Ecclesiastes10

Ecclesiastes10:1 Dead flies putrefy the perfumer's ointment, and cause it to give off a foul odor; so does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor. 2 A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left. 3 Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool. 4 If the spirit of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your post; for conciliation pacifies great offenses.

“”Dead flies’ (1a) Not without significance is it said, “Flies of death,” and not “dead flies.” They are little destroying agents to hasten decomposition of dead carcuses. “As in almost all parts of the world, flies are abundant in Palestine. One of the most numerous is the common housefly (Musca domestica), found chiefly around dung heaps and garbage. The female lays her eggs, out of which emerge white maggots that feed on refuse. After a few days the maggot develops into a cocoon out of which emerges the adult housefly.…The fourth plague in Egypt just before the exodus featured ‘swarms of flies’ (Ex 8:21-31, NLT; cf. Pss. 78:45; 105:31)…. The maggots mentioned in Job 25:6 and Isaiah 14:11 and the worms in Exodus 16:24 and Job 7:5 and 17:14 were probably fly larvae. A proverb quoted in Ecclesiastes 10:1 probably refers to the housefly.” (Tyndale Commentary) The fly is also referred to in Isaiah 7:18 where it comes from Egypt to feast after a judgment in Israel. “The effect described is not produced by flies as such; but is so entirely connected with death.” (Hengstenberg)

King Ahaz was a wicked king of Judah who did not walk in the ways of his fathers, according to Commandments of God. (2 Kings 16:2-4) “Rezin the king of Aram and Pekah the king of Israel had marched against Judea and were even now at very the gates of Jerusalem... Ahaz is afraid. He’s decided his best option was to look for an ally that was big enough to help him defeat his enemies, and he believes the best candidate is to the north. He appeals to Tiglath Pileser, the King of the Assyrians, for help.” (A Son is given by Jeff Strite)

In chapter 7, Isaiah announced that both of these kings would fail but as judgment: “‘The LORD will bring the king of Assyria upon you and your people and your father's house— days that have not come since the day that Ephraim departed from Judah. And it shall come to pass in that day that the LORD will whistle for the fly that is in the farthest part of the rivers of Egypt, and for the bee that is in the land of Assyria. They will come, and all of them will rest in the desolate valleys and in the clefts of the rocks, and on all thorns and in all pastures.’ (Isa 7:17-19) The king of Assyria with great army will desolate the people of Israel and the flies of death came from Egypt. “‘The same day the Lord will shave with a hired razor, with those from beyond the River, with the king of Assyria, the head and the hair of the legs, and will also remove the beard.’ (Isa 7:20) This does not mean that God will shave himself, but that he will shave the land of his rebellious people. Shaving the hair of the feet, the head, and the beard simply means that nothing will be left. Judah is to be completely stripped. ‘It shall be in that day that a man will keep alive a young cow and two sheep; So it shall be, from the abundance of milk they give, that he will eat curds; for curds and honey everyone will eat who is left in the land.’ (Isa 7: 21-22) The scene pictured here is one of utter desolation." (Burton Coffman)

"'Flies of death of the wicked putrefy the perfumer's ointment (causes further decay and lessen of the ointment of joy), and cause it to give off a foul odor.’ (1a)

But that it serves only a subsidiary purpose is evident, because יבאיש does not suit any but the second clause. ‘To make to stink,’ is used elsewhere for ‘to make contemptible’ in Genesis 34:30, (cp. Exo 5:21).” (Hengstenberg)— And a main point is this: “’So does a little folly to one respected for wisdom and honor.’ (1b) And just as flies of death make the wayward children contemptible, so does a little folly to the wise ones. It only takes a little folly to make a man or woman contemptible to his neighbor and make his or her efforts to influence them rightly fail.

“‘A wise man's heart is at his right hand, but a fool's heart at his left.’ (2) “The designation proceeds from a different idea from that at Deuteronomy 5:32. ‘So you shall observe to do just as Yahweh your God has commanded you; you shall not turn aside to the right or to the left.’ That which lies to the right, as that lying at a man's right hand, is that to which his calling and duty point him; השׂ denotes, in the later Hebrew, ‘to turn oneself to the wrong side.’” (Keil & Delitzsch) So, wisdom and foolishness are connected to obedience or disobedience. “‘Even when a fool walks along the way, he lacks wisdom, and he shows everyone that he is a fool,’ (3) on the way which he goes, in his actions” (Hengstenberg) or in his mitzvahs or deeds. He has no regard for the Commandments Mitzvahs of the LORD God of Israel.

“If the spirit of the ruler (to wit, of the foolish ones) rises against you, do not leave your post;’ (4) - i. e., Do not lose thy self-control and quit his presence.” (Barnes)— “‘for conciliation pacifies great offenses.’ In the difficult circumstances in which they are placed, the people of God should be on their guard against irritability, which would inevitably tend to increase their sufferings: and further, they should carefully guard that precious treasure of calmness of soul which is his portion who sees the hand of God in everything, even in that which is hardest to bear, and resigns himself patiently and humbly to the Divine will.” (Hengstenberg)

“'For while it may feel magnificent to 'resign your post', ostensibly on principle but actually in a fit of pride, it is in fact less impressive, more immature, than it feels’ (Kidner p. 90). What is being observed here by God is the typical ‘human huff’.” (Dunagan's Commentary) “And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: ‘My son, do not despise the chastening of Yahweh, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom Yahweh loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.’ [Prov 3:11,12]” (Hebrews 12:5-6) Hereto I have reacted badly. There is some truth in criticism of others. “Chastisement for sin is a family mark, a sign of sonship, a proof of God’s love, a token of His Fatherly kindness and care.” (A. W. Pink) “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled.’ (Isaiah 8:12) But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” (1 Peter 3:14b-17)

Eccl 10:5 There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from the ruler: 6 Folly is set in great dignity, while the rich sit in a lowly place. 7 I have seen servants on horses, while princes walk on the ground like servants. 8 He who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever breaks through a wall will be bitten by a serpent. 9 He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. 10 If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success. 11 A serpent may bite when it is not charmed; the babbler is no different.

“‘There is an evil I have seen under the sun, as an error proceeding from the [foolish] ruler.’ (5) The rulers of this world, even in the church, often have no discretion or judgment in spiritual matters. They promote covenant breakers and demote covenant keepers, regarding them as contemptible. “Folly is set in great dignity,’ Rehoboam… chose as his advisors and appointees the senseless young fools with whom he had grown up in Solomon's harem.“ (Burton Coffman)— “‘while the rich [the foundation of the apostles and prophets] sit in a lowly place.’(6) James 2:5 ‘rich in faith,’ 1 Timothy 6:18 ‘rich in good works,’ Luke 12:21 rich to Godward.” (John Trapp) “‘I have seen servants on horses,’ The horse indicates pomp and triumph, as when Mordecai was honoured by Ahasuerus. Riding on horseback through the city, he was announced by the luckless Haman [whose plot had been discovered].” (Whedon's Commentary)——“while princes walk on the ground like servants.’ (7) degraded from their honour; banished from their thrones and palaces, or obliged to leave them, and reduced to the lowest state and condition: so David, when his son rebelled against him, and he was forced to flee from him, and walk on foot, 2 Samuel 15:30.” (John Gill)

We too must, with king David, cross over the Brook Kidron toward the way of the wilderness. (1 Samuel 15:23) "We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. For the bodies of those animals, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned outside the camp. Therefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city," etc. (Hebrews 13:1-14)

The following figures “seem to be taken from the work of building up and pulling down houses.” (Albert Barnes) “‘He who digs a pit will fall into it.’ (8a) “Haman's being hanged on the gallows he built for Mordecai is the classical example of what is meant by the first line.” (Burton Coffman)— “‘and whoever breaks through a wall [unto his neighbors property] will be bitten by a serpent.’ (8b) “‘He who quarries stones may be hurt by them, and he who splits wood may be endangered by it. If the ax is dull, and one does not sharpen the edge, then he must use more strength; but wisdom brings success.’ (9-10) "The axe may be symbolic of all implements used by men in the activities of their work [to self promotion]. When wisdom is not employed the maximum benefit of all implements is lessened.” (R. J. Kidwell)

Many attempt to pull down the old walls of moral and social justice—to undo the true religion in the house of God. Young and wild caucuses arise, even in religion, to supplant the faithful elders. “Respect the hedge. We covet the apple on the tree and forget the snake in the grass; the consequence being, that when we essay to bite the apple, the snake bites us. Now, there are many protective hedges about us; and the trouble is, that we are variously tempted to play tricks with these, and upon occasion to set them at naught.” (W. L. Watkinson) “They employed dangerous weapons which may, at any moment, be snatched from their hands and used against themselves. He who breaks through the boundaries of truth and right runs the risk of arousing indignant justice.” (Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary)

“‘A serpent may bite when it is not charmed;’ So did king Saul without the soothing of the harp of the littlest son of Jesse. So will thier co-conspirators that schemed with them. They are a brood of vipers. — “‘the babbler is no different.’ (11) The babbler's tongue is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison; and contradiction only makes it the more violent. We must find the way to keep him gentle.” (Matthew Henry) “The Holy Spirit is the ‘charmer’ and can prevent the evil of the wrong use of the tongue.” (G. de Koning) Let us not grieve this Helper.

Jesus walked among men but the time is coming and now is when He will come riding on a white horse (Revelation 19:11-16). “And the ax is aid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:10)

God's sharpened axe. “In the OT, God repeatedly cut off many Israelites and saved a remnant.” (D. A. Carson) The judgment will be universal. “God is about to cut off every impenitent soul - you must therefore either turn to God immediately or be utterly and finally ruined. It was customary with the prophets to represent the kingdoms, nations, and individuals, whose ruin they predicted, under the notion of forests and trees, doomed to be cut down. See Jeremiah 46:22, 23; Ezekiel 31:3, 11, 12.” (Adam Clarke) “The axe (Divine judgments) has not been applied as yet, but is ready for use, implying that ‘the trees’ were unfruitful, or of a bad kind. A striking declaration of imminent destruction. ‘Therefore,’ because of the position of the axe.—‘every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit.’ There may be blossoms, professions, and yet no fruit, or the fruit may be bad. — ‘if hewn down.’ Not ‘will be;’ the present tense represents a certain and immediate future action, or a general law of the ‘kingdom’ which John heralded. ‘into the fire,' (10) in continued figure, setting forth the effect, God’s wrath.” (Schaff's Popular Commentary) “God’s axe is ready to start work… and that He is ready to start cutting at the root of all the trees which do not produce good fruit (cp. Matthew 13:7-9). And once He has cut them down He will cast them into the fire. Fire is a favorite description of judgment throughout Scripture (cp. Matthew 7:19; 13:30; 13:42; 18:8-9; 22:7; 25:41; John 15:6; Amos 2:5; Amos 5:6; and often in the OT). Its searing heat destroys until nothing is left.” (Peter Pett) “This thorough judgment will result in the preservation of the believing Israelites and the destruction of the unbelieving (cf. Matt 25:31-46).” (Dr. Thomas B. Constable)

Eccl 10:12 The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious, but the lips of a fool shall swallow him up; 13 the words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness. 14 A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him? 15 The labor of fools wearies them, for they do not even know how to go to the city!

Hitherto, the deeds of the fool have shown his folly. Now it is his words. “‘The words of a wise man's mouth are gracious,’ Hebrew, Conciliating. They win upon the offended ruler, and incline him to clemency. 'But the lips of a fool shall swallow him up,' that is, shall “aggravate his case into utter hopelessness.” (Whedon's Commentary) “His discourses are ungracious and offensive to others (rulers), and therefore pernicious to himself.” (Joseph Benson) “Here it is mainly about what the result of their words is, their effect.” (G. de Koning) His words are are “self-destructive." (Keil & Delitzsch) “‘The words of his mouth begin with foolishness, and the end of his talk is raving madness.’ (13) The infatuated man would go from folly to frenzy, unless some wise friend should take up his cause, and, leaving the rash rebel in silence, plead for him with the monarch.” (Whedon's Commentary) “By the time the foolish babbler has finished talking, “he has committed himself to statements that are worse than silly, that are presumptuous, frenzied, indicative of mental and moral depravity. Intemperate language about the secrets of God's providence and the moral government of the world may be intended. Some think that the writer is still alluding to dangerous talk concerning a tyrannical ruler, seditious proposals, secret conspiracies, etc.” (The Pulpit Commentaries)

Spirit of prophecy- “If while he sojourned in the valley of vision he had actually heard the very harangues of our reigning demagogues to the convened populace; could he have more faithfully characterized either the speakers or the speeches? Whether in spoken or in printed addresses, whether in periodical journals or in yet cheaper implements of irritation, the ends are the same, the process is the same, and the same is their general line of conduct. On all occasions, but most of all and with a more bustling malignity whenever any public distress inclines the lower classes to turbulence and renders them more apt to be alienated from the government of their country in all places and at every opportunity pleading to the poor and ignorant, nowhere and at no time are they found actually pleading for them.” (Coleridge)

“’A fool also multiplies words. No man knows what is to be; who can tell him what will be after him?’ (14) “A fool also is full of words, a passionate fool especially, that runs on endlessly and never knows when to leave off. He will have the last word, though it be but the same with that which was the first. What is wanting in the weight and strength of his words he endeavours in vain to make up in the number of them.” (Matthew Henry) You don’t have to have an opinion about everything. “A foolish babbling man will talk on every subject, though he can say as little on the past, as he can on the future.” (Adam Clarke) i.e about God’s coming Judgement.

“’The labor [deeds] of fools wearies them,’ Not merely the talk, but the acts of the fool. These all work to his injury. Even the ordinary affairs of life are more than he can do well, much more politic and discreet behaviour under a despotic ruler. A road to town is sure to be plain and well beaten, and so are common duties clear and well defined, but some people will blunder in both. In dismissing now the character of the fool, of which this book has said so much, it may be said that the amount of space allowed to it in this brief essay is justified by the sad frequency of the character itself. ‘There be,’ says Carlyle, ‘twenty-seven millions of people in these islands, [Great Britain and Ireland,] most of them fools.’ The fool with Koheleth is not so much lacking in intellect as full of moral perversity. For this the cure revealed is the grace of the Great Physician. This grace, affecting the heart, renovates by degrees the whole nature, and the fool becomes a new man in Christ.” (Whedon's Commentary)—

— “’for they do not even know how to go to the city!’ Some interpret it of the city of Jerusalem, where were the temple, sanhedrim, synagogues, schools, etc. But it may be better applied to the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, which fools or wicked men know not the way unto, nor do they seek after it see Psalms 107:7; so Alshech interprets it of heaven.” (John Gill)

Eccl 10:16 Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! 17 Blessed are you, O land, when your king is the son of nobles, and your princes feast at the proper time— for strength and not for drunkenness! 18 Because of laziness the building decays, and through idleness of hands the house leaks. 19 A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry; but money answers everything. 20 Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.

“’Woe to you, O land [of Israel], when your king is a child,” not so much in age, as in understanding.” (Mathew Henry) “Child must obviously mean a child in capacity—a silly Absalom, or a self-willed Rehoboam—a man destitute of the gravity, and intelligence, and experience, and still more destitute of the high sense of responsibility and duty, which true wisdom inspires.” (Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary)— “’and your princes feast in the morning!’ The morning in Israel was “a time to seek God, and search for wisdom, Pro 8:17 to sit in counsel, and despatch business, as was the manner of Moses, Exo 18:13.” (John Trapp)— It was a time “for dispensing justice.” (Jamieson, Fausset, Brown) “O house of David, thus says the LORD: ’Administer justice every morning; and deliver the person who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor, that My wrath may not go forth like fire and burn with none to extinguish it, because of the evil of their deeds.’” (Jeremiah 21:12)

“’Blessed art thou, O land, when thy king is the son of nobles.’ (17a) walking in the ways of the faithful fathers. “The true idea of nobility is those individuals who have been trained and have accepted the type of training and wisdom which is needed to rule. ‘One who really merits the name’ (Leupold p. 250).” (Dunagan's Commentary) It was written: “It shall be, when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write for himself a copy of this law in a book, from the one before the priests, the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God and be careful to observe all the words of this law and these statutes, that his heart may not be lifted above his brethren, that he may not turn aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, and that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of Israel.” (Deut 17:18–20)

“This 'law’, God's Covenant Book, was evidently what we know today is the book of Deuteronomy. It's contents were written by Moses on a scroll and placed in the sanctuary in the custody of Levites (Deut. 31:9, 24, 26). It was from this master copy of Deuteronomy that the newly crowned king had to make a copy of the scroll for himself at his enthronement. The king was to keep the scroll throughout his life, to read and study it constantly, and to obey diligently all it's instructions…” (Ranko Stefanovic) Moreover, the king was always wrong when he did not wait on he prophet.— “‘and thy princes eat in due season,’ at the proper time and in the proper way, ‘for strength and not for drunkenness,’ (17) in intemperate feasting, whereby the mind is blunted and the body corrupted.” (Kretzmann's Popular Commentary)

“‘Because of laziness the building decays.’ The subject is still the state. Under the image of a house which falls into ruin for lack of needful repairs, is signified the decay that surely overtakes a kingdom whose rulers are given up to indolence and debauchery, and neglect to attend to the affairs which require prompt care (cp. Amos 9:11). Such were they whom Amos (Amos 6:6) denounced, ‘That drink wine in bowls, and anoint themselves with the chief ointments; but they are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph.’ — “’and through idleness of hands [no acts of justice] the house leaks.’ The rest of this clause is more accurately rendered, the rafters sink, i.e. the timber framework, whether of roof or wall, gives way. This may possibly not be noticed at once, but it makes itself known unmistakably ere long.” (The Pulpit Commentaries)… when the storms or rains of life come, even the enemies of Israel.

“’A feast is made for laughter, and wine makes merry.’ (19a) This verse should read, ‘The bread and the wine, which cheer the life, are made into laughter,’ or revelry; that is, by the luxurious rulers still spoken of.—‘But money answers everything.’ (19b) Better, 'And the money furnishes both.' Whose ‘money?’ It is artfully suggested, rather than told, that it is the ‘money’ wrung from the subjects that is thus squandered in feasting.” (Whedon's Commentary)

“‘Do not curse the king even in your thought.’ Despite his inattention to the law of God. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, (Exo 20:13) and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ (sanhedrim) But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matt 5:21-22) “Despite all misbehaviors we must honor the government as an institution of God (Rom 13:1). Other people’s sin does not give anyone the right to sin as well. On the contrary, we are called to pray for the government (1 Tim 2:1).” (G. de Koning)—“‘do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.’ (20) God sees what men do, and hears what they say in secret; and, when He pleases, brings it to light by strange and unsuspected ways.” (Henry)