Ecclesiastes 2:6-16

6 I made 1ponds of water for myself from which to irrigate a forest of growing trees.
7 I bought male and female slaves * and I had 2homeborn * slaves. Also I possessed flocks and 3herds larger than all who preceded me in Jerusalem.
8 Also, I collected for myself silver and 4gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I provided for myself 5male and female singers and the pleasures of men * -many concubines.
9 Then I became 6great and increased more than all who preceded me in Jerusalem. My wisdom also stood by me.
10 7All that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure, for my heart was pleased because of all my labor and this was my 8reward for all my labor.
11 Thus I considered all my activities which my hands had done and the labor which I had exerted, and behold all was 9vanity and striving after wind and there was 10no profit under the sun.

Wisdom Excels Folly

12 So I turned to 11consider wisdom, madness and folly; for what will the man do who will come after the king except 12what has already been done?
13 And I saw that 13wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness.
14 The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the 14fool walks in darkness. And yet I know that 15one fate befalls them both.
15 Then I said to myself, "16As is the fate of the fool, it will also befall me. 17Why then have I been extremely wise?" So I said to myself, "This too is vanity."
16 For there is 18no lasting remembrance of the wise man as with the fool, inasmuch as in the coming days all will be forgotten. And 19how the wise man and the fool alike die!

Ecclesiastes 2:6-16 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 2

Solomon, having made trial of natural wisdom and knowledge in its utmost extent, and found it to be vanity, proceeds to the experiment of pleasure, and tries whether any happiness was in that, Ec 2:1. As for that which at first sight was vain, frothy, and frolicsome, he dispatches at once, and condemns it as mad and unprofitable, Ec 2:2; but as for those pleasures which were more manly, rational, and lawful, he dwells upon them, and gives a particular enumeration of them, as what he had made full trial of; as good eating and drinking, in a moderate way, without abuse; fine and spacious buildings; delightful vineyards, gardens, and orchards; parks, forests, and enclosures; fish pools, and fountains of water; a large retinue, and equipage of servants; great possessions, immense riches and treasure; a collection of the greatest rarities, and curiosities in nature; all kinds of music, vocal and instrumental, Ec 2:3-8; in all which he exceeded any that went before him; nor did he deny himself of any pleasure, in a lawful way, that could possibly be enjoyed, Ec 2:9,10. And yet on a survey of the whole, and after a thorough experience of what could be found herein, he pronounces all vanity and vexation of spirit, Ec 2:11; and returns again to his former subject, wisdom; and looks that over again, to see if he could find real happiness in it, being sadly disappointed in that of pleasure, Ec 2:12. He indeed commends wisdom, and prefers it to folly, and a wise man to a fool; Ec 2:13,14; and yet observes some things which lessen its value; and shows there is no happiness in it, the same events befalling a wise man and a fool; both alike forgotten, and die in like manner, Ec 2:15,16. And then he takes into consideration business of life, and a laborious industry to obtain wealth; and this he condemns as grievous, hateful, and vexatious, because, after all a man's acquisitions, he knows not to whom he shall leave them, whether to a wise man or a fool, Ec 2:17-21. And because a man himself has no rest all his days, nothing but sorrow and grief, Ec 2:22,23; wherefore he concludes it is best for a man to enjoy the good things of this life himself; which he confirms by his own experience, and by an, antithesis between a good man and a wicked one, Ec 2:24-26.

Cross References 19

  • 1. Nehemiah 2:14; Nehemiah 3:15, 16
  • 2. Genesis 14:14; Genesis 15:3
  • 3. 1 Kings 4:23
  • 4. 1 Kings 9:28; 1 Kings 10:10, 14, 21
  • 5. 2 Samuel 19:35
  • 6. 1 Chronicles 29:25; Ecclesiastes 1:16
  • 7. Ecclesiastes 6:2
  • 8. Ecclesiastes 3:22; Ecclesiastes 5:18; Ecclesiastes 9:9
  • 9. Ecclesiastes 1:14; Ecclesiastes 2:22, 23
  • 10. Ecclesiastes 1:3; Ecclesiastes 3:9; Ecclesiastes 5:16
  • 11. Ecclesiastes 1:17
  • 12. Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10; Ecclesiastes 3:15
  • 13. Eccl 7:11, 12, 19; Ecclesiastes 9:18; Ecclesiastes 10:10
  • 14. 1 John 2:11
  • 15. Psalms 49:10; Ecclesiastes 3:19; Ecclesiastes 6:6; Ecclesiastes 7:2; Ecclesiastes 9:2, 3
  • 16. Ecclesiastes 2:16
  • 17. Ecclesiastes 6:8, 11
  • 18. Ecclesiastes 1:11; Ecclesiastes 9:5
  • 19. Ecclesiastes 2:14

Footnotes 6

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