Solomon’s trial of God’s second gift, namely, riches, and the enjoyment which riches supply; this brought him to the sane result (compare Ecclesiastes 1:12). Comparing Solomon’s action with Luke 12:16, it must be remembered that Solomon’s object was the acquisition of wisdom, not self-indulgence, a... [ Continue Reading ]
I SOUGHT ... - Rather, I resolved (literally “I turned in my heart”) to draw my flesh with wine (see the margin), my heart guiding me with wisdom. In the course of his attempt to answer the question of Ecclesiastes 1:3, while his heart was directing him (as a charioteer directs his horses or a sheph... [ Continue Reading ]
Compare 1 Kings 7:1; 1 Kings 9:15; 1 Kings 10:14; and 2 Chronicles 8:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
ORCHARDS - literally, “paradises,” i. e., parks or pleasure-grounds (compare Nehemiah 2:8 note). Indications of at least three of these have been pointed out; one at Jerusalem near the pool of Siloam, called “the king’s garden” Nehemiah 3:15; Jeremiah 52:7; a second near Bethlehem (compare Ecclesias... [ Continue Reading ]
POOLS - A short distance south of Bethlehem, in a valley in the defile of Urtas, three “Pools of Solomon” are still shown and an adjoining hill still bears the name of the “Little Paradise.”... [ Continue Reading ]
I GOT - Rather, I bought, in distinction from those born in the house. The “children of Solomon’s servants” (compare Ezra 2:55, Ezra 2:58) were more probably of Canaanite origin 1 Kings 9:20; 1 Kings 5:15 than Hebrews 1 Kings 9:22. POSSESSIONS OF GREAT AND SMALL CATTLE - Rather, herds of oxen and s... [ Continue Reading ]
KINGS - Both tributary 1 Kings 10:15 and independent 1 Kings 5:1; 1 Kings 9:14; 1 Kings 10:2; the “provinces” probably correspond to the kingdoms mentioned in 1 Kings 4:21. AS MUSICAL ... SORTS - Rather, Many women (compare 1 Kings 11:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
PORTION - A word of frequent occurrence. By it Solomon describes the pleasure found in the act of working and also perhaps the pleasure felt in the process of acquiring wisdom; this pleasure is admitted to be good, if received from God (Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 5:18; compare 1 Timothy 4:4); b... [ Continue Reading ]
Solomon having found that wisdom and folly agree in being subject to vanity, now contrasts one with the other Ecclesiastes 2:13. Both are brought under vanity by events Ecclesiastes 2:14 which come on the wise man and the feel alike from without - death and oblivion Ecclesiastes 2:16, uncertainty Ec... [ Continue Reading ]