Ecclesiastes 2

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 .

He next tries pleasure and luxury, retaining however, his worldly "wisdom" ( Ecclesiastes 3:9 ), but all proves "vanity" in respect to the chief good.

1. I said . . . heart--( Luke 12:19 ).
thee--my heart, I will test whether thou canst find that solid good in pleasure which was not in "worldly wisdom." But this also proves to be "vanity" ( Isaiah 50:11 ).

2. laughter--including prosperity, and joy in general ( Job 8:21 ).
mad--that is, when made the chief good; it is harmless in its proper place.
What doeth it?--Of what avail is it in giving solid good? ( Ecclesiastes 7:6 , Proverbs 14:13 ).

3-11. Illustration more at large of Ecclesiastes 2:1 Ecclesiastes 2:2 .
I sought--I resolved, after search into many plans.
give myself unto wine--literally, "to draw my flesh," or "body to wine" (including all banquetings). Image from a captive drawn after a chariot in triumph ( Romans 6:16 Romans 6:19 , 1 Corinthians 12:2 ); or, one "allured" ( 2 Peter 2:18 2 Peter 2:19 ).
yet acquainting . . . wisdom--literally, "and my heart (still) was behaving, or guiding itself," with wisdom [GESENIUS]. MAURER translates: "was weary of (worldly) wisdom." But the end of Ecclesiastes 2:9 confirms English Version.
folly--namely, pleasures of the flesh, termed "mad," Ecclesiastes 2:2 .
all the days, &c.--(See Margin and Ecclesiastes 6:12 , Job 15:20 ).

4. ( 1 Kings 7:1-8 , 1 Kings 9:1 1 Kings 9:19 , 10:18 , &c.).
vineyards--( Solomon 8:11 ).

5. gardens--Hebrew, "paradises," a foreign word; Sanskrit, "a place enclosed with a wall"; Armenian and Arabic, "a pleasure ground with flowers and shrubs near the king's house, or castle." An earthly paradise can never make up for the want of the heavenly ( Revelation 2:7 ).

6. pools--artificial, for irrigating the soil ( Genesis 2:10 , Nehemiah 2:14 , Isaiah 1:30 ). Three such reservoirs are still found, called Solomon's cisterns, a mile and a half from Jerusalem.
wood that bringeth forth--rather, "the grove that flourisheth with trees" [LOWTH].

7. born in my house--These were esteemed more trustworthy servants than those bought ( Genesis 14:14 , Genesis 15:2 Genesis 15:3 , Genesis 17:12 Genesis 17:13 Genesis 17:27 , Jeremiah 2:14 ), called "songs of one's handmaid" ( Exodus 23:12 ; compare Genesis 12:16 , Job 1:3 ).