Ecclesiastes 4:1 Then I returned and considered all the oppression that is done under the sun: And look! The tears of the oppressed, But they have no comforter. On the side of their oppressors there is power, but they have no comforter. 2 Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are still alive. 3 Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.
Power is in the hands of the oppressor. There is no one to help the victim under the sun. The phrase "they have no comforter" (4:1)... is to suggest the absence of God. “This was Job’s doleful case, and David’s, Psa 69:21 and the Church’s in the Lamentations. Lam 1:2… This was one of Sodom’s sins, Eze 16:49 and of those epicures in Amos. Amo 6:6 The king and Haman sat drinking in the gate; but the whole city of Shushan was in heaviness. Est 3:15.” (John Trapp) "Jeremiah deplores the fact that … (many) Israelites ‘have no comforter’ (Lam 1:2, 9,17,21) He cries precisely because God, who was supposed to be their Comforter, is not there… ‘For these things I weep; my eye, my eye overflows with water; because the comforter, who should restore my life, is far from me. My children are desolate because the enemy prevailed.’ (Lam 1:16) In biblical tradition, God is called ‘the Comforter’ (Isa 51:12; 66:13).
One classic text that represents God as the Comforter is Psalm 23:4b—'You are with me; Your [correcting] rod and Your [guiding] staff, they comfort me.'" (Jacques B Doukhan)
“’Therefore I praised the dead who were already dead, more than the living who are still alive.’ (2)The dead who were already dead is an interesting phrase. It implies that there are the dead who are not yet dead – the living dead, so to speak. They walk this earth and have biological life, but their spirit and soul seem dead.” (David Guzik)
“‘Yet, better than both is he who has never existed, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.’ (3) This is not an expression of unbelieving pessimism, but a statement of fact which will cause the believers to turn all the more eagerly to the comforts of the Christian religion.” (Paul E Kretzmann) “Solomon was not singular in this opinion: a voice from heaven proclaimed the same, Revelation 14:13 . But, Reader! it is blessed to live, or die; provided we live, or die, in the Lord. Paul's situation was the desirable one: Philippians 1:21.” (Robert Hawker) Compare Job 3:11; 6:2; Exodus 32:32; 1 Kings 19:4; Jeremiah 20:14; Jonah 4:3 and Ps. 69:20. "This kind of desire to be like them, can arise at the sight of the great misery in which men find themselves.” (G. de Koning)
Of the still born and all dead under the age of accountability. “Their eternal destiny is sure and certain. In this respect, the unborn are better off than those who are born.” (Gary H. Everett) “Wherefore I praised the dead more than the living, who are robbed, fleeced, and exposed to incessant afflictions, from oppression and war. Solomon alludes to extreme cases, such as our Saviour foretold would befall the Jews in their revolt against the Romans; when men should say, ‘Blessed are the breasts that never gave suck.’ The like times were foretold… that men should seek death, and it should flee from them. Revelation 9:6.” (Joseph Sutcliffe)
“It was not simply the tears and the power imbalance but rather the fact that no one came alongside the oppressed to comfort them that was so painful.”(Baker Bible Commentary) “But there is a Comforter for the having! He is the One who was Himself ‘oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not open His mouth.-By oppression and judgment He was taken away. And who can speak of His descendants? For He was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people He was stricken’ (Isa 53:7,8). IN HIS OPPRESSION – AND IN HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION -- HE PROVIDES COMFORT FOR THOSE WHO ARE THEMSELVES OPPRESSED: ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls’ (Mat 11:28,29).” (Christadelphian Book on Ecclesiastes)
Eccl 4:4 And I saw that all toil and all achievement spring from one person’s envy of another. This too is meaningless, a chasing after the wind.5 Fools fold their hands and ruin themselves. 6 Better one handful with tranquillity than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.
“‘Again, I considered all travail,’ that resulted from the curse, “‘and every right work,’ all the worthy designs of virtuous men,’ (Joseph Benson) Here are men that believe in Jesus. “Thank God! there have ever been such men--generous, disinterested, broad-hearted, God-inspired men--men who are doing the ‘right work.’ They are the ‘salt’ of the State; remove them, and all is putrescence. How are these men treated by society? Here is the answer.”(Biblical Illustrator)— “‘that for this a man is envied of his neighbour.’ Cain did Abel. “Joseph was persecuted by his brothers because they envied him (Gen 37:11). Jesus was sent to the cross ‘because of envy’ (Matt 27:18). Even the violent conflicts of Israel were related to envy (Isaiah 11:13).” (Jacques B Doukhan)“The more perfect that the work is, the more it is envied by the wicked.” (Geneva Study Bible) “This is also vanity and vexation of spirit” (4, KJV)
“The garment of righteousness, parti-coloured with all variety of graces, is a great eyesore to the wicked, and makes the saints maligned.” (John Trapp)
“‘Fools fold their hands’ etc. These believers turn back and are “careless and idle: perceiving that diligence is attended with envy, he runs into the other extreme.” (Joseph Benson)— “’and ruin themselves.’ (5) to their own ruin (literally “and eats his own flesh”) i. e., ‘Destroys himself:’ compare a similar expression in Isaiah 9:20; Isaiah 49:26; Psalms 27:2; Micah 3:3.” (Albert Barnes) “In extremity it signifies death.” (Peter Pett)
“But if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.” (Matthew 5:13)
“Better (is) an handful (with) quietness, than both the hands full (with) travail. Hebrew, one open hand (palm) full of quietness, [seeking that Bread from above]— “’than both closed hands (fists) full of (what seems wealth, but which is really) travail.” (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown) “If we read these verses “in reference to a soul in grace, the handful only with Jesus, yea, the cup of cold water which Jesus gives, is blessed. This is what the apostle calls, having nothing, and yet possessing all things. 2 Corinthians 6:10 .” (Poor Man’s Commentary)
Eccl 4:7 Then I returned, and I saw vanity under the sun: 8 There is one alone, without companion: He has neither son nor brother. Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches. But he never asks, "For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?" This also is vanity and a grave misfortune. 9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. 11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
“‘Then I returned, and I saw (another example of) vanity (temporal nature of things) under the sun (in this life).’
“There is one alone, without companion: he has neither son nor brother.’ “The spectacle of a prosperous man whose condition is rendered vain by his brotherless, childless isolation.” (Barnes) “Despite the popularity of these verses as a wedding text, they refer rather to one’s needs during a (spiritual) journey: assistance after falling (4:10), warmth when sleeping (4:11), and backup when attacked (4:12).”(The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary)
“’Yet there is no end to all his labors, nor is his eye satisfied with riches’ (8a) “Then Peter answered and said to Him, ‘See, we have left all and followed You. Therefore what shall we have?’ So Jesus said to them, ‘Assuredly I say to you, that in the regeneration, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of His glory, you who have followed Me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands, for My name's sake, shall receive a hundredfold, and inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.’” (Matt 19:27-30)”— “But he never asks, ‘For whom do I toil and deprive myself of good?’ etc. (8b) Society is preferable to solitariness; conversation with a friend is better than to be always alone; the Targum is, ‘two righteous men in a generation are better than one.'” (John Gill) Joshua must have his Caleb... David his Jonathan and Ruth her Naomi.
“‘Two are better than one,’ (9a) They divide the cares and duties of life. When grief afflicts the one, there is a bosom of comfort at hand: the torrent is diminished when the stream is divided." (Joseph Sutcliffe) "Thus Jesus sends the disciples out by twos: Luke 10:1. And those who went about preaching the gospel traveled in pairs (Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, Barnabas and Mark), and sometimes larger groups.… Two working together can often accomplish more than the same two can working separately- sometimes an extra pair of hands, or an extra perspective on a problem, can surmount a problem that might stymie one person. ‘As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’ (Pro 27:17)…” (Christadelphian Book)—
“‘because they have a good reward for their labor.’ (9b)- that is, heavenly reward. “Instead of aiming at purely selfish ends, pursue your ends in common. Indeed the wise Hebrew Preacher anticipates the Golden Rule to a remarkable extent, and, in effect, bids us love our neighbour as our self, look on his things as well as our own, and do to all men as we would that they should do to us.” (Expositor's Bible Commentary)
“‘For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up.’ (10) Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ’ (Gal 6:1,2; cp Job 4:4; Jam 5:14). But the man, or woman, who walks alone may have no one who is even aware of his or her spiritual problem, and no one to offer a gentle helping hand -- when a moral crisis looms, or an overwhelming temptation or trial pushes the believer to the brink. It is good to have those who know our faults and our weaknesses.” (Christadelphian Book) “Because Satan is readiest to assault when none is by to assist. Solitariness, therefore, is not to be affected, because it is 'the hour of temptation.'" (John Trapp) or time of Jacob's trouble, even yours.
“‘Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone?’ (11)"The reference here is…to travelers. Nights in Palestine are cold, especially in winter; and a lone traveler will sleep close to his donkey for warmth.”(International Critical Commentary) “The image is..applies universally to the warm sympathy derived from social ties. So Christian ties (Acts 28:15- 'And the brethren, when they heard about us, came from there as far as the Market of Appius and Three Inns to meet us; and when Paul saw them, he thanked God and took courage.').” (Jamieson, Faussett, Brown)
“‘Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.’ (12a) “Two men traveling through a dangerous place may each watch the other's back- so as not to be surprised by ambush. (cp 2Sa 10:11).— “‘And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.’ (12b) It was going out in pairs until this verse. “Now, almost incongruously, the writer introduces a third. If two are good, then three can be so much better! It may be that, especially now, when the two become three -- it is not by the added help of a third weak human being, but because God Himself (or His Son, as His representative) has become the ‘third’ in the relationship. So now the writer has elevated what might have been only a natural relationship to the level of a spiritual one. Once the Divine is introduced into this friendship and companionship, now such a ‘cord’ is surely unbreakable. Each of the two human, mortal beings can look to the Third, who wraps them round, and binds them together, and strengthens them out of all proportion above what they might have been and done by themselves.” (Christadelphian Book)
Eccl 4:13 Better a poor and wise youth than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more. 14 For he comes out of prison to be king, although he was born poor in his kingdom. 15 I saw all the living who walk under the sun; they were with the second youth who stands in his place. 16 There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.
“Solomon was himself a king [of Israel], and therefore may be allowed to speak more freely than another concerning the vanity of kingly state and dignity, which he shows here to be an uncertain thing; he had before said so (Prov 27:24, ‘The crown doth not endure to every generation’), and his son found it so.” (Matthew Henry) — > He only inherited a limited number of the tribes of Israel due to Solomon’s sins. “Crowns [and providence over the people of Israel, particularly] seem the most substantial goods, yet they are held by a precarious tenure, and cumbered with much vanity and vexation of spirit." (Thomas Coke) Solomon speaks of nothing new under the sun... only times and seasons and loss due to sin. He now he proceeds to chasten himself, as well as the future rulers of Israel and, perhaps prophetically, to console his future countrymen men in bondage, who could not forget their own loss of dominion.
“‘Better a poor and wise youth,’ such as was Joseph, David, Daniel, and his three comrades, etc.; apt to learn, ready to receive instruction, and as careful to follow it.” (John Trapp) — “‘than an old and foolish king who will be admonished no more.’ (13)— “who no longer knows how to take advice.” (Ber) “He was, in some measure, accessible to the instruction of others (particularly the prophets) in respect of what was wanting to him; but now in his advanced age he is hardened in his folly, bids defiance to all warning counsel, and undermines his throne.” (Keil & Delitzsch) “‘Wisdom’ is demonstrated and acquired by being willing to listen to wise advice (Proverbs 1:7; 9:9; 18:2; 22:17; 23:12; James 1:19,21).” (Dunagan's Commentary)
“’For he comes out of prison to be king,’ (14a) In the history of God’s people there are “many instances of mean persons raised to sovereign authority, and of kings being reduced to the meanest offices, and to a morsel. Agrippa mounted the throne of Israel after having been long in prison.” (R. A. Torrey)— “’although he was born poor in his kingdom.’ (14b) David was the smallest son of Jesse and was poor in spirit, yet was found to be a man after God’s own heart. In contrast, Solomon “had played the part of the foolish king, and the youthful supplanter is Jeroboam, who was exiled to Egypt (1 Kings 11:26-40). ‘To realize that one can rise from unlikely circumstances (from the lowest of circumstances) to become king, to supplant one who already has control, demonstrates the lack of security of life even in the highest office in the land, even in the days of absolute rulers’ (Kidwell p. 106).” (Dunagan's Commentary)
Yahweh “changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise And knowledge to those who have understanding.” (Daniel 2:21) “And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings.” (Acts 17:26)
“‘I saw (vision) all the living who walk under the sun;’ (15a) This verse, according to which ‘all the living which walk under the sun’ fall to the share of the upstart, shows that the circumstances on which the description is founded, are not those of any petty state, but of the great universal monarchies of Asia, which took particular pleasure in identifying themselves with the entire orbis terrarum. Compare Daniel 4, where the tree, which signifies the kingdom of Nebuchadnezzar, stands ‘in the midst of the earth,’ and spreads itself out ‘to the end of all the earth,’ ‘all flesh’ was nourished from it, and where Daniel in giving to Nebuchadnezzar the explanation of the vision says—‘thy dominion reacheth to the end of the earth.’” (Hengstenberg's Commentary)— “’they were with the second youth who stands in his place.’ They were released only to be controlled by the next younger world ruler.
“The one who breaks open will come up before them; they will break out, pass through the gate, and go out by it; their king will pass before them, with the Yahweh at their head.” (Micah 2:13) “’There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king, yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him.’ “The very fickleness of the people will sometimes be enough to bring about revolutions in the state.” (Thomas Coke) "’But after you shall arise another kingdom inferior to yours." Another kingdom- "That of the Persians, fitly set forth by silver (Daniel 2:32), for their exceeding great wealth mentioned by many heathen authors. The two silver arms are the Medes and Persians, meeting both in Cyrus, as the two arms do in the breast." ( John Trapp)- " then another, a third kingdom of bronze (Greece), which shall rule over all the earth...’ (Daniel 2:39) ending in Rome and its little horn. "'Surely this also is vanity and grasping for the wind.' The practical conclusion for Israel is—‘Why vexest thou thyself about a handful of vanity, when God bestows on thee unchanging treasures? If the pound is thine surely thou mayst let the farthing go.’… ” (Hengstenberg's Commentary)
“You watched while a stone was cut out without hands,
which struck the image on its feet of iron and clay,
and broke them in pieces.”
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