Ecclesiastes 4

— and be more ready to hear, &c.] The meaning is, Be more ready to hear practically, that is, to obey the commandments of God: a similar expression to that of 1 Sam. xv. 22, “To obey is better than sacrifice.” Have a care rather to approach the Divine Majesty with an offering of an obedient disposition, than with the bare rites of outward service. Jos. Mede.

— to give the sacrifice of fools:] That is, barely to offer outward sacrifice, without giving due care to lead also a holy life. Dr. Wells.

Ecclesiastes 4:2

2. Wherefore I praised the dead &c.] Considering the various oppressions which were so frequent in the world, Solomon considered those persons happier who were out of it, than those who still lived in it. Abp. Tillotson.

3. Be not rash with thy mouth.] That is, when thou art going to pray, recollect thyself, consider that thy Creator is great, and wise, and good above all, and thou a poor dependent mortal being; weigh thy expressions, think before thou speakest, and take heed to use few words, and to ask for nothing improper. Dr. Jortin.

— for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth:] God is in heaven, a great, infinite, eternal, all-glorious, incomprehensible Being; heaven is his throne, and earth his footstool: thou art a poor silly worm, a creeping, crawling, sinful dust and ashes: have therefore a care what thou savest unto Him, and fear to speak any thing amiss before Him. Bp. Beveridge.

Ecclesiastes 4:3

3. For a dream cometh &c.] For, as in a multitude of business, there will be troublesome and confused dreams, so in a multitude of words there will be futility and error. Bp. Hall.

Ecclesiastes 4:5

5. — eateth his own flesh.] Consumes his own substance.

Ecclesiastes 4:6

6. Suffer not thy mouth &c.] Do not entangle thy life with a rash vow, which the frailty of human nature may impel thee afterwards to break. Abp. Tillotson.

— the angel,] “The messenger of the covenant,” Mal. iii. 1. Junius.

Ecclesiastes 4:8

8. There is one alone, &c.] In opposition to the character of the idler, he here introduces (ver. 8—12,) the character of an indefatigable covetous man, who, having nobody with whom to share his fortune, cannot resolve either to leave off heaping up riches, or quietly to enjoy what he has already acquired. Descoeur.

9. — marvel not at the matter:] Be not dismayed and amazed at the matter. Bp. Hall.

Ecclesiastes 4:9

9. — because they have a good reward for their labour.] [How much wiser, Solomon says, is he who not only enjoys what he has himself, but takes others into his society for purposes of common counsel and mutual assistance, and of mutual participation in the good things which God has given him! Bp. Patrick. “Two are better than one;” implying, generally, that society is productive of much comfort and benefit. Bp. Hall.

Ecclesiastes 4:13

13. Better is a poor and a wise child &c.] He proceeds to shew, that still it is not society alone which will make men happy, without wisdom or virtue. For who are better attended or guarded than kings? and yet the poorest man that is, if he be wise and good, is far happier than the wealthiest prince on earth who foolishly abuses his power. Bp. Patrick. Vanities in divine service, in murmuring, and riches. Before CHRIST about 977.

Ecclesiastes 4:14

14. For out of prison &c.] For it has been known that he who was poor and abject as the vilest slave in a prison has come to reign by singular prudence, while he that is born of royal ancestors is sometimes through his folly deserted by his subjects, loses his kingdom, and “becometh poor.” By the expression “out of prison,” it is not improbable that Solomon has here respect to the case of Joseph in Egypt. Dr. Wells.

Ecclesiastes 4:15

15. I considered all the living &c.]. If what is mentioned at ver. 13, 14, happen not to a king, I have seen, he adds, another great unhappiness which more usually befalls kings; namely, their being left with only the bare title of royalty, while the hearts and affections of the kingdom incline to “the second son,” that is, to the child who was second to him, or heir of the kingdom. Dr. Wells.

Ecclesiastes 4:16

16. There is no end of all the people.] There will be no end of this disposition in all mankind, so deeply is it rooted in them: for, as it has always been the disposition “of all that have been before them” to be weary of what they have long enjoyed, and pleased with novelty, and therefore to slight an old king and court his successor, so “they that come after shall not rejoice in him;” that is, shall in like manner slight the present heir when he comes to be old, and pay court to his son or heir, as they now do to him. Dr. Wells.

Chap. V. ver. 1. Keep thy foot when thou goest &c.] Beware how thou treadest, be always on thy guard, in the house of God. Let thy carriage be adjusted to the ideas of his presence whose courts thou enterest: let thy whole deportment there be such as best suits the sacredness of the place: and the majesty of Him to whom it is dedicated. Archdeacon Sharp.