The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 153

CHAPTER VI. (Luke xii. 19) the rich fool says to his soul, "Soul, thou hast much goods la.id up for Vers.1-6.-Section 9. Koheleth proceeds many years." In the supposed case the man to illustrate the fact which he stated a.t the is able to procure for himself everything end of the last chapter, viz. tha.t the posses- which he wants ; he.s no occasion to deny himself the gratification of any rising desire. sion a.nd enjoyment of wealth are a.like the All this comes from Go<l's bounty; but free gift of God. We may see men possessed something more is wanted to bring happi- of e.11 the gifts of fortune, yet denied the ness. Yet God giveth him not power to ea.t faculty of enjoying them. Hence we again thereof. "To eat" is used in a. metaphorical oonclude the.t wealth cannot secur~ happinesa. sense for "to enjoy," take e.dve.nte.ge of, mo.ke due 11110 of (see on eh. ii. 21). The ability to Ver. 1.-There is an evil whioh I have enjoy e.11 these good things is wanting, either seen Ullder the sun. The writer presents his from discontent, or moroseness, or sickness, persona.I experience, that which he.a fallen or e.s a punishment for secret sin. But e. Ullder his own observation ( comp. eh. v. 13; stranger ee.teth it. The " stranger " (nokri) x. 5). And it is common among men. Rab, is not the lego.l heir, but e.n nlien to the translated "common," like 'll'oll.lis in Greek, possessor's blood, neither relation nor even ie used of number a.nd of degree; hence necessarily e. friend. For o. childless Oriental there ill some doubt about its meaning here. to adopt an heir is n common custom o.t The Septno.gint has 'll'O>.Af/, the Vulgute the present <le.y. The wish to continue 11, frequens. Te.king into account the faot family, to leave ans.me nn,l inheritance to that the circumstance stated fa not one of children's children, was very strong lllllOUg genero.1 experience, we must receive the the Hebrews-a.11 the stronger as the life adjective in its tropical signification, o.nd \ beyond the gmve was dimly apprehended. render, And it ia great [lies heavily) upon Abraham expressed this feeling when he men. Comp. eh. viii. 6, where the same sadly cried, "I go childlel!,S, e.n<l he that word is used, and the preposition ',p is rather aha.II be possessor of my house is Da.mmesek "upon" the.n "among" (Isa. xxiv. 20). Eliezer '' (Gen. xv. 2). The evils o.re two- Ver. 2.-A man to whom God he.th given that this greo.t fortune brings no hnppiness riohes, wealth, and honour. Thill iij the to its possessor; e.nd th11t it pusses to one evil to which reference is me.do. Two of the who is nothing to him. An evil disease; words here given, "riches" nnd "honour," dN,.,nla. 'll'OIIT/pll, Septuagint, an evil as bad are those used by God in blessing Solomon ns the diseases spoken of in Dout. xxviii. in tho vision e.t Gibeon (1 Kings iii. 13); 27, 28. but e.11 three are employed in the parallel Ver. 3.-If a. man beget an hundred chil- pwiea.ge (2 Chron. i.11). So that he wll!1teth dren. Another case is supposed, differing nothing for his soul of ~ that h~ desueth. from the preceding one, where the rich mlln "His soul" i11 the man b1mself, hlS peroon- dies childleSB. Septuagint, 'E/tv -y.vv{,...,, avi,p 11,lity, u Ps. Jtlix, 19. So in tho parable i1ta.-r&v. " Sons," or "children," must be  138 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREA.OHER. [OH. VI, 1-:-12.