The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 107

trnYellers nre making their wny over a rough pitur, the Vulgate rendering, hns beoomo" road-an experience that every one must have trite s11ying; and the gnome h11s been con- had in Palestine. Vulgate, Si unus ceciderit. stantly npplied in a mystical or spiritual Of course, if both fell at the same time, one sense, with whiob, originally and humnnly could nnt help the other. Commentators speaking, it hoe no concern. Herein is seen quote Homer, 'Iliad,' x. 220-226, thus an adumbration of tile doctrine of the Holy rendered by Lord Derby- Trinity, the Eternal Three in One; of the " K cstor. that heart is mine; I dare alone three Christiun virtues, faith, hope, and ~nter the hostile camp, so close at hand ; charity, which go to make·the Christian life; let were one comrade giv'n me, I should go of the Christian's body, soul, and spirit, which \Yith more of comfort, more of confidence. are consecrated RB a temple of the Most High. Where two combine, one before other sees Vera. 13-16.-High place offers no as- The better course; and ev'n though one surance of security. A king's popularity is alone The readiest way discover, yet would be never permanent; he is supplanted by some His judgment slower, hfa decision less." clever young aspirant for a. time, whose in- Woe to him that is alone. The same inter- fluence in turn soon evaporates, and the sub- jection of sorrow, •~• occurs in eh. x. 16, but ject-people reap no benefit from the change. elsewhere only in late Hebrew. The verse Ver. 13.-Better is a poor and wise ohild may be applied to moral falls as well RB to than an old and foolish king. The. word stumbling at natural obstacles. Brother translated "child" (yeled), is used sometimes helps brother to resist temptation, while of one beyond childhood (see Gen. xu:. 26:: many have failed when tried by isolation who xxxvii. 30 ; 1 Kings xii. 8), so here it may would have manfully withstood if they had be rendered "youth." Misken, ,r,v'l,s (Sep- had the countenance and support of others. tuagint), pauper (Vulgate), "poor," is found " Clear before us through the darkness also at eh. ix. 15, 16, and nowhere else; but Gleams and bnrns the guiding light; the root, with an analogous signification, Brother clasps the hand of brother, occurs at Dent. viii. 9 and Isa. xl. 20. The Stepping fearless through the night." clause says that a youth who is clever and adroit, though sprung from a. sordid origin, Ver. 11.-The first example of the advan- is better off than a king who has not learned tage of companionship spoke of the aid and wisdom wHh his years, and who, it is after- 6llpport that are thus given; the present wards implied, is dethroned by this young Yerse tells of the comfort thus brought. lf man. Who will no more be admonished; two lie together, then they have heat. better, as iu the Revised Version, who The winter nights in Palestine nre com- k11owetl1 not how to receive admonition a11y paratively cold, ancl when, as in the case of more. Age has only fossilized his self-will the poorer inhabitants, the outer garment ancl obstinocy; and though he wns once worn by day was used as the only blanket open to advice and hearkened to reproof, he during sleep (Exod. xxii. 26, 27), it was a now bears no contradiction e.ncl takes no cowfort to have the additional warmth of counsel. Septuagint, •or ob" f.yvc., 'Toii ,rporr- a friend lying under the same coverlet. •x"v fr,, " Who knows uot how to take Solomon could have had no such experience. heed any longer;" which is pe1·l1aps similar Ver. 12.-The third instance shows the to the Vulgate, Qui nescit praividere fa value of the protection affol'decl by a com- poslerurn, " Who knows not how to look panion's presence when danger tlireatene. forward to the future." The words will If one prevail against him, two shall with- bear this translation, and it accords with stand him; better, if a man overpower the one view of the author's meaning (see solitary ooe, the two (ver. 9) will withstand below); but that given above is more him. The idea of the traveller is continued. suitable to the interpretation of the para- If he were attacked by robbers, he would graph which approves itself to us. The be easily overpowered when alone; but two sentence is of general import, and may be coniradee might successfully resist the assault. ill ustratecl by a paesago from the Book of And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. Wi,;,lom (iv. 8, 9), "Honourable age is not This is probal.ily a proverbial sayiug, like that which stau<leth in length of time, nor our "Union is strength.'' Hereby the e.rl- that is mcusul'ed by length of years. But vanfoge of association is more strongly wisdom iB the grey huir unto men, and au c1ifr,rcr,d. If the companionship of two is unspotted life b old age.'' So Cicero, 'Do p,.,fitable, much more is this the case when Senect.,' xviii. 62, "Non cani neo · rugw rnr,r,, comLinc. The cord of three strands repente auctoritatem arripere possunt, sod was the stron.,est made. The number tltroo honeijte acta superior mtas fruotus cnpit is use~ us th~ symbol of completeness and u.uctoritatis extremos." Some havo thought perfect10n. Funiculus triplez dijftcile rum- that Solomon is here speaking of himself, en. 1v. 1-16.] ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. 91