8 A time H6256 to love, H157 and a time H6256 to hate; H8130 a time H6256 of war, H4421 and a time H6256 of peace. H7965
And when Abram H87 heard H8085 that his brother H251 was taken captive, H7617 he armed H7324 his trained H2593 servants, born H3211 in his own house, H1004 three H7969 hundred H3967 and eighteen, H6240 H8083 and pursued H7291 them unto Dan. H1835 And he divided H2505 himself against them, he and his servants, H5650 by night, H3915 and smote H5221 them, and pursued H7291 them unto Hobah, H2327 which is on the left hand H8040 of Damascus. H1834 And he brought back H7725 all the goods, H7399 and also brought again H7725 his brother H251 Lot, H3876 and his goods, H7399 and the women H802 also, and the people. H5971 And the king H4428 of Sodom H5467 went out H3318 to meet H7125 him after H310 his return H7725 from the slaughter H5221 of Chedorlaomer, H3540 and of the kings H4428 that were with him, at the valley H6010 of Shaveh, H7740 which H1931 is the king's H4428 dale. H6010
And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Fear H3372 not, neither be thou dismayed: H2865 take H3947 all the people H5971 of war H4421 with thee, and arise, H6965 go up H5927 to Ai: H5857 see, H7200 I have given H5414 into thy hand H3027 the king H4428 of Ai, H5857 and his people, H5971 and his city, H5892 and his land: H776 And thou shalt do H6213 to Ai H5857 and her king H4428 as thou didst H6213 unto Jericho H3405 and her king: H4428 only the spoil H7998 thereof, and the cattle H929 thereof, shall ye take for a prey H962 unto yourselves: lay H7760 thee an ambush H693 for the city H5892 behind H310 it. So Joshua H3091 arose, H6965 and all the people H5971 of war, H4421 to go up H5927 against Ai: H5857 and Joshua H3091 chose out H977 thirty H7970 thousand H505 mighty H1368 men H376 of valour, H2428 and sent them away H7971 by night. H3915 And he commanded H6680 them, saying, H559 Behold, H7200 ye shall lie in wait H693 against the city, H5892 even behind H310 the city: H5892 go H7368 not very H3966 far H7368 from the city, H5892 but be ye all ready: H3559 And I, and all the people H5971 that are with me, will approach H7126 unto the city: H5892 and it shall come to pass, when they come out H3318 against H7125 us, as at the first, H7223 that we will flee H5127 before H6440 them, (For they will come out H3318 after H310 us) till we have drawn H5423 them from the city; H5892 for they will say, H559 They flee H5127 before H6440 us, as at the first: H7223 therefore we will flee H5127 before H6440 them. Then ye shall rise up H6965 from the ambush, H693 and seize H3423 upon the city: H5892 for the LORD H3068 your God H430 will deliver H5414 it into your hand. H3027 And it shall be, when ye have taken H8610 the city, H5892 that ye shall set H3341 the city H5892 on fire: H784 according to the commandment H1697 of the LORD H3068 shall ye do. H6213 See, H7200 I have commanded H6680 you. Joshua H3091 therefore sent them forth: H7971 and they went H3212 to lie in ambush, H3993 and abode H3427 between Bethel H1008 and Ai, H5857 on the west side H3220 of Ai: H5857 but Joshua H3091 lodged H3885 that night H3915 among H8432 the people. H5971 And Joshua H3091 rose up early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and numbered H6485 the people, H5971 and went up, H5927 he and the elders H2205 of Israel, H3478 before H6440 the people H5971 to Ai. H5857 And all the people, H5971 even the people of war H4421 that were with him, went up, H5927 and drew nigh, H5066 and came H935 before the city, H5892 and pitched H2583 on the north side H6828 of Ai: H5857 now there was a valley H1516 between them and Ai. H5857 And he took H3947 about five H2568 thousand H505 men, H376 and set H7760 them to lie in ambush H693 between Bethel H1008 and Ai, H5857 on the west side H3220 of the city. H5857 H5892 And when they had set H7760 the people, H5971 even all the host H4264 that was on the north H6828 of the city, H5892 and their liers in wait H6119 on the west H3220 of the city, H5892 Joshua H3091 went H3212 that night H3915 into the midst H8432 of the valley. H6010 And it came to pass, when the king H4428 of Ai H5857 saw H7200 it, that they hasted H4116 and rose up early, H7925 and the men H582 of the city H5892 went out H3318 against H7125 Israel H3478 to battle, H4421 he and all his people, H5971 at a time appointed, H4150 before H6440 the plain; H6160 but he wist H3045 not that there were liers in ambush H693 against him behind H310 the city. H5892 And Joshua H3091 and all Israel H3478 made as if they were beaten H5060 before H6440 them, and fled H5127 by the way H1870 of the wilderness. H4057 And all the people H5971 that were in Ai H5857 H5892 were called H2199 together to pursue H7291 after H310 them: and they pursued H7291 after H310 Joshua, H3091 and were drawn away H5423 from the city. H5892 And there was not a man H376 left H7604 in Ai H5857 or Bethel, H1008 that went not out H3318 after H310 Israel: H3478 and they left H5800 the city H5892 open, H6605 and pursued H7291 after Israel. H3478 And the LORD H3068 said H559 unto Joshua, H3091 Stretch out H5186 the spear H3591 that is in thy hand H3027 toward Ai; H5857 for I will give H5414 it into thine hand. H3027 And Joshua H3091 stretched out H5186 the spear H3591 that he had in his hand H3027 toward the city. H5892 And the ambush H693 arose H6965 quickly H4120 out of their place, H4725 and they ran H7323 as soon as he had stretched out H5186 his hand: H3027 and they entered H935 into the city, H5892 and took H3920 it, and hasted H4116 and set H3341 the city H5892 on fire. H784 And when the men H582 of Ai H5857 looked H6437 behind H310 them, they saw, H7200 and, behold, the smoke H6227 of the city H5892 ascended up H5927 to heaven, H8064 and they had no power H3027 to flee H5127 this way or that way: H2008 and the people H5971 that fled H5127 to the wilderness H4057 turned back H2015 upon the pursuers. H7291 And when Joshua H3091 and all Israel H3478 saw H7200 that the ambush H693 had taken H3920 the city, H5892 and that the smoke H6227 of the city H5892 ascended, H5927 then they turned again, H7725 and slew H5221 the men H582 of Ai. H5857 And the other H428 issued out H3318 of the city H5892 against H7125 them; so they were in the midst H8432 of Israel, H3478 some on this side, and some on that side: and they smote H5221 them, so that H5704 they let H7604 none of them remain H8300 or escape. H6412 And the king H4428 of Ai H5857 they took H8610 alive, H2416 and brought H7126 him to Joshua. H3091 And it came to pass, when Israel H3478 had made an end H3615 of slaying H2026 all the inhabitants H3427 of Ai H5857 in the field, H7704 in the wilderness H4057 wherein they chased H7291 them, and when they were all fallen H5307 on the edge H6310 of the sword, H2719 until they were consumed, H8552 that all the Israelites H3478 returned H7725 unto Ai, H5857 and smote H5221 it with the edge H6310 of the sword. H2719 And so it was, that all that fell H5307 that day, H3117 both of men H376 and women, H802 were twelve H8147 H6240 thousand, H505 even all the men H582 of Ai. H5857 For Joshua H3091 drew H7725 not his hand H3027 back, H7725 wherewith he stretched out H5186 the spear, H3591 until he had utterly destroyed H2763 all the inhabitants H3427 of Ai. H5857 Only the cattle H929 and the spoil H7998 of that city H5892 Israel H3478 took for a prey H962 unto themselves, according unto the word H1697 of the LORD H3068 which he commanded H6680 Joshua. H3091 And Joshua H3091 burnt H8313 Ai, H5857 and made H7760 it an heap H8510 for ever, H5769 even a desolation H8077 unto this day. H3117 And the king H4428 of Ai H5857 he hanged H8518 on a tree H6086 until eventide: H6256 H6153 and as soon as the sun H8121 was down, H935 Joshua H3091 commanded H6680 that they should take H3381 his carcase H5038 down H3381 from the tree, H6086 and cast H7993 it at the entering H6607 of the gate H8179 of the city, H5892 and raise H6965 thereon a great H1419 heap H1530 of stones, H68 that remaineth unto this day. H3117
And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that they stank H887 before David, H1732 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 sent H7971 and hired H7936 the Syrians H758 of Bethrehob, H1050 and the Syrians H758 of Zoba, H6678 twenty H6242 thousand H505 footmen, H7273 and of king H4428 Maacah H4601 a thousand H505 men, H376 and of Ishtob H382 twelve H6240 H8147 thousand H505 men. H376 And when David H1732 heard H8085 of it, he sent H7971 Joab, H3097 and all the host H6635 of the mighty men. H1368 And the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 came out, H3318 and put the battle H4421 in array H6186 at the entering in H6607 of the gate: H8179 and the Syrians H758 of Zoba, H6678 and of Rehob, H7340 and Ishtob, H382 and Maacah, H4601 were by themselves H905 in the field. H7704 When Joab H3097 saw H7200 that the front H6440 of the battle H4421 was against him before H6440 and behind, H268 he chose H977 of all the choice H977 men of Israel, H3478 and put them in array H6186 against H7125 the Syrians: H758 And the rest H3499 of the people H5971 he delivered H5414 into the hand H3027 of Abishai H52 his brother, H251 that he might put them in array H6186 against H7125 the children H1121 of Ammon. H5983 And he said, H559 If the Syrians H758 be too strong H2388 for me, then thou shalt help H3444 me: but if the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 be too strong H2388 for thee, then I will come H1980 and help H3467 thee. Be of good courage, H2388 and let us play the men H2388 for our people, H5971 and for the cities H5892 of our God: H430 and the LORD H3068 do H6213 that which seemeth H5869 him good. H2896 And Joab H3097 drew nigh, H5066 and the people H5971 that were with him, unto the battle H4421 against the Syrians: H758 and they fled H5127 before H6440 him. And when the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 saw H7200 that the Syrians H758 were fled, H5127 then fled H5127 they also before H6440 Abishai, H52 and entered H935 into the city. H5892 So Joab H3097 returned H7725 from the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and came H935 to Jerusalem. H3389 And when the Syrians H758 saw H7200 that they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 they gathered H622 themselves together. H3162 And Hadarezer H1928 sent, H7971 and brought out H3318 the Syrians H758 that were beyond H5676 the river: H5104 and they came H935 to Helam; H2431 and Shobach H7731 the captain H8269 of the host H6635 of Hadarezer H1928 went before H6440 them. And when it was told H5046 David, H1732 he gathered H622 all Israel H3478 together, H622 and passed over H5674 Jordan, H3383 and came H935 to Helam. H2431 And the Syrians H758 set themselves in array H6186 against H7125 David, H1732 and fought H3898 with him. And the Syrians H758 fled H5127 before H6440 Israel; H3478 and David H1732 slew H2026 the men of seven H7651 hundred H3967 chariots H7393 of the Syrians, H758 and forty H705 thousand H505 horsemen, H6571 and smote H5221 Shobach H7731 the captain H8269 of their host, H6635 who died H4191 there. And when all the kings H4428 that were servants H5650 to Hadarezer H1928 saw H7200 that they were smitten H5062 before H6440 Israel, H3478 they made peace H7999 with Israel, H3478 and served H5647 them. So the Syrians H758 feared H3372 to help H3467 the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 any more.
It came to pass after this H310 also, that the children H1121 of Moab, H4124 and the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 and with them other beside the Ammonites, H5984 came H935 against Jehoshaphat H3092 to battle. H4421 Then there came H935 some that told H5046 Jehoshaphat, H3092 saying, H559 There cometh H935 a great H7227 multitude H1995 against thee from beyond H5676 the sea H3220 on this side Syria; H758 and, behold, they be in Hazazontamar, H2688 which is Engedi. H5872 And Jehoshaphat H3092 feared, H3372 and set H5414 himself H6440 to seek H1875 the LORD, H3068 and proclaimed H7121 a fast H6685 throughout H5921 all Judah. H3063 And Judah H3063 gathered themselves together, H6908 to ask H1245 help of the LORD: H3068 even out of all the cities H5892 of Judah H3063 they came H935 to seek H1245 the LORD. H3068 And Jehoshaphat H3092 stood H5975 in the congregation H6951 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 in the house H1004 of the LORD, H3068 before H6440 the new H2319 court, H2691 And said, H559 O LORD H3068 God H430 of our fathers, H1 art not thou God H430 in heaven? H8064 and rulest H4910 not thou over all the kingdoms H4467 of the heathen? H1471 and in thine hand H3027 is there not power H3581 and might, H1369 so that none is able to withstand H3320 thee? Art not thou our God, H430 who didst drive out H3423 the inhabitants H3427 of this land H776 before H6440 thy people H5971 Israel, H3478 and gavest H5414 it to the seed H2233 of Abraham H85 thy friend H157 for ever? H5769 And they dwelt H3427 therein, and have built H1129 thee a sanctuary H4720 therein for thy name, H8034 saying, H559 If, when evil H7451 cometh H935 upon us, as the sword, H2719 judgment, H8196 or pestilence, H1698 or famine, H7458 we stand H5975 before H6440 this house, H1004 and in thy presence, H6440 (for thy name H8034 is in this house,) H1004 and cry H2199 unto thee in our affliction, H6869 then thou wilt hear H8085 and help. H3467 And now, behold, the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 and Moab H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 whom thou wouldest not let H5414 Israel H3478 invade, H935 when they came out H935 of the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 but they turned H5493 from them, and destroyed H8045 them not; Behold, I say, how they reward H1580 us, to come H935 to cast us out H1644 of thy possession, H3425 which thou hast given us to inherit. H3423 O our God, H430 wilt thou not judge H8199 them? for we have no might H3581 against H6440 this great H7227 company H1995 that cometh H935 against us; neither know H3045 we H587 what to do: H6213 but our eyes H5869 are upon thee. And all Judah H3063 stood H5975 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 with H1571 their little ones, H2945 their wives, H802 and their children. H1121 Then upon Jahaziel H3166 the son H1121 of Zechariah, H2148 the son H1121 of Benaiah, H1141 the son H1121 of Jeiel, H3273 the son H1121 of Mattaniah, H4983 a Levite H3881 of the sons H1121 of Asaph, H623 came the Spirit H7307 of the LORD H3068 in the midst H8432 of the congregation; H6951 And he said, H559 Hearken H7181 ye, all Judah, H3063 and ye inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem, H3389 and thou king H4428 Jehoshaphat, H3092 Thus saith H559 the LORD H3068 unto you, Be not afraid H3372 nor dismayed H2865 by reason H6440 of this great H7227 multitude; H1995 for the battle H4421 is not yours, but God's. H430 To morrow H4279 go ye down H3381 against them: behold, they come up H5927 by the cliff H4608 of Ziz; H6732 and ye shall find H4672 them at the end H5490 of the brook, H5158 before H6440 the wilderness H4057 of Jeruel. H3385 Ye shall not need to fight H3898 in this H2063 battle: set H3320 yourselves, stand H5975 ye still, and see H7200 the salvation H3444 of the LORD H3068 with you, O Judah H3063 and Jerusalem: H3389 fear H3372 not, nor be dismayed; H2865 to morrow H4279 go out H3318 against H6440 them: for the LORD H3068 will be with you. And Jehoshaphat H3092 bowed H6915 his head with his face H639 to the ground: H776 and all Judah H3063 and the inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem H3389 fell H5307 before H6440 the LORD, H3068 worshipping H7812 the LORD. H3068 And the Levites, H3881 of the children H1121 of the Kohathites, H6956 and of the children H1121 of the Korhites, H7145 stood up H6965 to praise H1984 the LORD H3068 God H430 of Israel H3478 with a loud H1419 voice H6963 on high. H4605 And they rose early H7925 in the morning, H1242 and went forth H3318 into the wilderness H4057 of Tekoa: H8620 and as they went forth, H3318 Jehoshaphat H3092 stood H5975 and said, H559 Hear H8085 me, O Judah, H3063 and ye inhabitants H3427 of Jerusalem; H3389 Believe H539 in the LORD H3068 your God, H430 so shall ye be established; H539 believe H539 his prophets, H5030 so shall ye prosper. H6743 And when he had consulted H3289 with the people, H5971 he appointed H5975 singers H7891 unto the LORD, H3068 and that should praise H1984 the beauty H1927 of holiness, H6944 as they went out H3318 before H6440 the army, H2502 and to say, H559 Praise H3034 the LORD; H3068 for his mercy H2617 endureth for ever. H5769 And when H6256 they began H2490 to sing H7440 and to praise, H8416 the LORD H3068 set H5414 ambushments H693 against the children H1121 of Ammon, H5983 Moab, H4124 and mount H2022 Seir, H8165 which were come H935 against Judah; H3063 and they were smitten. H5062 For the children H1121 of Ammon H5983 and Moab H4124 stood up H5975 against the inhabitants H3427 of mount H2022 Seir, H8165 utterly to slay H2763 and destroy H8045 them: and when they had made an end H3615 of the inhabitants H3427 of Seir, H8165 every one H376 helped H5826 to destroy H4889 another. H7453 And when Judah H3063 came H935 toward the watch tower H4707 H4708 in the wilderness, H4057 they looked H6437 unto the multitude, H1995 and, behold, they were dead bodies H6297 fallen H5307 to the earth, H776 and none escaped. H6413 And when Jehoshaphat H3092 and his people H5971 came H935 to take away H962 the spoil H7998 of them, they found H4672 among them in abundance H7230 both riches H7399 with the dead bodies, H6297 and precious H2532 jewels, H3627 which they stripped off H5337 for themselves, more than H369 they could carry away: H4853 and they were three H7969 days H3117 in gathering H962 of the spoil, H7998 it was so much. H7227 And on the fourth H7243 day H3117 they assembled H6950 themselves in the valley H6010 of Berachah; H1294 for there they blessed H1288 the LORD: H3068 therefore the name H8034 of the same place H4725 was called, H7121 The valley H6010 of Berachah, H1294 unto this day. H3117 Then they returned, H7725 every man H376 of Judah H3063 and Jerusalem, H3389 and Jehoshaphat H3092 in the forefront H7218 of them, to go again H7725 to Jerusalem H3389 with joy; H8057 for the LORD H3068 had made them to rejoice H8055 over their enemies. H341 And they came H935 to Jerusalem H3389 with psalteries H5035 and harps H3658 and trumpets H2689 unto the house H1004 of the LORD. H3068 And the fear H6343 of God H430 was on all the kingdoms H4467 of those countries, H776 when they had heard H8085 that the LORD H3068 fought H3898 against the enemies H341 of Israel. H3478 So the realm H4438 of Jehoshaphat H3092 was quiet: H8252 for his God H430 gave him rest H5117 round about. H5439
So G3779 ought G3784 men G435 to love G25 their G1438 wives G1135 as G5613 their own G1438 bodies. G4983 He that loveth G25 his G1438 wife G1135 loveth G25 himself. G1438 For G1063 no man G3762 ever yet G4218 hated G3404 his own G1438 flesh; G4561 but G235 nourisheth G1625 and G2532 cherisheth G2282 it, G846 even as G2531 G2532 the Lord G2962 the church: G1577
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 3 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 3
Ec 3:1-22.
Earthly pursuits are no doubt lawful in their proper time and order (Ec 3:1-8), but unprofitable when out of time and place; as for instance, when pursued as the solid and chief good (Ec 3:9, 10); whereas God makes everything beautiful in its season, which man obscurely comprehends (Ec 3:11). God allows man to enjoy moderately and virtuously His earthly gifts (Ec 3:12, 13). What consoles us amidst the instability of earthly blessings is, God's counsels are immutable (Ec 3:14).
1. Man has his appointed cycle of seasons and vicissitudes, as the sun, wind, and water (Ec 1:5-7).
purpose—as there is a fixed "season" in God's "purposes" (for example, He has fixed the "time" when man is "to be born," and "to die," Ec 3:2), so there is a lawful "time" for man to carry out his "purposes" and inclinations. God does not condemn, but approves of, the use of earthly blessings (Ec 3:12); it is the abuse that He condemns, the making them the chief end (1Co 7:31). The earth, without human desires, love, taste, joy, sorrow, would be a dreary waste, without water; but, on the other hand, the misplacing and excess of them, as of a flood, need control. Reason and revelation are given to control them.
2. time to die—(Ps 31:15; Heb 9:27).
plant—A man can no more reverse the times and order of "planting," and of "digging up," and transplanting, than he can alter the times fixed for his "birth" and "death." To try to "plant" out of season is vanity, however good in season; so to make earthly things the chief end is vanity, however good they be in order and season. Gill takes it, not so well, figuratively (Jer 18:7, 9; Am 9:15; Mt 15:13).
3. time to kill—namely, judicially, criminals; or, in wars of self-defense; not in malice. Out of this time and order, killing is murder.
to heal—God has His times for "healing" (literally, Isa 38:5, 21; figuratively, De 32:39; Ho 6:1; spiritually, Ps 147:3; Isa 57:19). To heal spiritually, before the sinner feels his wound, would be "out of time," and so injurious.
time to break down—cities, as Jerusalem, by Nebuchadnezzar.
build up—as Jerusalem, in the time of Zerubbabel; spiritually (Am 9:11), "the set time" (Ps 102:13-16).
4. mourn—namely, for the dead (Ge 23:2).
dance—as David before the ark (2Sa 6:12-14; Ps 30:11); spiritually (Mt 9:15; Lu 6:21; 15:25). The Pharisees, by requiring sadness out of time, erred seriously.
5. cast away stones—as out of a garden or vineyard (Isa 5:2).
gather—for building; figuratively, the Gentiles, once castaway stones, were in due time made parts of the spiritual building (Eph 2:19, 20), and children of Abraham (Mt 3:9); so the restored Jews hereafter (Ps 102:13, 14; Zec 9:16).
refrain … embracing—(Joe 2:16; 1Co 7:5, 6).
6. time to get—for example, to gain honestly a livelihood (Eph 4:23).
lose—When God wills losses to us, then is our time to be content.
keep—not to give to the idle beggar (2Th 3:10).
cast away—in charity (Pr 11:24); or to part with the dearest object, rather than the soul (Mr 9:43). To be careful is right in its place, but not when it comes between us and Jesus Christ (Lu 10:40-42).
7. rend—garments, in mourning (Joe 2:13); figuratively, nations, as Israel from Judah, already foretold, in Solomon's time (1Ki 11:30, 31), to be "sewed" together hereafter (Eze 37:15, 22).
silence—(Am 5:13), in a national calamity, or that of a friend (Job 2:13); also not to murmur under God's visitation (Le 10:3; Ps 39:1, 2, 9).
8. hate—for example, sin, lusts (Lu 14:26); that is, to love God so much more as to seem in comparison to hate "father or mother," when coming between us and God.
a time of war … peace—(Lu 14:31).
9. But these earthly pursuits, while lawful in their season, are "unprofitable" when made by man, what God never intended them to be, the chief good. Solomon had tried to create an artificial forced joy, at times when he ought rather to have been serious; the result, therefore, of his labor to be happy, out of God's order, was disappointment. "A time to plant" (Ec 3:2) refers to his planting (Ec 2:5); "laugh" (Ec 3:4), to Ec 2:1, 2; "his mirth," "laughter"; "build up," "gather stones" (Ec 3:3, 5), to his "building" (Ec 2:4); "embrace," "love," to his "princess" (see on Ec 2:8); "get" (perhaps also "gather," Ec 3:5, 6), to his "gathering" (Ec 2:8). All these were of "no profit," because not in God's time and order of bestowing happiness.
10. (See on Ec 1:13).
11. his time—that is, in its proper season (Ps 1:3), opposed to worldlings putting earthly pursuits out of their proper time and place (see on Ec 3:9).
set the world in their heart—given them capacities to understand the world of nature as reflecting God's wisdom in its beautiful order and times (Ro 1:19, 20). "Everything" answers to "world," in the parallelism.
so that—that is, but in such a manner that man only sees a portion, not the whole "from beginning to end" (Ec 8:17; Job 26:14; Ro 11:33; Re 15:4). Parkhurst, for "world," translates: "Yet He hath put obscurity in the midst of them," literally, "a secret," so man's mental dimness of sight as to the full mystery of God's works. So Holden and Weiss. This incapacity for "finding out" (comprehending) God's work is chiefly the fruit of the fall. The worldling ever since, not knowing God's time and order, labors in vain, because out of time and place.
12. in them—in God's works (Ec 3:11), as far as relates to man's duty. Man cannot fully comprehend them, but he ought joyfully to receive ("rejoice in") God's gifts, and "do good" with them to himself and to others. This is never out of season (Ga 6:9, 10). Not sensual joy and self-indulgence (Php 4:4; Jas 4:16, 17).
13. Literally, "And also as to every man who eats … this is the gift of God" (Ec 3:22; 5:18). When received as God's gifts, and to God's glory, the good things of life are enjoyed in their due time and order (Ac 2:46; 1Co 10:31; 1Ti 4:3, 4).
14. (1Sa 3:12; 2Sa 23:5; Ps 89:34; Mt 24:35; Jas 1:17).
for ever—as opposed to man's perishing labors (Ec 2:15-18).
any thing taken from it—opposed to man's "crooked and wanting" works (Ec 1:15; 7:13). The event of man's labors depends wholly on God's immutable purpose. Man's part, therefore, is to do and enjoy every earthly thing in its proper season (Ec 3:12, 13), not setting aside God's order, but observing deep reverence towards God; for the mysteriousness and unchangeableness of God's purposes are designed to lead "man to fear before Him." Man knows not the event of each act: otherwise he would think himself independent of God.
15. Resumption of Ec 1:9. Whatever changes there be, the succession of events is ordered by God's "everlasting" laws (Ec 3:14), and returns in a fixed cycle.
requireth that … past—After many changes, God's law requires the return of the same cycle of events, as in the past, literally, "that which is driven on." The Septuagint and Syriac translate: "God requireth (that is, avengeth) the persecuted man"; a transition to Ec 3:16, 17. The parallel clauses of the verse support English Version.
16. Here a difficulty is suggested. If God "requires" events to move in their perpetual cycle, why are the wicked allowed to deal unrighteously in the place where injustice ought least of all to be; namely, "the place of judgment" (Jer 12:1)?
17. Solution of it. There is a coming judgment in which God will vindicate His righteous ways. The sinner's "time" of his unrighteous "work" is short. God also has His "time" and "work" of judgment; and, meanwhile, is overruling, for good at last, what seems now dark. Man cannot now "find out" the plan of God's ways (Ec 3:11; Ps 97:2). If judgment instantly followed every sin, there would be no scope for free will, faith, and perseverance of saints in spite of difficulties. The previous darkness will make the light at last the more glorious.
there—(Job 3:17-19) in eternity, in the presence of the Divine Judge, opposed to the "there," in the human place of judgment (Ec 3:16): so "from thence" (Ge 49:24).
18. estate—The estate of fallen man is so ordered (these wrongs are permitted), that God might "manifest," that is, thereby prove them, and that they might themselves see their mortal frailty, like that of the beasts.
sons of men—rather, "sons of Adam," a phrase used for "fallen men." The toleration of injustice until the judgment is designed to "manifest" men's characters in their fallen state, to see whether the oppressed will bear themselves aright amidst their wrongs, knowing that the time is short, and there is a coming judgment. The oppressed share in death, but the comparison to "beasts" applies especially to the ungodly oppressors (Ps 49:12, 20). They too need to be "manifested" ("proved"), whether, considering that they must soon die as the "beasts," and fearing the judgment to come, they will repent (Da 4:27).
19. Literally, "For the sons of men (Adam) are a mere chance, as also the beast is a mere chance." These words can only be the sentiments of the skeptical oppressors. God's delay in judgment gives scope for the "manifestation" of their infidelity (Ec 8:11; Ps 55:19; 2Pe 3:3,4). They are "brute beasts," morally (Ec 3:18; Jude 10); and they end by maintaining that man, physically, has no pre-eminence over the beast, both alike being "fortuities." Probably this was the language of Solomon himself in his apostasy. He answers it in Ec 3:21. If Ec 3:19, 20 be his words, they express only that as regards liability to death, excluding the future judgment, as the skeptic oppressors do, man is on a level with the beast. Life is "vanity," if regarded independently of religion. But Ec 3:21 points out the vast difference between them in respect to the future destiny; also (Ec 3:17) beasts have no "judgment" to come.
breath—vitality.
21. Who knoweth—Not doubt of the destination of man's spirit (Ec 12:7); but "how few, by reason of the outward mortality to which man is as liable as the beast and which is the ground of the skeptic's argument, comprehend the wide difference between man and the beast" (Isa 53:1). The Hebrew expresses the difference strongly, "The spirit of man that ascends, it belongeth to on high; but the spirit of the beast that descends, it belongeth to below, even to the earth." Their destinations and proper element differ utterly [Weiss].
22. (Compare Ec 3:12; 5:18). Inculcating a thankful enjoyment of God's gifts, and a cheerful discharge of man's duties, founded on fear of God; not as the sensualist (Ec 11:9); not as the anxious money-seeker (Ec 2:23; 5:10-17).
his portion—in the present life. If it were made his main portion, it would be "vanity" (Ec 2:1; Lu 16:25).
for who, &c.—Our ignorance as to the future, which is God's "time" (Ec 3:11), should lead us to use the present time in the best sense and leave the future to His infinite wisdom (Mt 6:20, 25, 31-34).