Ecclesiastes 12
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7. dust--the dust--formed body.
spirit--surviving the body; implying its immortality ( Ecclesiastes 3:11 ).
8-12. A summary of the first part.
Vanity, &c.--Resumption of the sentiment with which the book began ( Ecclesiastes 1:2 , 1 John 2:17 ).
9. gave good heed--literally, "he weighed." The "teaching the people" seems to have been oral; the "proverbs," in writing. There must then have been auditories assembled to hear the inspired wisdom of the Preacher. See the explanation of Koheleth in the ( 1 Kings 4:34 ).
that which is written, &c.--rather, (he sought) "to write down uprightly (or, 'aright') words of truth" [HOLDEN and WEISS]. "Acceptable" means an agreeable style; "uprightly . . . truth," correct sentiment.
11. goads--piercing deeply into the mind ( Acts 2:37 , 9:5 , Hebrews 4:12 ); evidently inspired words, as the end of the verse proves.
fastened--rather, on account of the Hebrew genders, (The words) "are fastened (in the memory) like nails" [HOLDEN].
masters of assemblies--rather, "the masters of collections (that is, collectors of inspired sayings, Proverbs 25:1 ), are given ('have published them as proceeding' [HOLDEN]) from one Shepherd," namely, the Spirit of Jesus Christ [WEISS], ( Ezekiel 37:24 ). However, the mention of "goads" favors the English Version, "masters of assemblies," namely, under-shepherds, inspired by the Chief Shepherd ( 1 Peter 5:2-4 ). SCHMIDT translates, "The masters of assemblies are fastened (made sure) as nails," so Isaiah 22:23 .
13. The grand inference of the whole book.
Fear God--The antidote to following creature idols, and "vanities," whether self-righteousness ( Ecclesiastes 7:16 Ecclesiastes 7:18 ), or wicked oppression and other evils ( Ecclesiastes 8:12 Ecclesiastes 8:13 ), or mad mirth ( Ecclesiastes 2:2 , 7:2-5 ), or self-mortifying avarice ( Ecclesiastes 8:13 Ecclesiastes 8:17 ), or youth spent without God ( Ecclesiastes 11:9 , 12:1 ).
this is the whole duty of man--literally, "this is the whole man," the full ideal of man, as originally contemplated, realized wholly by Jesus Christ alone; and, through Him, by saints now in part, hereafter perfectly ( 1 John 3:22-24 , Revelation 22:14 ).
14. For God shall bring every work into judgment--The future judgment is the test of what is "vanity," what solid, as regards the chief good, the grand subject of the book.