Prediger 10:7

7 Ich sah Knechte auf Rossen, und Fürsten zu Fuß gehen wie Knechte.

Prediger 10:7 Meaning and Commentary

Ecclesiastes 10:7

I have seen servants upon horses
Which being scarce in Judea, were only rode upon by princes and great personages, or such as were in affluent circumstances; and therefore it was an unusual and disagreeable sight to see servants upon them, which was a token of their being advanced upon the ruin and destruction of their masters; a reigning servant is not only uncomely, but one of the things by which the earth is disquieted, and it cannot bear, ( Proverbs 30:21 Proverbs 30:22 ) ; the Parthians and Persians distinguished their nobles and the vulgar, freemen and servants, by this; the servants went on foot, and the freemen rode on horses ^F18; and princes walking as servants upon the earth;
degraded from their honour; banished from their thrones and palaces, or obliged to leave them, and reduced to the lowest state and condition: so David, when his son rebelled against him, and he was forced to flee from him, and walk on foot, ( 2 Samuel 15:30 ) ; Alshech thinks it may be a prophecy of the captivity of Israel, when they walked as servants on the earth, and the Gentiles rode on horses.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Justin. e Trogo, l. 41. c. 3. Alex. ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 5. c. 19.

Prediger 10:7 In-Context

5 Es ist ein Unglück, das ich sah unter der Sonne, gleich einem Versehen, das vom Gewaltigen ausgeht:

6 daß ein Narr sitzt in großer Würde, und die Reichen in Niedrigkeit sitzen.

7 Ich sah Knechte auf Rossen, und Fürsten zu Fuß gehen wie Knechte.

8 Aber wer eine Grube macht, der wird selbst hineinfallen; und wer den Zaun zerreißt, den wird eine Schlange stechen.

9 Wer Steine wegwälzt, der wird Mühe damit haben; und wer Holz spaltet, der wird davon verletzt werden.