Ecclesiastes 2:7

7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had my home-born slaves as well. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than anyone before me in Yerushalayim.

Ecclesiastes 2:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 2:7

I got [me] servants and maidens
Menservants, and maidservants; the Targum adds,

``of the children of Ham, and of the rest of the strange people;''

these were such as he hired, or bought with his money; and had servants born in my house;
and these were all employed by him; either as his retinue and equipage, his attendants and bodyguards; or to take care of his household, his gardens, and pools; or for his horses and chariots, and for various offices; see ( 1 Kings 4:26 1 Kings 4:27 ) ( Ezra 2:58 ) . Villalpandus computes the number of his servants to be forty eight thousand; if there were any pleasure and happiness in such a numerous attendance, Solomon had it; also I had great possessions of great and small cattle above all that
were in Jerusalem before me;
oxen, cows, horses, asses, camels, mules, &c. also sheep and goats; which, as they were profitable, so it was pleasant to see them grazing on the hills and valleys, in the fields, mountains, and meadows.

Ecclesiastes 2:7 In-Context

5 and made myself gardens and parks; in them I planted all kinds of fruit trees.

6 I made myself pools from which to water the trees springing up in the forest.

7 I bought male and female slaves, and I had my home-born slaves as well. I also had growing herds of cattle and flocks of sheep, more than anyone before me in Yerushalayim.

8 I amassed silver and gold, the wealth of kings and provinces. I acquired male and female singers, things that provide sensual delight, and a good many concubines.

9 So I grew great, surpassing all who preceded me in Yerushalayim; my wisdom, too, stayed with me.