XII. (1) CREATOR. — This occurs as a Divine name in Isaiah 40:23; Isaiah 44:15. and elsewhere. Here it is in the plural, like the Divine name Elohim. (See also Note on Ecclesiastes 12:8.) We have “thy Maker” in the plural in Job 35:10; Psalms 149:2; Isaiah 54:5; and “Holy One” in Proverbs 9:10;... [ Continue Reading ]
Here the style rises, and we have a figurative description of the “evil days;” but, as sometimes happens in the case of highly wrought poetry, it is much easier to perceive the general effect intended than to account for all the words which produce it. English readers generally have been deeply impr... [ Continue Reading ]
In this verse we have a description of an afflicted and affrighted house: the servants below (keepers of the house; comp. 2 Samuel 20:3) in consternation [the word for “tremble” occurs twice more in Biblical Hebrew (Esther 5:9; Habakkuk 2:7), but is common in Aramæan]; the masters (men of might, tra... [ Continue Reading ]
The first two clauses continue the description of the afflicted house; all communication with the outer world broken off: the double doors towards the street shut, the cheerful noise of grinding not heard without (Jeremiah 25:10; Revelation 18:22). If a more minute explanation of the double doors is... [ Continue Reading ]
The old man is beset with terrors; terrors from on high, terrors on the way: all in which he had taken delight before, has charms for him no longer; the almond causes loathing (for so may be translated the word rendered “flourished” in our version); the locust, in the East a favourite article of foo... [ Continue Reading ]
GOLDEN BOWL. — Zechariah 4:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
The preacher has risen above the doubts of Ecclesiastes 3:21. (See also Genesis 3:19.)... [ Continue Reading ]
In the introduction I have stated my conviction that the epilogue which here follows is an integral part of the book. If so, it seems to me clear that the writer, who has up to this recorded the words of Kohéleth, now speaks in his own name, and informs his readers that the preacher, whose teaching... [ Continue Reading ]
WORDS OF THE WISE. — In this and the next verse the weighty words of sages, such as was Kohéleth, are contrasted with the volubility of modern bookmakers. Though the general purpose of the verses is plain, the words used are enigmatical, and one cannot feel great confidence in assigning their precis... [ Continue Reading ]
STUDY. — The word occurs here only in the Old Testament; but is not a Talmudic word.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOLE DUTY OF MAN. — Rather, _the duty of every man._ The sacred writer practically anticipates the teaching of Romans 3:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
Considering that the book is filled with complaints of the imperfection of earthly retribution, this announcement of a tribunal, at which “_every_ work,” “every _secret_ thing,” shall be brought into judgment, cannot be reasonably understood of anything but a judgment after this life; so that this b... [ Continue Reading ]