Ecclesiastes 5

1 be more ready to hear, etc. Or, “draw nigh to hear”: i.e., to attend and obey. See 1 Sam. xv. 22, where to “hearken” is forcibly contrasted with formal sacrifices offered without true devotion, such as are here said to be a “doing evil.”

2 to utter any thing. Rather, “a word.” Let the recollection of God’s majesty deter you from multiplying words in your addresses to Him.

3. For a dream, etc. Rather, “For a dream cometh with a multitude of business.” “Wo viel Sorge ist, da kommen Träume” (“Where there is much care, there come dreams”) (Luther’s version).

4. He hath no pleasure in fools. Those who make thoughtless, rash vows, which they are unwilling to perform. The Hebrew, however, is capable of another interpretation: “there is no steadfast purpose in fools,” i.e., it is fools who have not steadfast purpose, who make promises and do not keep them.

5 thy flesh. i.e., thyself, considered as frail, in refusing the self-denial which the vow uttered by thy mouth required.

an error. “A mistake”; I made the vow inconsiderately, and therefore have not kept it.

destroy the work of thine hands. i.e., frustrate the undertakings for the success of which thy vows were made.

8. For He that is higher, etc. Lit., “for the high is watching over the high, and high ones over them.” This probably refers to the various grades of earthly rulers.

9. The king himself is served by the field. Or, “the king is subject to (i.e., is dependent on) the field.” It is a consolation to think that oppression must have its limits, since without the cultivation of the ground the king could not get his revenue; so that in one view the king is more dependent on the ploughman than the ploughman on the king.

14 by evil travail. Or perhaps, “in some untoward affair”: either by improvidence and vice, or by ill-judged undertakings, or by the fraud and treachery of others, or by misfortune.

17. All his days also, etc. Rather, “All his days he ate in darkness, and increased [his] anxiety, and his sorrow and vexation.”

20. For he shall not much remember the days of his life. Or, “He remembers not much the days of his life”; i.e., he does not look at the past with regret, nor at the future with uneasiness (cp. 16, 17); but gratefully enjoys the blessings which God bestows in answer to his desires.

2 my undefiled. Heb., “my perfect one.”

3 coat. The inner garment. She will not arouse herself or take trouble for his sake.

4 by the hole. Through which a person might thrust his arm to open the door. He naturally expected to be able to unfasten the door; but it appears to have been purposely secured by an additional fastening.

5 sweet-smelling myrrh. Rather, “flowing myrrh,” which is the best. Perhaps “he had come prepared as if for a festival, and the costly ointment which he had brought with him had dropped on the handles of the bolts” (Delitzsch).

7. They smote me, they wounded me. They treated me as a tramp. The same thing is intimated by the taking away of the veil, which is one of the greatest indignities that can be inflicted on a woman in Eastern countries.

8. I charge you. The recital of the dream is over, and the bride’s passionate appeal to her companions shows the impression it had left.

9. What is thy beloved, etc.? This inquiry of the daughters of Jerusalem, suggested by the bride’s passionate adjuration to them, is skilfully introduced by the poet, to lead to the description which immediately follows.

12. His eyes are as the eyes of doves, etc. Rather, “His eyes are doves by streams of water, bathing in milk, dwelling in fulness.” This latter clause applies to the doves. The whole is meant to depict the soft, loving expression of the full, dark eyes.

13 sweet flowers. Rather, as in marg., “towers of perfumes.” The “towers” may stand for elevated banks (R.V.) covered with fragrant bloom.

14. His belly, etc. Rather, as R.V., “His body is [as] ivory-work overlaid with sapphires”; referring to the white robe of royalty, and the bright-coloured girdle.

15 sockets. Denoting the richly ornamented sandals.

His countenance, etc. Rather, “His aspect”; the manly dignity of his appearance.

16. His mouth. His words: “that which he speaks, and the manner in which he speaks it” (Delitzsch). “Most sweet,” and “altogether lovely,” are, in the original, “sweetnesses” and “preciousnesses”; the plural denoting abundance.