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Ecclesiastes Chapter Seven                            

 

Ecclesiastes 7 Outlines

The Value of Practical Wisdom (v.1~29)

New King James Version (NKJV)

 

INTRODUCTION TO ECCLESIASTES 7

The wise man having exposed the many vanities to which men are subject in this life and showed that there is no real happiness in all outward enjoyments under the sun; proceeds to observe what are remedies against them of which he had interspersed some few hints before as the fear and worship of God and the free and moderate use of the creatures; and here suggests more and such as will protect from them or support under them or teach and instruct how to behave while attended with them and to direct to what are proper and necessary in the pursuit of true and real happiness; such as care of a good name and reputation Ecclesiastes 7:1; frequent meditation on mortality Ecclesiastes 7:2; listening to the rebukes of the wise which are preferable to the songs and mirth of fools Ecclesiastes 7:5; avoiding oppression and bribery which are very pernicious Ecclesiastes 7:7; patience under provocations and present bad times as thought to be Ecclesiastes 7:8; a pursuit of that wisdom and knowledge which has life annexed to it Ecclesiastes 7:11; submission to the will of God and contentment in every state Ecclesiastes 7:13; shunning extremes in righteousness and sin the best antidote against which is the fear of God Ecclesiastes 7:15; such wisdom as not to be offended with everything that is done or word that is spoken considering the imperfection of the best of men the weakness of others and our own Ecclesiastes 7:19; and then the wise man acknowledges the imperfection of his own wisdom and knowledge notwithstanding the pains he had taken Ecclesiastes 7:23; and laments his sin and folly in being drawn aside by women Ecclesiastes 7:26; and opens the cause of the depravity of human nature removes it from God who made man upright and ascribes it to man the inventor of evil things Ecclesiastes 7:29.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:1  A good name is better than precious ointment And the day of death than the day of one’s birth;
   YLT  
1Better [is] a name than good perfume And the day of death than the day of birth.

A good name is better than precious ointment .... The word "good" is not in the text but is rightly supplied as it is by Jarchi; for of no other name can this be said; that which is not good cannot be better. Some understand this of the name of God which is God himself who is the "summum bonum" and chief happiness of men and take it to be an answer to the question Ecclesiastes 6:12; this and this only is what is a man's good and is preferable to all outward enjoyments whatever; interest in him as a covenant God; knowledge of him in Christ which has eternal life annexed to it; communion with him; the discoveries of his lovingkindness which is better than little; and the enjoyment of him to all eternity. This is true of the name of Christ whose name Messiah which signifies anointed is as ointment poured forth and is preferable to it Song of Solomon 1:3; so his other names Jesus a Saviour; Jehovah our righteousness; Immanuel God with us; are exceeding precious to those who know the worth of him and see their need of righteousness and salvation by him; his person and the knowledge of him; his Gospel and the fame and report it gives of him; infinitely exceed the most precious and fragrant ointment; see 2 Corinthians 2:14. So the name or names given to the people of God the new names of Hephzibah and Beulah the name of sons of God better than that of sons and daughters; and of Christians or anointed ones having received that anointing from Christ which teacheth all things and so preferable to the choicest ointment Isaiah 56:5. Likewise to have a name written in heaven in the Lamb's book of life and to have one's name confessed by Christ hereafter before his Father and his holy angels; or even a good name among men a name for a truly godly gracious person; for love to Christ zeal for his cause and faithfulness to his truths and ordinances; such as the woman got better than the box of ointment poured on Christ's head; and which the brother had whose praise in the Gospel was throughout the churches; and as Demetrius who had good report of all then and of the truth itself Matthew 26:13 3 John 1:12. Such a good name is better than precious ointment for the value of it being better than all riches for which this may be put; see Isaiah 39:2; and for the fragrancy of it emitting a greater; and for the continuance of it being more lasting Psalm 112:6. The Targum is

"better is a good name the righteous get in this world thin the anointing oil which was poured upon the heads of kings and priests.'

So Alshech

"a good name is better than the greatness of a king though anointed with oil;'

and the day of death than the day of one's birth; some render it in connection with the preceding clause "as a good name is better &c. so the day of death than the day of one's birth"F6So Schmidt and some in Vatablus. ; that is the day of a man's death than the day of his birth. This is to be understood not of death simply considered; for that in itself abstracted from its connections and consequences is not better than to be born into the world or come into life or than life itself; it is not preferable to it nor desirable; for it is contrary to nature being a dissolution of it; a real evil as life and long life are blessings; an enemy to mankind and a terrible one: nor of ether persons with whom men have a connection their friends and relations; for with them the day of birth is a time of rejoicing and the day of death is a time of mourning as appears from Scripture and all experience; see John 16:21. It is indeed reportedF7Herodot. Terpsichore sive l. 5. c. 4. Valer. Maxim. l. 2. c. 6. s. 12. Alexander ab Alex. Genial. Dier. l. 2. c. 25. of some Heathenish and barbarous people in Thrace and who inhabited Mount Caucasus that they mourned at the birth of their children reckoning up the calamities they are entering into and rejoiced at the death of their friends being delivered from their troubles: but this is to be understood of the persons themselves that are born and die; not of all mankind unless as abstracted from the consideration of a future state and so it is more happy to be freed from trouble than to enter into it; nor of wicked men it would have been better indeed if they had never been born or had died as soon as born that their damnation might not have been aggravated by the multitude of their sins; but after all to die cannot be best for them since at death they are cast into hell into everlasting fire and endless punishment: this is only true of good men that have a good name living and dying; have a good work of grace upon them and so are meet for heaven; the righteousness of Christ on them and so have a title to it; they are such who have hope in their death and die in faith and in the Lord: their death is better than their birth; at their birth they come into the world under the imputation and guilt of sin with a corrupt nature; are defiled with sin and under the power of it liable in themselves to condemnation and death for it: at the time of their death they go out justified from sin through the righteousness of Christ all being expiated by his sacrifice and pardoned for his sake; they are washed from the faith of sin by the blood of Christ and are delivered from the power and being of it by the Spirit and grace of God; and are secured from condemnation and the second death: at their coming into the world they are liable to sin yet more and more; at their going out they are wholly freed from it; at the time of their birth they are born to trouble and are all their days exercised with it incident to various diseases of the body have many troubles in the world and from the men of it; many conflicts with a body of sin and death and harassed with the temptations of Satan; but at death they are delivered from all these enter into perfect peace and unspeakable joy; rest from all their labours and toils and enjoy uninterrupted communion with God Father Son and Spirit angels and glorified saints. The Targum is

"the day in which a man dies and departs to the house of the grave with a good name and with righteousness is better than the day in which a wicked man is born into the world.'

So the Midrash interprets it of one that goes out of the world with a good name considering this clause in connection with the preceding as many do.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:2  2 Better to go to the house of mourning Than to go to the house of feasting For that is the end of all men; And the living will take it to heart.
   YLT  
2Better to go unto a house of mourning Than to go unto a house of banqueting For that is the end of all men And the living layeth [it] unto his heart.

It is better to go to the house of mourning .... For deceased relations or friends who either lie unburied or have been lately inferred; for the Jews kept their mourning for their dead several days afterwards when their friends visited them in order to comfort them as the Jews did Martha and Mary John 11:31. So the Targum here

"it is better to go to a mourning man to comfort him;'

for at such times and places the conversation was serious and interesting and turned upon the subjects of mortality and a future state and preparation for it; from whence useful and instructive lessons are learned; and so it was much better to be there

than to go to the house of feasting: the Targum is

"than to the house of a feast of wine of scorners;'

where there is nothing but noise and clamour luxury and intemperance carnal mirth and gaiety vain and frothy conversation idle talk and impure songs and a jest made of true religion and godliness death and another world;

for that is the end of all men; not the house of feasting but the house of mourning; or mourning itself as Jarchi; every man must expect to lose his relation and friend and so come to the house of mourning; and must die himself and be the occasion of mourning: death itself seems rather intended which is the end of all men the way of all flesh; for it is appointed for men to die; and so the Targum

"seeing upon them all is decreed the decree of death;'

and the living will lay it to his heart; by going to the house of mourning he will be put in mind of death and will think of it seriously and consider his latter end how near it is; and that this must be his case shortly as is the deceased's he comes to mourn for. So the Targum interprets it of words concerning death or discourses of mortality he there hears which he takes notice of and lays to his heart and lays up in it. Jarchi's note is

"their thought is of the way of death.'

 

Ecclesiastes 7:3  3 Sorrow is better than laughter For by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
   YLT  
3Better [is] sorrow than laughter For by the sadness of the face the heart becometh better.

Sorrow is better than laughter .... Sorrow expressed in the house of mourning is better more useful and commendable than that foolish laughter and those airs of levity expressed in the house of feasting; or sorrow on account of affliction and troubles even adversity itself is oftentimes much more profitable and conduces more to the good of men than prosperity; or sorrow for sin a godly sorrow a sorrow after a godly sort which works repentance unto salvation that needeth not to be repented of is to be preferred to all carnal mirth and jollity. It may be rendered "anger is better than laughter"F8טוב כעס משחוק "melior est ira risu" Pagninus Mercerus; "melior est indigatio risu" Tigurine version Junius & Tremellius. ; which the Jews understand of the anger of God in correcting men for sin; which is much better than when he takes no notice of them but suffers them to go on in sin as if he was pleased with them; the Midrash gives instances of it in the generation of the flood and the Sodomites: and the Targum inclines to this sense

"better is the anger with which the Lord of that world is angry against the righteous in this world than the laughter with which he derides the ungodly.'

Though it may be better with others to understand it of anger in them expressed against sin in faithful though sharp rebukes for it; which in the issue is more beneficial than the flattery of such who encourage in it; see Proverbs 27:5;

for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better: when the sadness is not hypocritical as in the Scribes and Pharisees but serious and real arising from proper reflections on things in the mind; whereby the heart is drawn off from vain carnal and sensual things; and is engaged in the contemplation of spiritual and heavenly ones which is of great advantage to it: or by the severity of the countenance of a faithful friend in correcting for faults the heart is made better which receives those corrections in love and confesses its fault and amends.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:4  4 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning But the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.

   YLT  4The heart of the wise [is] in a house of mourning And the heart of fools in a house of mirth.

The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning .... When his body is not; when it does not suit him to go thither in person his mind is there and his thoughts are employed on the useful subjects of the frailty and mortality of human nature of death a future judgment and a world to come; which shows him to be a wise man and concerned for the best things even for his eternal happiness in another state;

but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth; where jovial company is merry songs are sung and the cup or glass passes briskly round and all is gay and brilliant: here the fool desires to be oftener than he is and when he cannot; which shows the folly of his mind what a vain taste he has and how thoughtless he is of a future state and of his eternal welfare.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:5  5 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise Than for a man to hear the song of fools.
   YLT  
5Better to hear a rebuke of a wise man Than [for] a man to hear a song of fools

It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise .... To listen to it diligently receive it cordially and act according to it; though it may be disagreeable to the flesh and give present pain yet the effect and issue will be good and show that man to be wise that hears it as well as he that gives it; see Psalm 141:1;

than for a man to hear the song of fools; the vain and impure songs that foolish men sing in the house of mirth; or the flatteries of foolish men which tickle and please the mind as music and songs do: or "than a man that hears the song of fools"F9מאיש שמע שיר כסילים "quam vir audiens canticum stultorum" Montanus Mercerus; "prae viro audiente canticum stultorum" Rambachius. and is pleased with it.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:6  6 For like the crackling of thorns under a pot So is the laughter of the fool. This also is vanity.
   YLT  
6For as the noise of thorns under the pot So [is] the laughter of a fool even this [is] vanity.

For as the crackling of thorns under a pot so is the laughter of the fool .... As thorns are weak useless and unprofitable; yea hurtful and pernicious and only fit for burning; so are foolish and wicked men 2 Samuel 23:6; and as the noise and sound of the one under a pot is very short they make a blaze for a while and is soon over; so though the laughter of a fool is loud and noisy it makes no melody no more than the noise of thorns; and is but for a moment and will be soon changed for weeping and howling which will last for ever; see Job 20:5;

this also is vanity; the carnal mirth of wicked men.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:7  7 Surely oppression destroys a wise man’s reason And a bribe debases the heart.

   YLT  7Surely oppression maketh the wise mad And a gift destroyeth the heart.

Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad .... Which is to be understood either passively when he is oppressed by others or sees others oppressed; it raises indignation in him disturbs his mind and he is ready to pass a wrong judgment on the dispensations of Providence and to say rash and unadvised things concerning them Psalm 73:2; or actively of oppression with which he oppresses others; when he gives into such measures his wisdom departs from him his mind is besotted he acts the part of a madman and pierces himself through with many sorrows. Some understand this of wealth got in an ill way; or of gifts given to bribe men to do injury to others; and which the following clause is thought to explain;

and a gift destroyeth the heart; blinds the eyes of judges other ways wise; perverts their judgment and causes them to pass a wrong sentence as well as perverts justice: or "and destroys the heart of gifts"F11ויאבד את לב מתנה "et frangit cor dotibus praeclaris ornatum" Tigurine version; so some Jewish writers in Mercerus. ; a heart that is possessed of the gifts of wisdom and knowledge; or a munificent heart a heart disposed to give bountifully and liberally that oppression destroys and renders useless.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:8  8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
   YLT  
8Better [is] the latter end of a thing than its beginning Better [is] the patient of spirit than the haughty of spirit.

Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof .... If the thing is good other ways the end of it is worse; as the end of wickedness and wicked men whose beginning is sweet but the end bitter; yea are the ways of death Proverbs 5:4; and so the end of carnal professors and apostates who begin in the Spirit and end in the flesh Galatians 3:3; but the end of good things and of good men is better than the beginning; as the end of Job was both with respect to things temporal and spiritual Job 8:7; see Psalm 37:37;

and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit; patience is a fruit of the Spirit of God; and is of great use in the Christian's life and especially in bearing afflictions and tends to make men more humble meek and quiet; and such are highly esteemed of God; on them he looks with them he dwells and to them he gives more grace; when such who are proud and elated with themselves their riches or righteousness are abominable to him; see Luke 16:15.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:9  9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry For anger rests in the bosom of fools.
   YLT  
9Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry For anger in the bosom of fools resteth.

Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry .... With men for every word that is said or action done that is not agreeable; encourage not but repress sudden angry emotions of the mind; be not quick of resentment and at once express anger and displeasure; but be slow to wrath for such a man is better than the mighty James 1:19 Proverbs 16:32; or with God for his corrections and chastisements; so the Targum

"in the time that correction from heaven comes upon thee do not hasten in thy soul to be hot (or angry) to say words of rebellion (or stubbornness) against heaven;'

that advice is good

"do nothing in angerF12Isocrates ad Nicoclem p. 36. ;'

for anger resteth in the bosom of fools; where it riseth quick and continues long; here it soon betrays itself and finds easy admittance and a resting dwelling place; it easily gets in but it is difficult to get it out of the heart of a fool; both which are proofs of his folly Proverbs 12:16; see Ephesians 4:26; the bosom or breast is commonly represented as the seat of anger by other writersF13"In pectoribus ira considit" Petronius; "iram sanguinei regio sub pectore cordis" Claudian. de 4. Consul. Honor. Panegyr. v. 241. .

 

Ecclesiastes 7:10  10 Do not say “Why were the former days better than these?”
For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

   YLT  10Say not thou `What was it That the former days were better than these?' For thou hast not asked wisely of this.

Say not thou what is the cause that the former days were better than these?.... This is a common opinion that in all ages prevails among men that former times were better than present ones; that trade flourished more and men got more wealth and riches and lived in greater ease and plenty; and complain that their lot is cast in such hard times and are ready to lay the blame upon the providence of God and murmur at it which they should not do;

for thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this: this is owing to ignorance of former times; which if rightly inquired into or the true knowledge of them could be come at it would appear that they were no better than the present; and that there were always bad men and bad things done; frauds oppressions and violence and everything that can be complained of now: or if things are worse than they were this should be imputed to the badness of men; and the inquirer should look to himself and his own ways and see if there is not a cause there and study to redeem the time because the days are evil; and not arraign the providence of God and murmur at that and quarrel with it; as if the distributions of it were unequal and justice not done in one age as in another

 

Ecclesiastes 7:11  11 Wisdom is good with an inheritance And profitable to those who see the sun.
   YLT  
11Wisdom [is] good with an inheritance And an advantage [it is] to those beholding the sun.

Wisdom is good with an inheritance .... It is good of itself. Or "is as good as an inheritance"F14עם נחלה "aeque ac haereditas" Gejerus Schmidt. as it may be rendered; it is a portion of itself especially spiritual and divine wisdom. The Targum interprets it the wisdom of the law or the knowledge of that; but much more excellent is the wisdom of the Gospel the wisdom of God in a mystery the hidden wisdom; the knowledge of which in an experimental way is preferable to all earthly inheritances: but this with an inheritance is good yea better than without one; for wisdom without riches is generally overlooked and despised in men; see Ecclesiastes 9:16; when wealth with wisdom makes a man regarded; this commands respect and attention; as well as he is in a better condition to do good if willing to share and ready to distribute;

and by it there is profit to them that see the sun; mortals in this present state who are described as such that see the sun rise and set and enjoy the heat and light of it receive much advantage from men who are both wise and rich: or "and it is an excellency to them that see the sun"; it is an excellency to mortals and what gives them superiority to others that they have both wisdom and riches.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:12  12 For wisdom is a defense as money is a defense But the excellence of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to those who have it.

   YLT  12For wisdom [is] a defense money [is] a defence And the advantage of the knowledge of wisdom [is] She reviveth her possessors.

For wisdom is a defence and money is a defence .... Or a "shadow" of refreshment and protection under which men sit with pleasure and safety; a man by his wisdom and so by his money is able to defend himself against the injuries and oppressions of others and especially when both meet in one and the same man. Jarchi renders and interprets it

"he that is in the shadow of wisdom is in the shadow of money for wisdom is the cause why riches come;'

and so the Targum

"as a man is hid in the shadow of wisdom so he is hid in the shadow of money when he does alms with it;'

compare with this Luke 16:9; see Ecclesiastes 7:19. TheognisF15Sententiae v. 1153. has a saying much like this

"riches and wisdom are always inexpugnable to mortals;'

but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it; or "the excellency of the knowledge of wisdom giveth life"F16ויתרון דעת החכמה תחיה "et praestantia scientiae sapientiae vivificabit" Montanus. &c. not of natural wisdom or the knowledge of natural and civil things the vanity of this is exposed before by the wise man; but the knowledge of God in Christ; the knowledge of Christ who is the Wisdom of God; and of the Gospel and of all divine and spiritual things: this is a superior excellency to riches which often expose a man's life to danger cannot preserve him from a corporeal death much less from an eternal one. When this is the excellency of spiritual knowledge that spiritual life goes along with it; such as are spiritually enlightened are spiritually quickened; live by faith on Christ whom they know; and through the knowledge of him have all things pertaining to life and godliness and have both a right and meetness for eternal life; yea this knowledge is life eternal John 17:3; see 2 Peter 1:3; and this is the pure gift of Wisdom or of Christ and not owing to the merit of men or works done in obedience to the law which cannot give this life; see John 17:2 Romans 6:23.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:13  13 Consider the work of God; For who can make straight what He has made crooked?
   YLT  
13See the work of God For who is able to make straight that which He made crooked?

Consider the work of God .... This is dressed to those who thought the former days better than the present and were ready to quarrel with the providence of God Ecclesiastes 7:10; and are therefore advised to consider the work of God; not the work of creation but of providence; which is the effect of divine sovereignty and is conducted and directed according to the counsel of his will and is always wisely done to answer the best ends and purposes: everything is beautiful in its season; contemplate adore and admire the wisdom power and goodness of God displayed therein; it is such as cannot be made better nor otherwise than it is;

for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked? or which seems to be so irregular and disagreeable? No man can mend or make that better he finds fault with and complains of; nor can he alter the course of things nor stay the hand nor stop the providence of God: if it is his pleasure that public calamities should be in the world or in such a part of it as famine pestilence or the sword; or any affliction on families and particular persons or poverty and meanness in such and such individuals there is no hindering it; whatever he has purposed and resolved his providence effects and there is no frustrating his designs; it signifies nothing for a creature to murmur and complain; it is best to submit to his will for no alteration can be made but what he pleases. Some understand this of natural defects in human bodies with which they are born or which attend them as blindness lameness &c. so the Targum

"consider the work of God and his strength who made the blind the crooked and the lame to be wonders in the world; for who can make straight one of them but the Lord of the world who made him crooked?'

Others of spiritual defects in such who walk in crooked ways and are hardened in them; who can correct them and make them other ways if God does not give them his grace to convert them and soften their hard hearts? he hardens whom he will and who hath resisted his will? Jarchi's paraphrase is

"who can make straight after death what he has made crooked in life?'

See Gill on Ecclesiastes 1:15. Alshech interprets it of the first man Adam.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:14  14 In the day of prosperity be joyful But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other So that man can find out nothing that will come after him.

   YLT  14In a day of prosperity be in gladness And in a day of evil consider. Also this over-against that hath God made To the intent that man doth not find anything after him.

In the day of prosperity be joyful .... Or "in a good day"F17ביום טובה "in die bono" Pagninus Montanus Mercerus Gejerus. . When things go well in the commonwealth in a man's family and with himself health peace and plenty are enjoyed a man's circumstances are thriving and flourishing; it becomes him to be thankful to God freely and cheerfully to enjoy what is bestowed on him and do good with it: or "be in good"F18היה בטוב "esto in bono" Pagninus Montanus Mercerus Cocceius Gejerus Rambachius. ; in good heart in good spirits cheerful and lively; or "enjoy good" as the Vulgate Latin version; for what God gives to men is given them richly to enjoy to make use of themselves and be beneficial unto others; so the Targum

"in the day the Lord does well to thee be thou also in goodness and do good to all the world;'

see Galatians 6:10; Jarchi's paraphrase is

"when it is in thine hand to do good be among those that do good;'

but in the day of adversity consider; or "in the day of evil"F19ביום רעה "in die mala" Pagninus Montanus Mercerus. ; consider from whence affliction comes; not out of the dust nor by chance but from God and by his wise appointment; and for what it comes that sin is the cause of it and what that is; and also for what ends it is sent to bring to a sense of sin and confession of it and humiliation for it; to take it away and make good men more partakers of holiness: or "look for the day of adversity"F20ראה "praecave" V. L. "praevide aut provide ac prospice" Drusius; so Gussetius p. 766. ; even in the day of prosperity it should be expected; for there is no firmness and stability in any state; there are continual vicissitudes and changes. The Targum is

"that the evil day may not come upon thee see and behold;'

be careful and circumspect and behave in a wise manner that so it may be prevented. Jarchi's note is

"when evil comes upon the wicked be among those that see and not among those that are seen;'

and compares it with Isaiah 66:24; It may be observed that there is a set time for each of these prosperity and adversity; and that the time is short and therefore called a day; and the one is good and the other is evil; which characters they have according to the outward appearance and according to the judgment and esteem of men; otherwise prosperity is oftentimes hurtful and destroys fools and adversity is useful to the souls of good men;

God also hath set the one over against the other; they are both by his appointment and are set in their proper place and come in their proper time; succeed each other and answer to one another as day and night summer and winter and work together for the good of men;

to the end that man should find nothing after him; should not be able to know what will be hereafter; what his case and circumstances will be whether prosperous or adverse; since things are so uncertain and so subject to change and nothing permanent; and therefore can find nothing to trust in and depend upon nothing that he can be sure of: and things are so wisely managed and disposed that a man can find no fault with them nor just reason to complain of them; so the Vulgate Latin version "not find just complaints against him"; and to the same purpose the Syriac version "that he may complain of him"; the Targum is "not find any evil in this world.'

 

Ecclesiastes 7:15  15 I have seen everything in my days of vanity: There is a just man who perishes in his righteousness And there is a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness.
   YLT  
15The whole I have considered in the days of my vanity. There is a righteous one perishing in his righteousness and there is a wrong-doer prolonging [himself] in his wrong.

All things have I seen in the days of my vanity .... Or "all these things"F21את כל "illa omnia" Junius & Tremellius Piscator Tigurine version Gejerus; "omnia haec" Mercerus; "universa haec" Rambachius. . What goes before and follows after the various changes men are subject unto both good and bad; these he had made his observations upon throughout the course of his life which had been a vain one as every man's is full of evil and trouble; see Ecclesiastes 6:12; perhaps the wise man may have some respect to the times of his apostasy; and which might among other things be brought on by this; observing good men afflicted and the wicked prosper which has often been a stumbling to good men;

there is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness; not eternally; no truly just man ever perished who is made so by the righteousness of Christ imputed to him; for though the righteous man is said to be scarcely saved yet he is certainly saved: it can be true only in this sense of one that is only outwardly righteous that trusts to his own righteousness in which he may perish; but this is to be understood temporally and corporeally; one that is really just may perish in his name in his substance as well as at death and that on account of his righteousness; he may lose his good name and character and his substance for righteousness's sake; yea his life also as Abel Naboth and others; this is the case "sometimes" as Aben Ezra observes not always: or a just man notwithstanding his righteousness dies and sometimes lives but a short time; which sense the antithesis seems to require;

and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness; is very wicked and yet notwithstanding his great wickedness lives a long time in the world; see Job 21:7.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:16  16 Do not be overly righteous Nor be overly wise: Why should you destroy yourself?
   YLT  
16Be not over-righteous nor show thyself too wise why art thou desolate?

Be not righteous over much .... This is not meant of true and real righteousness even moral righteousness a man cannot be too holy or too righteous; but of a show and ostentation of righteousness and of such who would be thought to be more righteous and holy than others and therefore despise those who as they imagine do not come up to them; and are very rigid and censorious in their judgment of others and very severe in their reproofs of them; and that they may appear very righteous persons will do more than what the law requires of them to do even works of supererogation as the Pharisees formerly and Papists now pretend and abstain from the lawful use of things which God has given to be enjoyed; and macerate their bodies by abstinence fastings pilgrimages penance scourges and the like as the Eremites among the Christians and the Turks as Aben Ezra on the place observes; and many there be who by an imprudent zeal for what they judge right and which sometimes are mere trifles and by unseasonable reproofs for what is wrong expose themselves to resentment and danger. Some understand this of political and punitive justice exercising it in too strict and rigorous a manner according to the maxim "summum jus saepe summa injuria est"F23Terent. Heautont. Acts 4. Sc. 4. ; and SchultensF24De Defect. Hod. Ling. Heb. s. 230. from the use of the word in the Arabic language renders it "be not too rigid"; and others in a contrary sense of too much mercy and pity to offenders. So the Midrash; and Jarchi illustrates it by the case of Saul who had mercy on the wicked and spared Agag. The Targum is

"be not over righteous at a time that a sinner is found guilty of slaughter in thy court of judicature that thou shouldest spare and not kill him;'

neither make thyself over wise; above what is written or pretend to be wiser than others. So the Arabic version "show not too much wisdom"; do not affect as not to be more righteous than others so not more wise by finding fault with present times or with the dispensations of Providence or with the manners and conduct of men; setting up for a critic and a censurer of men and things; or do not pry into things and seek after a knowledge of them which are out of your reach and beyond your capacity;

why shouldest thou destroy thyself? either by living too strictly and abstemiously or by studying too closely or by behaving in such a manner to men as that they will seek thy destruction and bring it on thee: or "why shouldest thou" or "whereby" or "lest thou shouldest be stupid"F25למה תשומם "ut quid obstupesces?" Vatablus Amama; "cur obstupesces?" Mercerus; "cur in stuporem te dares?" Cocceius; "qua teipsum stupidum facies?" Tigurine version; "ne obstupescas" V. L. so Sept. and Syriac versions. ; lose thy sense and reason as persons who study the knowledge of things they have not a capacity for: or why shouldest thou become foolish in the eyes of all men by thy conduct and behaviour? or "why shouldest thou be desolate"F26"Ne quid desolaberis?" Pagninus Montanus; "quare desolationem tibi accerseres?" Junius & Tremellius Piscator Gejerus. ; alone and nobody care to have any conversation and acquaintance with thee?

 

Ecclesiastes 7:17  17 Do not be overly wicked Nor be foolish: Why should you die before your time?
   YLT  
17Do not much wrong neither be thou a fool why dost thou die within thy time?

Be not over much wicked .... Not that a man should be wicked at all; but some observing that wicked men prolong their days in wickedness are encouraged to go into greater lengths in sin than they have yet done and give up themselves to all iniquity; and run into excess of not into the grossest and most scandalous enormities. Some render it "do not disturb" or "frighten thyself"F1אל תרשע "ne paveas" Pagninus; "ne te occupes multum aut distrahas te sive inquietes" some in Vatablus; so Aben Ezra and Ben Melech. distress and distract thyself with the business of life bustling and stirring restless and uneasy to get wealth and riches; but be easy and satisfied with what is enjoyed or comes without so much stir and trouble; this is the original sense of the word. The meaning seems to be either do not multiply sin add unto it and continue in it; or do not aggravate it making sins to be greater and more heinous than they are and a man's case worse than it is and so sink into despair; and thus it stands opposed to an ostentatious show of righteousness;

neither be thou foolish; or give up thyself to a profligate life to go on in a course of sin which will issue in the ruin of body and soul; or in aggravating it in an excessive manner;

why shouldest thou die before thy time? bring diseases on thy body by a wicked course of living which will issue in death; or fall into the hands of the civil magistrate for capital offences for which sentence of death must pass and be executed before a man comes to the common term of human life; see Psalm 55:23; or as Mr. Broughton renders it "before thy ordinary time"; not before the appointed timeF2"Ante diem" Virgil. Aeneid. 4. prope finem. Vid. Servium in ib. Ovid. Metamorph. l. 1. Fab. 4. . The Targum is

"be the cause of death to thy soul;'

or through despair commit suicide.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:18  18 It is good that you grasp this And also not remove your hand from the other; For he who fears God will escape them all.

   YLT  18[It is] good that thou dost lay hold on this and also from that withdrawest not thy hand for whoso is fearing God goeth out with them all.

It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this .... This advice as the Arabic version in the several branches of it; neither to be over much righteous or wicked and over much wise or foolish; to avoid the one and the other to keep clear of extremes and pursue the path that is safest; such advice as this it is right to lay hold on embrace and hold fast;

yea also from this withdraw not thine hand; from what follows concerning the fear of God; or "this and this" may be rendered "this and that"F3So Broughton Rambachius and others. and the sense be lay hold on this that is the last part of the advice not to be over much wicked or foolish which is often the cause of an immature death; and do not slacken or be remiss in regarding that other and first part of it not to be over much righteous or wise;

for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all; or escape them all; the phrase is become Rabbinical that is he shall be free or exempt from them all; from over much righteousness and over much wisdom and over much wickedness or over much folly; the fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom is the best preservative from and antidote against these things; for a man that fears God is humble and renounces his own righteousness and distrusts his own wisdom; he fears to commit sin and shuns folly.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:19  19 Wisdom strengthens the wise More than ten rulers of the city.

   YLT  19The wisdom giveth strength to a wise man more than wealth the rulers who have been in a city.

Wisdom strengtheneth the wise .... Against such extremes as before mentioned; it is a guard about him as well as a guide unto him; it is a defence unto him as before observed Ecclesiastes 7:12; and is better than strength of body or weapons of war Ecclesiastes 9:16; and a wise man does greater things by it than a strong man with them and is safer with it than he can be by them. Some understand this of Christ the Wisdom of God without whom a good man can do nothing but all things through him strengthening him; and who being a strong tower and place of refuge to him he is safer in him than if he was in the strongest garrison and under the protection of ever so large a number of valiant men: Christ and grace from him strengthen

more than ten mighty men which are in the city; that is than many mighty men or men of war which guard a city; the city of Jerusalem or any other. The Targum applies this to Joseph and paraphrases it

"the wisdom of Joseph the son of Jacob helped him to make him wiser than all his ten righteous brethren.'

 

Ecclesiastes 7:20  20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good  And does not sin.

   YLT  20Because there is not a righteous man on earth that doth good and sinneth not.

For there is not a just man upon earth .... Or "although" or "notwithstanding" F4כי "quamvis" Junius & Tremelllus Amama so Broughton; "attamen" Grotius. wisdom is so beneficial and guards and strengthens a good man yet no man has such a share of it as to live without sin; there was not then one on earth there never had been one nor never would be nor has been excepting the man Christ Jesus; who indeed as man was perfectly just while here on earth and went about doing good and never sinned in all his life; but this cannot be said of any other no not of one that is truly and really just; not externally and in his own opinion only but who is made so by the obedience of Christ or by his righteousness imputed to him while he is here on earth; otherwise in heaven where the spirits of just men are made perfect there it may be said of them what follows but nowhere else;

that doeth good and sinneth not; it is the character of a just man to do good to do that which is according to the will of God from a principle of love to him through faith in him in the name and strength of Christ and with a view to the glory of God; to do good in such a sense wicked men cannot; only such who are made good by the grace of God are regenerated and made new creatures in Christ are quickened by his Spirit and are true believers in him; who appear to be what they are by the fruits of good works they bring forth; and this not in a mercenary way or in order to obtain life and righteousness but as constrained by the grace of God by which they are freely justified; and yet these are not free from sin as appears by their confessions and complaints by their backslidings slips and falls and their petitions for fresh discoveries of pardoning grace; and even are not without sin and the commission of it in religious duties or while they are doing good; hence their righteousness is said to be as filthy rags and mention is made of the iniquity of holy things Isaiah 64:6. The Targum is "that does good all his days and sins not before the Lord.' Aben Ezra justly gives the sense thus "who does good always and never sins;' and observes that there are none but sin in thought word or deed. The poetF5Sophoclis Antigone v. 1140. says "to sin is common to all men;' no man though ever so good is perfect on earth or free from sin; see 1 Kings 8:46. Alshech's paraphrase is "there is not a righteous man on earth that does good and sins not; בטוב ההוא "in that good";' which is the true sense of the words.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:21  21 Also do not take to heart everything people say Lest you hear your servant cursing you.
   YLT  
21Also to all the words that they speak give not thy heart that thou hear not thy servant reviling thee.

Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken .... Seeing so it is that imperfection attends the best of men no man is wise at all times foolish words and unguarded expressions will sometimes drop from him which it is better to take no notice of; they should not be strictly attended to and closely examined since they will not bear it. A man should not listen to everything that is said of himself or others; he should not curiously inquire what men say of him; and what he himself hears he should take no notice of; it is often best to let it pass and not call it over again; to feign the hearing of a thing or make as if you did not hear it; for oftentimes by rehearsing a matter or taking up words spoken a deal of trouble and mischief follows; a man should not "give his heart"F6אל תתן לבך "ne des tuum cor" Montanus. to it as it is in the Hebrew text; he should not give his mind to what is said of him but be careless and indifferent about it; much less should he lay it up in his mind and meditate revenge for it. The Targum Septuagint Syriac and Arabic versions restrain it to words spoken by wicked men whose tongues are their own and will say what they please; among these may be ranked more especially detractors whisperers backbiters and talebearers who should not be listened unto and encouraged; though there is no necessity of thus limiting the sense which is more general and may include what is said by any man even good men since they have their infirmities; it seems chiefly to have respect to defamatory words by what follows;

lest thou hear thy servant curse thee; speak slightly scoffingly and reproachfully of thee as Shimei of David; which must be very disagreeable and vexatious to hear from one so mean and abject and who is dependent on him earns his bread of him and gets his livelihood in his service; and to whom perhaps he has been kind and so is guilty of base ingratitude which aggravates the more; or if not if what he says is just to hear it must give great uneasiness.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:22  22 For many times also your own heart has known That even you have cursed others.

   YLT  22For many times also hath thy heart known that thou thyself also hast reviled others.

For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth .... Or "thy conscience" as the Vulgate Latin version which is as a thousand witnesses; which if a man attends to he will be convinced of his own faults failings and infirmities he is frequently in the commission of. Particularly

that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others; either in heart or with the tongue; thought ill of them wished ill to them; spoke contemptibly of them reviled and reproached them; called them by bad names and abused them; and said some very hard and severe words concerning them in a passionate fit being provoked; and afterwards repented of it being better informed of the state of the case or being convinced of the evil of passion and rash speaking; and therefore such should consider the like passions and infirmities of others and pass over them and forgive them: so Alshech

"if thou hast cursed others and dost desire men should forgive thee so do thou also forgive;'

see Matthew 6:14. The word "oftentimes" in the first clause is to be connected not with the word "knoweth" as if a man often knew this but with the word "cursed"; suggesting that a man may be often guilty of this himself and therefore should be more sparing of his censures of others; see Matthew 7:1.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:23  23 All this I have proved by wisdom. I said “I will be wise”; But it was far from me.
   YLT  
23All this I have tried by wisdom; I have said `I am wise ' and it [is] far from me.

All this have I proved by wisdom .... Referring either to all that he had been discoursing of hitherto in this book concerning the vanity of natural wisdom and knowledge of pleasure power and riches; or to the several useful instructions given in this chapter particularly concerning patiently bearing everything from the hands of God or men Ecclesiastes 7:8. This by the help and use of that wisdom which God had given him he had made trial of and found it to be right and therefore recommended it to others; though he acknowledges that with all his wisdom he was from perfection;

I said I will be wise; but it was far from me; he determined if possible to attain to the perfection of wisdom and made use of all means to come at it; that he might know all the works of God in creation the nature use and excellency of them; in providence his different dispensations towards the sons of men and the causes of them; and in grace the redemption and salvation of men and the mysteries thereof; but the more he knew the more he was convinced of his own ignorance and seemed further off from the summit of knowledge than he was before; and plainly saw that perfection in wisdom is not attainable in this life. The Targum restrains this to the wisdom of the law; but it is better to understand it in a more general sense.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:24  24 As for that which is far off and exceedingly deep Who can find it out?
   YLT  
24Far off [is] that which hath been and deep deep who doth find it?

That which is far off .... Or "far off is that which has been"F7רחוק מה שהיה "remotum (est) illud quod fuit" Montanus Mercerus Vatablus Drusius Gejerus. . That which has been done by God already in creation and providence is out of the reach of men is far from their understandings wholly to comprehend or account for; and likewise that which is past with men what has been done in former ages the history of past times is very difficult to come at: or rather according to Schmidt and Rambachius after him what was of old is now afar off or absent; the image of God in man which consisted of perfect wisdom and was created at the same time with him is now lost and that is the reason why wisdom is far from him;

and exceeding deep who can find it out? the primitive perfect wisdom is sunk so deep and gone that no man can find it to the perfection it was once enjoyed; see Job 28:12. This may respect the knowledge of God and the perfections of his nature; which are as high as heaven and deeper than hell Job 11:7; and of his thoughts counsels purposes and decrees which are the deep things of God; as well as the doctrines of the Gospel and the mysteries of grace 1 Corinthians 2:10; and even his providential dispensations towards the sons of men Romans 11:33. The Targum of the whole is

"Lo now it is far off from the children of men to know all that has been from the days of old; and the secret of the day of death and the secret of the day in which the King Messiah shall come who is he that shall find it out by his wisdom?'

 

Ecclesiastes 7:25  25 I applied my heart to know To search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things To know the wickedness of folly Even of foolishness and madness.
   YLT  
25I have turned round also my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and reason and to know the wrong of folly and of foolishness the madness.

I applied mine heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom .... Or "I and my heart turned about"F8סבותי אני ולבי "circuivi ego et cor meum" Pagninus Montanus Mercerus Gejerus. ; took a circuit a tour throughout the whole compass of things; looked into every corner and went through the circle of knowledge in order to search and find out what true wisdom is; which is no other than Christ and a spiritual knowledge of him; a variety of words is used to express his eager desire after wisdom and the diligent search he made from which he was not discouraged by the difficulties he met with; see Ecclesiastes 1:13;

and the reason of things; either in nature or providence: or the estimationF9חשבון "estimationem rerum" Mercerus. of them; the excellency of them how much they are to be accounted of esteemed and valued; as Christ the Wisdom of God and all things relating to him should;

and to know the wickedness of folly even of foolishness and madness; the exceeding sinfulness of sin the folly and madness that are in it; sin is the effect of folly and the excess of it and a spiritual madness; it is true of all sin in general but especially of the sin of uncleanness which Solomon seems to have in view by what follows; see Ecclesiastes 1:17; and may chiefly intend the wickedness of his own folly and the foolishness of his own madness.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:26  26 And I find more bitter than death The woman whose heart is snares and nets Whose hands are fetters. He who pleases God shall escape from her But the sinner shall be trapped by her.

   YLT  26And I am finding more bitter than death the woman whose heart [is] nets and snares her hands [are] bands; the good before God escapeth from her but the sinner is captured by her.

And I find more bitter than death the woman .... This was the issue of his diligent studies and researches and the observations he had made; this was what he found by sad and woeful experience and which he chose to take particular notice of; that he might not only expose this vanity among others and caution men against it even the love of women which at best is a bitter sweet as the poetF11Musaeus v. 166. Vid. Barthii ad Claudian. de Nupt. Honor. v. 70. calls it though here adulterous love is meant; but having this opportunity might express his sincere repentance for this folly of his life than which nothing had been more bitter to him in the reflection of his mind upon it: death is a bitter thing and terrible to nature 1 Samuel 15:32; but to be ensnared by an adulterous woman is worse than that; it brings not only such diseases of body as are both painful and scandalous but such horrors into the conscience when awakened as are intolerable and exposes to eternal death; see Proverbs 5:3. By "the woman" is not meant the sex in general which was far from Solomon's intention to reflect upon and reproach; nor any woman in particular not Eve the first woman through whom came sin and death into the world; but an adulterous woman: see Proverbs 5:4. Some interpret this of original sin or the corruption of nature evil concupiscence which draws men into sin and holds them in it the consequence of which is death eternal; but such who find favour in the eyes of God are delivered from the power and dominion of it; but obstinate and impenitent sinners are held under it and perish eternally. Jarchi by the woman understands heresy; and so Jerom and others interpret it of heretics and idolaters: it may very well be applied to that Jezebel the whore of Rome the mother of harlots that deceives men and leads them into perdition with herself Revelation 17:4; and who is intended by the harlot and foolish and strange woman in the book of Proverbs as has been observed;

whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands; all the schemes and contrivances of a harlot are to ensnare men by her wanton looks and lascivious gestures; which are like snares laid for the beasts and likeness spread for fishes to take them in; and when she has got them she holds them fast; it is a very difficult thing and a very rare one ever to get out of her hands; so PlautusF12Epidicus Act. 2. Sc. 2. v. 32. "Illecebrosius nihil fieri potest" ib. Bacchides Sc. 1. v. 55. Truculentus Act. 1. Sc. 1. v. 14-21. makes mention of the nets of harlots: the same holds true of error and heresy and of idolatry which is spiritual adultery; the words used being in the plural number shows the many ways the adulterous woman has to ensnare men and the multitudes that are taken by her; see Revelation 13:3;

whoso pleaseth God shall escape from her: or "who is good before God" or "in his sight"F13טוב לפני האלהים "bonus coram Deo" Pagninus Mercerus Drusius Amama Rambachius; "qui bonus videtur coram Deo ipso" Junius & Tremellius. ; See Gill on Ecclesiastes 2:26; to whom he gives his grace and is acceptable to him; such an one as Joseph was shall escape the snares and nets the hands and bands of such a woman; or if fallen into them as Solomon fell shall be delivered out of them as it is observed by various interpreters: nothing but the grace of God the true fear of God the power of godliness and undefiled religion can preserve a person from being ensnared and held by an impure woman; not a liberal nor religious education not learning and good sense nor any thing else; if a man is kept out of the hands of such creatures he ought to esteem it a mercy and ascribe it to the grace and goodness of God;

but the sinner shall be taken by her; a hardened and impenitent sinner that is destitute of the grace and fear of God; who is habitually a sinner and gives up himself to commit iniquity; whose life is a continued series of sinning; who has no guard upon himself but rushes into sin as the horse into the battle; he becomes an easy prey to a harlot; he falls into her snares and is caught and held by her; see Proverbs 22:14.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:27  27 Here is what I have found ” says the Preacher “Adding one thing to the other to find out the reason
   YLT  
27See this I have found said the Preacher one to one to find out the reason

Behold this have I found .... That a harlot is more bitter than death; and which he found by his own experience and therefore would have it observed by others for their caution: or one man among a thousand Ecclesiastes 7:28;

(saith the preacher); of which title and character see Ecclesiastes 1:1; it is here mentioned to confirm the truth of what he said; he said it as a preacher and upon the word of a preacher it was true; as also to signify his repentance for his sin who was now the "gathered soul" as some render it; gathered into the church of God by repentance;

counting one by one to find out the account; not his own sins which he endeavoured to reckon up and find out the general account of them which yet he could not do; nor the good works of the righteous and the sins of the wicked which are numbered before the Lord one by one till they are added to the great account; as Jarchi from the Rabbins interprets it and so the Midrash: but rather the sense is examining women one by one all within the verge of his acquaintance; particularly the thousand women that were either his wives or concubines; in order to take and give a just estimate of their character and actions. What follows is the result.

 

Ecclesiastes 7:28  28 Which my soul still seeks but I cannot find: One man among a thousand I have found But a woman among all these I have not found.
   YLT  
28(that still my soul had sought and I had not found) One man a teacher I have found and a woman among all these I have not found.

Which yet my soul seeketh but I find not .... He was very earnest and diligent in his inquiry; he took a great deal of pains and was exceedingly solicitous; he sought with great intenseness of mind and with an eager desire to find out a chaste and virtuous woman among them all but could not;

one man among a thousand have I found; it is a great rarity to find a good manF14"Vir bonus et sapiens qualem vix reperit unum millibus e multio hominum consultus Apollo." Auson. Idyll. 16. v. 1 2. truly wise and gracious; there are many that walk in the broad way and but few that find the strait gate and narrow way and are saved; they are but as one to a thousand; see Jeremiah 5:1. Or rather by this one of a thousand is meant the Messiah the Wisdom of God he sought for Ecclesiastes 7:25; and now says he found; to whom he looked for peace pardon and atonement under a sense of his sins; who is the messenger an interpreter one among a thousand; yea who is the chiefest among ten thousands Job 33:23; who is superior to angels and men in the dignity of his person; in the perfection purity and holiness of his nature; in the excellency of his names; in his offices and relations; and in his concern in the affairs of grace and salvation; and who is to be found by every truly wise and gracious soul that seeks him early and earnestly in the word and ordinances under the illumination and direction of the blessed Spirit. If it is to be understood of a mere man I should think the sense was this; of all the men that have been ensnared and taken by an adulterous woman but one of a thousand have I observed and perhaps Solomon has respect to himself that was ever recovered out of her hands;

but a woman among all those have I not found; that is among all the harlots and adulterous women I ever knew or heard of I never knew nor heard of one that was ever reclaimed from her evil ways and reformed or became a chaste and virtuous woman: he may have respect to the thousand women that were either his wives and concubines and among all these he found not one that deserved the above character; for this is not to be understood of women in general for Solomon must have known that there have been good women in all ages and perhaps more than men; and that there were many in his days though those with whom his more intimate acquaintance was were not such which was his unhappiness; and his criminal conversation with them is what he lamented and repented of. It may be interpreted thus One man the Messiah among all the sons of men have I found free from original sin; but one woman among all the daughters of Eve I have not found clear of it. The Targum is

"there is another thing which yet my soul seeketh and I have not found; a man perfect and innocent without corruption from the days of Adam till Abraham the righteous was born; who was found faithful and just among the thousand kings who were gathered together to build the tower of Babel; and a woman among all the wives of those kings as Sarah I found not.'

 

Ecclesiastes 7:29  29 Truly this only I have found: That God made man upright But they have sought out many schemes.”

   YLT  29See this alone I have found that God made man upright and they -- they have sought out many devices.

Lo this only have I found that God hath made man upright .... The first man Adam as the Targum and Jarchi interpret it; and not Adam only but Eve also with him; for these were both made by the Lord and on the same day and in the same image and had the same common name of Adam given them Genesis 1:27; And they were both made "upright"; which is to be understood not of the erectness of their bodies but of the disposition of their minds; they were

"right and innocent before him '

or in the sight of God as the Targum; which is best explained by their being made in the image and likeness of God Genesis 1:26; and which according to the apostle lay in knowledge righteousness and holiness Ephesians 4:24; agreeably to which PlatoF15Theaeteto p. 129. make likeness to God to be righteous and holy with prudence: for this likeness of Adam and Eve to God; lay not in the shape of their bodies for God is a spirit and not a corporeal being as the Anthropomorphites imagined and so fancied men to be made like unto him in this respect; but in their souls and it consisted of knowledge; of the knowledge of the creatures their nature use and ends for which they were made and put under their government; and of God and his perfections as made known in the creatures; and of his mind and will and manner of worshipping him he revealed unto them; and they might know the trinity of Persons in the Godhead who were concerned in the making of them though they seem not to have known Christ as Mediator and Saviour which was not necessary previous to their fall; nor evangelical truths suited to a fallen state: also this image lay in righteousness and true holiness which was original natural and created with them; it was with them as soon as they were; not acquired but infused; not a habit obtained but a quality given; and this not supernatural but natural; it was perfect in its kind and entirely agreeable to the holy just and good law of God; it had no defects in it yet was but the righteousness of a creature and loseable as the event showed; and so very different from the righteousness of Christ man is justified by. Likewise this uprightness is no other than the rectitude of human nature of all the powers and faculties of the soul of man as they were when he was created; his understanding clear of all errors and mistakes either about divine or human things; his affections regular and ordinate no unruly passion in him no sinful affection lust and desire; he loved God with all his heart and soul and delighted in him and communion with him; the bias of his will was to that which is good; the law of God was written on his heart and he had both power and will to keep it; and during his state of integrity was pure and sinless; yet he was not impeccable as the confirmed angels and glorified saints are; nor immutable as God only is; but being a creature and changeable he was liable to temptation and subject to fall as he did. Now Solomon with all his diligent search and scrutiny could not find out the infinity of sin the boundless extent of it among mankind the exceeding sinfulness of it which he sought after Ecclesiastes 7:25; yet this he "found" out and this "only" the fountain of all sin the origin of moral evil; namely the corruption of human nature through the fall of Adam: this he found by reading the Scriptures the three first chapters of Genesis; and by consulting human nature he found some remains of the image of God and of the law that was in man's heart; whereby he perceived that man was once another man than he is now; and that this corruption is not owing to God who is not the author of any thing sinful he made man upright; but to himself his own sin and folly: and this he found confirmed by sad experience; in himself and others and by observing the history of all ages from the times of the first man; and as this was notorious it was worth knowing and observing and therefore he calls upon others to take notice of it; lo behold consider it as well as what follows;

but they have sought out many inventions; that is Adam and Eve not content with their present knowledge and happiness they sought out new ways and means of being wiser and happier than God made them or it was his will they should be. "They sought out the inventions of the many" or "great things" or "of the mighty and great ones"F16חשבנות רבים "cogitationes magnatum" De Dieu; "ratiocina multarum magnarumque rerum" so some in Rambachius; see Luke x. 41 42. as it may be rendered the eternal Three in One; they sought to be as wise as God himself; or however as the great and mighty ones the angels who excelled them as in strength so in knowledge; see Genesis 3:5; or they sought out thoughts of sin as Jarchi says it is interpreted in the Midrash. Sins are the inventions of men and these are many and numerous; they sought to gratify their senses on which followed innumerable evils; and then they sought for shifts and evasions to excuse themselves; the man shifting it from himself and throwing the blame upon the woman and the woman upon the serpent: and so sinning they lost the knowledge they had; their righteousness and holiness the rectitude of their nature; the moral freedom of their will to that which is good and their power to perform it; and they lost the presence of God and communion with him: and so their posterity are not only inventors of evil things of sins but of new ways of happiness; some placing it in riches; others in honours; others in pleasures; and some in natural wisdom and knowledge; and some in their own works of righteousness; the vanity of all which Solomon has before exposed.

 

──John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible