And, behold, all was vanity - Emptiness and insufficiency in itself. And vexation of spirit - Because it promised the good I wished for, but did not, could not, perform the promise; and left my soul discontented and chagrined. read more
Dissatisfied with the result of the pursuit of wisdom, Koheleth embarks on a course of sensual pleasure, if so be this may yield some effect more substantial and permanent. I said in mine heart, Go to now, I will prove thee with mirth. The heart is addressed as the seat of the emotions and affections. The Vulgate misses the direct address to the heart, which the words, rightly interpreted, imply, translating, Vadam et offluam delieiis . The Septuagint correctly gives, δεῦρο δὴ... read more
Section 2. Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth. read more
I said of laughter, It is mad. Laughter and mirth are personified, hence treated as masculine. He uses the term "mad" in reference to the statement in Ecclesiastes 1:17 , "I gave my heart to know madness and folly." Septuagint, "I said to laughter, Error ( περιφοράν );" Vulgate, Risum reputavi errorem . Neither of these is as accurate as the Authorized Version. Of mirth, What doeth it? What does it effect towards real happiness and contentment? How does it help to fill the void,... read more
I sought in mine heart ; literally, I spied out (as Ecclesiastes 1:13 ) in my heart . Having proved the fruitlessness of some sort of sensual pleasure, he made another experiment in a philosophical spirit. To give myself unto wine ; literally, to draw ( mashak ) my flesh with wine ; i . e . to use the attraction of the pleasures of the table. Yet acquainting my heart with wisdom. This is a parenthetical clause, which Wright translates, "While my heart was acting... read more
This commences a new experience in the pursuit of his object. Leaving this life of self-indulgence, he takes to art and culture, the details being drawn from the accounts of the historical Solomon. I made me great works ; literally, I made great my works ; Septuagint, ἐμεγάλυνα ποίημά per ; Vulgate, Magnificavi opera mea . Among these works the temple, with all its wonderful structural preparations, is not specially mentioned, perhaps because no one could think of Solomon... read more
I made me gardens and orchards . Solomon's love of gardens appears throughout the Canticles (So Song of Solomon 6:2 , etc.). He had a king's garden on the slope of the hills south of the city ( 2 Kings 25:4 ); and Beth-hacchemm, "the House of the Vine," at Ain Karim, about six miles east of Jerusalem ( Jeremiah 6:1 ); and at Baal-hamon another extensive vineyard (So Song of Solomon 8:11 ). The word rendered "orchard" ( parder ) occurs also in So Song of Solomon 4:13 and ... read more
Pools of water . Great care was exercised by Solomon to provide his capital with water, and vast operations were undertaken for this purpose. "The king's pool," mentioned in Nehemiah 2:14 , may have been constructed by him (Josephus, 'Bell. Jud.,' 5.4. 2); but the most celebrated work ascribed to him is the water-supply at Etham, southwest of Bethlehem, and the aqueduct leading from thence to Jerusalem. Most modern travelers have described these pools. They are three in number, and,... read more
I got me —I bought, procured— servants and maidens . These are distinct from those mentioned immediately afterwards, servants born in my house ; Septuagint, οἰκογενεῖς : called in the Hebrew, "sons of the house" ( Genesis 15:3 ). They were much more esteemed by their masters, and showed a much closer attachment to the family than the bought slaves or the conquered aboriginals, who were often reduced to this state ( 1 Kings 9:20 , 1 Kings 9:21 ). The number of Solomon's... read more
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Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Ecclesiastes 2:10
I withheld not my heart from any joy - He had every means of gratification; he could desire nothing that was not within his reach; and whatever he wished, he took care to possess. read more