Ecclesiastes 12

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:2-3

Solomon likened the evil days first to an approaching rainstorm (Ecclesiastes 12:2) that is fearful and uncertain (cf. Ecclesiastes 11:7-8). The Hebrews regarded any decline in a person’s vital energy as a sign that death was beginning to set in (cf. 1 Kings 1:1-4; Psalms 18:4-5; Psalms 88:3-5).The "watchmen of the house" (Ecclesiastes 12:3) probably refer to one’s arms and hands, and the "mighty men" to the legs. The "grinding ones" are probably the teeth, and "those who look through windows"... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:2-5

The coming of old age 12:2-5Ecclesiastes 12:2-7 are full of figures of speech that picture old age and death. [Note: See G. A. Barton, A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes, pp. 186-91; Harry Torcszyner, "The Riddle in the Bible," Hebrew Union College Annual 1 (1924):125-49; Michael Leahy, "The Meaning of Ecclesiastes 12:1-5," Irish Theological Quarterly 19 (1952):297-300, reprinted in Zuck, ed., Reflecting with . . ., pp. 375-79; and Michael V. Fox, "Aging and Death... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:4

"The doors to the street" are probably the lips that are shut because of the absence of teeth in the mouth, "the grinding mill." Another view is that they are the ears. [Note: Longman, p. 271.] The writer alluded to the inability of old people to sleep soundly, as well as to their loss of hearing. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:5

Aged individuals become more fearful of heights, traffic, and travel. The "almond tree" blossoms white like the hair of an old person. An elderly person is less sprightly in his or her movements. The "caperberry," apparently an appetite stimulant, not an aphrodisiac, [Note: Delitzsch, p. 417.] is a poor translation that the Septuagint introduced. The text should read "and desire fails," which gives the same meaning. Man’s "dark house" (rather than "eternal home") is a reference to the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:6

Solomon described the end of life first as the extinguishing of a light. The "golden bowl" is a bowl that holds a flame. When the "silver cord" that holds it breaks, the bowl crashes to the floor and the light goes out. Gold and silver express the great value of life.The second description of death is water that one can no longer draw out of a well.The "wording gives us a picture of the ruined apparatus plus the wheel as they have crashed down into the old cistern. So man breaks down and falls... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:6-7

The coming of death 12:6-7 read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:7

This verse describes the reversal of the process by which God originally created man (Genesis 2:7; cf. Job 34:14-15; Psalms 104:29-30). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:7-14

IV. THE WAY OF Wisdom 11:7-12:14In Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 6:9, Solomon demonstrated that all work is ultimately futile for two reasons. It does not yield anything really permanent under the sun, and we can never be sure we will enjoy the fruits of our labor before we die. In Ecclesiastes 6:10 to Ecclesiastes 11:6, he pointed out that we can never be sure which of our efforts will succeed, because we do not know God’s plans or what the future holds. In Ecclesiastes 11:7 to... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:8

All human work (Ecclesiastes 1:12 to Ecclesiastes 6:9) and wisdom (Ecclesiastes 6:10 to Ecclesiastes 11:6) are ultimately ephemeral (i.e., lacking ability to produce anything of ultimate substance or lasting worth in this life). read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Ecclesiastes 12:8-14

B. The Concluding Summary 12:8-14In conclusion, Solomon repeated his original thesis (Ecclesiastes 12:8; cf. Ecclesiastes 1:2) and his counsel in view of life’s realities (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14). In between these statements, he set forth his source of authority for writing what we have in Ecclesiastes (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12). read more

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