has tried his hand at this work, and the difference of the results aniv(;d at is at once a proof of the difficulty of the subject. Between the idea, on the one hand, that the book is a rough mass of materials, without form, argument, or method, and that which regards it as a well-balanced poem, with strophes and antistrophes, etc., there is wide scope for disagreement and dispute. Rejecting as arbitrary and unwarranted the transposition of verses, to which some critics have had recourse, we note a few of the most feasible arrangements offered by those who recognize the unity of the work, and the existence of a. central idea which throughout is kept more or less prominently in view. Many divide the book into four parts. Thus Zockler, Keil, and Vaihinger: I. eh. i., ii.; II. eh. iii.-v.; III. eh. vi.1-viii. 15; IV. eh. viii. 16-xii. 7; epilogue, eh. xii. 8-14. So Ewald, except that his second division comprises eh. iii. 1-vi. 9. M'Clintock and Strong: I. cb. i., ii.; II. eh. iii. 1-vi. 9; Ill. eh. vi. 10-viii. 15; IV. eh. viii. 16--xii. 8. According to Tyler, the work separates into two chief parts-the first, cb. i. 2-vi. 12, being the negative side, exhibiting the author's disappoint- ments I the second, eh, vii. 1-xii. 8, the positive side, giving the philosophy of the matter, with some practical rules of life. Kleinert, in Herzog and Plitt's 'Real-Encyclop.,' analyzes thus: I. eh. i. l 2- ii. 23, inductive proof of vanity from experience; II. eh. ii. 24-iii. 22, God's ordering; III. eh. iv.-vi., a collection of shorter sentences, expressing partly the result of I. and II.; IV. eh. vii. 1-ix. 10; V. eh. ix. 11-xii. 8. Ginsburg gives, prologue, four sections, and epilogue, viz. : prologue, eh. i. 2 - 11 ; I. eh. i. 12-ii. 26; II. eh. iii. 1-v. 19; III. eh. vi. I-viii. 15; IV. eh. viii. 16-xii. 7; epilogue, eh. xii. 8-14. From the above given details it will be seen that it is no easy matter to systematize the treatise, and to force it into logical periods. It was plainly never intended to be so taken, and cannot, without violence, be made to assume precise regularity. There is, indeed, no designed plan; it has a theme which gives it consistency and adherence; but, satisfied with this central idea, the author allows himself a certain liberty of treatment, and often branches off into collateral subjects. We think, however, that it con- tains two main divisions, the first of which conveys the extended proof of the vanity of earthly things, obtained by personal experience and obser- vation; while the second deduces certain practical conclusions from the previous considerations, presenting warnings, counsels, and rules of life. Taking this view, we divide the book in the following manner :- TITLE of the book. Cb. i. 1. PROLOGUE. Vanity of earthly things, and their oppressive monotony. Ch. i. 2-11. DIVISION I. Proof of the vanity of earthly things from personal experience and geueral observation. Ch. i. 12-vi. 12. Section 1. Vanity of striving after wisdom and knowledge. Ch. i. 12-18. Section 2. Vanity of striving after pleasure and wealth. Ch. ii. 1-11. Section 3. Vanity of wisdom, in view of the fate that awaits the wise and the fool, and the uncertainty of the future. Ch. ii. 12-26. ECCLESIASTES, e ~ :--.xviii INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES; OH, THE PHEACIIEH.
Section 4. The impotence of man befol'e the providence of God, and the consequent duty to make the best of the present. Ch. iii. 1-22. Section 5. Things which interrupt or destroy men's lmppincs~, such as oppreeeiou, envy, 11sele8s toil, isolation, fickle populMity. Ch. iv. 1-16. Section 6. Yanity iu popular religion, worship, aud vows, Ch. v. 1-7. Section 7. Dangers in a despotic state, and the unprofitnuleness of wcalt.h, Ch. v. 8-17. Sect)on 8. Man_ should enjoy all the good which God gives him. Ch. v. 18-20. Sect10n 9. Yamty of wealth without power of enjoyincr0 it. Ch. vi. 1-6. Seotion 10. The insatiability of desire. Ch. vi. 7-9. Section 11. Man's short-sightedness and powerlessness aO'ainst0 Providence. Ch. vi. 10-12. D1v1sroN II. Deductions from the above-named experiences, with warnings and rules of life. Ch. vii. 1-xii. 8. Section 1. Practical rules of life set forth in proverbial form, recommending earp.e11t- ness in preference to frivolity. Ch. vii. 1-7. Section 2 ...True wisJom is shown in resignation to the ordering of God's providence, Ch. Vil, 8-14. Section 3. Warnings against excesses, and praise of the golden mean. Ch. vii.15-"-22. Section 4. Wickedness is folly; woman is the most evil thing in the world; man has perverted au originally good nature. Ch. vii. 23-29. Section 5. 'l'rue wisdom counsels obedience to the ruling powers, however oppressive, and submission to the decrees of Providence. Ch. viii. 1-9. Section 6. The difficulty concerning the prosperity of the evil and the misery of the righteous in this world: how to be solved and met. Ch. viii. 10-15. Section 7. The course of God's moral government is inexplicable. '!'he uncertainty of life and the certainty of death ought to lead man to make the best of the present. Ch. viii. 16-ix. 10. . Section 8. The issues and duration of life cannot be calculated upon. Ch. ix. 11, 12. Section 9. Wisdom is not always rewarded when it does good service. Ch. ix. 13-16. Section 10. Some proverbs concerning wisdom and folly. Ch. ix. 17, 18. Section 11. Wisdom is marred by the intrusion of a little folly. Ch. x. 1-3. Section 12. Illustration of wise conduct under capricious rulers. Ch. x. 4-7. Section 13. Proverbs intimating the benefit of prudence and caution. Ch. x. 8-11. Section 14. Contrast between words and acts of the wise man and of the fool. Ch. x. 12-15. . . .. Section 15. The misery of a state under a foolish ruler, and advice to subjects thus cursed. Ch. x. 16-20. Section 16. The first remedy for the perplexities of life: the duty of benevolence; one should do one's duty diligently, leaving results to God. Ch. xi. 1-6. Section 17. The ~econd is a cheerful and .contented spirit. Ch. xi. 7-9. Section 18. The third is piety practised in early life, and before the faculties are numbed by the approach of age. The last days of the olrl man arc graphically described under certain images and analogies. Ch,. xi. 10-xii .. 7. The book ends with the refrain, "All is vanity." Cb. xii. 8. EPILOGUE. Observations commendatory of the author, explaining his standpoint, the ohject of the book, and the grand conclusion to which it leads, Cb. xii. 9-14. . ' '
ECCLESIASTES OR, THE PREACIIER. I