Ecclesiastes 2:12-23
Summary for Eccl 2:12-23: 2:12-23 a The Teacher now looks at the value of wisdom (2:12-17 b) and hard work (2:18-23 c). These, too, are “meaningless” (2:17 d). 2:12 e 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 f).Summary for Eccl 2:13-14: 2:13-14 g 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 h).
Summary for Eccl 2:15-16: 2:15-16 i 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 j; 9:13-16 k).
Summary for Eccl 2:17-20: 2:17-20 l The Teacher came to hate life because of its griefs (1:18 m), toils (2:18 n), and apparent futility (2:19-20 o).
2:19 p 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 q).
2:21 r work wisely with knowledge and skill: Skill in work is an expression of wisdom (e.g., see Exod 31:1-5 s).
• 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.
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