
379.
Where did the error originate?
380.
Identify the two illustrations of folly.
PARAPHRASE 10:5-7
When the ruler in the land makes a grave mistake, it results in evil doing under the sun. Folly itself is exalted in seats of dignity while the rich men sit in humble seats. Also, as a result of the error I have seen slaves riding on horses, and princes walking on the ground as if they were the slaves.
COMMENT 10:5-7
Ecclesiastes 10:5 The reader is now given a concrete example of the foolishness of the ruler. When power or authority falls into the hands of unwise men, errors are committed and injustice reigns. In verse four the ruler is a man whose spirit or temper is raised against his subjects. Jerome has erroneously suggested that the Ruler is God. He did not hold that God is capable of error or sin, but that men think his judgments at times are unequal. The context, however, rules out this possibility. Those who argue that God is meant as the Ruler base their reasoning, partly at least, on the fact that the term for ruler in verse four is moshel but in this verse it is shallet. However, one literary technique of Solomon in Ecclesiastes is the interaction of synonyms: e.g., the use of adam lo (man) (Cf. Ecclesiastes 7:20; Ecclesiastes 9:14), and ish lo (man) (Cf. Ecclesiastes 6:2; Ecclesiastes 7:5; Ecclesiastes 9:15). Delitzsch says that the author wished simply to avoid repetition.
Ecclesiastes 10:6-7 Words which capture the sense of both verses are found in Proverbs 19:10: Luxury is not fitting for a fool; much less for a slave to rule over princes. Verses six and seven are intended as an amplification of the truth stated in verse five.
It has been suggested that folly is to be understood as an abstract term for the more concrete fools. Thus the fools are in juxtaposition to the rich. The social order is out of joint. The incongruity is a result of an incompetent ruler (Ecclesiastes 10:4-5). It is not that the Preacher's own standard is violated or that His criticism betrays his prejudice. It is undoubtedly a violation of general principle. Folly should not be exalted, and the rich, most likely representing the godly of Israel (Cf. Deuteronomy 15:4) should not be humiliated. In addition, slaves should not rule over princes. The lesson before the reader teaches that when men fail to follow the direction of wisdom, folly reigns and injustice permeates the entire society.
FACT QUESTIONS 10:5-7
501.
What two things happen when authority falls into the hands of unwise men?
502.
Explain why ruler is not a reference to God.
503.
What has happened to the social order? Is this good? Explain.
504.
Identify the lesson taught in this section.