THE WORDS. — The Book of Nehemiah begins similarly; so do the prophecies of Jeremiah and Amos, and of Agur and Lemuel (Proverbs 30:31) THE PREACHER. — Rather, _convener_ (see Introduction). This word (_Kohéleth_) occurs in this book, Ecclesiastes 1:1; Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 7:27, where, acc... [ Continue Reading ]
VANITY OF VANITIES. — This verse strikes the key-note of the whole work. In using this expression we mean to indicate the opinion that the unity of the book is rather that of a musical composition than of a philosophical treatise. A leading theme is given out and followed for a time. Episodes are in... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT PROFIT. — The Hebrew word occurs ten times in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:13; Ecclesiastes 3:9; Ecclesiastes 5:9; Ecclesiastes 5:16; Ecclesiastes 7:12; Ecclesiastes 10:10) and nowhere else in the Old Testament, but is common in post-Biblical Hebrew. The oft-recurring phrase “un... [ Continue Reading ]
(3-11) Man is perpetually toiling, yet of all his toil there remains no abiding result. The natural world exhibits a spectacle of unceasing activity, with no real progress. The sun, the winds, the waters, are all in motion, yet they do but run a round, and nothing comes of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
Comp. Sir. 14:19.... [ Continue Reading ]
HASTETH. — Heb., _panteth._ The word is used of eager desire (Job 7:2; Psalms 119:131). WHERE HE AROSE. — Better, _there to rise again. _... [ Continue Reading ]
The order of the Hebrew words permits the first clause, “going towards the south and returning towards the north,” to be understood in continuation of the description of the movements of the sun, and so some interpreters have taken them, but probably erroneously. The verse gains in liveliness if mor... [ Continue Reading ]
WHENCE THE RIVERS COME. — Better, _whither the rivers go._ (Comp. Sir. 40:11.)... [ Continue Reading ]
This verse is capable of another translation which would give the sense “other instances of the same kind might be mentioned, but they are so numerous that it would be wearisome to recount them,” We abide by the rendering of our version.... [ Continue Reading ]
NO NEW THING. — Contrast Jeremiah 31:22; Isaiah 43:19; Isaiah 65:17. Justin Martyr (_Apol. i._ 57) has what looks like a reminiscence of this verse; but we cannot rely on it to prove his acquaintance with the book, the same idea being found in Grecian philosophy.... [ Continue Reading ]
OF OLD TIME. — The Hebrew word here is peculiar to Ecclesiastes, where it occurs eight times (Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 2:16; Ecclesiastes 3:15; Ecclesiastes 4:2; Ecclesiastes 6:10; Ecclesiastes 9:6), but is common in later Hebrew.... [ Continue Reading ]
If anything appears new, this is only because its previous occurrence has been forgotten. So likewise will those of this generation be forgotten by those who succeed them.... [ Continue Reading ]
KOHELETH RELATES HIS OWN EXPERIENCE. (12) Having in the introductory verses stated the argument of the treatise, the writer proceeds to prove what he has asserted as to the vanity of earthly pursuits, by relating the failures of one who might be expected, if any one could, to bring such pursuits to... [ Continue Reading ]
GAVE MY HEART. — The phrase occurs again in this book (Ecclesiastes 1:17; Ecclesiastes 7:25; Ecclesiastes 8:9; Ecclesiastes 8:16) and often elsewhere. (See Daniel 10:12; 2 Chronicles 11:16, &c) The heart among the Hebrews is regarded as the seat, not merely of the feelings, but of the intellectual f... [ Continue Reading ]
VEXATION. — The word occurs only in this book (Ecclesiastes 2:11; Ecclesiastes 2:17; Ecclesiastes 2:26; Ecclesiastes 4:4; Ecclesiastes 4:6; Ecclesiastes 6:9). The A. V. translation, “vexation of spirit,” is difficult to justify. Very nearly the same phrase occurs in Hosea 12:1, and is there translat... [ Continue Reading ]
MADE STRAIGHT. — The verb occurs only in this book (Ecclesiastes 7:13; Ecclesiastes 12:9, “set in order”) and in Rabbinical Hebrew. So likewise “that which is wanting” is peculiar to this passage, and to later Hebrew.... [ Continue Reading ]
WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE. — Isaiah 30:6; Romans 11:33.... [ Continue Reading ]
MADNESS AND FOLLY are words we should not expect to find in this context, and accordingly some interpreters have attempted by variations of reading to substitute for them words of the same nature as “wisdom and knowledge,” but see Ecclesiastes 2:12; Ecclesiastes 7:25. Taking the text as it stands, i... [ Continue Reading ]
GRIEF. — Irritation.... [ Continue Reading ]