Man, after all his labour, is no nearer finding rest than the sun, the wind, or the current of the river. He could neither gain that satisfaction to himself, nor do that good to others, which he expected. Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1. King of Jerusalem; not of Jerusalem only, but of all Israel, for as yet no division was made; see Ecclesiastes 1:12. 1 These are the Teacher's words. The senses are soon tired, yet still craving what is untried. Ecclesiastes 1 Nothing has a purpose. 2 c Vanity 2 of vanities, says a the Preacher, c vanity of vanities! Matthew Henry’s Bible Commentary (concise), Matthew Henry Bible Commentary (complete), California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. Solomon had apostatized from the church and people of God, and had followed idols; but now was brought back by repentance, and was gathered into the fold, from whence he had strayed as a lost sheep; and therefore chooses to call himself by this name, when he preached his recantation sermon, as this book may be said to be. Those that have taken warning to turn and live, should warn others not to go on and die. Ecclesiastes 1 Ecclesiastes 1:9 All things are wearisome; Man is not able to tell it. & Jarchi, Aben Ezra, & Baruch in loc. (1) Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 says that there is a proper time for every human activity. We cannot follow the silent excursions of another's mind. Keith Simons. the son of David; which he mentions either as an honour to him, that he was the son of so great, so wise, so holy, and good a man; or as an aggravation of his fall, that being the descendant of such a person, and having had so religious an education, and so good an example before him, and yet should sin so foully as he had done; and it might also encourage him, that he had interest in the sure mercies of David, and in the promises made to him, that when his children sinned, they should be chastised, yet his lovingkindness and covenant should not depart from them. The word "Koheleth", rendered "preacher", is by some taken to be a proper name of Solomon; who, besides the name of Solomon, his parents gave him, and Jedidiah, as the Lord called him, had the name of Koheleth; nay, the Jews say (i), he had seven names, and to these three add four more, Agur, Jake, Ithiel, and Lemuel; the word by many is left untranslated (k); but it seems rather to be an appellative, and is by some rendered "gathered", or the "soul gathered" (l). According to which this book is prophetic; and so it interprets it, and owns it to be Solomon's. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 7:1-6 (Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-6) Reputation for piety and honesty is more desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world. He shows what their life is like for themhere. 2. The New American Commentary further points out on Ecclesiastes 1:11 Ecclesiastes 1:11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any … (1-3) Man's toil and want of satisfaction. 1.) See my [654]Preface. This is the starting point of his thesis, which ends with him declaring that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments (Ecclesiastes … (1:1) Some have reasoned that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes after repenting from his apostasy, but there is no supporting biblical statement to this effect. 3. Many of us have been stirred by his prayer in 2 Chronicles 7:14. The Teacher speaks about people who thinkonly about their life in this world. What profit — What real and abiding benefit? Through this book, perhaps more than any other… Ecclesiastes 1:12).The word rendered "Preacher" is Koheleth, a feminine noun formed from a verb kalal, "to call" (see Introduction, § 1… Join us today as we take a look at Ecclesiastes 1 … Ecclesiastes 1, Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible, One of over 110 Bible commentaries freely available, this nine-volume commentary, respected by legions of devoted students, still ring … 3 e What f does … This word (Kohéleth) occurs in this book, Ecclesiastes 1:1-2; Ecclesiastes 1:12; Ecclesiastes 7:27, where, according to our present text, it is joined with a feminine, being elsewhere used with a masculine; and Ecclesiastes 12:8-10, having the article in the first of these passages, and there only, being elsewhere used as a proper name. Vanity is the key … Preaching text: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 3:1-17 The book of Ecclesiastes is usually called “skeptical” Wisdom or “dissenting” Wisdom. One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. His soul will find no rest, if he has it not from God. Moreover, although first-century Jewish … 1. the Preacher—and Convener of assemblies for the purpose. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem; Septuagint, "King of Israel in Jerusalem" (comp. In his early life he passionately sought the Lord. All things change, and never rest. He further describes himself by his descent. From the inconstant nature, and constant revolutions, of all the creatures, and the perpetual … Atheists love to contend that the book of Ecclesiastes … We here behold Solomon returning from the broken and empty cisterns of the world, to the Fountain of living water; recording his own folly and shame, the bitterness of his disappointment, and the lessons he had learned. 60. What is the book about in a nutshell? The Teacher was David 's son. Chapter 1. Ecclesiastes: Bible Study and Commentary. Derek Kidner — The Message of Ecclesiastes (The Bible Speaks Today, 1984). The wisdom of God here preaches to us, speaking by Solomon, who it is evident was the author. Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 NIV - Everything Is Meaningless - The words - Bible Gateway. “Most people get a fair amount of fun out of their lives, but on balance life … (a) Solomon is here called a preacher, or one who assembles the people, because he teaches the true knowledge of God, and how men ought to pass their life in this transitory world. See my JF & B for Preface. Verses 2-3 The words ‘in this world’ show what the Teacher is thinking. The Hebrew word קהלת, here used, may either signify the person who assembles the people, or the person … (i) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. "the words of the prophecy, which the preacher, who is Solomon, prophesied.''. Ecclesiastes is one of the favorite books of the Bible for skeptics, scoffers, atheists and certain of the cultists. The word used is in the feminine gender, as ministers of the Gospel are sometimes expressed by a word of the like kind; and are called maidens, Psalm 68:11; to denote their virgin purity, and uncorruptness in doctrine and conversation: and here some respect may be had to Wisdom, or Christ, frequently spoken of by Solomon, as a woman, and who now spoke by him; which is a much better reason for the use of the word than his effeminacy, which his sin or his old age had brought him to. A penitent or convert, or one gathered or brought back by true repentance to God, and to his church, from which he had so wickedly revolted. From the shortness of human life and the multitude of births and burials in this life ( v. 4 ). A Bible Study in EasyEnglish (2800 word vocabulary) on the Book of Ecclesiastes. By the Incarnate Word. Everything Is Meaningless - The words of the Teacher, son of David, king in Jerusalem: “Meaningless! 1:2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all [is] vanity. Thought itself is invisible. … © 2021 Christianity.com. 3. Ecclesiastes 1:1. What profit has a man of all his labour? The search after wisdom is itself a vain labour; cannot supply our natural wants, nor satisfy our desires; but increaseth sorrow: all this the Preacher found out by experience, Ecc 1:12-18. THE TITLE.. (o) "Concionatrix anima", Vatablus, Piscator. Rambachius. King Solomon wrote the Book of Ecclesiastes in his later years comparing his early and later life. All is unprofitable as to the attainment of that happiness which all men are inquiring after. Of all his labour — Hebrew, … (9-11) The vexation in pursuit of knowledge. In Jerusalem, the city of Wisdom, as Jarchi observes, where many wise and good men dwelt, as well as it was the metropolis of the nation; and, which was more, it was the city where the temple stood, and where the worship of God was performed, and his priests ministered, and his people served him; and yet he, their king, that should have set them a better example, fell into idolatry! He had a lot of wisdom but made some foolish mistakes. Koheleth in Hebrew, a symbolical name for Solomon, and of Heavenly Wisdom speaking through and identified with him. But... 2. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. Ecclesiastes 1 Commentary: First of all, let’s discover what the message of the book of Ecclesiastes is. 2. The Book of Ecclesiastes helps us to see Solomon's regret of having left the Lord and discovered barrenness. The word "soul" may be supplied, as by some, and be rendered, "the preaching soul" (o); since, no doubt, he performed his work as such with all his heart and soul. It will do more good to go to a … The words of the Preacher — Or, discourses. He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but … At the close of his life, being made … This should take us from expecting happiness in the creature, and quicken us to seek eternal blessings. Let us learn to hate and fear sin, the cause of all this vanity and misery; to value Christ; to seek rest in the knowledge, love, and service of the Saviour. Derek Kidner’s … (12-18). Ecclesiastes All Is Vanity. EasyEnglish is … He found his searches after knowledge weariness, not only to the flesh, but to the mind. The Argument - Solomon as a preacher and one that desired to instruct all in the way of salvation, describes the deceivable vanities of this world: that man should not be addicted to anything under the sun, but rather inflamed with the desire of the heavenly life: therefore he confutes their opinions, which set their happiness either in knowledge or in pleasures, or in dignity and riches, wishing that man's true happiness consists in that he is united with God and will enjoy his presence: so that all other things must be rejected, save in as much as they further us to attain to this heavenly treasure, which is sure and permanent, and cannot be found in any other save in God alone. They have left God out of their lives. (n) Shirhashirim Rabba, fol. The name of this book signifies "The Preacher." Nothing new; old things are forgot, Ecc 1:9-11. ((k) "Koheleth", Broughton, Pagninus, Montanus, Cocceius. While wisdom has its drawbacks (Eccl 1:18), can be nullified by a little folly (Eccl … This is the starting point of his thesis, which ends with him declaring that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His … Cast your bread upon the waters, For … Pesikta Rabbati apud Yalkut, ut supra. King of Jerusalem: this is added partly as a description of the person or author of this book, Solomon, who was the only man that was both Song of Solomon of David, properly so called, and king of Jerusalem; and partly as an aggravation of his sin, because he was the son of David, a wise and godly father, who had given him both excellent counsel, and, for his general course, a good example: and for the evil example which he gave him in the matter of Uriah, that also, considered with his hearty and effectual repentance for it, and the dreadful punishments of it upon his person and family, was a fair warning and most powerful instruction to him to learn by his father's example, and because he was a king, not by birth, for he was not David's eldest son, but by the special favour and designation of that God whom he had now so ill requited, and that in Jerusalem, a holy city, the place of God's special presence, and of his worship, where he had daily opportunities to know and obligations to practise better things, which place he had defiled by his horrid sins, and thereby made it, and all God's people, and the true religion, and the name of the blessed God, odious and contemptible amongst all the nations round about him. All he gets by it will not supply the wants of the soul, nor satisfy its desires; will not atone for the sins of the soul, nor hinder the loss of it: what profit will the wealth of the world be to the soul in death, in judgment, or in the everlasting state? People cannot tru… 2. The Preacher.—Rather, convener (see Introduction). Everything is Meaningless. None at all. Koheleth in Hebrew, a symbolical name for Solomon, and of Heavenly Wisdom speaking through and identified with him.Ecc 1… Ec 1:12 shows that "king of Jerusalem" is in apposition, not with "David," but "Preacher.". A preacher, as it is commonly rendered, whose office it is to gather in souls unto God or his church. 2. p. 76. (Read Ecclesiastes 1:12-18) Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. Be wise. Solomon tried all things, and found them vanity. If this world, in its present state, were all, it would not be worth living for; and the wealth and pleasure of this world, if we had ever so much, are not enough to make us happy. How to have a worthwhile life. for there came of all people to hear the wisdom of Solomon: All the earth sought to Solomon to hear his wisdom, which God had put into his heart, The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem, Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers, Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament. EXPOSITION. (1-2) Working for a profit that can’t be immediately seen. VANITY OF VANITIES, ALL IS VANITY. 3. (The *Hebrew words say ‘under the sun’.) He does not merely say all things are vain, but that they are vanity. The Preacher; who was not only a king, but also a teacher of God's people, which he did both by words, upon some solemn occasions, and by writings; who having sinned grievously and scandalously in the eyes of all the world, justly thought himself obliged to preach or publish his true repentance for all his folly and wickedness, and to give public warning and wholesome counsels to all persons to avoid those rocks upon which he had split. Solomon shows that all human things are vain. Later in his life, though, he had drifted away from God. Let’s … The reason for that is that there are certain passages in this book which seem to deny that there is life after death, that it is all over when this life ends. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor is the ear filled with hearing. Benson Commentary Ecclesiastes 1:1. The Teacher was a king. Looking beyond what can be seen. This is the text of the preacher's sermon, of which in this book he never loses sight. Or, 2. d All is vanity. He lived in a city that was called Jerusalem. Ecclesiastes 1:3. Verses 1-18. Commentary on Ecclesiastes 1:12-18. The more he saw of the works done under the sun, the more he saw their vanity; and the sight often vexed his spirit. Midrash Kohelet, fol. Others rather render it, "the gatherer" (m); and was so called, as the Jewish writers say (n), either because he gathered and got much wisdom, as it is certain he did; or because he gathered much people from all parts, to hear his wisdom, 1 Kings 4:34; in which he was a type of Christ, Genesis 49:10; or this discourse of his was delivered in a large congregation, got together for that purpose; as he gathered and assembled together the heads and chief of the people, at the dedication of the temple, 1 Kings 8:1; so he might call them together to hear the retraction he made of his sins and errors, and repentance for them: and this might justly entitle him to the character of a "preacher", as we render it, an office of great honour, as well as of great importance to the souls of men; which Solomon, though a king, did not disdain to appear in; as David his father before him, and Noah before him, the father, king, and governor of the new world, Psalm 34:11. Much is to be learned by comparing one part of Scripture with another. Ecclesiastes 11 – Towards True Wisdom A. In chapter 1, Solomon essentially states that life is meaningless. Ecclesiastes; or the Preacher Commentary by A. R. FAUSSET CHAPTER 1 Ecc 1:1-18.INTRODUCTION. But is there … (4-8) There is nothing new. Biblical Commentary Ecclesiastes 3:1-13 EXEGESIS: THE CONTEXT: The book that we know as Ecclesiastes is known in the Hebrew Scriptures as Qoheleth (sometimes spelled Qohelet or … Nothing in nature is satisfied, Ecc 1:8. We are back to our regularly scheduled Bible Studies on Tuesday mornings at 10am and we will be in the book of Ecclesiastes. 1. 1. 1. the Preacher--and Convener of assemblies for the purpose. The Hebrew properly signifies either gathering or gathered; and so it signifies either, 1. The whole course of things is always going and returning, Ecc 1:4-7. Men's hearts and their corruptions are the same now as in former times; their desires, and pursuits, and complaints, still the same. In chapter 1, Solomon essentially states that life is meaningless. Ecclesiastes 1:1-18. The author of Ecclesiastes, the Teacher, is a … Even the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom discovered man's wickedness and misery; so that the more he knew, the more he saw cause to lament and mourn. (in Kohelet, l. How many things and persons in Solomon's day were thought very great, yet there is no remembrance of them now! of Jerusalem—rather, "in Jerusalem," for it was merely his metropolis, not his whole kingdom.All is vanity; our labour great and unprofitable, Ecc 1:1-3. … 1 The words of a the Preacher, 1 the son of David, b king in Jerusalem. All Rights Reserved. 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