Ecclesiastes 9

Ecclesiastes 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 ( Ecclesiastes 8:14 Ecclesiastes 8:17 ). However, from the sense of the same words, in Ecclesiastes 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) ( Psalms 76:10 , Proverbs 16:7 ). "No man knoweth all that is before them."

2. All things . . . alike--not universally; but as to death. Ecclesiastes 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 Ecclesiastes 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--( Proverbs 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 ( 1 Samuel 24:14 ).
lion--the noblest of animals ( Proverbs 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" ( Ecclesiastes 7:1-4 , Psalms 90:12 ).
dead know not anything--that is so far as their bodily senses and worldly affairs are concerned ( Job 14:21 , Isaiah 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 ( Ecclesiastes 2:18-22 , 4:9 ).
memory--not of the righteous ( Psalms 112:6 , Malachi 3:16 ), but the wicked, who with all the pains to perpetuate their names ( Psalms 49:11 ) are soon "forgotten" ( Ecclesiastes 8:10 ).

6. love, and . . . hatred, &c.--(referring to Ecclesiastes 9:1 ; Not that these cease in a future world absolutely ( Ezekiel 32:27 , Revelation 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
portion--Their "portion" was "in this life" ( Psalms 17:14 ), that they now "cannot have any more."