John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:2
It is better to go to the house of mourning ,.... For deceased relations or friends, who either lie unburied, or have been lately inferred; for the Jews kept their mourning for their dead several days afterwards, when their friends visited them in order to comfort them, as the Jews did Martha and Mary, John 11:31 . So the Targum here, "it is better to go to a mourning man to comfort him;' for at such times and places the conversation was serious and interesting, and turned upon the... read more
Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Ecclesiastes 7:1-6
In these verses Solomon lays down some great truths which seem paradoxes to the unthinking part, that is, the far greatest part, of mankind. I. That the honour of virtue is really more valuable and desirable than all the wealth and pleasure in this world (Eccl. 7:1): A good name is before good ointment (so it may be read); it is preferable to it, and will be rather chosen by all that are wise. Good ointment is here put for all the profits of the earth (among the products of which oil was... read more