2 All things come alike to all: there is one H259 event H4745 to the righteous, H6662 and to the wicked; H7563 to the good H2896 and to the clean, H2889 and to the unclean; H2931 to him that sacrificeth, H2076 and to him that H834 sacrificeth H2076 not: as is the good, H2896 so is the sinner; H2398 and he that sweareth, H7650 as he that feareth H3373 an oath. H7621
The wise man's H2450 eyes H5869 are in his head; H7218 but the fool H3684 walketh H1980 in darkness: H2822 and I myself perceived H3045 also that one H259 event H4745 happeneth H7136 to them all. Then H227 said H559 I in my heart, H3820 As it happeneth H4745 to the fool, H3684 so it happeneth H7136 even to me; H1571 and why was I then more H3148 wise? H2449 Then I said H1696 in my heart, H3820 that this also is vanity. H1892 For there is no remembrance H2146 of the wise H2450 more than H5973 of the fool H3684 for ever; H5769 seeing that which now H3528 is in the days H3117 to come H935 shall all be forgotten. H7911 And how dieth H4191 the wise H2450 man? as the fool. H3684
Though a sinner H2398 do H6213 evil H7451 an hundred times, H3967 and his days be prolonged, H748 yet surely I know H3045 that it shall be well H2896 with them that fear H3373 God, H430 which fear H3372 before H6440 him: But it shall not be well H2896 with the wicked, H7563 neither shall he prolong H748 his days, H3117 which are as a shadow; H6738 because he feareth H3373 not before H6440 God. H430 There is H3426 a vanity H1892 which is done H6213 upon the earth; H776 that there be just H6662 men, unto whom it happeneth H5060 according to the work H4639 of the wicked; H7563 again, there be H3426 wicked H7563 men, to whom it happeneth H5060 according to the work H4639 of the righteous: H6662 I said H559 that this also H1571 is vanity. H1892
Then said H559 he unto me, This is the curse H423 that goeth forth H3318 over the face H6440 of the whole earth: H776 for every one that stealeth H1589 shall be cut off H5352 as on this side according H3644 to it; and every one that sweareth H7650 shall be cut off H5352 as on that side according H3644 to it. I will bring it forth, H3318 saith H5002 the LORD H3068 of hosts, H6635 and it shall enter H935 into the house H1004 of the thief, H1590 and into the house H1004 of him that sweareth H7650 falsely H8267 by my name: H8034 and it shall remain H3885 in the midst H8432 of his house, H1004 and shall consume H3615 it with the timber H6086 thereof and the stones H68 thereof.
Seeing he despised H959 the oath H423 by breaking H6565 the covenant, H1285 when, lo, he had given H5414 his hand, H3027 and hath done H6213 all these things, he shall not escape. H4422 Therefore thus saith H559 the Lord H136 GOD; H3069 As I live, H2416 surely mine oath H423 that he hath despised, H959 and my covenant H1285 that he hath broken, H6331 even it will I recompense H5414 upon his own head. H7218
Wherefore do the wicked H7563 live, H2421 become old, H6275 yea, are mighty H1396 in power? H2428 Their seed H2233 is established H3559 in their sight H6440 with them, and their offspring H6631 before their eyes. H5869 Their houses H1004 are safe H7965 from fear, H6343 neither is the rod H7626 of God H433 upon them. Their bull H7794 gendereth, H5674 and faileth H1602 not; their cow H6510 calveth, H6403 and casteth not her calf. H7921 They send forth H7971 their little ones H5759 like a flock, H6629 and their children H3206 dance. H7540 They take H5375 the timbrel H8596 and harp, H3658 and rejoice H8055 at the sound H6963 of the organ. H5748 They spend H3615 H1086 their days H3117 in wealth, H2896 and in a moment H7281 go down H2865 H5181 to the grave. H7585 Therefore they say H559 unto God, H410 Depart H5493 from us; for we desire H2654 not the knowledge H1847 of thy ways. H1870 What is the Almighty, H7706 that we should serve H5647 him? and what profit H3276 should we have, if we pray H6293 unto him? Lo, their good H2898 is not in their hand: H3027 the counsel H6098 of the wicked H7563 is far H7368 from me. How oft is the candle H5216 of the wicked H7563 put out! H1846 and how oft cometh H935 their destruction H343 upon them! God distributeth H2505 sorrows H2256 in his anger. H639 They are as stubble H8401 before H6440 the wind, H7307 and as chaff H4671 that the storm H5492 carrieth away. H1589 God H433 layeth up H6845 his iniquity H205 for his children: H1121 he rewardeth H7999 him, and he shall know H3045 it. His eyes H5869 shall see H7200 his destruction, H3589 and he shall drink H8354 of the wrath H2534 of the Almighty. H7706 For what pleasure H2656 hath he in his house H1004 after H310 him, when the number H4557 of his months H2320 is cut off in the midst? H2686 Shall any teach H3925 God H410 knowledge? H1847 seeing he judgeth H8199 those that are high. H7311 One dieth H4191 in his full H8537 strength, H6106 being wholly at ease H7946 and quiet. H7961 His breasts H5845 are full H4390 of milk, H2461 and his bones H6106 are moistened H8248 with marrow. H4221 And another dieth H4191 in the bitterness H4751 of his soul, H5315 and never eateth H398 with pleasure. H2896 They shall lie down H7901 alike H3162 in the dust, H6083 and the worms H7415 shall cover H3680 them. Behold, I know H3045 your thoughts, H4284 and the devices H4209 which ye wrongfully imagine H2554 against me. For ye say, H559 Where is the house H1004 of the prince? H5081 and where are the dwelling H4908 places H168 of the wicked? H7563 Have ye not asked H7592 them that go H5674 by the way? H1870 and do ye not know H5234 their tokens, H226 That the wicked H7451 is reserved H2820 to the day H3117 of destruction? H343 they shall be brought forth H2986 to the day H3117 of wrath. H5678 Who shall declare H5046 his way H1870 to his face? H6440 and who shall repay H7999 him what he hath done? H6213 Yet shall he be brought H2986 to the grave, H6913 and shall remain H8245 in the tomb. H1430 The clods H7263 of the valley H5158 shall be sweet H4985 unto him, and every man H120 shall draw H4900 after H310 him, as there are innumerable H4557 before H6440 him. How then comfort H5162 ye me in vain, H1892 seeing in your answers H8666 there remaineth H7604 falsehood? H4604
And the men H582 said H559 unto her, We will be blameless H5355 of this thine oath H7621 which thou hast made us swear. H7650 Behold, when we come H935 into the land, H776 thou shalt bind H7194 this line H8615 of scarlet H8144 thread H2339 in the window H2474 which thou didst let us down by: H3381 and thou shalt bring H622 thy father, H1 and thy mother, H517 and thy brethren, H251 and all thy father's H1 household, H1004 home H1004 unto thee. And it shall be, that whosoever H834 shall go out H3318 of the doors H1817 of thy house H1004 into the street, H2351 his blood H1818 shall be upon his head, H7218 and we will be guiltless: H5355 and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, H1004 his blood H1818 shall be on our head, H7218 if any hand H3027 be upon him. And if thou utter H5046 this our business, H1697 then we will be quit H5355 of thine oath H7621 which thou hast made us to swear. H7650
And if the woman H802 will not be willing H14 to follow H3212 thee, H310 then thou shalt be clear H5352 from this my oath: H7621 only bring H7725 not my son H1121 thither again. H7725 And the servant H5650 put H7760 his hand H3027 under the thigh H3409 of Abraham H85 his master, H113 and sware H7650 to him concerning H5921 that H2088 matter. H1697
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9
Commentary on Ecclesiastes 9 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 9
Ec 9:1-18.
1. declare—rather, explore; the result of my exploring is this, that "the righteous, &c., are in the hand of God. No man knoweth either the love or hatred (of God to them) by all that is before them," that is, by what is outwardly seen in His present dealings (Ec 8:14, 17). However, from the sense of the same words, in Ec 9:6, "love and hatred" seem to be the feelings of the wicked towards the righteous, whereby they caused to the latter comfort or sorrow. Translate: "Even the love and hatred" (exhibited towards the righteous, are in God's hand) (Ps 76:10; Pr 16:7). "No man knoweth all that is before them."
2. All things … alike—not universally; but as to death. Ec 9:2-10 are made by Holden the objection of a skeptical sensualist. However, they may be explained as Solomon's language. He repeats the sentiment already implied in Ec 2:14; 3:20; 8:14.
one event—not eternally; but death is common to all.
good—morally.
clean—ceremonially.
sacrificeth—alike to Josiah who sacrificed to God, and to Ahab who made sacrifice to Him cease.
sweareth—rashly and falsely.
3. Translate, "There is an evil above all (evils) that are done," &c., namely, that not only "there is one event to all," but "also the heart of the sons of men" makes this fact a reason for "madly" persisting in "evil while they live, and after that," &c., sin is "madness."
the dead—(Pr 2:18; 9:18).
4. For—rather, "Nevertheless." English Version rightly reads as the Margin, Hebrew, "that is joined," instead of the text, "who is to be chosen?"
hope—not of mere temporal good (Job 14:7); but of yet repenting and being saved.
dog—metaphor for the vilest persons (1Sa 24:14).
lion—the noblest of animals (Pr 30:30).
better—as to hope of salvation; the noblest who die unconverted have no hope; the vilest, so long as they have life, have hope.
5. know that they shall die—and may thereby be led "so to number their days, that they may apply their hearts to wisdom" (Ec 7:1-4; Ps 90:12).
dead know not anything—that is, so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned (Job 14:21; Isa 63:16); also, they know no door of repentance open to them, such as is to all on earth.
neither … reward—no advantage from their worldly labors (Ec 2:18-22; 4:9).
memory—not of the righteous (Ps 112:6; Mal 3:16), but the wicked, who with all the pains to perpetuate their names (Ps 49:11) are soon "forgotten" (Ec 8:10).
6. love, and … hatred, &c.—(referring to Ec 9:1; see on Ec 9:1). Not that these cease in a future world absolutely (Eze 32:27; Re 22:11); but as the end of this verse shows, relatively to persons and things in this world. Man's love and hatred can no longer be exercised for good or evil in the same way as here; but the fruits of them remain. What he is at death he remains for ever. "Envy," too, marks the wicked as referred to, since it was therewith that they assailed the righteous (see on Ec 9:1).
portion—Their "portion" was "in this life" (Ps 17:14), that they now "cannot have any more."
7. Addressed to the "righteous wise," spoken of in Ec 9:1. Being "in the hand of God," who now accepteth "thy works" in His service, as He has previously accepted thy person (Ge 4:4), thou mayest "eat … with a cheerful (not sensually 'merry') heart" (Ec 3:13; 5:18; Ac 2:46).
8. white—in token of joy (Isa 61:3). Solomon was clad in white (Josephus, Antiquities, 8:7,3); hence his attire is compared to the "lilies" (Mt 6:29), typical of the spotless righteousness of Jesus Christ, which the redeemed shall wear (Re 3:18; 7:14).
ointment—(Ps 23:5), opposed to a gloomy exterior (2Sa 14:2; Ps 45:7; Mt 6:17); typical, also (Ec 7:1; So 1:3).
9. wife … lovest—godly and true love, opposed to the "snares" of the "thousand" concubines (Ec 7:26, 28), "among" whom Solomon could not find the true love which joins one man to one woman (Pr 5:15, 18, 19; 18:22; 19:14).
10. Whatsoever—namely, in the service of God. This and last verse plainly are the language of Solomon, not of a skeptic, as Holden would explain it.
hand, &c.—(Le 12:8, Margin; 1Sa 10:7, Margin).
thy might—diligence (De 6:5; Jer 48:10, Margin).
no work … in the grave—(Joh 9:4; Re 14:13). "The soul's play-day is Satan's work-day; the idler the man the busier the tempter" [South].
11. This verse qualifies the sentiment, Ec 9:7-9. Earthly "enjoyments," however lawful in their place (Ec 3:1), are to give way when any work to be done for God requires it. Reverting to the sentiment (Ec 8:17), we ought, therefore, not only to work God's work "with might" (Ec 9:10), but also with the feeling that the event is wholly "in God's hand" (Ec 9:1).
race … not to the swift—(2Sa 18:23); spiritually (Zep 3:19; Ro 9:16).
nor … battle to … strong—(1Sa 17:47; 2Ch 14:9, 11, 15; Ps 33:16).
bread—livelihood.
favour—of the great.
chance—seemingly, really Providence. But as man cannot "find it out" (Ec 3:11), he needs "with all might" to use opportunities. Duties are ours; events, God's.
12. his time—namely, of death (Ec 7:15; Isa 13:22). Hence the danger of delay in doing the work of God, as one knows not when his opportunity will end (Ec 9:10).
evil net—fatal to them. The unexpected suddenness of the capture is the point of comparison. So the second coming of Jesus Christ, "as a snare" (Lu 21:35).
evil time—as an "evil net," fatal to them.
13. Rather, "I have seen wisdom of this kind also," that is, exhibited in the way which is described in what follows [Maurer].
14, 15. (2Sa 20:16-22).
bulwarks—military works of besiegers.
15. poor—as to the temporal advantages of true wisdom, though it often saves others. It receives little reward from the world, which admires none save the rich and great.
no man remembered—(Ge 40:23).
16. Resuming the sentiment (Ec 7:19; Pr 21:22; 24:5).
poor man's wisdom is despised—not the poor man mentioned in Ec 9:15; for his wisdom could not have saved the city, had "his words not been heard"; but poor men in general. So Paul (Ac 27:11).
17. The words of wise, &c.—Though generally the poor wise man is not heard (Ec 9:16), yet "the words of wise men, when heard in quiet (when calmly given heed to, as in Ec 9:15), are more serviceable than," &c.
ruleth—as the "great king" (Ec 9:14). Solomon reverts to "the rulers to their own hurt" (Ec 8:9).
18. one sinner, &c.—(Jos 7:1, 11, 12). Though wisdom excels folly (Ec 9:16; 7:19), yet a "little folly (equivalent to sin) can destroy much good," both in himself (Ec 10:1; Jas 2:10) and in others. "Wisdom" must, from the antithesis to "sinner," mean religion. Thus typically, the "little city" may be applied to the Church (Lu 12:32; Heb 12:22); the great king to Satan (Joh 12:31); the despised poor wise man, Jesus Christ (Isa 53:2, 3; Mr 6:3; 2Co 8:9; Eph 1:7, 8; Col 2:3).