Ecclesiastes 2
Summary for Eccl 2:1-11: 2:1-11 a The Teacher dismisses the pursuit of pleasure for its own sake as hollow. Even great achievements are a vapor.2:3 b The Teacher understood that trying to cheer himself with wine was foolishness, but he did it while still seeking wisdom—i.e., during his attempt to understand how to experience ... happiness. This proved to be empty (2:11 c).
• brief life in this world: The totality of human experience is “a breath.”
Summary for Eccl 2:4-8: 2:4-8 d Solomon’s building achievements were as small as porches and gates and as large as entire cities (see 1 Kgs 9:15-19 e). These projects, meant primarily for his own pleasure, included the palace and its accompanying buildings (see 1 Kgs 7:1-12 f). 2:4 g Solomon’s vineyards are mentioned in Song 8:11-12 h.
2:7 i Solomon’s slaves, ... large herds, and flocks were numerous, and caring for them consumed vast resources (1 Kgs 4:22-23 j; 9:20-21 k).
2:8 l silver and gold ... kings and provinces: Solomon ruled from the Fertile Crescent (north and east of Israel) to the border of Egypt in the south. His wealth in precious metals came from trade, gifts from admiring rulers of other nations, and taxes from lands he held within his empire (1 Kgs 4:21 m; 9:28 n; 10:14 o, 22-25 p; 1 Chr 29:4 q; 2 Chr 9:26-27 r).
• many beautiful concubines: Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines by the end of his reign (1 Kgs 11:3 s).
2:9 t I became greater: Cp. 1 Kgs 10:23 u.
• Solomon’s wisdom enabled his successful rise in power and prosperity (see 1 Kgs 3:2-14 v; 4:20-34 w).
2:10 x I even found great pleasure in hard work: The Teacher introduces a significant, repetitive theme: Joy comes from wise and rigorous work (5:12 y, 18-20 z).
2:11 aa meaningless ... nothing really worthwhile: Accomplishment only brings hopelessness and discouragement because the accomplishment itself has no lasting meaning (2:18-23 ab).
Summary for Eccl 2:12-23: 2:12-23 ac The Teacher now looks at the value of wisdom (2:12-17 ad) and hard work (2:18-23 ae). These, too, are “meaningless” (2:17 af). 2:12 ag who can do this better than I, the king? No one after the Teacher will have any better perspective for comparing wisdom and folly because nothing new will be done under the sun (1:9-10 ah).
Summary for Eccl 2:13-14: 2:13-14 ai Wisdom is better than foolishness: Wisdom has value in navigating life successfully. It cannot, however, save one from the fate of death or provide meaning (2:15-16 aj).
Summary for Eccl 2:15-16: 2:15-16 ak If both the wise and the foolish will die, what advantage is there in being wise? Since the lives of both wise and foolish people are fleeting, the conclusion is that all is meaningless.
• both will be forgotten: Those who follow us will not remember us or our accomplishments, so our efforts will come to nothing (cp. 1:11 al; 9:13-16 am).
Summary for Eccl 2:17-20: 2:17-20 an The Teacher came to hate life because of its griefs (1:18 ao), toils (2:18 ap), and apparent futility (2:19-20 aq).
2:19 ar Foolish, destructive successors are more of a threat to wise accomplishments than wise successors, but since the Teacher couldn’t tell what kind of successors he would have, his accomplishments were meaningless to him. Solomon’s immediate successor—his son Rehoboam—turned out to be foolish (see 1 Kgs 12:1-20 as).
2:21 at work wisely with knowledge and skill: Skill in work is an expression of wisdom (e.g., see Exod 31:1-5 au).
• leave the fruit ... to someone who hasn’t worked for it: A person who has little personal investment tends to waste it or take foolish risks.
Summary for Eccl 2:24-26: 2:24-26 av Though life “under the sun” (1:3 aw) is like a vapor (2:23 ax, “meaningless”), we should enjoy God’s good gifts of food, work, and wisdom. 2:24 ay pleasures are from ... God: No one should discount God’s gifts, including the basic enjoyment of food and work. If God did not give them, they would not be available. We can be thankful and satisfied.
2:26 az If a sinner becomes wealthy, it is meaningless to him because God takes the wealth away.
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