10 If the iron H1270 be blunt, H6949 and he do not whet H7043 the edge, H6440 then must he put H1396 to more strength: H2428 but wisdom H2451 is profitable H3504 to direct. H3787
Hearken H8085 now unto my voice, H6963 I will give thee counsel, H3289 and God H430 shall be H1961 with thee: Be thou for the people H5971 to God-ward, H4136 H430 that thou mayest bring H935 the causes H1697 unto God: H430 And thou shalt teach H2094 H853 them ordinances H2706 and laws, H8451 and shalt shew H3045 them the way H1870 wherein they must walk, H3212 and the work H4639 that they must do. H6213 Moreover thou shalt provide H2372 out of all the people H5971 able H2428 men, H582 such as fear H3373 God, H430 men H582 of truth, H571 hating H8130 covetousness; H1215 and place H7760 such over them, to be rulers H8269 of thousands, H505 and rulers H8269 of hundreds, H3967 rulers H8269 of fifties, H2572 and rulers H8269 of tens: H6235 And let them judge H8199 the people H5971 at all seasons: H6256 and it shall be, that every great H1419 matter H1697 they shall bring H935 unto thee, but every small H6996 matter H1697 they shall judge: H8199 so shall it be easier H7043 for thyself, and they shall bear H5375 the burden with thee. If thou shalt do H6213 this thing, H1697 and God H430 command H6680 thee so, then thou shalt be able H3201 to endure, H5975 and all this people H5971 shall also go H935 to their place H4725 in peace. H7965
The labour H5999 of the foolish H3684 wearieth H3021 every one of them, because he knoweth H3045 not how to go H3212 to the city. H5892
See G991 then G3767 that G4459 ye walk G4043 circumspectly, G199 not G3361 as G5613 fools, G781 but G235 as G5613 wise, G4680 Redeeming G1805 the time, G2540 because G3754 the days G2250 are G1526 evil. G4190 Wherefore G1223 G5124 be ye G1096 not G3361 unwise, G878 but G235 understanding G4920 what G5101 the will G2307 of the Lord G2962 is.
G1161 If any G1536 of you G5216 lack G3007 wisdom, G4678 let him ask G154 of G3844 God, G2316 that giveth G1325 to all G3956 men liberally, G574 and G2532 upbraideth G3679 not; G3361 and G2532 it shall be given G1325 him. G846
Now therefore let Pharaoh H6547 look out H7200 a man H376 discreet H995 and wise, H2450 and set H7896 him over the land H776 of Egypt. H4714 Let Pharaoh H6547 do H6213 this, and let him appoint H6485 officers H6496 over the land, H776 and take up the fifth part H2567 of the land H776 of Egypt H4714 in the seven H7651 plenteous H7647 years. H8141 And let them gather H6908 all the food H400 of those good H2896 years H8141 that come, H935 and lay up H6651 corn H1250 under the hand H3027 of Pharaoh, H6547 and let them keep H8104 food H400 in the cities. H5892 And that food H400 shall be for store H6487 to the land H776 against the seven H7651 years H8141 of famine, H7458 which shall be in the land H776 of Egypt; H4714 that the land H776 perish H3772 not through the famine. H7458 And the thing H1697 was good H3190 in the eyes H5869 of Pharaoh, H6547 and in the eyes H5869 of all his servants. H5650 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto his servants, H5650 Can we find H4672 such a one as this H2088 is, a man H376 in whom H834 the Spirit H7307 of God H430 is? And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Forasmuch H310 as God H430 hath shewed H3045 thee all this, there is none so discreet H995 and wise H2450 as thou art:
This is the thing H1697 that ye shall do; H6213 A third part H7992 of you entering H935 on the sabbath, H7676 of the priests H3548 and of the Levites, H3881 shall be porters H7778 of the doors; H5592 And a third part H7992 shall be at the king's H4428 house; H1004 and a third part H7992 at the gate H8179 of the foundation: H3247 and all the people H5971 shall be in the courts H2691 of the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 But let none come H935 into the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 save the priests, H3548 and they that minister H8334 of the Levites; H3881 they shall go in, H935 for they are holy: H6944 but all the people H5971 shall keep H8104 the watch H4931 of the LORD. H3068 And the Levites H3881 shall compass H5362 the king H4428 round about, H5439 every man H376 with his weapons H3627 in his hand; H3027 and whosoever else cometh H935 into the house, H1004 he shall be put to death: H4191 but be ye with the king H4428 when he cometh in, H935 and when he goeth out. H3318 So the Levites H3881 and all Judah H3063 did H6213 according to all things that Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 had commanded, H6680 and took H3947 every man H376 his men H582 that were to come in H935 on the sabbath, H7676 with them that were to go H3318 out on the sabbath: H7676 for Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 dismissed H6358 not the courses. H4256 Moreover Jehoiada H3077 the priest H3548 delivered H5414 to the captains H8269 of hundreds H3967 spears, H2595 and bucklers, H4043 and shields, H7982 that had been king H4428 David's, H1732 which were in the house H1004 of God. H430 And he set H5975 all the people, H5971 every man H376 having his weapon H7973 in his hand, H3027 from the right H3233 side H3802 of the temple H1004 to the left H8042 side H3802 of the temple, H1004 along by the altar H4196 and the temple, H1004 by the king H4428 round about. H5439 Then they brought out H3318 the king's H4428 son, H1121 and put H5414 upon him the crown, H5145 and gave him the testimony, H5715 and made him king. H4427 And Jehoiada H3077 and his sons H1121 anointed H4886 him, and said, H559 God save H2421 the king. H4428
Now there was found H4672 in it a poor H4542 wise H2450 man, H376 and he by his wisdom H2451 delivered H4422 the city; H5892 yet no man H120 remembered H2142 that same poor H4542 man. H376 Then said H559 I, Wisdom H2451 is better H2896 than strength: H1369 nevertheless the poor man's H4542 wisdom H2451 is despised, H959 and his words H1697 are not heard. H8085 The words H1697 of wise H2450 men are heard H8085 in quiet H5183 more than the cry H2201 of him that ruleth H4910 among fools. H3684
And G1161 in G1722 those G5025 days, G2250 when the number G4129 of the disciples G3101 was multiplied, G4129 there arose G1096 a murmuring G1112 of the Grecians G1675 against G4314 the Hebrews, G1445 because G3754 their G846 widows G5503 were neglected G3865 in G1722 the daily G2522 ministration. G1248 Then G1161 the twelve G1427 called G4341 the multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 unto them, and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 reason G701 that we G2248 should leave G2641 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and serve G1247 tables. G5132 Wherefore, G3767 brethren, G80 look ye out G1980 among G1537 you G5216 seven G2033 men G435 of honest report, G3140 full G4134 of the Holy G40 Ghost G4151 and G2532 wisdom, G4678 whom G3739 we may appoint G2525 over G1909 this G5026 business. G5532 But G1161 we G2249 will give ourselves continually G4342 to prayer, G4335 and G2532 to the ministry G1248 of the word. G3056 And G2532 the saying G3056 pleased G700 G1799 the whole G3956 multitude: G4128 and G2532 they chose G1586 Stephen, G4736 a man G435 full G4134 of faith G4102 and G2532 of the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 and G2532 Philip, G5376 and G2532 Prochorus, G4402 and G2532 Nicanor, G3527 and G2532 Timon, G5096 and G2532 Parmenas, G3937 and G2532 Nicolas G3532 a proselyte G4339 of Antioch: G491 Whom G3739 they set G2476 before G1799 the apostles: G652 and G2532 when they had prayed, G4336 they laid G2007 their hands G5495 on G2007 them. G846 And G2532 the word G3056 of God G2316 increased; G837 and G2532 the number G706 of the disciples G3101 multiplied G4129 in G1722 Jerusalem G2419 greatly; G4970 and G5037 a great G4183 company G3793 of the priests G2409 were obedient G5219 to the faith. G4102 And G1161 Stephen, G4736 full G4134 of faith G4102 and G2532 power, G1411 did G4160 great G3173 wonders G5059 and G2532 miracles G4592 among G1722 the people. G2992 Then G1161 there arose G450 certain G5100 of G1537 the synagogue, G4864 which G3588 is called G3004 the synagogue of the Libertines, G3032 and G2532 Cyrenians, G2956 and G2532 Alexandrians, G221 and G2532 of them of G575 Cilicia G2791 and G2532 of Asia, G773 disputing G4802 with Stephen. G4736
When therefore G3767 Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas G921 had G1096 no G3756 small G3641 dissension G4714 and G2532 disputation G4803 with G4314 them, G846 they determined G5021 that Paul G3972 and G2532 Barnabas, G921 and G2532 certain G5100 other G243 of G1537 them, G846 should go up G305 to G1519 Jerusalem G2419 unto G4314 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 about G4012 this G5127 question. G2213 And G3303 G3767 being brought on their way G4311 by G5259 the church, G1577 they passed through G1330 Phenice G5403 and G2532 Samaria, G4540 declaring G1555 the conversion G1995 of the Gentiles: G1484 and G2532 they caused G4160 great G3173 joy G5479 unto all G3956 the brethren. G80 And G1161 when they were come G3854 to G1519 Jerusalem, G2419 they were received G588 of G5259 the church, G1577 and G2532 of the apostles G652 and G2532 elders, G4245 and G5037 they declared G312 all things G3745 that God G2316 had done G4160 with G3326 them. G846 But G1161 there rose up G1817 certain G5100 of G575 the sect G139 of the Pharisees G5330 which believed, G4100 saying, G3004 That G3754 it was needful G1163 to circumcise G4059 them, G846 and G5037 to command G3853 them to keep G5083 the law G3551 of Moses. G3475 And G1161 the apostles G652 and G2532 elders G4245 came together G4863 for to consider G1492 of G4012 this G5127 matter. G3056 And G1161 when there had been G1096 much G4183 disputing, G4803 Peter G4074 rose up, G450 and said G2036 unto G4314 them, G846 Men G435 and brethren, G80 ye G5210 know G1987 how that G3754 a good G744 while G2250 ago G575 God G2316 made choice G1586 among G1722 us, G2254 that the Gentiles G1484 by G1223 my G3450 mouth G4750 should hear G191 the word G3056 of the gospel, G2098 and G2532 believe. G4100 And G2532 God, G2316 which knoweth the hearts, G2589 bare them G846 witness, G3140 giving G1325 them G846 the Holy G40 Ghost, G4151 even G2532 as G2531 he did unto us; G2254 And G2532 put G1252 no G3762 difference G1252 between G3342 G5037 us G2257 and G2532 them, G846 purifying G2511 their G846 hearts G2588 by faith. G4102 Now G3568 therefore G3767 why G5101 tempt ye G3985 God, G2316 to put G2007 a yoke G2218 upon G1909 the neck G5137 of the disciples, G3101 which G3739 neither G3777 our G2257 fathers G3962 nor G3777 we G2249 were able G2480 to bear? G941 But G235 we believe G4100 that through G1223 the grace G5485 of the Lord G2962 Jesus G2424 Christ G5547 we shall be saved, G4982 even G2596 G3739 as G5158 they. G2548 Then G1161 all G3956 the multitude G4128 kept silence, G4601 and G2532 gave audience G191 to Barnabas G921 and G2532 Paul, G3972 declaring G1834 what G3745 miracles G4592 and G2532 wonders G5059 God G2316 had wrought G4160 among G1722 the Gentiles G1484 by G1223 them. G846 And G1161 after G3326 they had held G4601 their G846 peace, G4601 James G2385 answered, G611 saying, G3004 Men G435 and brethren, G80 hearken G191 unto me: G3450 Simeon G4826 hath declared G1834 how G2531 God G2316 at the first G4412 did visit G1980 the Gentiles, G1484 to take G2983 out of G1537 them a people G2992 for G1909 his G846 name. G3686 And G2532 to this G5129 agree G4856 the words G3056 of the prophets; G4396 as G2531 it is written, G1125 After G3326 this G5023 I will return, G390 and G2532 will build again G456 the tabernacle G4633 of David, G1138 which G3588 is fallen down; G4098 and G2532 I will build again G456 the ruins G2679 thereof, G846 and G2532 I will set G461 it G846 up: G461 That G3704 G302 the residue G2645 of men G444 might seek after G1567 the Lord, G2962 and G2532 all G3956 the Gentiles, G1484 upon G1909 whom G3739 my G3450 name G3686 is called, G1941 G1909 G846 saith G3004 the Lord, G2962 who G3588 doeth G4160 all G3956 these things. G5023 Known G1110 unto God G2316 are G2076 all G3956 his G846 works G2041 from G575 the beginning of the world. G165 Wherefore G1352 my G1473 sentence is, G2919 that we trouble G3926 not G3361 them, which G3588 from among G575 the Gentiles G1484 are turned G1994 to G1909 God: G2316 But G235 that we write G1989 unto them, G846 that they abstain G567 from G575 pollutions G234 of idols, G1497 and G2532 from fornication, G4202 and G2532 from things strangled, G4156 and G2532 from blood. G129 For G1063 Moses G3475 of G1537 old G744 time G1074 hath G2192 in every G2596 city G4172 them that preach G2784 him, G846 being read G314 in G1722 the synagogues G4864 every G2596 G3956 sabbath day. G4521
For G1063 your G5216 obedience G5218 is come abroad G864 unto G1519 all G3956 men. I am glad G5463 therefore G3767 on G1909 your G5213 behalf: G1909 but yet G1161 I would have G2309 you G5209 wise G4680 unto G1519 that which is G1511 good, G3303 G18 and G1161 simple G185 concerning G1519 evil. G2556
Walk G4043 in G1722 wisdom G4678 toward G4314 them that are without, G1854 redeeming G1805 the time. G2540
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 10 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 10
Ec 10:1-20.
1. Following up Ec 9:18.
him that is in reputation—for example, David (2Sa 12:14); Solomon (1Ki 11:1-43); Jehoshaphat (2Ch 18:1-34; 19:2); Josiah (2Ch 35:22). The more delicate the perfume, the more easily spoiled is the ointment. Common oil is not so liable to injury. So the higher a man's religious character is, the more hurt is caused by a sinful folly in him. Bad savor is endurable in oil, but not in what professes to be, and is compounded by the perfumer ("apothecary") for, fragrance. "Flies" answer to "a little folly" (sin), appropriately, being small (1Co 5:6); also, "Beelzebub" means prince of flies. "Ointment" answers to "reputation" (Ec 7:1; Ge 34:30). The verbs are singular, the noun plural, implying that each of the flies causes the stinking savor.
2. (Ec 2:14).
right—The right hand is more expert than the left. The godly wise is more on his guard than the foolish sinner, though at times he slip. Better a diamond with a flaw, than a pebble without one.
3. by the way—in his ordinary course; in his simplest acts (Pr 6:12-14). That he "saith," virtually, "that he" himself, &c. [Septuagint]. But Vulgate, "He thinks that every one (else whom he meets) is a fool."
4. spirit—anger.
yielding pacifieth—(Pr 15:1). This explains "leave not thy place"; do not in a resisting spirit withdraw from thy post of duty (Ec 8:3).
5. as—rather, "by reason of an error" [Maurer and Holden].
6. rich—not in mere wealth, but in wisdom, as the antithesis to "folly" (for "foolish men") shows. So Hebrew, rich, equivalent to "liberal," in a good sense (Isa 32:5). Mordecai and Haman (Es 3:1, 2; 6:6-11).
7. servants upon horses—the worthless exalted to dignity (Jer 17:25); and vice versa (2Sa 15:30).
8. The fatal results to kings of such an unwise policy; the wrong done to others recoils on themselves (Ec 8:9); they fall into the pit which they dug for others (Es 7:10; Ps 7:15; Pr 26:27). Breaking through the wise fences of their throne, they suffer unexpectedly themselves; as when one is stung by a serpent lurking in the stones of his neighbor's garden wall (Ps 80:12), which he maliciously pulls down (Am 5:19).
9. removeth stones—namely, of an ancient building [Weiss]. His neighbor's landmarks [Holden]. Cuts out from the quarry [Maurer].
endangered—by the splinters, or by the head of the hatchet, flying back on himself. Pithy aphorisms are common in the East. The sense is: Violations of true wisdom recoil on the perpetrators.
10. iron … blunt—in "cleaving wood" (Ec 10:9), answering to the "fool set in dignity" (Ec 10:6), who wants sharpness. More force has then to be used in both cases; but "force" without judgment "endangers" one's self. Translate, "If one hath blunted his iron" [Maurer]. The preference of rash to judicious counsellors, which entailed the pushing of matters by force, proved to be the "hurt" of Rehoboam (1Ki 12:1-33).
wisdom is profitable to direct—to a prosperous issue. Instead of forcing matters by main "strength" to one's own hurt (Ec 9:16, 18).
11. A "serpent will bite" if "enchantment" is not used; "and a babbling calumniator is no better." Therefore, as one may escape a serpent by charms (Ps 58:4, 5), so one may escape the sting of a calumniator by discretion (Ec 10:12), [Holden]. Thus, "without enchantment" answers to "not whet the edge" (Ec 10:10), both expressing, figuratively, want of judgment. Maurer translates, "There is no gain to the enchanter" (Margin, "master of the tongue") from his enchantments, because the serpent bites before he can use them; hence the need of continual caution. Ec 10:8-10, caution in acting; Ec 10:11 and following verses, caution in speaking.
12. gracious—Thereby he takes precaution against sudden injury (Ec 10:11).
swallow up himself—(Pr 10:8, 14, 21, 32; 12:13; 15:2; 22:11).
13. Illustrating the folly and injuriousness of the fool's words; last clause of Ec 10:12.
14. full of words—(Ec 5:2).
a man cannot tell what shall be—(Ec 3:22; 6:12; 8:7; 11:2; Pr 27:1). If man, universally (including the wise man), cannot foresee the future, much less can the fool; his "many words" are therefore futile.
15. labour … wearieth—(Isa 55:2; Hab 2:13).
knoweth not how to go to the city—proverb for ignorance of the most ordinary matters (Ec 10:3); spiritually, the heavenly city (Ps 107:7; Mt 7:13, 14). Maurer connects Ec 10:15 with the following verses. The labor (vexation) caused by the foolish (injurious princes, Ec 10:4-7) harasses him who "knows not how to go to the city," to ingratiate himself with them there. English Version is simpler.
16. a child—given to pleasures; behaves with childish levity. Not in years; for a nation may be happy under a young prince, as Josiah.
eat in the morning—the usual time for dispensing justice in the East (Jer 21:12); here, given to feasting (Isa 5:11; Ac 2:15).
17. son of nobles—not merely in blood, but in virtue, the true nobility (So 7:1; Isa 32:5, 8).
in due season—(Ec 3:1), not until duty has first been attended to.
for strength—to refresh the body, not for revelry (included in "drunkenness").
18. building—literally, "the joining of the rafters," namely, the kingdom (Ec 10:16; Isa 3:6; Am 9:11).
hands—(Ec 4:5; Pr 6:10).
droppeth—By neglecting to repair the roof in time, the rain gets through.
19. Referring to Ec 10:18. Instead of repairing the breaches in the commonwealth (equivalent to "building"), the princes "make a feast for laughter (Ec 10:16), and wine maketh their life glad (Ps 104:15), and (but) money supplieth (answereth their wishes by supplying) all things," that is, they take bribes to support their extravagance; and hence arise the wrongs that are perpetrated (Ec 10:5, 6; 3:16; Isa 1:23; 5:23). Maurer takes "all things" of the wrongs to which princes are instigated by "money"; for example, the heavy taxes, which were the occasion of Rehoboam losing ten tribes (1Ki 12:4, &c.).
20. thought—literally, "consciousness."
rich—the great. The language, as applied to earthly princes knowing the "thought," is figurative. But it literally holds good of the King of kings (Ps 139:1-24), whose consciousness of every evil thought we should ever realize.
bed-chamber—the most secret place (2Ki 6:12).
bird of the air, &c.—proverbial (compare Hab 2:11; Lu 19:40); in a way as marvellous and rapid, as if birds or some winged messenger carried to the king information of the curse so uttered. In the East superhuman sagacity was attributed to birds (see on Job 28:21; hence the proverb).