The Pulpit Commentary — Ecclesiastes — Section 263

Le.tin yc11erosus, e.s "son of strength," e~ui va- ointments; but they are not grieved for the lent to "strong mnn; " "son of wicked- affliction of Joseph." "Moch slothfolness" ness," equivalent to "wiclrncl me.n;" but is expressed in the original by a dual form, the phrase may well be taken literally. which gives nn intensive signification. Koheleth (ver. 7) has expressed his disgust Ewald e.nd Ginsburg take it as referring to at the ex11ltati.on of unworthy slaves to high the "two idle hancls;" but the intensifica- positions; he here intimates his adherence to tion of the dual is not unprecedented (see the idea that those who descend from noble pelitzsch, in loc.). The rest of this clause ancestors, and have been educated in the 1s more accurately rendered, the rafter, higher ranks of society,-are more likely to sink, i.e. the timber framework, whether of prove o. blessing. to their Jund than upstarta roof or wall, gives way. Thi~ may po.~sibly who have been placed by caprice or favourit- not be noticetl e.t once, but it makes it..self Jsm in situations of trust and eminence. Of known unmistakably ere long. And through course, H is not universally true that men idleness of the hands the house droppeth of high birth make good rulers; but proverbs through; rather, the house leaketh, the roof ·or general tenor must not be pressed in par- lets in the rain. Septuagint, 'Ev lip-yi'f xopwv ticulars, and the author must be understood <TT4(fl .;, al1<i«, " Through laziness of hancls to offirrn that the fact of having distinguished the houso will drip." The ,ery imperfect anoest.ors is e.n: incentive to right action, constrnetion of tho fiat roofs of Eastern stirs e. worthy emulation in a me.n, gives houses demanded continual e.ttcnlion. Ruch him a motive which is wanting in the low- common and annoying occurrences as a knky born parvenu. ·'£he feeling, noblesse oblige, roof e.re mentioned iu the Book of Pl'Overbs has- preserved many from baseness (comp. (see xix. 13; xxvii. 15). Plautus, 'Mostell.,' John viii. 39). : Thy prinoes eat in due i. 2. 28- season; not like those mentioned in ver. 16, but in tempore., · ..-pbs «a.,p&v, .at the right "Ventat imber, lnvit parietes; perpluunt time, tbe " season" which e.ppertuins to nil Tigna; pulrefaoit oer operam fe.bri." muncle.ne things (eh. iii.1-8), For strength, "The re.in comes down, and we.shes nil the and not for drunkenness. The preposition wa.lls, ::i here is taken e.s expressing the object- The roof is leaky, nnd the weather rough they ee.t ,to gain strength, not to indulge Loosens tb~ a.rchitect's most skilful work." sensuality ; but it is more in accordance with usage to translate "in, or with, manly Ver. 19.-A fee.st·•is made for laughter, strength," i.e. as man's strength demands, e.nd wine maketh merry. Here is e. cau~e and not degenerating into n carouse. If it of the dece.y spoken of above. The rulers is thought incongruous, ns Ginsburg deems, spend in revelry an<l debauchery the time to s11y, "princes eat for druukenness," we e.nd energy which they ought to give to may take drunkenness as denoting excess e.ffaira of stnte. More literally, for merri- of any kind.·· The word in the form here ment they make bi·ead, and wine [that] cheereth used occurs.nowhere else.. The Septuagint, Ufe; i.e. they use God's good gifts of bread regarcling rather the consequences of intoxi- and wine I\B means of intemperance e.nd cotion than the actuJil word iu the. text, thoughtless pleasure. So e. psalmist speaks renders, Kal ol,,c a.1uxvv6.;,uoY'Ta.1, " And they of wine as mnkiug glad the heart of rue.n eholl not be nshamed," • Thus, too, St. (Pa. civ. 15); o.nd Ben-Sim so.ye, "Wino is Jerome, Et non in ccmfusione. St. Augustine e.s good as life to o. man, if it be drunk (' De Civit,,' xvii. 20) deduces from this moderately: whnt life is there to o. mon passage that there aro two kingdoms-,-tho.t that is without wine? for it wa.s created to of Christ ancl that of the devil, and he make men glacl. Wino mensurttbly drunk explains the allegory at some length, going and iu se:ison bringeth gladnes~ of the into details which o.re of homiletic utility. hee.rt, and cheerfulness of the mind" (Ecclus. Another interpretation is given by St. xxxi. [xxxiv.J 27, 28). But money answereth Jerome, quoted at length by Com. a Lapide, all things; i.e. grants all that suoh persons iu his copious commentary. want. lt requires money to provide rich Ver. 18,-,-By much sloth.fulneBB the build- food e.nd costly wines ; this they possess, ing deoayeth. The subject is still the state. e.nd they o.re thus able to indulge their Under the image of o. house which falls into appetites to the utmost. It concerns them ruin for lo.ck of needful repairs, is signified not how suoh resources are obtained-won the decay iho.t surely overtakes a kingdom by extortion frow a starving people, exacted whose rulers o.re given up to indolence in exorbitant taxation, pillaged by unscru- and debauchery, and neglect to attend to pulous instruments; they waut golol to ex- the e.tfairswhioh requiro prompt cnre(comp. pend on their lusts, and they get it some- Amos ix. 11), Such were they whom Amos how, nod with it all th11t in their view (vi. 6) denounced, "That drink wine in m11kes life worth living. Commentators cite bowls, and o.uoint tbemsdvce with the chief Ilornce,' Ep.,' i. G. 36, "Soilioct uxorcm," etc. 256 ECCLESIASTES; OR, THE PREACHER. (on. x. 1-20.