Ecc 3:16-17 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Eccl 3:16-5:7: 3:16–5:7 This section comments on a variety of topics, including justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship. 3:16 courtroom (literally the place of justice ): In Israel, local court proceedings were held at the city gates, where the city’s elders sat to hear and adjudicate legal matters (e.g., see Ruth 4:1-12 ).

a3:16–5:7►

cRuth 4:1-12►

‏ Ecclesiastes 3:16-17

Summary for Eccl 3:16-5:7: 3:16–5:7 ^a This section comments on a variety of topics, including justice, humans and animals, oppression, moderation, companionship, politics, and worship. 3:16 ^b courtroom (literally the place of justice): In Israel, local court proceedings were held at the city gates, where the city’s elders sat to hear and adjudicate legal matters (e.g., see Ruth 4:1-12 ^c).
3:17 ^d In due season God will judge: Human injustices (3:16 ^e) are temporary and will be righted by God’s justice. The narrator repeats this point to close the entire book (12:14 ^f).